The news that Kumogakure and Kirigakure had simultaneously declared war on Konoha spread throughout the entire village within half a day.
The streets were utterly desolate.
Shop doors were tightly shut, while civilians scrambled to buy food and supplies, their footsteps hurried.
The horrors of the Third Shinobi World War still felt like yesterday, and the ruins left behind by the Nine-Tails' Attack had yet to be fully restored.
At a time like this, no one was willing to endure the baptism of a Fourth Shinobi World War.
Rumors began spreading through the crowds in the streets.
"Have you heard? The Kumogakure delegation was killed by people from the Uchiha and Hyuga clans! Those two families brought this disaster upon us!"
"Why should the entire village be buried with them for the trouble they caused? Hand over the killers and exchange them for peace!"
Guided by Root agents planted among them, the villagers shouted at the top of their lungs.
The public's anger was directed at Konoha's two great dōjutsu clans. As long as they handed them over, the shadow of war would disappear.
At the same time, inside the sprawling Hyuga clan compound.
The head of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Hiashi, knelt on the tatami, both hands clenched into fists.
Across from him, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Shimura Danzō sat upright and solemn.
"Hiashi."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke first, attempting to smooth things over.
"You should understand the village's predicament better than anyone."
"Konoha's combat strength is currently in a transitional lull. If we fight Kumogakure and Kirigakure at the same time, countless lives will be lost. For the sake of the greater good, sacrifices sometimes have to be made."
Hiashi gritted his teeth, his chest heaving.
"Lord Hokage, Kumogakure clearly coveted the Byakugan of my Hyuga clan. They infiltrated our compound at night to kidnap someone."
"We acted in self-defense. What did we do wrong? For the sake of that false peace, are we supposed to send our Hyuga clansmen onto the enemy's dissection table ourselves?!"
"Impudent!"
Danzō struck the floor with his cane and threatened him.
"Hiashi, don't forget your identity!"
"If the Hyuga clan refuses to yield today and insists on igniting a Fourth Shinobi World War, then after the war begins, your Hyuga clan will bear full responsibility for all the casualties and economic losses Konoha suffers!"
Danzō leaned forward and fixed his gaze on him.
"Can your Hyuga clan bear the infamy of a thousand generations?!"
That enormous accusation pressed down upon Hiashi's back.
Hiashi looked at Danzō, then at the Third Hokage, who remained silent beside him.
The Konoha Leadership had already made up their minds to use them as scapegoats to appease the war.
"I... understand."
Hiashi unclenched his fists.
"If the Uchiha Clan is willing to hand someone over, then my Hyuga clan... has no objections."
Hearing Hiashi yield, Danzō let out a cold laugh.
As he left the Hyuga compound, Danzō said, "Hiruzen, do you see now? This is what great clans are like. In the face of the village's greater cause, they can only bow their heads."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.
"Danzō, the Uchiha won't be so easy to deal with."
"That young man, Ren, is no pushover. He possesses three Mangekyo. If we push him too hard, we may get the opposite result."
"Hmph. Of course I know how formidable Ren is."
Danzō rubbed his severed right wrist.
"But this time is different. This time, two great shinobi villages are at war, and public opinion throughout the village is pressuring them."
"In the face of the village's survival and the greater good, even Uchiha Ren, for all his incredible abilities, wouldn't dare defy the entire world!"
Meanwhile, inside the newly constructed mansion in the Uchiha District.
Nanami Uchiha, who had just broken through to Kage Level, knelt on one knee.
"Clan Leader! The public opinion outside has completely spiraled out of control!"
Nanami reported, "The villagers are all clamoring for us to hand over the killer."
"According to the news from the ANBU, Danzō and Root are behind this, fanning the flames."
"Not only that, our intelligence network has detected an unknown force secretly adding fuel to the fire as well. They're trying to push the Uchiha into an abyss of eternal ruin!"
Tekka Uchiha and the other Temple captains standing on both sides drew their short blades one after another.
"Those ungrateful, fair-weather bastards! How much blood has the Uchiha shed for Konoha? And now they want to exchange us for peace?"
"Clan Leader, give the order!"
"With a single word from you, our Temple will storm the Hokage Building and twist that old dog Danzō's head off!"
Facing his subordinates, Ren sat at the head of the hall without saying a word.
"Where are the Hokage and Danzō?" Ren asked.
"Clan Leader, they just finished visiting the Hyuga clan and are heading toward our Uchiha District now!"
Ren rose to his feet. His black Divine Robe stirred without any wind as he gave the order.
"Open the gates and welcome them. I want those rotten politicians to see exactly what kind of attitude the Uchiha have now!"
A few minutes later.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō arrived at the gates of the Uchiha compound with more than a dozen elite ANBU.
However, when they saw the scene before the gates, both men stopped in their tracks.
The two vermilion gates of the Uchiha compound stood wide open.
Standing alone before them was a boy of only eleven.
Uchiha Itachi!
He wore a dark combat uniform, one hand resting on the hilt of the ninjatō at his waist. His black eyes watched the approaching Konoha Leadership.
Hiruzen Sarutobi came to a stop.
He recognized the boy at a glance. According to ANBU intelligence, the one who had pierced the heart of the Kumogakure envoy with a single slash in a secluded alley the previous night—one of the key figures who had displayed such strength—was the Uchiha Itachi standing before them!
Danzō tightened his grip on his cane.
Knowing full well that Kumogakure had explicitly demanded Uchiha Itachi's life, Ren had not only refused to hide him or bind him up and offer him as an apology—he had actually made Itachi stand there and serve as their gatekeeper?!
This was nothing less than grinding the dignity of the Konoha Leadership into the dirt!
"Lord Hokage, Counselor Danzō, please come in."
Itachi stepped aside and gestured for them to enter.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped through the Uchiha gates. Danzō followed close behind, the veins on the back of his hand bulging as he gripped his cane.
Inside the mansion's main hall.
Ren sat at the head of the hall, with Temple captains standing on both sides.
"Clan Leader Ren."
The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi came to a stop, he attempted to pressure him with the greater good.
"You must already understand the current situation. Konoha is no longer capable of fighting. For the sake of tens of thousands of villagers, and to prevent countless deaths, I hope you can consider the bigger picture!"
Before Ren could respond, Danzō stepped forward.
He took one step closer, his single eye fixed on Ren.
"Uchiha Ren, stop pretending you don't understand."
"Uchiha Itachi murdered the Kumogakure envoy. He is the culprit who caused this war!"
Danzō slammed his cane against the floor and roared.
"Now Kumogakure has specifically demanded him! As a shinobi of Konoha, sacrificing himself for the village is his destiny! Hand Itachi over!"
Facing Danzō, Ren raised his head and burst into laughter.
"Sacrifice himself? Save Konoha?"
Ren rose from his seat and looked down at Danzō.
"Danzō, you old dog, you've certainly made a fine calculation!"
Ren raised his hand and pointed at Danzō's nose, exposing his conspiracy on the spot.
"It was you, Shimura Danzō, who secretly leaked the intelligence to Kumogakure and guided them into attacking Sasuke! You deliberately created this conflict and forced Itachi to kill!"
"You painstakingly laid out this scheme, then used the war between the two great shinobi villages as an excuse to wield the pressure of the entire village against me, trying to force me to hand someone over and provoke the Uchiha into turning against one another!"
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