71-75

*Chapter 71: The New Leader*

A storm of change swept through, and a new era dawned.

The Hokage building, not the most artistic structure, still stood tall. After bidding farewell to the previous ruler, a new leader had taken their place. How long this new master would stay remained unknown, but alongside the towering Hokage Rock, it would witness more cycles of victories and defeats.

In the Hokage's office, sitting in a specially made, extra-wide and large new chair, was a massive figure. He wore the Hokage's hat and draped over his shoulders was the white Hokage robe. He had just returned from his inauguration ceremony. Although he was only the Acting Hokage, for the foreseeable future, he would be Konoha's supreme ruler.

No one dared to suggest simplifying the proceedings.

On the contrary, the ceremony was held with as much grandeur as possible, thanks to the strong support of various clans. The event even surpassed the Fourth Hokage's inauguration, which had taken place just after the end of the Third Great Ninja War, a time when Konoha was war-torn and far from the prosperity it now enjoyed.

"Have the arrangements been made?"

The Fifth Acting Hokage took off his hat, gently placing it on the desk, carefully brushing off invisible dust with great affection. These were all children who had grown up in Konoha, and students of the Second Hokage, at least in name. Many, like Danzo, had long dreamed of becoming Hokage, but most gave up on that dream, realizing the reality of their situation. Even Akimichi Torifu had accepted this.

He never imagined that, at his age, with one foot already in the grave, he would have a chance to achieve his dream of becoming Hokage.

Even if it was only "Acting."

But that still meant he was Hokage, didn’t it? Even when the true Fifth Hokage took over, his name would still be remembered in the history of Konoha.

"Yes, we’ve placed him in the northwest corner of the village, where the Root organization’s base used to be. The barrier team has set up a small barrier, and the guards from the Uchiha, Hyuga, and Aburame clans are all in position," Nara Shikaku respectfully replied.

"Guards, indeed," Akimichi Torifu nodded lightly. They certainly needed to protect the village from Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, who might act irrationally after his impeachment and forced retirement.

The question of how to deal with Sarutobi Hiruzen had stumped many in the village. Even though they had dug up all of Danzo’s dark deeds, there was little that could directly implicate Hiruzen. Sarutobi had mostly turned a blind eye to Danzo’s actions, neither condemning nor endorsing them. If successful, the glory was shared; if they failed, Danzo took the blame.

Of course, the evidence of wrongdoing was irrelevant. Creating incriminating evidence wasn’t difficult.

The real issue was Sarutobi's status as a former Hokage. No one dared suggest executing him. Throughout the history of the Five Great Ninja Villages, while some Kages had died in battle, been assassinated, or disappeared, none had ever been publicly executed.

Danzo had already been sentenced to death, and Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had been stripped of their advisory roles and sentenced to life imprisonment. Yet, a verdict for Sarutobi Hiruzen remained elusive.

In the end, Akimichi Torifu made the final decision. Sarutobi would receive the same punishment as his advisors—life imprisonment. The decision would not be made public, as Konoha couldn't afford the disgrace of tearing down a former Hokage. Would they also have to destroy his face on the Hokage Rock?

Konoha couldn’t endure such shame.

As Hyuga Hiashi had pointed out, while Sarutobi had made grievous mistakes, it couldn’t be denied that Konoha’s true prosperity had begun during his reign. His contributions could not be erased.

Thus, the best choice was to let Sarutobi Hiruzen leave this world quietly.

"Relay to the guards: No one is allowed near him without my permission—especially the heads of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans. Let them know not to make things difficult for me."

Nara Shikaku nodded. "The envoy from Kirigakure is causing trouble again. They’re demanding we give them an answer today or face war."

Akimichi Torifu furrowed his brow. His role as Acting Hokage was far from peaceful. On top of internal conflicts, there was now a looming threat of war with the Hidden Mist.

Even now, the envoy from Kirigakure remained in the village, issuing threats of war.

"I opposed Sarutobi’s decision to forgo war reparations after the Third War. Those ingrates would never appreciate our mercy; they only see us as weak! Now, even those sea dogs dare to bark at Konoha. Tell them that if it’s war they want, then war they shall have!"

