After asking about several minor matters within the village and confirming that the Uchiha clan had merely returned to an awkward situation without facing any real danger, Uchiha Yoru felt considerably reassured.
As expected, killing Danzō had been the correct decision.
Although Root had fallen into Mitokado Homura's hands, and the corrupting influence of power in the darkness was gradually making him increasingly ruthless, a leopard couldn't change its spots.
Mitokado Homura was fundamentally indecisive and conservative.
His initiative and ability to act didn't even reach one-tenth of Danzō's.
Once the blade's point softened, the Third Hokage's faction still maintained the same attitude toward the Uchiha clan, but the level of threat they posed fell drastically.
After gaining a clear understanding of the clan's safety, Uchiha Yoru turned toward Uchiha Ryūnosuke and asked, "Elder Ryūnosuke, has any intelligence arrived from outside the village?"
Hearing his name, Uchiha Ryūnosuke immediately stood and answered respectfully, "There is a great deal of intelligence from outside the village, but only two reports are particularly noteworthy."
"The first is that Lord Orochimaru has stabilized the situation in the Land of Rivers. He led the Konoha ninja in reclaiming all the lost territory and pushed the battlefront back to the River Capital."
"The second concerns the Land of Rain. The Demigod Hanzō of Amegakure suddenly took action and killed Aoiwa of Iwagakure."
The moment those words were spoken, everyone was shocked and immediately asked, "Who? Hanzō took action?"
Their surprise was understandable.
By coincidence, among the three elders present, Yūichirō and Yūya had both fought in the Land of Rain during the previous war and personally experienced Hanzō's power.
Naturally, the most shocked person was Uchiha Yoru.
According to the original course of history, Hanzō shouldn't have taken any action at all.
He was supposed to remain completely unresponsive until the end of the war, lazily drifting through the Third Shinobi World War without doing anything.
Only after the war would Nagato, having regained his strength, block his path and kill him inside Amegakure.
Wait.
Uchiha Yoru's eyes lit up as a possibility occurred to him.
Only several days after he handed the fish egg to Konan, Amegakure abruptly changed its usual behavior and launched an aggressive attack outward, even killing Aoiwa, a veteran Kage-level ninja.
[Good heavens. Could Nagato have done it?]
[If so, then this is going to be interesting. The Third Shinobi World War has gained another major player.]
[At present, Uchiha Madara is half-paralyzed, Uchiha Obito is still innocent and carefree, and Nagato certainly doesn't know about the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan.]
[After occupying Amegakure, will he still follow a policy of operating in secrecy?]
While Uchiha Yoru allowed his imagination to run wild, the four old men were also engaged in a heated discussion.
Uchiha Nobutada's face was filled with worry.
"Hanzō suddenly emerging will cause enormous trouble."
Uchiha Yūichirō had been poisoned during the previous war.
Only because Tsunade developed an antidote in time had he survived without being forced to amputate a limb.
He was deeply grateful to Tsunade and said, "Exactly. With Lady Tsunade absent, who in Konoha can neutralize the salamander's poison?"
Yūya said, "As far as I know, Lady Tsunade left behind the antidote formula before leaving."
"But so many years have passed. Hanzō couldn't possibly have left his poison unchanged."
Yūichirō repeatedly waved his hands.
"Don't even think about it. That antidote formula is definitely useless."
"Back then, Hanzō's poison changed its properties every few days."
Hearing this, Uchiha Yūya immediately became dejected.
"That's true. Ordinary salamander toxins are merely proteins and enzymes."
"Although their toxicity is extremely fierce, they aren't particularly remarkable."
"What makes Hanzō deadly is his cooperation with the salamander, allowing him to rapidly alter the poison's properties."
"The antidote must be continuously updated."
Uchiha Ryūnosuke had gathered this intelligence, but since he had never personally experienced a poisonous attack, he hadn't considered it particularly important.
Now, however, he understood.
No one in Konoha could counter Hanzō's poison.
Once large-scale fighting began, countless Konoha ninja would be poisoned, causing extraordinarily severe casualties.
Ryūnosuke immediately frowned and rubbed his hands together anxiously.
