Xuandou took in everyone's expressions.
He knew that, thanks to Danzo's magnificent assist, his political analysis skills had earned the Hokage's initial recognition.
So he continued:
"The war with Kirigakure to the east is likewise nothing to fear."
"Although Kirigakure has won victories on some local battlefields, how many more ninja can it afford to lose?"
"Kirigakure's Mizukage enforces the Bloody Mist Village policy, selecting ninja by making them kill one another like venomous creatures in a jar. In the short term, this does produce exceptionally capable ninja, but over time, it will inevitably cause their numbers to plummet."
"So I am certain that Kirigakure's offensive is already spent. Before long, Kirigakure will withdraw its troops of its own accord!"
Xuandou's assessment once again prompted murmured discussion.
On a battlefield, when did the side with the advantage ever voluntarily withdraw?
But remembering how Danzo had just been proven wrong, no one dared step forward to question him again.
Instead, Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses and asked cautiously:
"According to you, then, the Lands of Lightning, Water, and Earth are all nothing to worry about. Does that mean Konoha can end the Third Shinobi World War without doing anything else?"
Xuandou shook his head at that.
"No. There is still a ninja village from a great nation that threatens us: Sunagakure of the Land of Wind!"
"Pfft... hahahahaha! Do you know what you're saying, Uchiha brat?"
"In your eyes, the powerful Lands of Lightning and Water pose no threat to us, but the weakest one, the Land of Wind, does?"
After hearing Xuandou's prediction, Danzo finally failed to restrain himself and stepped forward again.
"You aren't worried about the other powerful ninja villages, yet you're afraid of the weakest, Sunagakure? Are you talking in your sleep, Uchiha brat?"
It was hardly surprising that Danzo lost his composure.
Among the Five Great Nations, the Land of Wind had the harshest environment. Coupled with its scarce resources, the number of ninja it could support was even more limited.
As such, Sunagakure had always been regarded as a weak nation.
But Xuandou, who knew the plot in advance, understood very well that the more inconspicuous an opponent was, the more likely they were to become a lethal variable.
In his memory, the defining event marking the end of the Third Shinobi World War was precisely the "Battle of Kikyo Pass" that Sunagakure launched against Konoha.
The so-called Battle of Kikyo Pass was a surprise attack by Sunagakure on the Kikyo Mountain outpost on Konoha's border while Konoha was unprepared.
The original work had not described the war's specific details.
Although the battle ultimately ended in Konoha's victory, Xuandou was certain that it had been a pyrrhic victory.
Because the original work had vaguely mentioned that Sunagakure had, at one point, fought its way to the outskirts of Konoha.
It was also during this battle that Sasori of the Red Sands sent Kabuto Yakushi to Konoha as a spy.
With the original plot backing him up, Xuandou spoke with absolute confidence.
He addressed Danzo directly:
"You think Sunagakure poses no threat because you're ignorant and incompetent, Danzo!"
"I really don't know where you've spent all the funding the village allocated to your Root. How could you miss intelligence this important?"
"If you ask me, Danzo, if you're going to keep taking funding without doing any work, you might as well resign and let the village allocate that funding to us Uchiha. We would definitely do better than you!"
Provoked like this by Xuandou, Danzo was so furious that his chest heaved violently.
"You damned Uchiha brat! You... you..."
But Xuandou gave him no chance to say more, cutting him off directly:
"I'm telling you, I, Uchiha Xuantou, am certain that Sunagakure will launch a surprise attack on our Land of Fire, and the target will very likely be the Kikyo Mountain outpost on the Land of Fire's border."
"If our defensive line collapses because of your negligence, Danzo, can you bear that responsibility?"
As soon as Xuandou finished speaking, Hiruzen's pupils involuntarily contracted.
Because he really had received an Anbu intelligence scroll yesterday, and the ninja who submitted it claimed there were suspected traces of enemy ninja in the direction of Kikyo Mountain.
But without more substantial evidence, the danger level had ultimately been set at only C-rank.
Hiruzen had not paid much attention to it either, simply setting the report aside.
