Classic Reappears

Night fell.

Compared to the daytime, Konoha's atmosphere had calmed somewhat.

After Meeting Ended, news of the Third Hokage's reinstatement had naturally been made public.

Although Konoha had suffered terribly during the Old Village Chief's leadership in the previous war, and would likely have been beaten into a panicked rout by the other shinobi villages if not for its abundance of talent—

After one speech from the Old Village Chief, he could still steady the troops and give everyone something to rely on.

This was the inheritance of the Will of Fire!

"Rebuilding the village is certainly important, but we cannot neglect the Border Area either."

The Temporarily Built Konoha Command Center was currently serving as the Hokage Building.

Danzo grimly handed intelligence over to Sarutobi.

"Kumogakure has Wolf Ambition. They will not let this opportunity slip away."

The village had suddenly suffered a disaster, and the Fourth Hokage had died an unnatural death. Anyone could see that now was the perfect opportunity to attack the Land of Fire.

Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure had suffered Not Small losses in the previous great war. Even if they wanted to make a move, they lacked the strength. Only the Land of Lightning remained fiercely ambitious and absolutely unwilling to stay quiet.

After Son Inherits Father's Business, the Fourth Raikage also needed an opportunity to prove himself.

After the A-B Combo's earlier probing at the border had been stopped by Namikaze Minato, Kumogakure had not acted rashly. But now, the Fourth was dead!

Even if Konoha had an Old Village Chief capable of smashing the Nine-Tails out of the village with a single strike, who in the Shinobi World did not know that their Third Hokage was a Gentleman Doesn't Build Walls?

The Front Line could be fighting fiercely, and they wanted the Old Village Chief to go there?

That was absolutely impossible!

Without question, once Konoha's situation reached Kumogakure, there was a high chance that the A-B Combo would lead an invasion. When that happened, who in Konoha could stop them?

One wrong move, and the Flames of War might be reignited.

Danzo was quite perceptive on this point. Of course, it could not be ruled out that he wanted to use the opportunity to scheme for something.

"In fact, they have already begun probing."

Sarutobi lit his pipe, a trace of worry flashing across his face.

"Intelligence has come from the border. A group of suspicious individuals took a detour to infiltrate the Land of Fire, intending to gather intelligence on Konoha. However, their route was discovered by the Hyuga Clan's Scout Team, so they did not penetrate too deeply into our territory."

Under the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, any movement hidden in the Shadows would have nowhere to hide!

That was the Byakugan's Strategic Position.

"However, unless we Increase Efforts and send more Hyuga Clan shinobi there to guard against them, they will obtain information on Konoha sooner or later."

Sarutobi sighed as he said this.

The Nine-Tails' rampage and the Fourth's death were matters that could not be concealed No Matter What.

Especially with the village being rebuilt, they would certainly have to purchase Supplies from the outside world. Rather than considering how to hide it, they might as well think about how Konoha would respond if war truly came.

"This old man does not agree with sending more members of the Hyuga Clan to the border."

Danzo's face was grave.

"Hiruzen, you saw Hyuga Hitoshi's attitude today. Perhaps he has already formed an alliance with Uchiha Fugaku. It is even possible that they are plotting a coup!"

"At present, we must keep the Hyuga Clan under our Eyelids. After I return, I will arrange for Root to monitor them, just as your ANBU monitors the Uchiha!"

Old friend, that was the extent of your vision.

Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe. The look he gave his old friend shifted before turning stern.

"No! Keep your Root in line! You must not monitor the Hyuga Clan!"

Did he think their Byakugan was just for decoration? How would they explain it if they were discovered? Say that the Byakugan needed close surveillance because it could control the Nine-Tails too? Wasn't that complete nonsense?

How could such words come out of his mouth?

Clearly, Danzo had some understanding of the Shinobi World's military situation, but only a little—truly just a little.

"Hiruzen, this old man is doing this for the village! The Hyuga Clan must—"

"Enough, Danzo! I am the Hokage!"

Huh?