"What should we do?"
Suddenly, the old man Nobutada slapped his hands together in realization.
"No wonder the Medical Department was thrown into chaos today."
"So they were searching for medical ninja skilled in detoxification."
Ryūnosuke asked, "Uncle, do you think the village can select a suitable medical ninja?"
Uchiha Nobutada repeatedly shook his head.
"Don't even consider it. Absolutely not."
"Little Tsunade was an exception. How could there be so many exceptions?"
After the four old men discussed the matter repeatedly, everything eventually converged into a single question.
"What should we do?"
Uchiha Yoru shook his head.
"It's actually very simple."
"Retreat."
"Withdraw the Konoha ninja back into the Land of Fire and reach an agreement with Amegakure not to invade the Land of Rain again."
"Wouldn't that solve the problem?"
Yūichirō couldn't help saying, "But if we do that, Konoha's reputation..."
Uchiha Yoru asked in return, "Do Konoha ninja risk their lives fighting on the battlefield for the sake of reputation?"
Yūichirō still felt something was wrong.
Enduring the discomfort of Uchiha Yoru's gaze, he asked, "But if we retreat into the Land of Fire, how are we supposed to protect Konoha?"
Uchiha Yoru burst out laughing.
He laughed openly and without restraint.
Only after a long while did he ask mockingly, "Protect Konoha?"
"What part of Konoha are we protecting inside the Land of Rain?"
"We entered the Land of Rain to compete for利益—to suppress Sunagakure and Iwagakure, preserve our title as the foremost ninja village in the shinobi world, and advertise Konoha's ninja!"
"Now that there is an enormous risk of losses, we should decisively abandon those interests."
"Protecting Konoha's ninja should be the foremost consideration."
The four old men looked at one another and fell silent.
They couldn't refute Uchiha Yoru's reasoning.
If the battlefield were on the border of the Land of Fire or inside its territory, then claiming they were protecting Konoha would make perfect sense.
But the three current battlefields were located in the southern Land of Rivers, the northern Land of Hot Water, and the heartland of the Land of Rain.
Every one of them was inside another country.
Fighting a war inside someone else's nation truly couldn't be described as protecting oneself.
It was more accurately a struggle for利益.
Since it was a struggle for利益, the gains and losses had to be considered.
When the risks became excessive, retreating was perfectly reasonable.
Finally, Uchiha Nobutada spoke.
"In my opinion, the Third Hokage will never choose to retreat."
Uchiha Yoru smiled bitterly.
"Mm. That is perfectly normal."
"The Third Hokage lacks the courage to advance, so he stubbornly persists in inexplicable places, trying to prove that he isn't a coward."
"If Orochimaru were still here, there might be a chance of persuading the Third to accept a retreat."
"But now... it's impossible."
Uchiha Yoru continued, "We cannot control Konoha."
"We should first take care of ourselves."
Uchiha Yūichirō asked, "Leader, what should we do?"
Uchiha Yoru extended his right index finger for emphasis.
"If ninja are conscripted to reinforce the front lines in the near future, firmly refuse any assignment toward the Land of Rain."
"Do not care what the Third Hokage says."
"If such an order appears, create as much trouble as possible."
"Fugaku may still choose to compromise."
"If he does, cause twice as much trouble."
"No matter what, you must ruin the plan."
"I suspect the radicals may stand with us this time."
"If so, Fugaku will inevitably fail."
"Even if he accepts the Third Hokage's demand, he will only be able to send his own people to fill the pit."
"We understand," the four answered together.
All four old men had experienced countless bloody struggles and rolled through battlefields.
They understood both the reason and helplessness behind Uchiha Yoru's ruthless decision.
Uchiha Yoru emphasized one final time, "The matter involving Amegakure is unquestionably dangerous."
"Even if it means openly breaking relations, you must grit your teeth and refuse."
"No one is allowed to yield."
"If any of you dares play the hero and spout nonsense about personally going to the Land of Rain to protect the clansmen..."
"I will personally cripple him so that he can never again say something so brainless!"
"Do you all understand?"
"We understand!"
"Good. Let us proceed to the next matter..."
...
