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"The surrender failed."
"We were too late!"
In the dim, silent underground secret room, only candlelight illuminated the surroundings.
From this deep darkness came the extremely sorrowful sigh of the current Leader of Sarutobi Clan, Sarutobi Saizo.
Almost immediately after his voice fell, a series of low curses, nearly continuous, erupted throughout the secret room.
"Damn it, it must be those bastards from the Nara Clan! One clan is worth three!"
"I said at the time that Tsunade should have gone earlier after she returned; now look, there's no more room!"
"So what do we do now? Are we just going to follow behind that idiot Mitokado Homura and wait for death?"
"Oh, our clan has so many businesses..."
All the voices in the secret room belonged to the elders of the Sarutobi Clan, with few young people.
However, their meaning was almost entirely consistent.
The Sarutobi Clan was about to be defeated in their hands.
"Always follow behind the strong."
This was the ancestral teaching set by the former Leader of Sarutobi Clan, Sarutobi Sasuke, who was Sarutobi Hiruzen's father.
He was a seasoned leader who had endured the hardships of the Sengoku period, successfully maneuvering the entire Sarutobi Clan between the powerful Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, preserving the precious family inheritance accumulated by the Sarutobi Clan over a thousand years in a very complete state. With an extremely keen sense of smell and judgment of the general trend, he followed behind the Senju and Uchiha clans, integrating into Konoha Village as a group at the fastest speed, thus allowing Sarutobi Hiruzen to successfully enter the Hokage lineage and become Senju Tobirama's disciple.
It can be said that the reason Sarutobi Hiruzen was able to become the Third Hokage was inseparable from the solid foundation his father laid for him.
The Sarutobi Clan, as the third largest Ninja clan after the Senju and Uchiha, achieving such prestige in later generations was not an accident.
Precisely because of these achievements, seizing the greatest political interests after the Senju and Uchiha as the weaker party, many ancestral teachings left by Sarutobi Sasuke were firmly remembered by this generation of Sarutobi Clan members—especially those proposed after the founding of Konoha.
Another reason was that the formidable strength currently displayed by Sawara Kiri gave those 'Hokage clan members,' who had become somewhat complacent after Sarutobi Hiruzen became the Third Hokage, a subtle illusion of returning to the era of Senju Hashirama.
Unlike Mitokado Homura and others who sat high and mighty in the Advisor office, the elders of the Sarutobi Clan, whether working on the front lines as Jonin or providing assistance in the rear, all clearly understood the importance of 'strength' in this Ninja era.
Perhaps, precisely because their strength was relatively weak, unlike Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, who both had fierce combat records of 'dominating the Ninja World,' they were better able to understand how to adjust their posture when facing the strong—and how to identify which one was 'That Person.'
Before, Sarutobi Hiruzen was the strongest in Konoha, so they all followed closely behind Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Now, Hiruzen is paralyzed, so they naturally assumed that the former Hokage Advisor Group was the strongest group in Konoha, which is why they followed closely behind them.
But who would have thought that the world would change so quickly?
When Substitute Hokage Council first appeared, although they felt some threat, the sense of danger was not actually that obvious.
Later, when Sawara Kiri's achievements in the Land of Wind, as part of the Substitute Hokage Council faction, spread, they began to have a tendency to prepare to straddle two boats.
Then, all of a sudden, Sawara Kiri completely obliterated the Third Raikage, who had crippled Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The time elapsed during this entire process, at most, was still less than a month!
For an organization, the pace of change in this world was simply too astonishing, so much so that they had no time to conduct any investigations or preparations.
As a result, there was still considerable debate among them when it came to choosing between Mitokado Homura and Tsunade.
Now, it's all good.
There's no choice left.
Sarutobi Saizo quietly listened to the dense clamor and angry curses of everyone present, as well as their mutual accusations, and even saw some roll up their sleeves, ready to fight. His expression grew calmer.
"Enough."
It wasn't until the end, when two elders were already grabbing each other's collars, that he suddenly spoke.