Akimichi Torifu’s voice was filled with murderous intent.

Despite his round and friendly appearance, his temperament was anything but gentle. Like the Akimichi clan’s fighting style, they were known for their boldness and fearlessness.

But—

After his strong words, he found himself in a dilemma.

"Now, the biggest problem is... where do we get the troops?"

Akimichi Torifu rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

It had only been five or six years since the end of the Third Great Ninja War. That wasn’t enough time to fully replenish the losses from the war. And the Nine-Tails' attack had not only killed the Fourth Hokage but also claimed many ninja lives.

Konoha was still suffering from a shortage of manpower. After assuming office, Akimichi Torifu had taken stock of the village’s forces and found that he had less than 2,000 troops he could freely mobilize.

It wasn’t that Konoha was in such dire straits; it was that Konoha maintained a massive border defense force. To the northeast, they had to guard against the Hidden Cloud, to the northwest, the Hidden Stone, and to the west, the Hidden Sand. There was even a contingent stationed along the eastern coastline to watch for the Hidden Mist. This last group could be considered part of their available forces.

After maintaining the village’s internal defense, they could muster about 2,000 additional troops. Konoha’s reserves were still impressive.

"Shikaku, gather the clan leaders."

Akimichi Torifu gave his order.

Without the support of the major clans, this war with the Hidden Mist couldn’t happen.

(End of the chapter)

Chapter 72: Lost in the East, Gained in the West (Requesting Votes! Seeking Investments!)

The Konoha Police Department.

Inside the department head’s office.

Sōgen took a deep breath and untied the sack in front of him.

Inside the sack was an unconscious man. He had short black hair, no eyebrows, a cross-shaped scar on his right cheek, and red stripes painted on the lower half of his face... a face Sōgen vaguely recognized.

He rummaged through his memories.

It didn’t take long for him to recall the man’s identity.

"One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, wielder of the Decapitating Carving Knife... I didn’t expect it to be you." Sōgen chuckled softly, then looked up at Uchiha Akitaro, who was covered in dust and exhaustion. "Juzo Biwa, I didn’t expect you to bring me such a gift, Akitaro."

"It was just luck!"

Uchiha Akitaro straightened up and respectfully said, "I found him being chased by Mist Anbu. He killed the Anbu, but he was seriously injured in the process. It didn’t take much effort for me to subdue him with a genjutsu."

Akitaro knew Sōgen had the Great Sword Samehada in his possession, thinking that Sōgen might like the swords of the Mist. So, he brought Juzo Biwa and his sword back as a gift.

"I see. Then, Akitaro, it seems you’ve had some good fortune."

"This is nothing. I failed to complete the mission you gave me. This is my incompetence!" Akitaro bowed his head in shame. His pride wouldn’t allow him to make excuses. A failed mission was a failure, and capturing Juzo Biwa wouldn’t change that fact.

"You didn’t find any trace of the snake in the Land of Fields?"

"I searched every corner of the Land of Fields and found nothing suspicious. I even tried to reveal my identity on purpose, but no one took the bait." Akitaro had been sent on a secret mission to track down the rogue ninja, Orochimaru.

Don’t misunderstand,

Sōgen wasn’t interested in Orochimaru's dark experiments. He had his own path to follow now and didn’t need to seek other means. What Sōgen valued was Orochimaru himself, a perfect tool to eliminate his former master, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Killing the former Hokage with Uchiha hands would bring nothing but trouble for the clan.

For that reason,

Targeting Orochimaru wasn’t too surprising.

Whether using Kotoamatsukami to control Orochimaru or making a deal with him—so long as it resulted in getting rid of Sarutobi, anything would be worth it.

But—

"Was I too hopeful?"

Sōgen sighed softly but wasn’t too disappointed.

He knew from the start that this mission was a long shot, a gamble. Now it seemed Orochimaru wasn’t in the Land of Fields, meaning the so-called Village Hidden in the Sound was likely still just a dream of the future.

"Akitaro, this wasn’t your fault. I told you before that the intel I received wasn’t entirely reliable. This was always a needle-in-a-haystack situation. And besides, you didn’t return empty-handed. Juzo Biwa..."