While the small faction's meeting continued, the Uchiha clan's ninja were running along the village wall.
Their orderly formation and synchronized chants displayed the power of unity.
However, not every ninja approved of collective strength.
Many ninja within the Uchiha clan were obsessed with their own kekkei genkai and looked down upon collective action and physical training.
Most of these ninja were concentrated within the Military Police Force, and many happened to be patrolling the wall.
Even more coincidentally, the people they most often saw running back and forth were the father and son of the Might family.
Their green bodysuits, gleaming teeth, and demonic laughter caused the Uchiha ninja considerable mental suffering.
These Uchiha ninja deeply disliked ninja who ran for exercise and had already developed an instinctive aversion to it.
But when the Study Association members ran past today, the impact they produced was even stronger than that of the Might father and son who had just passed.
More than five hundred children of the Uchiha clan were divided into six perfectly ordered formations, running forward with nearly identical movements.
Their coordinated motion and uniform footsteps displayed the tremendous power of order.
Order was a form of strength instinctively recognized by humanity and possessed beauty of the highest priority.
More than five hundred people moved as one, resembling an unprecedented giant that thundered past the Military Police ninja.
The sight stunned them into silence.
Even the reprimands already at their lips couldn't be spoken.
Naturally, such a formation couldn't be used on the battlefield.
But for cultivating collective awareness and a sense of honor, its effect was extraordinarily powerful.
Moreover, outside combat, it could display unshakable determination and unstoppable momentum.
This was the first time since taking over the Study Association that Uchiha Yoru had publicly demonstrated the power of the collective outside the training ground.
Even the thick-headed Might Duy and Might Guy were deeply shocked.
They didn't even dare overtake the formation from the side and instead followed behind it.
"Father, this is the first time I've realized that so many people running together can look this cool!"
"It truly is incredibly cool! As expected of the Uchiha clan!"
"Guy! This is youth!"
"Father!"
"Guy!"
"For the sake of youth, I will run ten laps around Konoha today!"
"Oh—! Guy! You're incredible! You have already become a splendid ninja!"
"For youth! For Guy! I will run twenty laps!"
The younger Uchiha clansmen: "..."
"Run faster. We just need to leave them behind."
"You're dreaming. They can leave us behind, but we'll never lose them."
"That is the Might family whom the Chairman himself admires."
"What? Those two weirdos are the Might family?"
"No way. I thought anyone admired by the Chairman would be handsome."
"No whispering! Focus on running!"
"Yes, Captain!"
When the Study Association's long-distance run reached its third lap, the Third Hokage, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu arrived atop the wall and silently observed the formation.
After the Uchiha had run into the distance, Mitokado Homura asked, "What is the meaning of this?"
"Are they demonstrating against us?"
Utatane Koharu replied, "Probably."
"We recently rejected many proposals from the Uchiha clan and removed every Uchiha ninja from critical departments."
"They must express their dissatisfaction somehow."
The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe and smiled.
"It's fine."
"Fugaku told me yesterday that he fully understands the Hokage's difficulties."
"He won't cause trouble."
"It's simply that the Uchiha clan isn't united internally."
"This should only be one faction venting its dissatisfaction."
Mitokado Homura snorted coldly.
"They actually dare defy their superiors."
"As expected of the inherently evil Uchiha."
"Hiruzen, another one hundred Uchiha ninja should be added to the reinforcement list for the Land of Rain."
The Third Hokage shook his head.
"Homura, you should grasp the key point."
"There are many people inside the Uchiha clan who oppose Fugaku, but only one person can command these children to do something this dangerous."
"Uchiha Yoru."
"If we want to suppress the Uchiha clan's momentum, we should target him."
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances.
They hadn't expected Sarutobi Hiruzen to focus on this particular Uchiha.
Utatane Koharu asked, "Hiruzen, didn't you previously forbid us from targeting him?"
"You said his connections within the Uchiha clan were too extensive, that he was closely connected to Orochimaru, and even more closely tied to the pillar force on the Land of Hot Water front..."
Mitokado Homura added, "Exactly. Hiruzen, you also said that moving against him might destabilize the eastern battlefield."
