"I think..."
Utatane Koharu fought down her anger and spoke earnestly.
"With the eastern front in crisis and the northern front still unsettled, fighting on two fronts would be truly unwise."
Uchiha Setsuna asked again.
"So?"
"Hiruzen, I think we should conclude the peace talks with Kumogakure as soon as possible."
Utatane Koharu simply ignored Uchiha Setsuna's sarcasm and looked straight at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Once the northern front stabilizes, we can free our hands to concentrate on Kirigakure."
At those words.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had yet to react.
But Uchiha Setsuna beside him could no longer hold back.
Bang!
Uchiha Setsuna slammed a hand onto the desk, the tremendous force making the teacups on it jump.
"Peace talks again?"
Uchiha Setsuna fixed his scarlet [Sharingan] on Utatane Koharu, his voice aged but full of vigor.
"Utatane Koharu, you and Mitokado Homura really do take after the same teacher!
"Is this the only trick you know whenever something happens?
"As far as I'm concerned, even Shimura Danzō has more guts than you!"
A little-known fact about Konoha.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura were all Tobirama Senju's students.
As for Shimura Danzō.
He was merely Tobirama Senju's subordinate.
To give an example.
Minato Namikaze's students included Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara.
But Genma Shiranui was only a member of his guard detail.
"Uchiha Setsuna!"
Unable to maintain her composed demeanor any longer, Utatane Koharu sprang to her feet.
"Watch your words! This is the Hokage's office, not your Uchiha Clan's Naka Shrine!"
"Am I wrong?"
Uchiha Setsuna refused to back down.
"When have peace talks with Kumogakure ever ended well for us?
"When have they not cost more of our Konoha comrades their lives for nothing?"
Utatane Koharu's aged face twitched violently several times, but she could not get