After chatting with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and settling their future positions and division of authority within Konoha High Command, Gengetsu promptly said his goodbyes and left.
As he watched Gengetsu's retreating figure gradually disappear down the street, Inoichi Yamanaka still spoke with a trace of unconcealable worry.
"Shikaku, are we really siding with Gengetsu just like that?!"
Clearly, Inoichi Yamanaka still had grave reservations about staking his entire clan's fate on Gengetsu so early.
After all, those three old geezers, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura, had spent decades building their influence in Konoha. Their students and former subordinates filled every department, and their foundations ran unfathomably deep.
The struggle between the two sides had only just begun, and the outcome remained uncertain. If the Ino-Shika-Cho chose the wrong side, they could face utter destruction.
Hearing Inoichi Yamanaka's concerns, Chōza Akimichi, who sat beside him, also turned a solemn gaze toward Shikaku Nara.
"Exactly! Shikaku, is this really going to be all right?!"
Faced with his two old friends' questions, Shikaku Nara took a deep breath, his expression more serious than ever.
"Inoichi, Chōza, I know what you're worried about."
"I'm not sure either whether Gengetsu can match Hiruzen Sarutobi and those old foxes in political maneuvering and established influence..."
"But there's one thing I know very well! With the terrifying strength Gengetsu has displayed and the Uchiha Clan behind him, they could easily destroy all of Konoha in a single night!"
At those words, Inoichi Yamanaka and Chōza Akimichi both sucked in a sharp breath, their pupils abruptly contracting.
Destroy Konoha!
Had anyone else said that, they would have considered it a complete joke. But remembering those scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan from earlier made their scalps prickle.
"I never imagined Gengetsu would actually obtain that legendary power..."
"That was the power Madara Uchiha once possessed!"
Inoichi Yamanaka swallowed, still shaken. "Yes! That power was truly terrifying."
The three Ino-Shika-Cho clans were ancient shinobi clans that had survived since the Warring States Period.
Although the three men had been born too late to witness the legendary Madara Uchiha's true power themselves,
the ancient scrolls passed down through their clans had taught them better than anyone just how terrifying his power had been.
It was an immensely terrifying power that could easily devastate heaven and earth, something ordinary shinobi could never counter through numbers alone.
In the entire Shinobi World, only the former First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, revered as the God of Shinobi, had been able to stand against it.
And now, Uchiha Gengetsu possessed the power Madara Uchiha had once wielded.
As for the Senju Clan, it had fallen into complete decline, with no one inheriting Wood Release.
Without the Senju Clan to keep him in check, Uchiha Gengetsu, with his Mangekyō Sharingan, was invincible within Konoha.
"Before absolute power, all schemes and tricks are futile."
Shikaku Nara drained the sake in his cup, his gaze becoming utterly resolute as he spoke.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others are still caught up in the political games of the past, unaware that Gengetsu could overturn the board at any moment. Siding with Gengetsu now is our only way to survive!"
Hearing Shikaku Nara's thorough analysis, Inoichi Yamanaka and Chōza Akimichi completely set aside their misgivings and nodded firmly.
Just then, Shikaku Nara seemed to suddenly remember something, and his expression turned serious.
"Right, there's one more thing!"
"When you get back, make sure you train more clansmen skilled in administration over the coming days! Train as many as you can, and don't worry about spending resources!"
At Shikaku Nara's unexpected request, Inoichi Yamanaka and Chōza Akimichi both froze, their faces full of confusion.
"People skilled in administration?! What for?"
Chōza Akimichi asked in puzzlement.
"Haven't we Ino-Shika-Cho always handled combat and intelligence?"
"Exactly! Shikaku, suddenly training so many administrators will shift our clans' focus."
Inoichi Yamanaka also questioned him in bewilderment.
"I have a feeling that all of Konoha, perhaps even the entire Land of Fire, may undergo an enormous upheaval!"
Shikaku Nara clasped his hands on the table and lowered his voice.
As Konoha's acknowledged brains, Shikaku Nara truly lived up to his reputation as a strategist of the highest caliber.
During his conversation with Gengetsu earlier, Shikaku Nara had keenly sensed Gengetsu's deep-seated disdain and contempt for the daimyō.
Shikaku Nara had no doubt that Gengetsu might truly move against the daimyō and shatter the "one country, one village" structure that had endured in the Shinobi World for centuries upon centuries.
