Uchiha Clan Grounds.
Uchiha Yusuke had just returned home when Uchiha Fugaku came to see him.
"Yusuke, what exactly are you planning?"
"Why did you suddenly provoke a war with Kumogakure?"
Ever since Yusuke took office, Fugaku hadn't been able to find fault with any of his policies.
But this time, the move against Kumogakure felt far too abrupt.
Fugaku had heard that the Third Hokage had already found a way to stabilize the situation.
For Yusuke to openly oppose Konoha's leadership like this—there was no way it was an impulsive act.
Facing Fugaku's question, Yusuke fell silent for a moment, then looked up with blazing resolve.
"Becoming Hokage isn't something that simple."
"The Uchiha need war to earn enough prestige for ourselves."
Merit and fame were things won on the battlefield.
If not for his achievements in the Third Shinobi World War, a civilian-born ninja like Minato Namikaze would never have become the Fourth Hokage so easily.
Hatake Sakumo, too, had only been able to don the Hokage's half-sleeve because of his illustrious military record.
Fugaku was silent for a while, then patted Yusuke on the shoulder.
"As long as you have a plan, that's enough."
"The Uchiha will fully support you."
…
That afternoon.
The Third Hokage once again invited the Kumogakure delegation for talks.
Konoha's key figures gathered, but this time the Kumogakure envoys were not invited into the reception hall.
At this point, the Kumogakure delegation had become unwelcome guests.
If Konoha refused their demands, who knew what they might do?
"Ho? No need to greet us with such ceremony, right?"
Unaware of the full situation, one Kumogakure jōnin sneered.
He swaggered straight up to Hiruzen, his attitude arrogant and contemptuous, showing no respect to Konoha at all.
He had already received word from Kumogakure and was confident Konoha wouldn't dare go to war.
With the Fourth Raikage A and two perfect jinchūriki, Kumogakure's current military strength was at the very top of the shinobi world.
As for Konoha? The Third Hokage was old, the Sannin had all left—what powerful figures were left?
More importantly, his confidence came from the Fourth Raikage himself.
In his reply, the Raikage had instructed them to display Kumogakure's overwhelming confidence in every move, to pressure Konoha into handing over the man.
"Outrageous! How dare you act so brazenly in Konoha!"
Seeing someone disrespect the Hokage, an ANBU directly assigned to protect him immediately shouted at the Kumogakure delegation.
Since Konoha no longer intended to hand anyone over, there was no need to be polite.
Only by showing strength could they make Kumogakure wary—perhaps even avoid war.
"Oh? What do you mean by that?"
The Kumogakure jōnin narrowed his eyes.
Shinobi were usually very restrained.
Such a fierce reaction inevitably put him on guard.
Before he could respond, Hiruzen stepped forward.
"Konoha will not abandon any of its comrades."
"Your demands are unreasonable. Konoha will never agree to them."
Hiruzen looked calmly at the Kumogakure delegation, his voice firm.
Since the decision had already been made, he could not afford to lose his composure.
Hyuga Hiashi let out a cold snort and stepped forward as well.
"Kumogakure truly has no shame—biting back at the Hyuga after what you did."
"You must give the Hyuga an explanation for the night attack."
"Otherwise, the Hyuga will not hesitate to go to war!"
Since Hiruzen had no intention of seeking justice for the Hyuga, Hiashi had no choice but to speak up himself.
He knew perfectly well that an apology from Kumogakure was unrealistic.
The Hyuga's lost honor could only be reclaimed on the battlefield.
Hiruzen glanced at Hiashi but said nothing.
Even shinobi valued justification. At a moment like this, using the Hyuga's grievance to seize the moral high ground was necessary.
Uchiha Yusuke stepped forward as well.
"Hiashi is right."
"The mastermind behind this incident should come personally to apologize to the Hyuga."
If they wanted war, then naturally they had to make unreasonable demands.
And who was the mastermind, if not the Fourth Raikage himself?
"Y-you…"
The Kumogakure delegation was dumbfounded, pointing at Yusuke, unable to speak.
Have the Fourth Raikage personally visit the Hyuga clan to apologize?
How could he even dare to imagine something like that?
Hiruzen frowned slightly. Yusuke's demand was outrageous, yet logically sound.
Kumogakure was at fault first—what was wrong with demanding an apology?
Hiruzen felt a headache coming on.
It seemed Yusuke was determined to start a war.
"Good… very good…"
The Kumogakure representative glanced at Yusuke, then at Hiruzen.
"It seems Konoha didn't lose enough people in the last war."
"Since you dare provoke Kumogakure like this, then prepare for war!"
The Kumogakure delegation spat out their threats in rage.
At this point, there was nothing left to discuss.
After delivering their ultimatum, the representative waved his hand and prepared to leave.
"Uchiha-ryū: Sun Halo Dance!"
The instant the Kumogakure jōnin turned his back, Yusuke suddenly drew his sword.
"Since we've torn off all pretenses, there's no need for you to return alive."
Three flaming arcs of blade light flashed through the air.
Several Kumogakure jōnin were instantly beheaded, their burning headless bodies collapsing to the floor. Only a single chūnin remained standing, frozen in shock.
Yusuke's attack was far too sudden—no one had anticipated it, and no one had time to stop him.
In a blink, the Kumogakure delegation was almost completely wiped out.
"W-what… just happened?"
The Konoha side was stunned as well.
It wasn't until the smoldering corpses hit the ground that everyone snapped back to reality.
No words—just drawing his blade and killing.
Uchiha Yusuke was truly ruthless.
Hiashi silently gave Yusuke a thumbs-up in his heart.
That move just now—absolutely satisfying.
Now let's see if Konoha's leadership can still bow and scrape for peace.
"Uchiha Yusuke, what do you think you're doing?!"
"To openly attack a Kumogakure delegation before the Hokage—seize him at once!"
Before Hiruzen could speak, the two advisors exploded in fury.
As they shouted, they even ordered ANBU to move against Yusuke.
"Oh? Do the two advisors believe I was wrong?"
"They are Kumogakure—should we let them live to slaughter Konoha shinobi on the battlefield?"
"I slew enemy ninja. What's wrong with that?"
Yusuke asked calmly, smiling as he spoke.
His smile was like a gentle spring breeze—nothing at all suggested he had just killed several people.
Hiruzen remained silent for a long time before speaking slowly.
"Yusuke, young people should not act so recklessly."
"This time, let it go. There won't be a next time—understood?"
Hearing that, Yusuke immediately reined in his aura, adopting an innocent, harmless expression.
"I will heed the Third Hokage's teachings."
The two advisors opened their mouths, wanting to say more, but found themselves at a loss.
With the Hokage having spoken, they could hardly continue pressing the issue.
Hiruzen glanced at the last remaining Kumogakure chūnin, who was slumped on the ground in terror, and said calmly,
"You may go."
"Convey Konoha's stance to the Raikage."
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