"Ah..."
Seeing the Aburame clan head's expression, the Third Hokage sighed inwardly as well.
Of course he could tell the man was already angry, but he had no choice. For Konoha's ultimate victory, he still had to be the villain.
"I hope you can send people to reinforce the Iwagakure front once more!"
After hesitating for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to say it anyway.
After all, if he did not bring up something like this, who would? Danzo was not here now, and no one else could say it for him. He could only say it himself.
"I'm sorry, Lord Hokage, but the Aburame Clan has no more people to spare. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
The Aburame clan head had no intention of continuing to send his clansmen to the battlefield. The Aburame Clan members sent to the Iwagakure front already amounted to nearly a tenth of their clan.
Of course, that referred to their number of ninja. There were still plenty of ordinary clan members.
"Hatake Sakumo will also be going to the Iwagakure front!"
The Third Hokage had anticipated that the Aburame clan head would do this and spoke between puffs of smoke.
"Hatake Sakumo will be going to the Iwagakure front too?"
The Aburame clan head, whose hand was already on the doorknob, suddenly turned around, his gaze changing.
"That's right. Sakumo will go to Iwagakure. Sunagakure's defeat is already certain, so I intend to transfer Sakumo to Iwagakure to crush them quickly."
After finishing, the Third Hokage faced the Aburame clan head.
"If it's Lord Hatake Sakumo... I agree to send another forty Aburame ninja. And... I will also go to the battlefield myself!"
The Aburame clan head's words drew sidelong glances from the other clan heads. They had not expected him to be so bold. Despite being a clan head, he actually intended to go to the battlefield himself!
After speaking, the Aburame clan head returned to his seat.
The Aburame clan head did not want to give the Third Hokage face, but he did want to give Hatake Sakumo face. After all, he believed Hatake Sakumo was certain to be the next Hokage.
The Aburame clan head felt that his relationship with the Third Hokage was nothing special, but Hatake Sakumo was different. He was still young. As long as he built a good relationship with him, would he lack benefits once Sakumo took office?
"The Hyuga Clan has no objections either. We can send another fifty branch family Chunin and ten branch family Jonin!"
Seeing that even the Aburame clan head had no objections, the Hyuga clan head no longer intended to ask the Third Hokage for anything.
He had only intended to see what stance the Aburame Clan took in the first place. If they asked for something, he would too. But since they had not, he did not intend to either.
"The Akimichi Clan agrees to send ninja."
After the Akimichi clan head spoke, the heads of the other two clans stood behind him, their meaning self-evident.
"The Nara Clan will send a few more people this time to complete the Ino-Shika-Cho formation. And the three of us will also go to the battlefield!"
The Nara clan head, Nara Shikaku, spoke up.
The Yamanaka clan head, Yamanaka Hoshi, and the Akimichi clan head, Akimichi Chodai, both nodded.
"The Inuzuka Clan will send one hundred ninja, and I will also go to the battlefield myself!"
The Inuzuka clan head had not originally intended to go to the battlefield, but when he heard that Hatake Sakumo would be coming, he saw it as a perfect opportunity to build a good relationship. He could not miss it!
"The Uchiha Clan will provide another ten ninja with mitsudomoe, along with my own son, Uchiha Fugaku!"
Not to be outdone, the Uchiha Clan Head directly declared his show of sincerity.
Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi did not look particularly happy. Instead, his expression grew calmer.
Has your prestige already surpassed mine? Sakumo...
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, then began smoking.
He simply sat there quietly, watching the clan heads argue, but his thoughts were entirely occupied by Hatake Sakumo.
He had expected things to go smoothly, but not this smoothly. So smoothly... that he had even grown wary of Hatake Sakumo!
The next day.
The Sunagakure front.
"Lord Sakumo, Lord Hokage has sent you a letter!"
Just as Hatake Sakumo and those inside were discussing how to crush Sunagakure completely, a ninja entered from outside, knelt on one knee, and respectfully handed the letter to Hatake Sakumo.
"A letter from the old man? Too bad it's not for me!"
Remembering the dozens of letters the old man had read without replying to, Jiraiya spread his hands helplessly.
He was terribly bored here. He could neither peep nor visit prostitutes. His daily entertainment consisted of seeking out Tsunade, getting beaten up, and then writing letters to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
At first, he had still received replies, but later, for some reason, the old man had stopped replying altogether-not even a single word. Just thinking about it made Jiraiya angry!
"A letter? Let me see..."
Hatake Sakumo reached out, took the letter, and examined it closely.
"This..."
Hatake Sakumo's expression had already begun changing as he read, and by the time he finished, it was noticeably different.
"Sakumo, what happened?"
Tsunade stepped forward to ask.
"Read it yourself."
Hatake Sakumo handed the letter to Tsunade while he mulled over what he had just read.
"A major defeat on the Iwagakure front? They need Hatake Sakumo to go there?"
After reading it, Tsunade cried out in disbelief.
Orochimaru and Shimura Danzō were both on the Iwagakure front, yet a single person had turned the tide of battle?
Tsunade had not overlooked Didaze. All she saw was his strength. Whether it was his Kekkei Genkai or his tactics, she could tell that he was someone with an extremely keen sense for combat.
"It looks like I need to head to the Iwagakure front. I'll leave things here to you. As long as you proceed steadily, Sunagakure won't be able to mount any effective counteroffensive."
Hatake Sakumo intended to head to the Iwagakure front immediately. Compared with the overwhelming advantage on his own side, the losing battle over there needed him more.
Hatake Sakumo had always been someone who saw the bigger picture.
"Go, then. But you must be careful of that man named Didaze. He's definitely not simple. Even you might..."
Tsunade did not finish, but her meaning could not have been clearer.
Although others saw Hatake Sakumo as an invincible god of war, she knew how many times he had been injured. Leaving aside earlier battles, in his fight against the Third Kazekage alone, while the Third Kazekage had been gravely wounded, Hatake Sakumo had hardly fared much better.
It was only because Hatake Sakumo had a healer like Tsunade that he had recovered in a few days, whereas Sunagakure needed a month or two to treat the Third Kazekage.
With one side gaining as the other lost ground, Hatake Sakumo appeared to be an invincible god of war.
"All right, I'm leaving. Make sure you keep Sunagakure in check. Don't give them any opportunities!"
After that final reminder, Hatake Sakumo immediately set off.
He needed to return to the village as quickly as possible, then head straight to the Iwagakure front.
After all, time waited for no one. If he arrived even a second late, the Iwagakure front might come under a surprise attack!
Konoha.
"This Explosion Release... was it really this powerful?"
After staying up all night studying Didaze's Ninjutsu, Hiruzen Sarutobi voiced his doubts.
He had not expected Explosion Release to be so powerful. Even if he faced Didaze himself, with his opponent having no hidden moves and only the Ninjutsu recorded in the battle report, he would still find it difficult to defeat him.
He also put aside his initial contempt and began treating Didaze as an opponent who deserved serious attention.