Sōgen glanced at the unconscious Juzo Biwa in the sack, his mind racing. A bold idea suddenly struck him.

Perhaps...

Juzo Biwa could be of use?

If he remembered correctly, this guy had also attempted to assassinate the Mizukage. If he’s tried to kill one Kage, maybe it wouldn’t be so strange to have him try again with the former Hokage... But why didn’t the Akatsuki recruit him this time? Was something holding them back?

Sōgen stroked his chin, deep in thought.

He was right, in fact. The Akatsuki had been distracted by other matters.

Yes,

The chaos in Konoha.

Compared to a minor player like Juzo Biwa, Uchiha Obito and Zetsu naturally focused their attention on Konoha and the Uchiha clan. Whether Juzo Biwa joined the Akatsuki or not didn’t matter; a tool of his level wasn’t all that valuable.

In short,

By a twist of fate, Juzo Biwa, who should’ve joined the Akatsuki, was brought back to Konoha as a "gift."

"Akitaro, who knows that you brought this guy back to the village?" Sōgen asked.

Akitaro scratched his head and replied, "Since bringing Juzo Biwa directly into the village would have been inconvenient, I contacted Brother Ranzan. He escorted me back with some men. But they only know I brought back a person, not that it’s Juzo Biwa."

"As for the way back... I didn’t notice anyone suspicious from the village gate to the police department, but the Hyuga clan’s vision is far-reaching, and the Yamanaka clan’s sensory jutsu is troublesome..."

"It’s fine. As long as Juzo Biwa isn’t publicly linked to our clan, that’s enough."

Sōgen waved it off.

Since Juzo Biwa had been secretly brought into the village, Sōgen’s bold plan could be worth a try. The only issue was that, compared to Orochimaru, Juzo Biwa seemed a bit too weak for the job. Despite Sarutobi’s age, he could probably still handle Juzo Biwa with ease.

A dull blade wouldn’t cut cleanly.

He needed to think of a way to sharpen this tool.

"Akitaro, you’ve done well. Even though you didn’t find Orochimaru, I’ll gladly accept Juzo Biwa as your gift. When you leave, let Ranzan know to keep this matter secret. Don’t speak of it to anyone."

"Is this guy useful?" Akitaro asked, now a bit happier.

"Yes, he might be very useful."

Akitaro left in good spirits. He didn’t care what use Juzo Biwa had, as long as he hadn’t let Sōgen—no, the clan head—down. That was all the praise he needed.

Juzo Biwa was pulled out of the sack.

His condition was poor.

First, he was injured in his fight with the Mist Anbu, and then captured by Akitaro. If Akitaro hadn’t intended to bring back a live "gift," Juzo Biwa’s head would have been cut off then and there, leaving just the sword and body for convenience.

The bandages around Juzo Biwa’s abdomen were stained dark red, indicating his wounds had reopened.

Sōgen noticed Juzo Biwa’s unnaturally twisted left arm. The bone appeared to be broken, along with various smaller wounds. Nothing fatal, but troublesome. Sighing, Sōgen dragged the still-entranced Juzo Biwa to the sofa.

Then,

He began using medical ninjutsu to treat Juzo Biwa while pondering how to make this tool sharp enough to sever Sarutobi’s head. After thinking it over, he realized there was no quick fix. Trying to force rapid growth in someone was nearly impossible.

Breaking through one’s limits was even harder.

Expecting Juzo Biwa to grow strong enough to defeat Sarutobi in a short time was nothing but a dream.

"This is tricky!"

Sōgen set Juzo Biwa’s broken bones. Noticing that Juzo Biwa was starting to wake up, Sōgen simply pried open his eyelids and reinforced the genjutsu, plunging him into an even deeper illusion. Only someone with stronger illusion techniques than Sōgen could wake him now.

At that moment,

A knock came from outside the door.

"Minister, a messenger from the Hokage is here," a familiar voice called from outside.

"What is it?"

After about two seconds of silence, an unfamiliar voice replied, "Uchiha Clan Head, the Hokage has requested your presence at an emergency meeting at the Hokage Tower. It’s regarding the Mist Village, and you are asked to attend promptly."

