Chapter 148: What Must Be Abandoned Shall Be Abandoned!

Konoha...

Emergency Meeting!!!

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a worried puff from his smoking pipe as he looked at the Konoha elder council present. He said anxiously, "You have all read the intelligence reports."

"What should we do now?"

Three great ninja villages have actually declared war on Konoha? And they demand Konoha return the Six Paths Tools??

Just what is going on?

As Konoha's highest leader, he didn't even know Konoha had so many Six Paths Tools hidden away. Or rather...

Why is it that among the five great villages, only Konoha has never seen them?

Could it be that Konoha also has legendary tools hidden somewhere, just that they haven't discovered them yet?

"These four great villages are going too far!" Utatane Koharu said angrily. "That person from the Akatsuki organization is definitely doing this on purpose."

However...

Everyone present could only smile bitterly and shake their heads. Of course they all knew this.

Even the Tsuchikage and Raikage understood this clearly in their hearts. So why did they still point fingers at Konoha?

It all comes down to benefits!!

"Danzo, have you investigated whose Mangekyō Sharingan that was from the Uchiha clan recently?" Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned as he looked at Danzo who was deep in thought. He asked, "Uchiha Shin!"

"Have you found any information on this name?"

"No!" Danzo shook his head. "Perhaps that Mangekyō user isn't even an Uchiha."

Yet...

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face showed disappointment. He was disappointed not only in Danzo's lack of findings, but also in how his old friend had changed...

In the past, he would never say things like 'perhaps not' or 'maybe'.

This time he actually...

"The Uchiha clan!" Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed as he took another puff. "What should Konoha do now?"

This is three great villages attacking Konoha!

One misstep and Konoha could be finished. Even though the First and Second Hokage left them such a strong foundation, it still can't withstand three great villages!

"They are doing this on purpose," Mitokado Homura said with a frown. "They want to slow Konoha's progress in this war."

Otherwise, why would Hanzo of the Salamander immediately believe it was Konoha's doing as soon as those mysterious people said so?

Isn't it precisely because Konoha is too powerful?

"What Konoha faces now isn't about how to make the other villages believe us," Mitokado Homura narrowed his eyes. "It's about preparing to resist the war from three great villages."

Because you can never wake someone who is pretending to sleep. After those mysterious people suddenly appeared and said those things, how could Hanzo and the others believe it so easily? It's simply because...

They needed an excuse!!

"But how do we resist this?" Sarutobi Hiruzen said worriedly. "Even if we succeed in the end, Konoha will likely suffer heavy losses!"

These aren't just small fries.

They are three great villages.

"Alliances!" Mitokado Homura said seriously. "If three great villages can form a temporary alliance, then we can also seek allies. Only then..."

Can Konoha share the losses with others.

Moreover, the alliance between the three great villages won't last long.

Hearing Mitokado Homura's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. He understood what his old comrade meant. "Uzushiogakure??"

Have Konoha find more allies to jointly resist the other villages.

"I will go ask Lady Mito about this later!" Sarutobi Hiruzen said with narrowed eyes before turning to Danzo. "You also keep an eye on the Uchiha clan's movements recently. And..."

"Don't get too close to them!"

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Danzo trembled slightly. He narrowed his eyes and nodded. "I understand."

His old friend's meaning was...

What must be abandoned shall be abandoned.

...

It was almost time for Uzushiogakure's festival.

Uzumaki Jun looked at the reports submitted from below, asking how this year's festival should be handled.

Every year near the end of the year, the Uzumaki clan would hold a festival celebration. On one hand, it was to worship the Uzumaki clan's millennia-old belief—the Shinigami. On the other hand, it was to pray for favorable weather in the coming year.

Because in the past, Uzushiogakure was just a small country, isolated in a remote corner with almost no external contact except with Konoha. Most supplies were purchased from Konoha or the Land of Fire.

The people's lives weren't exactly wealthy, but with fishing from the sea, they wouldn't starve. However, not everyone could eat their fill either, since the fishing techniques of ordinary people were still too poor, especially for catching sea fish.

Of course, aside from those who didn't starve, many still froze to death every winter.

Moreover, helping Konoha resist enemies and doing missions basically earned no money, so Uzushiogakure remained at the poverty line for a long time.

Thinking of this, Uzumaki Jun couldn't help but complain about Hashirama Senju again. That troublemaker. Back then, it was because of the Konoha-Uzushiogakure Friendship Treaty he signed with the Uzumaki clan that Konoha kept treating the Uzumaki clan as free labor.

So for a place with many people, small territory, and poverty, the weather's influence was extremely significant. Thus, the festival became a major event for Uzushiogakure.

This time, because it was wartime again, the subordinates came to ask whether this year's festival should be held.

After all, during the last great war, which also happened near the year's end, the Uzumaki clan canceled the festival.

"How is the domestic atmosphere recently?" Uzumaki Jun put down the documents and looked at Uzumaki Hibiki beside him. "There shouldn't be any unexpected incidents, right?"

Although Uzushiogakure was somewhat isolated from the mainland, the people could still sense the unusual atmosphere. After all, many foreign merchants came to Uzushiogakure every year for business. This time, because of the three great villages gathering troops in the Land of Rain, most of these merchants left...

Anyone could tell something was wrong.

"Yes. Although the people were initially unsettled by the merchants leaving," Uzumaki Hibiki nodded, "it didn't have much impact on Uzushiogakure."

"Has the intelligence about the war breaking out in the ninja world been relayed to everyone?" Uzumaki Jun propped his chin with his hands. "This matter can't be hidden for long."

If Uzushiogakure truly gets dragged into war, it will be a nationwide battle. Because only by mobilizing the entire country's strength can Uzushiogakure survive the chaos of the five great villages' war.

So...

Psychological preparation for war must be made in advance.

"Local officials have already notified everyone," Uzumaki Hibiki said. "At first, people were surprised. Many gathered at relevant institutions to ask if there was anything they could do to help. Even a seventy-year-old man came trembling with his cane to ask."

"He wanted to contribute to protecting Uzushiogakure." Uzumaki Hibiki smiled slightly. "In the end, they were all persuaded to return by the local police and officials."

This feeling is really nice.

Back when the Uzumaki clan governed Uzushiogakure, they never received such adoration. But now...

Uzumaki Hibiki glanced at Uzumaki Jun, who was deep in thought, and smiled with hope in his heart. "Uzushiogakure will definitely become stronger, even stronger than the five great nations!"

"Good." After hearing Uzumaki Hibiki's report, Uzumaki Jun nodded in satisfaction. This was the hope the nation's policies gave its people. They didn't want this hope destroyed by enemies, so they would naturally protect it.

"Very well. No matter what, do not disrupt Uzushiogakure's order."

Uzumaki Jun stretched lazily. "As long as everyone still believes in Uzushiogakure, Uzushiogakure will not perish."

"Everyone has been too tense recently. It's time to let everyone relax."

"Let's arrange it for the festival day."