Toji's Hu-Style Mobilization Speech

[Konoha Year 18]

[Konoha issued the following statement:]

[Kumogakure authorities had ignored Konoha's repeated warnings and attempted to frame Konoha for sabotaging the peace treaty and violating the territory of the Land of Fire. The situation had deteriorated drastically, seriously threatening the peace and security of the Land of Fire's borders.]

[Having reached the limits of its patience, Konoha had been forced to launch—]

[Self-defensive retaliation!]

[Konoha would undertake a special military operation, appointing Jōnin Kagami Uchiha as commander-in-chief to deliver a severe blow to Kumogakure.]

[Konoha Elder Toji Zenin stated: Konoha's special military operation had nothing to do with invading Kumogakure; it was solely intended to protect itself from the encroachment of "ambitious schemers."]

War was the best opportunity to seize prestige, and Toji would never let it slip away so easily.

Before Konoha's troops set out, he issued a proclamation to the entire Shinobi World in the name of the Hokage Building, defining the nature of this war.

At the same time, he packaged himself as the guardian and inheritor of the First Hokage's rightful will.

Internally, Toji planned to deliver an impassioned speech to Konoha's residents, using it to elevate his prestige in military affairs. If he wanted to become Hokage, prestige in civilian matters alone would not be enough.

Speechmaking was an art, and declaring war was a perfect opportunity for propaganda. Publicly, he was merely a medical Jōnin, but who said a civilian official could not earn prestige among the military faction?

Inside the elder's office.

Toji swiftly reviewed and approved the roster of combat forces submitted by Kagami Uchiha.

Kagami had requested only forty Jōnin, over a hundred Chunin, and nearly a thousand Genin. Nearly half of the Jōnin were Uchiha as well. Given Konoha's abundant strength, he could have requested far