Silence fell in the secret room.
Sarutobi Saizo actually knew that he, having just been elected not long ago and even having used some of the Mitokado Homura faction's influence during the election process, did not actually hold that much weight in the hearts of the elders.
The reason they all fell silent as soon as he spoke could only mean that all their previous bickering was merely for show, while waiting for someone to take on this heavy, dark burden.
However, he no longer cared.
Just as he had done before.
Whether it was prostrating himself before Mitokado Homura to show loyalty, or prostrating himself before Lady Tsunade as a double-crosser to show loyalty, the actual goal was always just one.
That was to preserve the strength of the Sarutobi Clan.
His actions had never deviated from this objective.
For this goal, let alone kowtowing to a young junior, even if he had to prostrate himself and lick Lady Tsunade's feet, it would not be something he couldn't do.
As long as it was for the Sarutobi Clan, he could do anything!
Now that the situation was irreversible, there was only one other path to choose.
Sarutobi Saizo quietly looked at everyone present and spoke calmly: "Since there is no longer a place for us on the Substitute Hokage Council side, then we can only let those three adults see the strength of our Sarutobi Clan."
"After all, if they don't see our value, they probably won't reluctantly make any space for us."
"Counterattacking is for better bargaining chips."
"As for all the problems that arise next, I, as the Leader, will bear full responsibility. Please, elders, do not worry."
The secret room immediately fell silent again.
In such a situation, seeing Sarutobi Saizo, who had recently been one of them, display such courage, even the Sarutobi elders couldn't help but sigh.
However, for their own survival and interests, all their actions were, in fact, inevitable.
Finally, the Grand Elder stepped forward, knelt before him, and bowed, saying:
"Please give your command, Leader."
"Bang—"
The teapot smashed heavily to the ground, emitting a crisp, dull shattering sound.
"Bastards!"
"They are all ungrateful bastards!"
Mitokado Homura didn't spare a single glance for the shattered teapot on the floor, cursing loudly. He paced back and forth in his courtyard, his brows tightly furrowed into a knot:
"I clearly explained everything to them so thoroughly, so why do these guys not understand my painstaking efforts?!"
"Only if we unite and stick together can we avoid this impending disaster!"
"Is such a simple truth really that difficult to understand?"
"What are they afraid of?!"
"In this vast Konoha Village, do Tsunade and Orochimaru dare to slaughter their entire family?"
His anger was not without reason.
After realizing that the Sannin had unanimously refused all contact with them, Mitokado Homura acutely perceived that this time, Substitute Hokage Council intended to get to the bottom of things and completely root out them, the Advisors.
Under such circumstances, if they couldn't strike first, given their already disadvantaged military strength, they would inevitably suffer a one-sided crushing defeat.
In this situation, they had no choice but to act.
But now, it was terrible. Of the dozens of contact letters he had sent out, only a few had been returned so far—and even in these few, the wording was full of difficulties, support, demands, and help. Yet, even so, he accepted it; at a time of life and death, there could be no hesitation or stinginess.
However, even with such a response, there was almost no movement in the Village.
It was as quiet as stagnant water.
This was not just unrelated, but completely unrelated, to the scenario he had initially imagined of 'one person shouting, and a thousand responding.'
Damn it, how did everyone betray him!?
The only thing that brought him comfort was the Leader of Sarutobi Clan whom he had supported in ascending to power.
Mitokado Homura exhaled heavily, as if grasping at a last hope, and re-read the letter he was clutching tightly in his hand.
"In the end, it still comes down to Hiruzen's legacy."
"Look!"
"Begin controlling market prices in three days, awaiting further response from Mitokado-sama."
"It still has to be an old friend!"
He repeated this sentence, murmuring it several times as if self-soothing, as if this could change the current extremely disadvantageous power balance and allow him to regain the upper hand.
Like a drowning man grasping at the last straw.
Besides that, the only remaining support for him was what he had founded himself, and a few minor forces that were inextricably linked to the Mitokado Homura faction due to various incriminating evidences held against them.
