Parting on Bad Terms

On the way to the meeting room, Yushu kept speculating about the purpose of Kirigakure's actions.

Having read the original story, Yushu knew that Kirigakure was entirely under Obito's control at this point.

According to the original plot, this should have been a time of peace, with all the major nations licking their wounds and rebuilding their strength.

The only variable was his arrival. Thinking of Danzo's recent death...

This was the only possibility Yushu could think of. Could Danzo's death have prevented the Uchiha Clan from being massacred?

If Obito's goal was still to destroy the Uchiha Clan, then this war might not be as simple as it appeared.

His original plan had been to take advantage of this rare period of peace to reform the Konoha Military Police Force, expand its influence, and proceed steadily. That plan had now been completely ruined.

Not long after making his mark, Yushu had to face Obito's schemes. He found it extremely troublesome.

Sigh. He could only take things one step at a time.

By the time Yushu arrived at the meeting room, quite a few people were already there.

After all his networking, many people along the way greeted him warmly, and Yushu returned each greeting in turn.

Present were not only the heads of Konoha's various departments, but also the clan heads of Konoha's many ninja clans. There were nearly thirty people in total.

At 7:55, there were still five minutes before the meeting began.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, finally entered the meeting room with the two advisors.

"Lord Hokage." ×N

A chorus of greetings followed, then another round of pleasantries.

Finally, at exactly eight o'clock, Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated at the head of the table, got straight to the point.

"I believe everyone is already aware of the specifics. A large force of Kirigakure ninja is currently moving in the direction of the Land of Waves."

"Then Kirigakure's purpose is clear: Konoha. The Land of Waves alone is not worth deploying such a large ninja force for."

"How should Konoha respond? Let us discuss it."

With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped speaking.

For a moment, no one said a word.

Yushu had never been able to figure out Obito's purpose, but since the other side had dispatched troops, there had to be a reason, regardless of their true intentions.

As long as they wiped out the forces Kirigakure had sent, Obito would be unable to accomplish his goal.

Unless Obito's goal was to provoke a war, but Yushu could not see how starting a war would benefit Obito's Eye of the Moon plan.

So Yushu decided to destroy Kirigakure's forces outright, leaving Obito with no choice but to rely on Akatsuki for whatever he wanted to do in the future.

Obito holding an entire ninja village in his hands was simply too terrifying. He could easily determine the course of the world.

Having thought it through, Yushu saw that no one had spoken yet and directly opened his mouth.

"The response is simple. Just drive Kirigakure back."

The instant Yushu finished speaking, opposition arose.

The one opposing him was none other than Mitokado Homura, seated beside Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"No. We cannot start a war so easily!"

Seeing this old bastard jump out to oppose him the moment he spoke, Yushu naturally did not look pleased.

"Who are you? You say no, and that makes it no?"

"How presumptuous! I am a Konoha advisor. Why can't I express my opinion?"

"Express your opinion, then. What is it? Why are you opposing mine? Don't tell me you have no opinion at all and only know how to object!"

"Damn it! I merely said we cannot start a war lightly. As expected, all you Uchiha are war-crazed lunatics."

Yushu's face broke into a smile upon hearing that. In an instant, he appeared before Mitokado Homura.

Grabbing Mitokado Homura by the throat, he said with a smiling face, "Say what you just said again!"

Yushu's direct attack clearly shocked everyone. Someone tried to stop him, but Yushu immediately formed a ring of fire nearly a meter high around himself.

Ever since becoming the Uchiha Clan Head, this was the first time Yushu had heard someone publicly slander the Uchiha Clan.

Even Danzo had never done such a thing, yet this old ghost Mitokado Homura dared to.

Since becoming clan head, Yushu had always treated Konoha's ninja clans with a humble attitude.

Those ninja clans were not fools. They would not think the Uchiha Clan was easy to bully merely because Yushu lowered himself. Everyone had always been polite, with mutual respect all around.

Today's scene also changed the clan heads' understanding of Yushu.

"Say what you just said again!"

Mitokado Homura, held in Yushu's grip, was already struggling to breathe. How could he speak?

Isn't this just making things difficult for him? That was the thought in everyone's minds.

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally stopped remaining silent. "Enough, Uchiha Yushu. Release Advisor Homura."

Yushu could not refuse to give the Third Hokage face. Hearing that, he loosened his hand.

"Lord Hokage, some people are unworthy of being advisors. Apart from objecting, all they can do is bark like dogs. What right does someone like that have to attend this meeting?"

Yushu then added, "I suggest that Lord Hokage throw this what's-his-name Homura out of the meeting room."

Seeing the situation escalating further, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only smooth things over. "Enough, Clan Head Yushu. Homura was merely agitated for a moment and said something he should not have. Let us continue the discussion."

He then looked at Mitokado Homura. "Homura, sit down quickly."

Mitokado Homura was still gripped by fear. He knew that if Hiruzen Sarutobi had been any later, he would certainly have died.

Mitokado Homura no longer dared to say anything, but he bore a grudge against Yushu in his heart. The Uchiha Clan truly was a group of lunatics. Only a lunatic like Danzo could deal with them.

