The entire meeting room fell silent. The ninja who had just spoken had raised a staggering point: thousands of ninja could be killed or wounded. No one could take responsibility for such a cost.
Not even the Hokage. The ninja who had supported sending aid fell silent too. Fugaku glanced at Tsunade. She seemed stirred, but in the end, she held herself back.
She still had blood ties to the Land of Whirlpools, but two generations had passed, and the cost was too great. Tsunade did not stand to speak.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru remained silent as well. Whether the Land of Whirlpools fell had nothing to do with either of them.
Fugaku rose to his feet. Surprise crossed the Third Hokage's face, and the Jonin around the room turned to look.
Fugaku Uchiha had made an impression at every Jonin Meeting. Many looked forward to hearing what he had to say. A faintly amused expression appeared on Orochimaru's face.
Since they had begun working together, Orochimaru had reassessed Fugaku, setting aside every impression he had once held. Even so, he found Fugaku no easier to read.
"Hokage, the Uzumaki Clan of the Land of Whirlpools has a unique bloodline. Its members can readily awaken the Adamantine Sealing Chains Kekkei Genkai, which is particularly effective against Tailed Beasts.
"The Cloud and Mist Ninja Villages' main objective in attacking the Land of Whirlpools is likely its Sealing Jutsu, not the slaughter of its people.
"I'd like to go to the Land of Whirlpools myself and rescue several Uzumaki children, then bring them back to Konoha.
"They would become Konoha villagers. The Uzumaki Clan would have descendants to carry on its legacy, and Konoha would gain a clan with a Kekkei Genkai.
"The Uzumaki Clan possesses vast reserves of Chakra. With proper training,