The Owl's Wisdom, Unparalleled Through the Ages

Sarutobi Hiruzen wore a kindly, amiable smile as he chuckled, "I trust you are well aware of just how brilliant that war in the Land of Rain truly was!"

Upon hearing this, Shimura Danzo nodded without a moment's hesitation. "That goes without saying. I must admit, your student Tsunade certainly possesses the bearing of a great commander! Knowing how to assess the situation and weigh the pros and cons—such a figure is more than qualified to serve as a deputy!"

As he spoke, he disregarded the presence of everyone else in the room and voiced this assessment with blunt, unreserved candor.

Shimura Danzo continued to share his perspective: "I have heard that the performances of Jiraiya and Orochimaru in this protracted campaign were also quite commendable. I have no objections regarding those two either. However..."

He abruptly shifted his tone, fixing a piercing, aggressive gaze upon Sarutobi Hiruzen as he demanded, "As for that brat from the Uchiha Clan, Hiruzen, what exactly is your intention?"

At this time, Shimura Danzo had not yet established the Root organization as his intelligence network, so the information at his disposal was far less comprehensive than that of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Because of this, he remained convinced that this victory had been achieved solely through the leadership of Sarutobi Hiruzen's three beloved students.

Faced with such aggressive questioning from Shimura Danzo, the three young ones standing to the side were instantly incensed.

Tsunade, in particular, with her straightforward and fiery temperament, could barely contain her rage. Just as she opened her mouth to retort, she caught a stern, warning glance from Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Under that gaze, even though Tsunade felt deeply resentful, she was forced to swallow the words that had reached her lips.

At this moment, Uchiha Xiao was gently stroking Tsunade's long, waterfall-like hair, his movements soft and delicate, as if he were soothing a startled kitten.

His fingers glided lightly through her hair, carrying a reassuring strength that signaled her to remain calm and not act too rashly.

As for Uchiha Xiao himself, he remained composed, watching the unfolding scene with a calm expression, as if the surrounding clamor and tension had nothing to do with him.

His demeanor was detached and serene, like a bystander observing the situation from afar.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, sitting to the side, took in the entire scene and nodded slightly in satisfaction. His admiration for Uchiha Xiao grew even further.

To remain so composed and methodical in the face of such a complex situation—this young man was truly a rare talent!

Sarutobi Hiruzen reached out with a smile and pulled Danzo to sit beside him. Then, he waved at Uchiha Xiao and called out cordially, "Uchiha Xiao, come over here."

Upon hearing the Hokage's summons, Uchiha Xiao nodded without hesitation and walked toward Sarutobi Hiruzen with a steady gait.

When he drew near, the smile on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face deepened. He turned to Danzo and said with a laugh, "Danzo, did you know that the strategies used in the Land of Rain—the war of attrition, the cutting off of enemy supplies, and the ambush on Yuji—were all the work of Uchiha Xiao?"

Hearing this, the previously indifferent Shimura Danzo was jolted, sitting bolt upright in an instant. He widened his eyes and stared at Uchiha Xiao in disbelief, his gaze filled with shock and suspicion.

However, since these words came from Sarutobi, they could not be false. With this thought, Danzo began to re-examine the seemingly ordinary yet inscrutable young man before him.

What puzzled him, however, was why Uchiha Xiao would not claim credit for these feats, instead pushing the glory onto Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru.

Could he be harboring some ulterior motive? At this thought, Shimura Danzo's eyes turned cold again as he glanced at Uchiha Xiao. Uchiha Xiao noticed this, smiled slightly, and nodded in response, which only served to irritate Danzo further.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, now intrigued, asked, "Xiao, tell us, why were you unwilling to claim the credit?"

Danzo also looked at Uchiha Xiao upon hearing this. His eyes were like a measuring rod; he could tell at a glance whether someone was lying.

So, you inherently evil Uchiha brat, if you dare to lie, I will grind your bones to dust!

His expression turned icy, and the corners of his mouth curled upward, as if he were looking not at one of his own, but at a criminal.

"Danzo! Pull back that look!" Sarutobi Hiruzen thought to himself, frustrated by how his old friend couldn't keep his petty biases in check whenever he saw someone from the Uchiha Clan. What have the Uchiha ever done to you!

Uchiha Xiao smiled faintly. It was indeed the Danzo he knew. He sighed, "First of all, Lady Tsunade saved me when I had just awakened my eyes during the Hokage's pre-war speech."

"Later, Lady Mito was also very kind to me. At the time, I had some conflicts with the Uchiha Clan and didn't want to be in the spotlight, so I gave most of the credit to Lady Tsunade; she needed it more than I did."

"As for Lord Orochimaru and Lord Jiraiya, they used their own leadership skills to execute the tactics I suggested, so the credit belongs to them. I merely offered a few suggestions," Uchiha Xiao said calmly.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. A good child. He is a pillar of my Konoha, and most importantly, he knows when to advance or retreat, seeking no empty fame, only contribution.

Shimura Danzo was startled. He realized that Uchiha Xiao seemed to be telling the truth; his expression and tone were completely calm, as if he were speaking of something trivial.

He was certain Uchiha Xiao was not lying and truly did not care about the credit, just as he claimed. He couldn't help but feel puzzled; if it were him, he would never give away such glory, but would instead proclaim it loudly.

Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed heartily. "Xiao-kun's wisdom is unparalleled throughout history! Looking back at the entire history of the ninja world, there has never been a better strategist than Xiao-kun!" Sarutobi Hiruzen praised him sincerely.

"You are too kind, Lord Hokage. Uchiha Xiao will always be Konoha's Uchiha Xiao, and will always be your supporter." Uchiha Xiao took the opportunity to declare his stance, which made Sarutobi Hiruzen even happier.

Shimura Danzo let out a cold snort and turned his head away. He had to admit, this Uchiha brat had some talent!

Sarutobi Hiruzen then said to Danzo, "Old friend, do you think Xiao could serve as your deputy?" His voice carried a hint of teasing.

Shimura Danzo choked. "Well, I suppose he'll do."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and turned to Uchiha Xiao. "Xiao, for this upcoming war with Sunagakure, I hope you can offer my old friend as much advice as you did against the Rain Ninja."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was calm; he had made his intentions clear. He wanted Uchiha Xiao to help his old comrade build up his military record.

Shimura Danzo looked over as well. He knew Uchiha Xiao was a man of talent, and realizing his old friend was helping him, he couldn't help but feel a touch of gratitude.

Uchiha Xiao considered the current situation and finally nodded. "I will do my best to assist Lord Danzo."