Utatane Koharu continued, "Moreover, he is the only person who has mastered the regeneration surgery."
"There are many ninja waiting in line, and nearly all of them are jōnin."
Besides, in another two months, it would be the turn of a jōnin from the Utatane clan.
How could they target Uchiha Yoru at such a critical moment?
Utatane Koharu's inner thoughts were easy to guess.
The Third Hokage understood them perfectly, so he explained, "Don't worry."
"I merely intend to temporarily transfer Uchiha Yoru away and assign him missions involving long journeys and numerous difficulties."
"Keep him away from Konoha for a short period."
"Separate him from the Uchiha clan."
"A few months will be enough."
Mitokado Homura smiled.
"I understand."
"Within only a few months, people inside the Uchiha clan will become impatient and take action, breaking apart these children and seizing them all."
"When Uchiha Yoru returns, he will have nothing left."
"Hiruzen, this is an excellent plan."
The Third Hokage smiled broadly, then adopted a compassionate expression.
"Uchiha Yoru is an outstanding ninja of Konoha."
"As Hokage, I must do everything possible to protect him and prevent him from walking down the wrong path."
Utatane Koharu also understood and asked with a smile, "Have you found a mission particularly suitable for Uchiha Yoru?"
The Third Hokage smiled and produced a document.
"This is a request for assistance from the Land of Demons."
"It is once again time for the new generation of the Land of Demons' priestess to seal the monster."
Utatane Koharu's heart stirred, and she nodded.
"So it's that mission."
"It is indeed a good one."
"The only issue is that the Land of Demons is still too close."
"It isn't as distant as the Land of Snow."
The Third Hokage said, "Don't focus only on distance."
"This mission must be jointly undertaken by the Five Great Nations."
"Apart from Kirigakure, which has sealed its borders and cannot participate, every other ninja village must take part."
"Once Uchiha Yoru reaches the Land of Demons, he will need to cooperate with ninja from Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure."
"He will have to wait a very long time before the mission can even begin."
Utatane Koharu repeatedly nodded in agreement.
"Hiruzen, you've considered it more thoroughly."
"Kumogakure is so far away that no one knows how long it will take them to reach the Land of Demons."
"Calculated this way, the mission will consume far more time than traveling to the Land of Snow."
"It truly is an excellent mission."
The Third Hokage raised the document in his hand.
"Then it's decided?"
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu nodded together.
Fifteen minutes later, an ANBU ninja delivered the document and a handwritten Hokage order to Uchiha Yoru.
This surprised Uchiha Yoru considerably.
In his view, his period of being sidelined was still far from ending.
However, after reading the mission's details, he immediately saw through the Third Hokage's little trick.
It was far too childish.
Miwa Masayo, deeply influenced by Uchiha Yoru, also managed to understand the scheme after reading the mission order.
However, the tabby cat had always lacked confidence in her intelligence.
She hesitantly asked, "Does this mission mean... after Yoru leaves on a long journey, they'll take the opportunity to raid your nest, meow?"
Uchiha Yoru approvingly raised his thumb.
"Completely correct!"
Miwa Masayo immediately became overjoyed.
She sighed happily, "Oh my, meow. I actually understood it!"
It had to be said that for the military leader of a nation, the Third Hokage's methods were far too crude.
Compared with the minor power struggles Uchiha Yoru had experienced in a police station during his previous life, it was exactly the same routine.
After celebrating for several minutes, Miwa Masayo finally realized that the Third Hokage had started scheming against her caretaker again.
She immediately became furious.
"The Third Hokage is horrible, meow! He's plotting against you again!"
Uchiha Yoru sighed.
"It is rather annoying."
"However, the situation is somewhat different this time."
"The Third Hokage acted with malicious intentions, but what he arranged is actually beneficial."
"The priestess of the Land of Demons doesn't matter, but Mōryō happens to be exactly the material I need."
"It is something valuable that simply hadn't occurred to me."
He looked at the little cat and smiled.
"Rika-chan, let us take a long journey, capture that fellow, and enjoy a trip along the way."
The tabby cat scratched her ear, tilted her head, and replied:
"Okay."
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