"I understand. Please inform the Hokage that the Uchiha clan won’t let him down."

"Yes!"

The messenger’s presence disappeared from outside the door.

Sōgen regretfully glanced at the unconscious Juzo Biwa. He had intended to spend more time figuring out how to make use of him, but it seemed that would have to wait. He couldn’t refuse the acting Hokage’s summons.

And besides, they mentioned the Mist Village.

He had to take that seriously.

Sōgen knew that the conflict between Konoha and the Mist was just a front. The real masterminds behind it all were Uchiha Obito and Black Zetsu. Even if it was only to stay on guard against the dangerous Obito, he had to pay attention to the Mist’s movements.

Speaking of which,

Juzo Biwa’s mind probably held plenty of information about the Hidden Mist.

"Chihaya."

Sōgen called out.

In less than a second, Uchiha Chihaya, his secretary, used Body Flicker to appear directly in the office.

"Go find Ranzan and tell him to come here."

Chihaya gave a small nod and disappeared. In less than three minutes, Uchiha Ranzan pushed open the office door and walked in. The moment he stepped inside, he complained, "Another problem? I haven’t been home in three days. Can’t you let me rest for once?"

"Haha!"

Sōgen let out a dry laugh and awkwardly said, "Well, the capable should do more work, right?"

"I’m already pushing the fast horse to death! Sooner or later, I'll collapse at my desk!" Uchiha Ranzan took a deep breath and sighed, "Alright, enough with the nonsense. Just get to the point, will you?"

"He’s temporarily in your care. Keep it confidential. I don't want too many people knowing he ever fell into our clan's hands."

Sōgen decisively pointed at Juzo Biwa.

Confidential?

Uchiha Ranzan quickly connected the dots and realized, "This is the 'gift' that brat Akitaro brought back, isn’t it?" So, the plan was to use this poor guy that Akitaro captured to stir up some trouble? Knowing Sōgen's past, he was aware that whenever Sōgen acted mysteriously, it never led to anything good.

But,

The ones who get hurt are always the enemies anyway.

"I got it! I’ll handle it."

Uchiha Ranzan nodded in agreement.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 73: This Is Impossible! (!)*

It was 3 p.m.

The location: the conference room in the Hokage Tower.

The attendees were the acting Fifth Hokage, Torifū Akimichi, the Uchiha Clan Head, Uchiha Sōgen, the Hyūga Clan Head, Hyūga Hiashi, and over thirty other clan leaders, including Shibi Aburame, Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Chōza Akimichi, Tsume Inuzuka, and Kurama Tsumuyun.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the war with Kirigakure (the Hidden Mist Village).

Torifū Akimichi didn't beat around the bush. The acting Hokage, known for his straightforward personality, bluntly explained the village’s dire situation regarding a lack of manpower. He stated that the upcoming war with the Hidden Mist would require the combined efforts of all the clans.

“...That’s the situation. Does anyone still not understand?”

Torifū scanned the room and asked loudly.

Naturally, no one responded. Torifū had explained things clearly enough that it would be hard to believe anyone didn’t understand.

After waiting for a moment and seeing no one speak, he continued, “Since everyone understands, I won’t go around asking individually. Please tell me how much military strength each of you can contribute to this war.” His gaze then shifted to Uchiha Sōgen and Hyūga Hiashi, the two closest to him.

“The Uchiha Clan can send thirty Jōnin,” Sōgen said without hesitation.

His attitude had been firm from the beginning. The Uchiha had never feared war, and to demonstrate that resolve, he offered up a significant portion of the clan’s top fighters. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the heavy costs of war. “Additionally, I want to be the supreme commander in charge of this war against the Hidden Mist.”

That was Sōgen’s plan—he intended to personally lead and control the war effort.

“Thirty Jōnin? Impressive, as expected from the Uchiha Clan!”

“That’s... an incredible number!”

“Is Konoha’s strongest clan stepping up?”

The smaller clan leaders whispered to each other. Torifū allowed them to discuss quietly, as long as they didn’t disrupt the meeting. He was satisfied with Sōgen’s support and shifted his attention to Hyūga Hiashi.

