Chapter 50: The Third Hokage's Compromise, Hanma Takes Action
Sakumo Hatake rarely shouted, commanding the Konoha ninjas to retreat.
Chiyo controlled her Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu, her fingers moving rapidly, launching frenzied attacks on the surrounding Konoha ninjas, as she entered a berserk state.
Fukuzukuri stood in the center of the battlefield, hands clasped together, while the yellow sand extending from his feet continuously claimed the lives of Konoha ninjas.
Thick layers of yellow sand encased his body, shielding him from the surprise attacks of Konoha ninjas.
The entire land had already been transformed into a desert by him. On this battlefield, no one could halt Shukaku and his power.
"Wind Style: Drilling Air Bullet!"
"Wind Style: Sand Scattering Bullet!"
The endless rain of yellow sand covered the entire battlefield, carrying frightening kinetic energy as it swept towards the Konoha ninjas.
Having no chance to fight back, the Konoha ninjas could only flee in panic, while the Sand ninjas, invigorated, pursued them relentlessly.
Sakumo Hatake frowned deeply. Against this nearly perfect Jinchuriki, he had no effective countermeasures.
The old man before him seemed to have fully harnessed the power of the Tailed Beast. Not only could he partially transform into the Tailed Beast, but he also mastered an advanced sealing technique.
He had probed multiple times but failed to injure Fukuzukuri.
Sakumo's combat style was more akin to that of a samurai, a weakness against this type of enemy.
And Fukuzukuri was not like the young Gaara, blindly believing in the so-called "absolute defense."
He utilized his sealing techniques in conjunction with Shukaku's sand shield, ensuring an impenetrable defense.
With no means to counter Fukuzukuri on the battlefield, the Sand ninjas' morale soared, boosted by the Tailed Beast's power.
Konoha's troops retreated in defeat, unable to protect the border defense of the River Country and began retreating into the Fire Country itself.
The Konoha defense line on the Sand Ninja battlefield had completely collapsed.
The Hokage's Office.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had not yet calmed down from the victory celebrations a month ago, looked at the new developments on the Sand Ninja battlefield, his face ashen.
He had thought they had achieved success on the Sand Ninja battlefield and planned to send Sakumo Hatake to support the Rain Country battlefield to end the war quickly.
Unexpectedly, these Sand ninjas were so fierce, even bringing out the Tailed Beast!
This participation of Shukaku was the first test of the Tailed Beast as a conventional weapon since the Battle of the Valley of the End.
The success of this operation shocked the current Kage of the Five Great Nations.
So, even if one were not a Shura of the Ninja World or the God of Shinobi, they could still control a Tailed Beast and unleash such incredible power?
After this, the Five Great Nations secretly accelerated their Jinchuriki training programs.
In the next Shinobi World War, any nation without one of these battlefield destruction machines would surely face gang assaults by the other four nations.
The Third Hokage looked toward the distant Senju Clan compound, sighing inwardly.
Though he knew the Kyuubi's power was unparalleled among the Tailed Beasts, he couldn't bring Uzumaki Mito out of retirement.
Calling upon the First Hokage's widow to protect the village would be beyond disgraceful, deserving of an immediate seppuku apology post-war.
Hiruzen knocked on the table, signaling the remaining three members of Tobirama's team to express their opinions.
The Sand ninja's deployment of a Tailed Beast had stirred the other three nations.
Iwa and Kumo's troops had begun patrolling Konoha's borders.
If the Sand ninjas, with Shukaku, advanced into the Fire Country's territory, the situation would turn irreversibly dire.
Danzo Shimura stepped forward. No matter the situation, he was always the first to cater to Hiruzen, though it might not always be beneficial.
"Hiruzen, this is the consequence of your actions. You bear the main responsibility for the failure on the Sand Ninja battlefield!"
Well, that was Danzo. His opening was always an accusation.
"I'm asking for your suggestions, not your reproach!" Hiruzen retorted angrily.
Frustrated by Danzo's tendency to fight internally even when a Tailed Beast threatened, Hiruzen felt thoroughly drained.
"At this point, we have no choice but to call upon the Uchiha clan. But Uchiha Sasana must stay in the village to prevent him from using the Mangekyo Sharingan to gain the Tailed Beast's power.
"Danzo, negotiate with Uchiha Hanma, bringing our sincerity!"
Danzo snorted in discontent, sneering at Hiruzen.
"Do you think Uchiha Hanma is like the Uchiha of the past? Though he is Suke's son, he is nothing like his father.
"Hiruzen, don't expect him to obey your orders just because you are the Hokage.
"Offer him something of value. Without gains, this guy will not lift a finger!"
At this moment, Danzo seemed almost like Hanma's ally, advocating on his behalf for benefits.
It wasn't out of any camaraderie but a simple understanding: some people can't be swayed by sweet words and moral pressure.
Koharu Utatane stood up and angrily asked,
"It's every Konoha ninja's duty to sacrifice for the village! Allowing the Uchiha onto the battlefield is already our concession!"
In the Second Shinobi World War, the Uchiha clan had no chance to participate, being heavily isolated.
It wasn't until the Third War, under immense pressure, that the village allowed Minato Namikaze to mentor Obito Uchiha, showing some goodwill.
Danzo's face was full of disdain as he sneered internally.
The so-called Will of Fire might deceive others, but it would never deceive oneself.
Even Danzo knew that the village's approach to the Uchiha left no room for them to believe in the Will of Fire.
Unless there were a few brain-damaged members within the Uchiha, expecting the Will of Fire to persuade Hanma, Danzo wouldn't even dare to suggest it.
Homura Mitokado spoke softly, "Then, can we use his relationship with Tsunade as leverage?"
Hiruzen impatiently waved his hand, rejecting this suggestion.
"Master Mito has not expressed any opinion on this matter. Don't you understand what this means?"
Silence descended once again.
After a long pause, Hiruzen spoke,
"Danzo, lead the Root. For the remaining three nations, ensure the Root's intelligence work, preparing for sudden attacks."
"Also, take the Eight Gates and Four Symbols Sealing Technique as our bargaining chips. Ensure Uchiha Hanma fights back against the Sand Ninjas with all his might."
The two techniques were Hiruzen's carefully considered decisions.
The Eight Gates was a technique Hanma had always wanted, symbolizing their sincerity.
As for the Four Symbols Sealing Technique, a jutsu rarely practiced even by the Uzumaki clan, Hiruzen believed it would not provide much aid to the Uchiha.
Danzo snorted and left with a flick of his sleeves.
Amid this group, only Danzo seemed to be genuinely dealing with matters.
Koharu persisted, questioning Hiruzen.
"We mustn't compromise with the Uchiha. This is aiding the enemy, Hiruzen!"
Hiruzen coldly glared at her and responded sternly,
"What do you mean by aiding the enemy? The Uchiha are also part of Konoha's ninja clans!
"They have a duty to protect Konoha, and we have a responsibility to reward them!"
Homura pushed up his glasses, seemingly ignoring Hiruzen's words, and analyzed unobtrusively,
"Currently, the Uchiha have no allies within the village.
"Allowing them some military merits doesn't matter. Besides, Hanma might not even defeat the Tailed Beast.
"If he survives, we can blame the Tailed Beast's attack on the failure of the Hunter platoon, significantly damaging the Uchiha's reputation."
"As long as most ninja clans keep supporting us, there's no need to worry about the Uchiha's ambitions."
Hiruzen quietly listened to Homura's analysis, nodding slightly.