Mitokado Homura couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
However, by this point, even Utatane Koharu, the most useless member of the Advisor Group, had already perceived the disparity in strength.
She sat on the side, seemingly hesitant, and said to Mitokado Homura, "How about we just drop it?"
"After all, they are also Konoha Ninja, and they probably wouldn't dare do anything to us."
Although her words were still tough, the fact that Utatane Koharu could say such a thing already indicated a lot.
She was starting to get scared.
Afraid that if it came to a fight to the death, they would truly not achieve any good outcome.
"Drop it?"
Mitokado Homura turned to look at her, "Are you willing to give up the power you currently hold?"
"What's more, even if we lose, won't the final result be the same?"
"Since that's the case, why not try?"
"Things can't get any worse."
Utatane Koharu opened her mouth, but seemed to agree with Mitokado Homura, and finally closed it.
Yes, how much worse could things get?
Could it be that after they lost, those three little fellows would dare to kill them?
Impossible.
Both of them naturally thought so.
However, they didn't seem to realize that it was no longer the time when their close comrade, Sarutobi Hiruzen, managed the Village.
Three days later.
Rice shop.
An aged and somewhat plump woman looked at the price list in front of the shop door in surprise, and immediately walked over to ask the shop assistant inside:
"Excuse me, wasn't the rice price sixty Ryo yesterday? Why did it suddenly rise to ninety Ryo today?"
"I apologize."
"Because the war on the front lines is tense, all the extra rice in the shop has been requisitioned."
The shop assistant also seemed helpless, "Not only is today's rice this price, but in a few days, it might be even higher."
"As you know, the Village's first priority is to ensure food for the front lines."
The aged woman paused at the words, touched the paper money in her purse, gritted her teeth, and immediately said, "Give me ten kilograms first."
She wasn't the only one.
Unlike Ninja who had guaranteed livelihoods, during wartime in the Village, most commoners lived quite difficult lives, meticulously budgeting their daily expenses.
Even a slight change in rice prices could significantly worsen the situation for an already struggling family.
Therefore, most people paid close attention to changes in the prices of commonly used goods.
In just a short while, three or four more people noticed the price change at this rice shop, most of them still holding a glimmer of hope, while the remaining few seemed to sense certain implications and immediately bought more at this price.
One person told two, two told three.
More and more people noticed this seemingly insignificant change in rice prices.
More importantly, it wasn't just this one shop.
The price of rice throughout the entire street began to change after this small signal was fired.
For the first day or two, the commoners could barely remain calm, or perhaps it was mainly because they lacked money, and they also hoped that the Village could control the rate at which these prices rose.
But by the third day, many people could no longer sit still.
Rice shops everywhere had already raised their prices to over one hundred twenty Ryo.
Not only that, the price of Ninja tools also began to rise accordingly.
Just as the Nara Clan monopolized most of Konoha's medicines and medicinal materials like deer antler, and Akimichi monopolized the food industry, the key industries controlled by the Sarutobi Clan were grain and some Ninja tools.
As pillar industries of the entire Konoha Village, even slight fluctuations in the prices of these two commodities could cause a considerable impact throughout the Village.
This was also the confidence that allowed the later Sarutobi Clan to support such a large Ninja clan without declining, and even to establish an independent Fire Release unit—training Ninja was a very expensive endeavor.
What terrified the villagers even more was that although the Village continuously issued announcements during this process stating that they were importing rice from foreign countries and that the total amount for hundreds of thousands of people would not last long and would subside on its own.
But panic itself is irrational.
Most people just wanted to ensure their families wouldn't starve.
Once people started hoarding rice, more and more people joined the rush to buy.
As for the initial batch of rice the Village brought back from foreign countries, it was all bought up at its original price by certain individuals, and ordinary people who genuinely needed it couldn't get much at all.
Konoha, with a mere few hundred thousand people, consumed enough food for over a million people in just one week, yet many still couldn't buy rice, and even some commoner Ninja were affected.
