"The supplies for the ninja on the front lines must not be cut off. Homura, how is the matter of importing supplies from other villages coming along?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Mitokado Homura, who was responsible for the matter.
"Preparations are already underway. We've reached a preliminary agreement with the Land of Fields to import grain from them, and we'll import iron ore and other resources from the Land of Iron."
Mitokado Homura stood up and placed the documents he had just prepared that day on the table.
"Very good. That leaves just one problem: manpower. Clan heads, do you have any good ideas?" Hiruzen Sarutobi swept his gaze over them one by one.
Everyone his gaze landed on felt, to some degree, an urge to avoid it.
They knew Hiruzen Sarutobi was sending them a signal.
Since we're short on manpower, shouldn't major clans like yours take the lead?
You should see these things through to the end, shouldn't you?
If nothing else, shouldn't you send some people over?
"The Hyuga Clan can send fifty ninja to the front lines." Hyuga Hiashi glanced around and was the first to step forward.
With Hyuga Hiashi taking the lead, the others followed suit.
Since neither the Uchiha Clan nor the Senju Clan had anyone present, the Hyuga Clan, as the third-largest clan, naturally had to state its position first.
"Very good. Then what we need to vote on today is the personnel each major clan will send, and whether everyone else agrees. If you agree, each clan head should submit a list to me, and I'll coordinate the arrangements," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with satisfaction.
He knew these clans would not send their core forces. Most would be expendable pawns!
This was his chance to weaken these major clans!
"Does anyone have any other opinions? If not, clan heads, please begin voting," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with satisfaction. He had already achieved his goal for the day.
"The Hatake Clan has no objections," Sōkyū Hatake said first. The matter had little to do with him anyway, so he might as well go along with Hiruzen Sarutobi and let him believe that he truly had been on his side all along.
After all, the Hatake Clan had committed its entire strength, sending fifty percent of its members to war. That was the highest proportion of all.
The Hatake Clan only had two people: Kakashi Hatake and Sōkyū Hatake...
Seeing Sōkyū Hatake cast his vote in favor, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded without betraying anything. Sure enough, Sōkyū Hatake was a man of his word.
Casting a vote in favor at this moment showed everyone else that Sōkyū Hatake was a follower of Hiruzen Sarutobi!
Sure enough, after seeing Sōkyū Hatake's actions, Dangu Shimura, the head of the Shimura Clan, looked rather displeased.
Soon, with Sōkyū Hatake taking the lead, everyone else cast their votes as well.
Yes, it passed unanimously.
The matter had already been settled anyway. Voting against it now would do no good. It would hardly be worth it if Hiruzen Sarutobi held a grudge against them.
"Very good. Since there's nothing else, today's Council of Elders Meeting is hereby adjour-"
"Lord Fugaku, Lord Hokage is still presiding over the Council of Elders Meeting inside. You can't go in!" Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to conclude the meeting, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the door!
Uchiha Fugaku? What was he here for?
Shikaku Nara looked outside uncertainly. What was Uchiha Fugaku doing here at a time like this? No one from the Uchiha Clan had attended a Council of Elders Meeting in a long time.
"What's going on outside?" Hiruzen Sarutobi cut himself off and called toward the door.
"Lord Hokage, Lord Uchiha Fugaku wants to enter the office, but the Council of Elders Meeting is being held here, so I told him he couldn't come in!" An Anbu ninja soon came to Hiruzen Sarutobi's side and reported.
"Uchiha Fugaku wants to come in?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. What was he here for at this time?
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not notice the strange smile that appeared at the corner of Sōkyū Hatake's mouth as he sat beside Chōza Akimichi.
Just then, Sōkyū Hatake's body suddenly shuddered, and memories began appearing in his mind.
As he took in the memories sent back by his lightning clone, Sōkyū Hatake's eyes lit up.
The plan worked!
Uchiha Yenka was dead. Lightning had charred his entire body black, and even the Sharingan in his eyes had been gouged out.
Excellent. One more crime to pin on Kumogakure!
"Lord Hokage!" Just then, Uchiha Fugaku charged straight in and came right up to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Fugaku, what's the rush?" Upon seeing Uchiha Fugaku, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately put on his usual venerable expression.
"Lord Hokage, the Uchiha Clan wants to join the war!" Uchiha Fugaku said bluntly, his fists clenched as though he were restraining the killing intent within him.
"The Uchiha Clan wants to join the war?" Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow. The Uchiha Clan joining the war was the last thing he wanted.
Taking part in the war would increase the Uchiha Clan's chances of awakening their Sharingan, strengthening the clan.
"Yes! We cannot tolerate what Kumogakure has done to us!" Uchiha Fugaku said, his eyes bloodshot.
"What happened? Kumogakure?" Hiruzen Sarutobi had a bad feeling. What did this have to do with Kumogakure now?
"Kumogakure killed Uchiha Yenka, the grandson of our clan's grand elder, in the Forest of Death! They even gouged out his Sharingan!!!" A trail of bloody tears ran from the corner of Uchiha Fugaku's eye.
What?!
Uchiha Fugaku's words were like water splashing into a pan of hot oil, instantly sending the Council of Elders into an uproar.
If this was true, it was nothing short of blatant provocation!
This was no longer merely an issue for the Uchiha Clan. Konoha's honor was now at stake!
"Did this really happen in the Forest of Death?" Hiruzen Sarutobi kept feeling that something was wrong, but he still looked toward the Anbu ninja.
"Yes. The scene was much like last time, with lightning-nature chakra all around. Our preliminary assessment rules out ninja from the village," said the Anbu ninja who had just returned.
"Lord Hokage, the Uchiha Clan's membership in the Council of Elders has never been revoked. Now, I wish to put forward a motion as a member of the council!"
"The Uchiha Clan will join the war against Kumogakure, led by the grand elder and me! We will not stop until one side is dead!"
Before you continue