The Front Lines Await

"Every last one of them? Danzo, do you believe that yourself?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen maintained his calm, unhurried demeanor as he spoke evenly.

"Hmph! None of the Uchiha Clan can be trusted!"

Shimura Danzō snorted coldly, his words icy.

"What about Kagami?"

"..."

Danzo's expression stiffened for a moment before he said coldly, "Kagami was an exception. Besides, Sensei was still around then. The situation now is completely different. You know very well what it means for the Nine-Tails to have been controlled, Hiruzen. If the slightest disturbance occurs again, Konoha will be destroyed!"

"But your methods will only backfire, Danzo. There are still people in the Uchiha Clan worthy of trust, especially those clansmen who have inherited Kagami's beliefs and will. We need to give those people a chance!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression turned solemn. Looking at Shimura Danzō, he spoke in an exceptionally serious tone.

"Hiruzen, you..."

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

"Hmph! You'll regret this someday, Hiruzen!"

After glaring viciously at the Third Hokage, Shimura Danzō flicked his sleeve and left.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Danzo's departing back and let out a helpless sigh.

How could he not understand just how destructive the Uchiha Clan could be?

But as Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen had far too many aspects to consider and too many concerns to weigh. In the original work, he had continued to hesitate right up until the Uchiha Clan's destruction, let alone now. As had been said before, this was not a matter of whether he was merciful.

In a world like this—

For someone valued by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, enough to be made the Third Hokage—

To speak of mercy would have been nothing short of a joke.

Sarutobi Hiruzen viewed the Uchiha Clan purely from the perspective of the village's interests.

Of course, some degree of trust was undeniably involved as well.

At the very least, Sarutobi Hiruzen believed Shisui was trustworthy. Now, there was also Shōji as an "alternative candidate." If more and more people like them emerged within the Uchiha Clan, Sarutobi Hiruzen was confident he could carry out his plan.

At worst, he could follow in his teacher's footsteps and forcefully cut away the Uchiha Clan's "rotten flesh." As long as he planned things properly, Konoha's strength would not truly be damaged. That was what Sarutobi Hiruzen cared about most.

From beginning to end—

Sarutobi Hiruzen's nature had never changed.

He had merely become more indecisive in his old age.

And he had not the slightest awareness of it.

In this regard, Hiruzen and Danzo were both polar opposites and remarkably alike.

Leaving aside the undercurrents among Hiruzen, Danzo, and Konoha's other higher-ups—

When the village's deployment order reached the Uchiha Clan, it also caused no small stir within the clan. What was discussed at the Clan Meeting was one matter; individual opinions were another. Even now, quite a number of people strongly resisted this order.

In their eyes—

This was undoubtedly a plot by Konoha High Command to send the Uchiha Clan to their deaths.

Fugaku, Genran, Chie, Takayuki, and the other Uchiha Clan leaders, however, believed that this was both a crisis and an opportunity for their clan. The higher-ups surely had their own intentions; that was beyond doubt. But the Uchiha Clan could likewise use this opportunity to make their stance clear.

What Shōji had said at the previous Clan Meeting—

Had indeed given Fugaku, Genran, Chie, and the other leaders an insight entirely different from that of the original work. Their clan could be suspected by others, but they could not restrain themselves. Taking the initiative to step forward was the Uchiha Clan's style.

That was also why Fugaku had ultimately made up his mind to volunteer for battle.

It should be said that Fugaku had always been eager to resolve the predicament facing his clan through every possible means. In the past, he had placed his bets on the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. But Shōji's words had made Fugaku realize that even if his clan could not earn the understanding of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, and the others, they did not need the support of most of the village. As long as they could gain the recognition and support of a considerable number of Ninja Clans—

The Uchiha Clan could gradually free itself from its current predicament.

Though it would be difficult—

It was still possible.

As long as they took more initiative, displayed the Uchiha Clan's "positive" side, and, most importantly, found the mastermind behind it all—

Their predicament could be broken.

Fugaku had that confidence.

Most of the seasoned, experienced elders also supported Fugaku's idea.

And this was where the story took its first different turn from the original work.

Naturally, Shōji could not have guessed what Fugaku, Chie, Genran, and the other senior leaders were thinking. He was even less aware that he had already quietly changed part of Fugaku's way of thinking.

For now, Shōji still needed to focus on his own plans.

The moment he received news of the deployment order, something stirred faintly in the depths of his heart.

I don't know whether this happened in the original work, but this really is an opportunity for me. Nearly a hundred clansmen... I hope the plan goes more smoothly from here on out.

Shōji lightly rubbed the detailed contents of the deployment order twice as he silently thought to himself.

Not knowing did not mean he lacked all caution.

Ever since arriving in this world, Shōji had taken every step with extreme care and caution. He always estimated Fugaku and predicted the thoughts and actions of Hiruzen, Danzo, and the others to the fullest extent possible.

His only advantage was that he was still, for the time being, hidden in the shadows. But as his plan unfolded, the day would inevitably come when he was exposed. Before then, Shōji had to buy as much time as possible to expand his "strength"!

That strength referred not only to his own strength, but also to the strength of his clan—and, when necessary, even the strength of foreign forces from other countries.

It had nothing to do with good or evil, much less justice.

This was merely the humanity and conscience Shōji possessed as a member of the Uchiha Clan. Nothing more.

I just want to live properly in this world!

With the deployment order issued—

And with every senior member of the clan, including the clan head, approving it—

Though voices of dissatisfaction still remained within the Uchiha Clan—

The clansmen named in the order still obeyed the village's command and began preparing the necessary supplies. The force being called up consisted of the major Ninja Clans as well as Commoner Ninja, totaling more than 1,300 people.