Now, judging by Xuandou's analysis, could there be more to this?
Meanwhile, Danzo, who had been about to rebuke Xuandou, saw Hiruzen's expression and immediately felt a sense of foreboding.
What did that expression mean, Hiruzen?
Could this damned Uchiha brat have been right again?
Sure enough, Hiruzen slowly spoke:
"Yesterday, I did receive a report submitted by Anbu Ninja stationed near Kikyo Mountain. It mentioned suspected traces of enemy ninja nearby."
The meeting room instantly fell silent again.
Danzo's face turned livid.
The others' gazes toward Xuandou also shifted from their initial contempt to solemnity and even wariness.
After all, although the Uchiha were powerful fighters, most of them were not particularly bright, so there was no need to be wary of them.
But now that such a quick-witted young Uchiha had suddenly appeared, they had no choice but to be cautious.
Even Hiruzen felt somewhat helpless.
Was this boy named Xuandou really an Uchiha?
Had he not personally seen Xuandou's Sharingan, he would have suspected that a Nara Clan child had been switched at birth.
The meeting finally ended in haste amid a delicate atmosphere.
The major ninja clans were all eager to verify the truth of what Xuandou had said during the meeting.
Xuandou's thoughts raced as he walked home.
Presumably, he had now left a deep impression on Konoha High Command.
What he needed to do next was wait for things to develop, then seize the opportunity to earn merits that would support his bid to become Uchiha Clan Head.
Of course, before the Battle of Kikyo Pass fully unfolded, what he needed most was to improve his own strength.
Personal strength was indispensable if he wanted to earn military merits on the battlefield.
To become the head of the Uchiha Clan, he would at least need power approaching Kage Level.
His current strength was only that of an ordinary Jōnin.
And for now, quickly improving his strength still depended on completing system missions.
"A kunoichi willing to dual cultivate with me... who should I look for?"
With these thoughts, he had already returned home.
Just as he arrived, another knock sounded at the door.
An Anbu stood outside:
"Uchiha Xuantou, Lord Hokage summons you."
Xuandou looked thoughtful at those words.
The Hokage was summoning him?
He dared not delay and hurried to the Hokage's office.
"Uchiha Xuantou reporting, Lord Hokage!"
"Oh, Xuandou, you're here."
Hiruzen set down the intelligence report in his hands.
"Your analysis at the meeting was excellent."
"You flatter me, Lord Hokage. Political analysis is precisely what we Uchiha excel at."
Even with Hiruzen's considerable self-control, the corners of his mouth could not help twitching at Xuandou's reply.
A little praise, and it had already gone to his head?
Had the Nara Clan said something like that, he would have believed it.
The Uchiha? Forget it.
He stopped exchanging nonsense with Xuandou, instead taking out a mission scroll and handing it to him with a solemn expression:
"Since you raised the potential danger at Kikyo Mountain, I've decided to send you to conduct a detailed intelligence investigation nearby."
"This mission is S-rank!"
Xuandou's heart tightened slightly, and he accepted it with both hands.
"Of course, considering that you've only recently been promoted to Jōnin and have yet to form a suitable team, I've arranged a partner for you."
As he spoke, Hiruzen turned toward the door and said:
"Come in."
The door was pushed open.
A kunoichi with a graceful figure had pushed the door open and entered.
Xuandou looked over, and his eyes could not help lighting up.
The kunoichi wore a tight-fitting combat outfit, its fabric hugging every contour of her body and rising and falling gently with her breathing, her full curves faintly showing.
The combat outfit cinched neatly at her high waist, outlining her slender waistline even more sexily.
The hip-hugging miniskirt she wore below likewise clung tightly to the curves of her waist and hips, its hem ending at mid-thigh and revealing long, snow-white legs as she walked.
Most striking were her eyes: crimson irises, clear yet carrying a soft allure and languor, with a distinctive, utterly natural charm in every shifting glance.
She was like a vivid rose, making one unable to resist the urge to ravage her fiercely.
Xuandou suppressed the stirrings in his heart and thought, A target for unlocking "Many children, many blessings"... hasn't she just arrived?