Caught off guard by those words, Danzo instinctively shuddered, then blankly Scratched His Head.

Well, well!

He had only just been Reinstated, and he was already pulling this on him?

It was fucking hard to get used to!

"Sarutobi! You Will Regret It!"

After gritting out his line through clenched teeth, Danzo angrily turned and left.

What the hell did you know about doing things for the village? This old man could not even be bothered to expose you! If it was truly for the village, this old man would have to do it!

After Danzo left, Sarutobi stood up and walked to the window, frowning as he pondered.

Without a doubt, in his view, Danzo's plan to monitor the Hyuga Clan was utterly foolish at its core!

Their Byakugan could easily spot any surveillance. If the Hyuga, in a fit of anger, truly joined forces with the Uchiha, how were they supposed to respond?

Not to mention, there was no legitimate reason.

The village was still being rebuilt, with external enemies watching like tigers. Even if he was skilled at striking hard internally, at this Crucial Moment, he could not suppress both the Uchiha and Hyuga clans at once!

More than that, the best approach would be to win over the Hyuga Clan and have them stand up and charge at the Uchiha.

Of course, that was the ideal scenario. In truth, Hyuga Hitoshi speaking up for Uchiha Fugaku had left Sarutobi utterly bewildered. He simply did not know what the Hyuga Clan Head was thinking.

Before Danzo had even arrived, he had specifically brought over Hyuga Hitoshi's file and carefully analyzed it.

Hyuga Hitoshi's record was not particularly complicated. In fact, his growth before becoming Clan Head had been very low-key, so Sarutobi had obtained no useful intelligence.

But even without Danzo's reminder, Sarutobi had his own considerations. It was not as if he had never thought about how to deal with the Hyuga Clan.

Anyone who threatened this old man's position had embarked upon the Path to Death.

Not send the Hyuga Clan to the Front Line?

Heh heh, Danzo was very stupid.

The battlefield could not do without the Byakugan. More than that, if he wanted to weaken the Hyuga Clan and make them unable to avoid drawing closer to him, he had to make them send more people to the battlefield.

Just Like a certain clan that had "disappeared" during the Second Shinobi World War.

Integrated into Konoha?

Integrating into Konoha was good. His teacher's foresight was truly worthy of respect.

How else would they obey the Hokage's orders if they did not integrate?

God Knows how dangerous it was to keep all those elites in the village.

If something went wrong, the cost would definitely be unbearable!

Naturally, the Old Village Chief had already analyzed the best and worst possible outcomes regarding the Hyuga Clan. In the end, he judged them worthy of attention but not concern.

"This old man is doing it all for the village."

How they chose was entirely up to the Hyuga Clan themselves.

Tapping his pipe, Sarutobi leisurely took his seat.

The Hokage Position had ultimately returned to his hands.

The Fourth had taken office, and he himself had stepped down. That had made Sarutobi fully realize what this chair represented.

From the previous wartime era until now, his life could truly be called a series of great rises and falls.

At this moment, did he still remember the declaration he had made when he took over the Kage's Throne from the Second?

And now that he had truly entered old age, what was it that he really wanted?

Only the Old Village Chief himself knew all that.

"Get out, get out, get out! You're a Beast of Burden, but I'm a person! Don't use me like a Beast of Burden!"

Leaving aside the Old Village Chief's contemplation of a New Style Fist Technique for internal affairs.

It was already late at night.

At the Hyuga Clan Head's residence, Hitoshi Brother was kicked out of bed.

Every year at this season, Clan Head would always contemplate life.

And in his mind, he recalled a classic line from a nature documentary he had watched in his previous life.

Spring had arrived. It was once again the season for making friends.

Poor Hyuga Pakura had fought alone for so long, but unable to adapt to the intensity of a Time Management Master, she finally exploded.

Hyuga Hitoshi was not angry either. Smiling cheerfully, he put on his clothes, casually took out the map Hyuga Hiashi had sent over earlier, and glanced up at the sky.

Moon Bright, Stars Sparse—perfect for muddling through!

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