“The Hyūga Clan can also send thirty Jōnin.”

Hiashi didn’t disappoint Torifū.

Like Sōgen, Hiashi also offered thirty Jōnin, not just for appearances. He hadn’t forgotten the Byakugan stolen by Kirigakure. As long as that eye wasn’t recovered, the Hyūga Clan’s shame couldn’t be erased.

Torifū’s mood brightened further.

That was sixty Jōnin already, an impressive number. With an additional one or two thousand Chūnin and Genin, they could form a full army.

“The Aburame Clan can send ten Jōnin.”

“The Yamanaka Clan can send ten Jōnin.”

...

As the clan leaders continued reporting their numbers, they became smaller, which was expected. Although many of these clans were not much smaller than the Uchiha or Hyūga in terms of population, the number of Jōnin didn’t always correspond to the size of a clan.

The Uchiha Clan, for example, had a natural advantage. Once they awakened the Sharingan, their strength grew rapidly, producing many young Jōnin.

The Hyūga Clan also had an inherent advantage, with every member able to awaken the Byakugan. Even those with average talent could become Chūnin with hard work, and the gifted ones had no trouble becoming Jōnin.

Other clans couldn’t compare to these natural advantages!

When all the clan leaders had spoken, Torifū accepted a slip of paper handed to him. After glancing at the tally, his face lit up. “Two hundred twenty-seven Jōnin! Haha! Looks like we’ll be giving the Hidden Mist a harsh lesson this time!”

The acting Hokage burst out laughing.

“Now, the next matter is selecting the commander for this war.” After laughing, Torifū cleared his throat and returned to the main topic. His gaze wandered between Hiashi, Shibi Aburame, and the others. “Besides Uchiha Clan Head, is there anyone else who wishes to take command?”

He asked three times.

No one responded.

Seeing Sōgen so confidently seated, no one dared to challenge him for the role of supreme commander. His near-destruction of the ROOT division had left a lasting impression.

Moreover, being the supreme commander wasn’t something anyone could handle. Kirigakure was no pushover. Uchiha Sōgen might look down on them, but the others didn’t share that confidence. If they underestimated the Mist Village and suffered a defeat, it wouldn’t be surprising. After all, during the Third Great Ninja War, the Hyūga Clan had suffered a humiliating loss at Kirigakure’s hands.

That was the first time a Byakugan had fallen into enemy hands.

The shame still haunted the Hyūga Clan to this day.

“Since no one else is stepping forward... Uchiha Clan Head, I entrust the war effort against Kirigakure to you,” Torifū decisively handed the responsibility to Sōgen.

He had seriously considered other candidates for supreme commander, but after reviewing the options, he couldn’t find anyone more suitable than Uchiha Sōgen or Hyūga Hiashi.

The Leaf had lost too many talented shinobi over the years—White Fang’s suicide, the collapse of the Sannin, and the early death of the Yellow Flash...

Uchiha Sōgen, despite his youth, was a standout candidate. Besides, Kirigakure’s pretext for starting this war was directly related to him—specifically, the large sword, Samehada, in his possession.

On top of that, the Mist envoy had been captured by Sōgen, which had triggered the Mist’s declaration of war.

“Rest assured, Hokage-sama. I will return with victory and honor,” Sōgen declared with unwavering confidence.

His conviction raised the spirits of many in the room. The Uchiha’s strength on the battlefield certainly inspired confidence!

“I’ll be looking forward to it!” Torifū replied with a smile.

A major victory during his tenure as acting Hokage would certainly secure his place in Konoha’s history.

“By the way, Hokage-sama, besides the Jōnin, how many troops can the village allocate to me?” Sōgen asked.

“...Less than two thousand,” Torifū’s smile faltered slightly, but he didn’t hide the truth.

“I know that’s a small number, but it’s all we have. Of course, I can try to pull together enough to make it a full two thousand.” His gaze shifted to the other clan leaders, implying that they should provide more Chūnin and Genin.

“No need for that. The Sarutobi, Shimura, Mitokado, Koharu, Kazama, and Ise clans can provide an additional 1,500 troops,” Sōgen said calmly.

