Shikaboshi Nara slowly rose to his feet, folded his arms across his chest, and smiled mysteriously. "I know you're all powerful warriors who fought your way through the Warring States period. None of you lack the courage to fight. But think about it. Even if we go to war with the Senju Clan, we might lose, while the Senju Clan will definitely suffer over ninety percent casualties. What good would that outcome do us? Wouldn't the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan be the ones to benefit in the end? Remember, Konoha has plenty of clans: the Hatake Clan, the Aburame Clan, the Inuzuka Clan... There are hundreds of them. Some support the Senju, some the Uchiha, and some the Hyuga." Shikaboshi spoke unhurriedly, sweeping his gaze over each of their faces.
"As the Sarutobi clan head said, Tobirama Senju is all but certain to become the Second Hokage." Shikaboshi paused before continuing, "Everyone knows that Tobirama Senju has overseen Konoha's political reforms these past few years. Hashirama Senju is Hokage in name only. Why did Madara Uchiha fight Hashirama Senju to the death? Their differing political positions were one reason, but Tobirama Senju's efforts to stir things up behind the scenes also played a major part. You can see how skillful Tobirama Senju is at politics from the way he forced Madara Uchiha to leave Konoha."
"What's the point of saying all this?" Dansuke Shimura interrupted impatiently, frowning, his face full of anxiety. "We're discussing how to deal with the Senju Clan. Why are you rambling about all this irrelevant stuff? Who doesn't know about it?"
"Be patient. Let the Nara Clan Head finish," Sasuke Sarutobi said, glaring at Dansuke with a hint of displeasure in his voice.
Seeing that no one else was going to interrupt, Shikaboshi Nara shook his head with a wry smile. "I've said all this to tell you that as long as Tobirama Senju is still with the Senju Clan, we must never show any inclination to resist. Otherwise, the best outcome we can hope for is that we all die, the Senju Clan suffers a devastating blow, and someone else profits in the end."
"Bullshit!" Kazuo Yamamoto flew into a rage at once. He slammed his hand down on the table, making the teacups jump. "Are we supposed to stand by and watch the Senju Clan grow stronger and stronger? They have the Land of Fire's best resources in their hands now. That bastard grandson of theirs, Senju Yasuhei, that Gold-Swallowing Beast, has spent as much as seven billion ryo over the years. My entire clan, with several thousand people, hasn't spent as much as he has. Is that fair?" Kazuo's face was red with anger, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
"Exactly. If we do nothing, our room to survive will only shrink until we have no choice but to become their vassals. I'll never let that happen." Sansho Sato also stood and voiced loud agreement. "Nara Clan Head, are these the words of a wise man like you? They're no use at all!"
Sasuke Sarutobi stared fixedly at Shikaboshi Nara, his expression cold. "I don't think Clan Head Shikaboshi has finished yet, has he?" he said in a deep voice.
The other clan heads also turned fierce gazes on Shikaboshi Nara. They all wondered if this was the so-called wise man. All he did was talk like he was afraid to die. Who couldn't do that?
Shikaboshi Nara was secretly amused as he looked at these hot-tempered old fellows, thinking it was rather entertaining to tease them. So he deliberately kept them in suspense. "What good does losing your tempers at me do? If you've got the guts, why not take your swords to the Senju Clan and argue it out with them right now? Haven't I made myself clear enough? Even if we win a direct confrontation with the Senju Clan, both sides will suffer, and someone else will profit in the end. Besides, we don't stand a chance of winning in the first place."
"Then what way do you have to avoid both sides getting hurt?" Dansuke Shimura asked coldly, his face dark, though a hint of anticipation showed in his eyes.
"You really don't make things easy. At a time like this, you're still keeping us in suspense." Momiji Yamanaka shook her head with a wry smile. "Just tell us your plan. Keep playing around like this, and these clan heads might lose their tempers with you."
The other clan heads all urged him on as well. "Out with it! Stop keeping us in suspense and tell us your plan!"
Shikaboshi Nara rubbed his nose and smiled. "Given Konoha's current situation, I have three rather unpolished plans." He paused deliberately and continued only after seeing everyone staring at him expectantly. "The first is called the Parasite Plan, the second is driving the tiger to devour the wolf, and the third is pulling the firewood from under the cauldron."
When Sasuke Sarutobi heard this, he nearly jumped to his feet in his eagerness. "Hurry up and explain! Stop keeping us in suspense. Old fellows like us can't take this kind of treatment. Our hearts can't stand it!"
The atmosphere in the conference room was so oppressive it was hard to breathe. Shikaboshi Nara sat in the seat of honor, tapping his fingers lightly on the table out of boredom, his eyes full of impatience. Looking at the clan heads gathered there, who usually carried themselves with such an air of righteousness, he sneered inwardly. At the mention of something important, these old fellows became as restless as ants on a hot pan.
Shikaboshi Nara cleared his throat and spoke slowly, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority. "You all know what parasites are, right? They survive by attaching themselves to powerful creatures and feeding on their nutrients. That's what we're going to do too. The first step of the plan is to attach ourselves to the Senju Clan, suck their blood, and strengthen ourselves. Once we're strong enough, dealing with the Senju Clan will be a piece of cake." A vicious glint flashed in his eyes as he said this, and his lips curled into a cold smile. He clenched his right hand hard in the air, as if he already held the Senju Clan in his grasp.