Danzo! It was the Nth day of missing you.

Yushu did not care in the slightest what Mitokado Homura thought. If he had not been an advisor, crushing him to death would not have been much harder than crushing an ant.

Still believing that, regardless of Obito's plans, they only needed to cripple Kirigakure, Yushu spoke again.

"There is nothing to discuss. If Kirigakure dares to set its sights on Konoha, then wipe it out."

After Yushu finished speaking, no one objected. Everyone's thoughts were more or less the same.

Konoha, the number one ninja village in the ninja world—how dare a mere Kirigakure set its sights on us?

But there would always be someone who stepped forward in opposition. Mitokado Homura, who was still cursing Yushu in his heart, naturally would not do so.

The person who stood up was Utatane Koharu, another member of the Konoha F4—or rather, the Konoha F3 now.

"Minister Uchiha, war is not something to be treated so lightly. We do not know Kirigakure's strength right now, and we do not even know its destination. An invasion of the Land of Fire is only speculation."

"Perhaps Hidden Mist Village is not coming for Konoha at all. If Konoha attacks first now, we may bring a real enemy upon ourselves."

Utatane Koharu's words were reasonable and well-supported. Indeed, Kirigakure was still at sea.

Perhaps they might resupply briefly in the Land of Waves, then turn north toward the Land of Lightning. That was not impossible.

But Yushu, who knew that Obito stood behind Kirigakure, knew that Kirigakure's target could only be Konoha. He simply could not say so.

Yushu still did not give up on the idea of taking the initiative and destroying Kirigakure at sea.

"Advisor Utatane is right. But if we allow Kirigakure to keep advancing, then once it uses the Land of Waves as a springboard and truly invades the Land of Fire, there will be far too many places we need to defend."

"My suggestion remains the same: strike first and wipe out Kirigakure at sea."

"Clan Head Uchiha, can you bear responsibility if your judgment is wrong? If Kirigakure's target is not Konoha, then you will personally start a war."

Yushu found this old woman incredibly irritating as well. What did she mean, he had to bear responsibility? What was the point of arguing in circles?

"Then can Advisor Utatane bear responsibility if her judgment is wrong? If Kirigakure invades the Land of Fire, will Advisor Utatane go to the battlefield?"

You old woman, all you do is babble when nothing is happening. When something actually happens, you only know how to hide. I really don't understand what use advisors are. Even Danzo was better than this.

"You..." Utatane Koharu was rendered speechless as well. Asking her to go to the battlefield—wasn't that a joke?

Besides, she was a Konoha advisor. Since when did she need to take responsibility for her own words?

As the two fell silent, the meeting room did not grow quiet. Everyone began discussing the matter with those around them in small groups.

Both sides made sense. That was the most difficult part. But they were only part of Konoha; in the end, it would still depend on the Hokage's decision.

Unable to reach any conclusion, everyone gradually stopped discussing and turned their gazes toward the Third Hokage, who was continuously puffing on his pipe.

As the meeting room slowly quieted down, Hiruzen Sarutobi, watched by everyone, had reached the moment to make a decision.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's weak nature lacked the resolve to strike first. In the end, he cleared his throat.

"Konoha will begin preparing for war. At the same time, dispatch envoys to Kirigakure's army to inquire about its intentions. Do not act rashly for now. We cannot take the initiative in starting a war."

Yushu had more or less expected this decision. He still wanted to make one more attempt. "Lord Hokage, would you allow the Konoha Military Police Force to act in advance? The Uchiha Clan does not need Konoha's support. I am willing to lead my subordinates to intercept Kirigakure."

"Then, regardless of Kirigakure's purpose, we will be able to advance or retreat as the situation demands."

To be honest, Hiruzen Sarutobi was tempted by this proposal. If Danzo were still around, he would definitely have dispatched Root to act this way.

But when he looked at Yushu, the Uchiha Clan's combat traits were far too distinctive. The moment they made a move, Konoha would be exposed.

Even if he later claimed it had merely been the Uchiha Clan acting on its own, unrelated to Konoha, would anyone believe him?

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "No. Before we receive definite information, there can be no action of any kind. Especially you, Clan Head Uchiha. Keep your clansmen under control."

Yushu spoke again. "Lord Hokage..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had no patience left to keep dealing with Uchiha Yushu. The matter of Kirigakure had already left him overwhelmed.

He directly interrupted Yushu. "Enough, Clan Head Uchiha. This is an order. Remember, I am the Hokage!"

Yushu stared blankly at Hiruzen Sarutobi. Having finally realized just how unreliable an indecisive Hokage could be, he no longer continued pretending.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi! Remember what you said today. You will regret it. You will come personally to the Uchiha Clan to find me!"

"When that time comes, you will pay the price for your cowardice today!"

"How presumptuous, Uchiha Yushu! Watch your attitude!" Mitokado Homura finally seized the opportunity and loudly rebuked him.

Yushu ignored Mitokado Homura's clamor. "Hmph! The Uchiha Clan will not stay any longer!"

With that, he directly left the meeting room.