His words were like oil on fire.

The conference room erupted in chaos.

“This is impossible!”

The Sarutobi Clan Head jumped up in shock and anger, his face turning red with rage.

He wasn’t the only one. The other clan leaders were equally furious, glaring at Uchiha Sōgen... except for the Shimura Clan Head, who resignedly remained seated.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 74: I Will Never Allow You to Tarnish the Name of the Third Hokage!

“Why not?”

Sougen sat in his chair, his hand resting on the armrest, chin slightly raised, and eyes cold as ice as he gazed at the furious protestors, as if watching a group of unruly children throwing tantrums. Even though, by age, he was less than half as old as any of them.

“Fifteen hundred people? Even if we count the kids who haven’t graduated from the ninja academy, our clan couldn’t gather that many! This is just... personal vendetta... an unreasonable demand!” Sarutobi Saemon argued furiously, barely keeping his composure as he swallowed the words “personal revenge.”

Saemon, a man in his early forties, was the current head of the Sarutobi clan. Five years ago, when Sarutobi Hiruzen returned as Hokage and his eldest son joined the Anbu, the position of clan leader was handed to his nephew, Sarutobi Saemon.

He was a mediocre man.

Saemon was chosen not for his talent or brilliance, but because he was an obedient nephew, loyal to carrying out Sarutobi Hiruzen’s orders, even if he couldn’t always execute them perfectly. At least he followed orders without question.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen still held power, Saemon’s life might still be as carefree as it once was.

But, alas, life doesn’t entertain “what-ifs.”

When Hiruzen fell from grace, not only did he plunge into the abyss himself, but Sarutobi Saemon’s life became much more difficult! Yet, this man still seemed oblivious.

“I’m starting to wonder if you even need your ears anymore. But since I’m in a good mood today, I’ll repeat myself. This time, listen carefully. Sarutobi, Shimura, Mitokado, Koharu, Kazamatsuri, and Ise clans—you will provide me with 1,500 people. No more than 300 of them can be Genin. I want at least 1,200 Chunin.”

“That’s still too many!”

Even one-sixth of that, 250 people, was a painful number for any clan. Unlike Jonin, who could usually fend for themselves on the battlefield if they weren’t unlucky, Chunin and Genin were little more than cannon fodder in a war between two villages.

Since Sarutobi Hiruzen became Hokage, the Sarutobi clan had seen little large-scale combat. At first, they fought alongside Hiruzen in bloody battles, but over the years, many clan members opted for safer roles within the village’s departments and institutions, slowly advancing through work and missions. They weren’t helpless flowers, but they hadn’t faced the rigors of war in a long time.

Even during the Third Ninja War, fewer than 100 Sarutobi participated. In contrast, the Uchiha clan sent over 300 to the battlefield, with a third dying and another third returning with life-altering injuries.

“And besides, the Sarutobi clan specializes in Fire Release jutsu, which puts us at a disadvantage against Mist ninjas.”

Sarutobi Saemon struggled to find excuses, desperate to avoid sending his clan to the battlefield, but his reasoning only angered Sougen.

“Fire Release, you say?”

A mocking laugh echoed through the room.

With a sneer curling his lips, Sougen’s eyes burned with fury hotter than magma. “You’re the first to boast about Fire Release in front of an Uchiha. I have to admire your courage, but that excuse won’t work.”

“Back then, the Uchiha clan fought Mist ninjas without hesitation under the Third Hokage’s command. And now the Sarutobi clan wants to hide in their shells? Is this how your clan shows its love for the village? No! I will not allow you to tarnish the name of the Third Hokage!”

Sougen declared righteously.

The room fell into a stunned silence. The clan heads stared, speechless, at Sougen, who stood with a sense of justice, while Saemon was left dumbfounded, unsure how to respond. The spectacle of the Uchiha leader, who had personally removed Hiruzen from power, now defending his name, was absurd enough to make anyone laugh.

“Hokage-sama, please permit my impudence,” Sougen turned to the acting Hokage, Akimichi Torifu, with respect.

