Sarutobi Hiruzen's Resolution

This judgment was based on the situation between the two villages.

It was also based on an analysis of the personalities of the two villages' Kage. If the Fourth Hokage had not died on the night of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack a year ago, then even if Konoha's other losses had doubled, Kumogakure would never have launched this probing attack. People could not be compared so simply. What kind of Kage Minato Namikaze had been—the Fourth Raikage A was the most qualified to judge. Their clash during the Third Shinobi World War remained vivid in his mind even now.

The same was true for Dodai. Sarutobi Hiruzen, however, was different. His performances in the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars had thoroughly exposed the Third Hokage's weak character in governance—at least, that was how Kumogakure saw it. In the Original Work, Kumogakure had dared to openly extort Konohagakure over the kidnapping of Hinata Hyuga precisely because they had seen through this point.

Thus, Dodai was not worried about Konoha's response at all. As long as he could persuade the Fourth Raikage to endure it for the time being, that would be enough. This was Dodai's most sincere assessment.

As Dodai and Suzaku tacitly sent messages back to their respective villages to report to their Kage, the scale and intensity of the clashes on the Land of Hot Springs front also seemed to suddenly diminish considerably.

Kumogakure appeared to have reined itself in considerably.

At least, that was how things looked over the past two days.

Land of Fire, Konohagakure. In the central rear area, within the Hokage Office Building.

After two days, the elite squad arranged by Nara Suzaku returned with Suzaku's coded letter and the corpse of Toroi, the Magnet Release Ninja. After reading the information in Nara Suzaku's report and confirming Toroi's corpse, Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered briefly before immediately dispatching Anbu to summon Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.

It could be said that whenever something of the utmost importance happened in the village, the first people Sarutobi Hiruzen thought of were always these three. Even though Danzo's ideals and methods differed vastly from his own, Sarutobi Hiruzen's trust in him had not diminished in the slightest. Of course, at this point in time, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not yet know that Shimura Danzō would later do such outrageous things.

Including, but not limited to, conspiring with Orochimaru to research the First Hokage's Wood Release cells, wantonly murdering comrades within the village, and even sending people to assassinate him.

It could only be said that Shimura Danzō was truly the most absurd-minded member of Konoha F4. He often spoke of righteousness, yet everything he did was meant to satisfy his own selfish desires.

But that was a matter for the Original Work. Whether it would still happen in this life depended on future developments. At the very least, for now, the four were still inseparable companions. Upon receiving Sarutobi Hiruzen's summons, Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu hurried over immediately. After each had read the intelligence relayed by Nara Suzaku and listened to the Third Hokage's explanation of some key details, they fell briefly silent as they looked at Toroi's corpse lying on the ground before them.

"So, Uchiha Shōji killed three Kumogakure Jōnin by himself, including this Magnet Release Ninja? Hiruzen?"

After taking a deep breath, Mitokado Homura looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and asked with the utmost solemnity.

"Yes. Judging from the contents of Suzaku's report, this can be confirmed. There are no discrepancies with the reports from the other members of Shōji's team."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded lightly.

"Then what do you mean to do, Hiruzen?"

"I intend to take this opportunity to adjust the border defenses and probe Kumogakure's attitude. At the same time, I will recall Uchiha Shōji to the village."

Leaning back slightly in his chair, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke in an even tone.

"You believe Kumogakure is about to make some changes?"

Mitokado Homura's gaze sharpened.

"Yes. This intelligence was added afterward. After Shōji killed that Magnet Release Ninja, the Kumo Ninja seemed to have withdrawn across the board. Unless something unexpected happens, the pressure at the border will likely decrease in the near future."

"You can handle those arrangements as you see fit, Hiruzen. What I want to ask is, how do you intend to deal with Uchiha Shōji? Since you specifically brought him up, I presume there is a deeper meaning behind it. Calling the three of us here was mainly for this, wasn't it, Hiruzen?"

Before Mitokado Homura could respond to Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Shimura Danzō, who had remained silent until then, spoke from his seat.

The moment Danzo spoke, Mitokado Homura swallowed the words he had been about to say. Utatane Koharu even opened her eyes, a rare occurrence, and joined Shimura Danzō and Mitokado Homura in turning their gazes toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Yes, you're right, Danzo. The main reason I summoned the three of you is Shōji. I intend to recall him and have him join the Anbu!"

"The Anbu?"

"Hiruzen? Are you serious?"

Almost as soon as Sarutobi Hiruzen's words fell, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu revealed expressions of extreme shock, their voices rising unconsciously. If one had to name the most special organization in a ninja village, it would undoubtedly be the Assassination Tactical Special Unit directly under each Kage—the organization commonly known as the Anbu. It had been pioneered by Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, and was subsequently imitated by the major ninja villages.

Setting aside the very strongest figures in a village, such as the Kage and Jinchuriki, the village's most elite forces were assigned to the Anbu. In Konohagakure, the Anbu held an even more delicate position. Ever since its founding, nearly every major Ninja Clan in Konoha had produced members who joined the Anbu. Only the Uchiha Clan had never had anyone join it.

The reason was simple: the Uchiha Clan was not trusted by the higher-ups.

Naturally, it was impossible for ninja born into the Uchiha Clan to join the Anbu.

Yet Sarutobi Hiruzen had actually proposed allowing Shōji, a genius of the Uchiha Clan, to join the Anbu. How could Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu possibly remain calm? Even Shimura Danzō beside them had immediately darkened his expression.

This Konoha's King of the Pot had expected Sarutobi Hiruzen to make some special arrangement, but he had never imagined it would be such a "foolish" one. That was right—in Danzo's eyes, such an arrangement was utterly laughable and foolish.

"Hiruzen! Do you know what you're saying? Letting someone from the Uchiha Clan join the Anbu? Have you gone mad?"