However, the Hokage Building remained silent.
This subtle attitude of tacit approval led more and more people to have speculative impulses, joining this feast one after another.
Initially, only the price of some rice increased, but later it spread to flour, potatoes, and even some meats.
The market, already quiet due to the wartime situation, seemed to be severely hit by this series of problems, and some shops also closed down.
However, those with truly keen senses could perceive it.
Those monopolistic groups at the top of the entire Village, truly massive entities—the Uchiha, Hyuga, Inuzuka, Aburame, and other Ninja clans—seemed to have no intention of joining this feast at all.
They were just quietly waiting for something.
A few more days passed.
People whose lives had become increasingly difficult due to this 'rice riot' suddenly seemed to remember the protest and speech Lady Tsunade had organized some time ago.
More and more people began to reorganize from isolated individuals, taking to the streets led by meritorious Ninja from the First Great Ninja War, shouting slogans demanding the Hokage Building to quell the unrest, while leading a crowd of people aimlessly parading throughout the Village, their only goal being to maximize the influence of this public opinion storm.
Righteous people began to stir, and the voices pleading for the common people grew louder.
Until finally, even some smaller Ninja clans could not resist the huge temptation of this feast and personally entered the fray.
In just half a month, the front lines hadn't even pushed into the central part of the Land of Lightning, but the rear had already been thrown into chaos by various incidents.
The Hokage Building was silent.
It seemed to be completely helpless due to these overwhelming and various issues.
Disappointment continued to accumulate.
"See! I told you."
In contrast.
Mitokado Homura, who a few days ago had been like a drowning man grasping at a last straw, laughed loudly and said with full vigor to those who had returned to his courtyard:
"Those mere Sannin brats, what do they know about managing the Village?"
"You people are also inexperienced!"
"What did I say before?"
"If we don't fight, we'll definitely lose; if we fight, we'll definitely win!"
"Look."
Mitokado Homura pointed at the crowd in front of him with a triumphant air, especially at Sarutobi Saizo, who was already sitting demurely in the front row, his eyebrows dancing, "With just one move from the Leader of Sarutobi Clan, what else can those guys in the Hokage Building do?"
"Could they possibly conjure up rice that would take all the Sarutobi Clan's money?"
"Impossible, they don't have that financial power!"
As the highest-ranking leader of the Hokage Building's finance department, Mitokado Homura knew perfectly well how much reserves Konoha Village had left after they had messed with it.
This was also his confidence that he would definitely win before.
Hokage Building?
Without the support of a few Ninja clans, how can you fight them?
This is in the Village, not on the front lines!
As soon as Mitokado Homura thought of this, he immediately puffed out his chest and raised his head, feeling particularly proud.
Look.
It still has to be the methods of these old timers!
Without him, this Hokage Building would have collapsed long ago.
The heads of the various Ninja clans and factions looked at his arrogant demeanor, all speechless.
Seeing that this group of people were all intimidated by him, Mitokado Homura then continued to arrange the subsequent matters.
"I think, those few young ones in the Hokage Building, unless they suffer a bit, they won't understand whose name Konoha Village truly bears!"
"The next actions must continue, from food to daily necessities, and then to various consumable materials."
"Unless their small reserves are completely depleted, I don't think those few young ones will admit defeat."
Mitokado Homura put his hands on his hips.
Can they fight? What's the use of being able to fight?
In this Ninja World, what matters is background, what matters is capital!
The era where you could win just by relying on your fists was called the Sengoku Period; now they are civilized people who have established the Ninja Village system.
"And that person!"
Mitokado Homura seemed to suddenly remember something and immediately instructed his confidant beside him:
"It's about time to let Danzo make an appearance."
"He must still control quite a bit of the Village's propaganda outlets; have him activate those people and properly publicize the great achievements of the Hokage Building in the Village!"
"If we don't give them a good show, do they really think we are soft targets?"
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for advance chapters | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter | Report issues @discord.com/GVBdncd9Wr