“Do as the Uchiha leader says,” Torifu sighed inwardly, unable to deny Sougen’s request. He had no choice but to begin dismantling the influence of the Sarutobi and other clans that were deeply entrenched in Konoha's institutions. It was a task he could no longer avoid.

“Rest assured, Hokage-sama and Uchiha-sama. The Shimura clan will quickly assemble 250 fighters and will even provide five additional Jonin.”

The Shimura clan head, an elderly man with gray hair, unlike Saemon, clearly understood the shifting tides in Konoha. Knowing the village had changed, he wisely chose to cooperate rather than resist.

“I hope the Shimura clan won’t disappoint me,” Sougen said, closing his eyes as the meeting came to an end.

The details of the war against Mist would now be handled by the Nara-led planning group, and the objections of the Sarutobi and the other clans? No one cared. If any clan dared to act rashly, no one would hesitate to suppress them.

As the meeting ended, Akimichi Torifu remained seated, looking at the spot where Sougen had sat. After a long pause, he sighed deeply. It was no wonder Sarutobi had targeted the Uchiha clan so intensely. With their suspected control over tailed beasts and unmatched power, it made governing as Hokage awkward.

But,

“At least I’m just a temporary Hokage,” Torifu muttered with a self-deprecating smile, stroking the Hokage hat before him.

He had no desire to fight a battle of wits with Sougen. The Uchiha problem would be one for the next permanent Hokage to solve.

“Any updates on finding Jiraiya and Tsunade?” Torifu suddenly asked.

“No results yet,” came a reply from the shadows.

“Not yet, huh?”

Torifu murmured, staring at the Hokage hat, falling into another long silence.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 75: Unease (Seeking Votes! Seeking Support!)*

The long-dormant war machine of Konoha was once again awakened. After being fueled with enough resources, it began to operate at full speed, sending up clouds of smoke from unseen chimneys, blocking out the sun, and casting a shadow over the hearts of people — a shadow called war.

However, Konoha's prosperity did not diminish because of this.

People were already accustomed to life and death. A glance at the long history recorded shows that war has always been the true main theme of this world. Peace? That was a luxury only occasionally enjoyed!

On the contrary, the news of an impending war sparked a boom in industries such as weapons manufacturing and medical production in the village. Producers and merchants, with their hands on large village contracts, were grinning ear to ear. Some unscrupulous individuals even secretly hoped this upcoming war would last as long as possible.

Yes, the war hadn’t started yet.

The envoys from the Mist had already been expelled, and Konoha’s side wasn’t sure if the Mist received their messages. However, based on reports from the border defense forces on the eastern coast, the expected storm-like assault from the Mist hadn’t arrived.

There was no sign of movement yet, making it hard to figure out the Mist’s intentions.

But Konoha welcomed the extra preparation time. The assembly and reorganization of troops were still ongoing, and the supreme commander, Sougen, had personal matters to handle before heading to the front lines. He wasn’t ready to leave without settling things in the rear.

"What should I do?" Sougen murmured, stroking his chin, staring at the person in front of him who had fully recovered physically but remained trapped in a genjutsu — the tool, Biwa Juzo. Sougen had been troubled for almost three days now, as news from the frontlines could send him into battle at any moment.

There wasn’t much time left for further preparation!

He could only take the risk!

"Shisui, I leave it to you!"

Sougen turned to Uchiha Shisui, who was standing beside him.

Shisui had undergone a massive change over the past two months.

He had lost a significant amount of weight. His frail body made it seem like a gust of wind could blow him over. His long eyelashes veiled eyes filled with pain and disappointment. His once vibrant and energetic aura had turned icy cold, like a block of ice.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi was ousted, Danzo Shimura, bedridden and powerless to resist, was swiftly brought down. All of his dark dealings were exposed one by one. To show Shisui the harsh reality of the world, Sougen took him to Danzo, who was imprisoned alongside Hiruzen and the others.

He forced Shisui to search Danzo’s memories personally.

As the wielder of Kotoamatsukami, no one could weave false memories to deceive Shisui’s eyes. In Danzo’s memories, Shisui saw the darkest aspects of the world. As they say, “There are no incorrect nicknames.” The title of "The Darkness of the Shinobi World" was well-deserved.