Dansuke Shimura's previously relaxed body instantly tensed. He sat bolt upright as if a spring had propelled him, his face full of concern and urgency. Leaning forward, he unconsciously clenched his hands and asked at once, "How do we attach ourselves to the Senju Clan? And how do we feed on their nutrients? The Senju Clan aren't fools, especially Tobirama Senju. That fellow is shrewd. We might try to steal a chicken only to lose the rice we used to lure it, and end up being swallowed by the Senju Clan instead."
Shikaboshi Nara couldn't help laughing, the mockery in his laughter echoing through the sealed room. He stood, folded his arms, and paced unhurriedly across the room, his leather shoes clicking crisply against the floor. "Dansuke, you're overthinking it. Our plan is an open scheme. We can lay it right in front of Tobirama Senju, and all he can do is stare. There's no way for him to counter it." As he spoke, he walked over to Dansuke, leaned down slightly, and looked him in the eye. "The situation in Konoha couldn't be clearer. The Senju Clan stands above everyone else. Even with the Uchiha and the Hyuga joining forces, they can barely stand against them. And we're the crucial weight that tips the scales. Whichever side we join is sure to win. If we go to the Senju Clan for support now, they won't dare refuse us. Once they accept us, they'll have to give us resources. Otherwise, who would dare seek their protection in the future? Once this parasitic relationship is established, we'll share the benefits and leave them to bear the trouble. In time, the Senju Clan will be meat on our chopping block, ready for us to carve however we please!" Shikaboshi grew more excited as he spoke, a greedy light flashing in his eyes. He chopped one hand fiercely through the air, as if he had already carved up the Senju Clan entirely.
Sasuke Sarutobi scratched his head, his face full of confusion and his eyes bewildered. He opened his mouth and hesitated, but finally summoned the courage to ask, "What if the Senju Clan sends us charging into battle but refuses to share the benefits with us? What do we do then?"
Shikaboshi Nara threw back his head and laughed, the hearty sound sending chills down the spine. He strode over to Sasuke Sarutobi and patted him heavily on the shoulder. "Sasuke, you're still too green. You don't understand how lonely it is at the top. First, the Senju Clan's so-called thousand years of honor are a shackle that forces them to charge ahead. Second, they're so stubborn that whenever something happens, all they know is to grit their teeth and rush in. Third, we'll be acting under the banner of Konoha's villagers, so they'll be even less able to back down. For those three reasons, once a war between nations breaks out, the Senju Clan will have to throw lives at it! When most of them are dead, could the resources they leave behind possibly end up in the hands of the Uchiha and the Hyuga? Won't they go to us, the people who chant the Will of Fire every day?" As Shikaboshi spoke, an expression of absolute confidence appeared on his face. He planted his hands on his hips, as if he already stood at the pinnacle of power in Konoha.
"Brilliant, truly brilliant!" The clan heads applauded and praised him, their faces full of admiration as they looked at Shikaboshi Nara with obsequious, flattering gazes.
Dansuke Shimura's face flushed red with excitement, his eyes shining with impatience. He shot to his feet, waved his hands, and shouted, "Quick, tell us what the second plan is! I can't wait!"
Shikaboshi Nara slowly returned to his seat, picked up his tea, blew on it gently, and took an unhurried sip, deliberately whetting everyone's appetite. After quite a while, he finally put down the cup, folded his arms across his chest, and leaned back slightly. "The second step is driving the tiger to devour the wolf. This plan has two parts." He held up two fingers and waved them, a sinister smile appearing on his face.
"First, here in Konoha, we stir up trouble and do everything we can to sow discord between the Senju Clan, the Uchiha, and the Hyuga. Those clans are rivals to begin with. They've long been red-eyed with envy over the fight to be the number one clan. And who doesn't covet the others' Kekkei Genkai? With a little manipulation, we can make them fight each other and become mortal enemies who won't rest until the others are dead!" As Shikaboshi spoke, he mimed fighting with his hands in the air, the malice on his face growing more pronounced, as if he could already see the bloody scene of the three clans slaughtering one another.
"Second, look outside Konoha. The Land of Fire has fertile soil, and our people live comfortably. Now look at the other countries. The Land of Wind eats sand, the Land of Earth gnaws on rocks, the people of the Land of Lightning are baked black as charcoal, and the Land of Water is a tiny patch of land. They've been drooling over our good life in the Land of Fire for ages. If they weren't wary of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, they'd have attacked long ago. Hashirama Senju was even foolish enough to give them Tailed Beasts. Just wait. Once he dies, those countries will surely come at us. When that happens, the Senju Clan will take the lead, while we watch from the sidelines and occasionally shout a few words of encouragement. How many Senju will have to die to drive those vicious wolves away?" As Shikaboshi spoke, he wore the expression of someone looking forward to a show, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
Everyone shuddered at his words. This plan was clearly intended to drive the Senju Clan into a dead end!
A cold smile curved Shikaboshi Nara's lips. He held up one finger and said coldly, "The last plan is pulling the firewood from under the cauldron..." He paused, a trace of resolve and madness flashing in his eyes, as if he could already see the Senju Clan falling apart under his scheme. "This move will ensure the Senju Clan can never rise again!"