Once the Daimyō's Residence fell, the entire power structure of the Land of Fire would face a complete reshuffling.
At that point, Konoha would take over the entire Land of Fire, requiring an enormous number of administrators to fill the vacancies.
If the Ino-Shika-Cho prepared in advance, they would reap unimaginable rewards amid this unprecedented upheaval.
Day after day passed.
Under Gengetsu's leadership as the Fifth Hokage, all of Konoha was rapidly recovering.
The Uchiha Clan, in particular, played a crucial role.
Proud to their very bones, the Uchiha Clan showed no favoritism after taking over the various departments. Anyone who dared cut corners or shirk their duties at work was immediately subjected to severe punishment.
Under such efficient management, the rubble left by the Nine-Tails' Rampage was quickly cleared away, new buildings rose from the ground, and the entire village developed at an unprecedented pace.
Yet just as Konoha was getting back on track, a grand procession slowly arrived at the village gates.
The procession was extraordinarily lavish. At its center stood a huge, ornate palanquin carried by eight men, surrounded by fully armed guards bearing flags representing the Land of Fire's Daimyō's Residence.
This was none other than the daimyō's envoy's procession.
At Konoha's gates, the three former members of Konoha High Command-Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura-had arrived early with a large group of shinobi to wait.
As the palanquin was slowly lowered, a middle-aged man in luxurious clothing stepped out, his expression arrogant.
He was the daimyō's envoy, Fujiwara Takuya.
"Third Hokage, it's been a long time!"
Fujiwara Takuya stepped down from the palanquin and addressed Hiruzen Sarutobi, who stood at the very front, in a condescending tone.
In Fujiwara Takuya's eyes, even Konoha's Hokage was merely a warrior serving under the daimyō.
He himself, however, was the daimyō's envoy.
Naturally, Fujiwara Takuya assumed this lofty air.
Faced with Fujiwara Takuya's attitude, Hiruzen Sarutobi not only showed no anger but greeted him with a smile.
"Lord Fujiwara, welcome to Konoha! Thank you for making the arduous journey!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi adopted an extremely humble posture, displaying none of the bearing a Hokage should have.
After an exchange of insincere pleasantries, Fujiwara Takuya swept his gaze over the crowd and asked in confusion:
"I heard your village selected a Fifth Hokage a few days ago."
"Where is he? Why don't I see him anywhere?"
Hearing Fujiwara Takuya's questions, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and feigned helplessness. "Lord Fujiwara, I truly apologize. Lord Fifth is busy with official duties and hasn't come to welcome you."
At this, Fujiwara Takuya's brows drew sharply together, and his face instantly darkened.
He was the envoy of the Land of Fire's daimyō! He represented the daimyō of the Land of Fire.
Whenever he had visited Konoha on inspection before, both the Third and Fourth Hokage had always waited respectfully at the gates well in advance and welcomed him courteously.
Yet now, a newly appointed Fifth Hokage who had not even received the daimyō's formal investiture dared not come to welcome him?
This was nothing short of disregarding him and disrespecting the daimyō!
Seeing Fujiwara Takuya's ugly expression, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance, immediately seizing the opportunity to disparage Gengetsu.
"Please calm your anger, Lord Fujiwara!..."
"Gengetsu, our newly appointed Hokage, really has gone too far! His arrogance knows no bounds!"
"Indeed, Lord Fujiwara. The Uchiha Clan has always looked down on everyone, and Gengetsu is the foremost example. He has absolutely no regard for the daimyō!"
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura played off each other, every word stoking the envoy's anger toward Gengetsu.
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi said with feigned sincerity, "Advisers, please don't say that. The Fifth is still far too young, only in his teens. Perhaps he doesn't understand these rules and courtesies yet."
Far from soothing Fujiwara Takuya, Hiruzen Sarutobi's words instantly ignited his fury.
A teenage brat dared disregard the authority of the Daimyō's Residence just because he had some strength?
If he wasn't taught a lesson, how would the Daimyō's Residence keep Konoha under control in the future?
Fujiwara Takuya snorted coldly and shouted, "What an ill-mannered Fifth Hokage! Since he won't come to see me, I'll go teach him the rules of the Daimyō's Residence!"
With that, Fujiwara Takuya flung out his arm and headed toward the Hokage Building.
Watching Fujiwara Takuya's angry retreating figure, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two could not help smiling.
They knew their plan had succeeded.
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