Since then, Shisui had changed.

His innocence had been shattered.

It turned out that the battlefield wasn’t the worst hell in the world! Hidden in the darkness were even deeper pits of cruelty that trampled upon human morality and conscience!

“Leave it to me,” Shisui said softly, nodding in agreement.

He quickly stepped forward, pried open Biwa Juzo’s eyelids, and allowed the power of Kotoamatsukami to flow into Juzo’s mind. Within seconds, Shisui had effortlessly modified Juzo’s memories according to Sougen’s instructions.

Blood trickled down from his eye sockets.

That was the price.

Even though Sougen’s Mangekyo Sharingan could be used many times before blindness set in, Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami required a lengthy cooldown period after each use. If Shisui wanted to lose his eyesight quickly, his only option was to overuse the Susanoo.

“Take a seat and rest. The Samehada is on the table,” Sougen patted Shisui’s shoulder.

Shisui retreated, took the Samehada from the table, and gripped its hilt. A warm energy flowed into his body and up to his eyes, healing his damaged eyes and replenishing his chakra.

He sat quietly in a chair, watching as Sougen pried open Biwa Juzo’s eyelids, just as he had done moments before.

---

Inside a long-standing ninja tool shop in Konoha:

"Are you out of explosive tags?"

Kakashi Hatake, with his white hair and face mask, scratched his head in frustration. He sighed softly, turned, and walked out of the shop. As soon as he stepped outside, the blinding sunlight caused him to squint his right eye, adjusting to the bright white landscape before him.

Time had quietly slipped into June.

The blazing sun in the sky radiated endless heat, making the ground almost unbearably hot. The loud, incessant sound of cicadas filled the air, like waves crashing on the shore. In such weather, it felt as if his brain was about to boil.

"So hot," Kakashi muttered, placing a hand over his forehead to block the blinding sunlight.

He stood in the shop’s shadow for a long time, not moving.

“I was only away on a mission for half a month, but when I came back, Lord Third had been impeached and resigned, and the Fifth Hokage had taken office… It feels like a year or two has passed!”

“You’ll get used to it soon enough.”

“By the way, I heard that Danzo Shimura was sentenced to death. Is that true?”

“Yeah, but the execution date hasn’t been set yet.”

“It’s true… What was his crime? What did Danzo do?”

“Oh, the list goes on! Ever heard of the White Fang of Konoha? He was forced to commit suicide because of rumors spread by Danzo. Danzo also teamed up with the rogue ninja Orochimaru to kidnap infants from nearby villages for human experimentation. And during the Nine-Tails’ attack, he stood by and watched while the Fourth Hokage fought alone, just so he could take the Hokage’s position. He even slandered the Uchiha clan to steal their Sharingan…”

As the two young chunin walked away, their voices faded into the distance.

Kakashi stood frozen at the shop’s entrance. He lowered his head, his unlit right eye staring blankly at the line where shadow met light, unmoving like a scarecrow.

“Yo! Kakashi!!”

A voice, as lively as a cannon blast, exploded in his ears.

Then, a dark figure descended from the sky.

The man in front of him wore a tight green bodysuit and sported a bowl haircut. He flashed a smile as bright as the rising sun, his pearly white teeth gleaming with a blinding brilliance.

“…Gai?”

After a moment of hesitation, Kakashi seemed to recognize the man in front of him.

“Kakashi, are you alright?” Gai’s thick eyebrows twitched. His usual eagerness to challenge Kakashi to a duel was pushed aside as he sensed something was off. Although Kakashi was always a bit strange, today he seemed especially out of sorts.

“It’s nothing, just trying to escape the sun for a bit,” Kakashi replied, his mask hiding any hint of emotion. His downcast eyes avoided Gai’s gaze, making it hard to read him. Only someone with Gai’s animal-like instincts could sense that something was wrong.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Gai, let’s postpone our duel for another time. I’ve got something to take care of today.” Kakashi said his goodbyes and walked away along the shadowed side of the street. Gai, standing in the sunlight, watched his friend’s retreating figure, feeling a sudden unease.

(End of chapter)