143. Nagato’s Transformation
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. It might have been better if his son had said nothing at all.
To be honest, the coalition forces sent by Konoha didn't represent a significant portion of the entire village's strength. However, for the Sarutobi clan, along with the Shimura and Mito clans supporting them, the losses were a significant blow.
A third of the clan's shinobi were gone!
Considering how, in the past, the Third Hokage had preferred to assign surplus clan members to border duties rather than cut them loose, one could imagine how much pain this loss brought to him now.
However, when he heard that Sunagakure's losses were similar to Konoha's and that Kumogakure and Iwagakure hadn't fared much better, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt slightly relieved. At least Konoha wasn't an outlier, and he could justify the outcome to the village.
Still, the survival rate of Kirigakure's forces dragged his mood down again. While none of the shinobi from the other four villages had survived, nearly three-quarters of Kirigakure's forces had returned alive. The disparity was staggering.
"So you suspect that this is Uchiha's doing?" Hiruzen asked, his tone laced with concern.
Yagami had appeared with the Kirigakure forces, and Sarutobi Shinnosuke had already reported this to the Third Hokage. It was one of the most peculiar aspects of Kirigakure's involvement in the alliance.
"I can't say for certain, but it's clear that when the Akatsuki organization triggered the detonating talisman explosions, Uchiha Yanfeng's Susanoo shielded many of Kirigakure's shinobi," Sarutobi Shinnosuke replied.
He explained how Mizukage had stretched Kirigakure's ranks thin across the battlefield, yet Susanoo had protected them during the explosions.
Not only had Kirigakure's forces benefited, but some shinobi from Kumogakure and Iwagakure had also been shielded. However, Konoha's forces had received no such protection.
"Alas, it's useless to dwell on this now. Uchiha had no intention of fully participating in the operation, and Yagami...he only helped Kirigakure in a personal capacity," Hiruzen said, shaking his head.
His thoughts turned dark as he considered Uchiha's situation. Uchiha didn't just have close ties with the Daimyō's court but also seemed to have cultivated strong relations with Kirigakure. It was troubling.
Compared to their nominal allegiance to Konoha, the Uchiha appeared to be far more aligned with Kirigakure.
No way... Would Uchiha leave Konoha to align with Kirigakure? What a ludicrous thought!
Yet the idea refused to leave Hiruzen's mind. If the Uchiha truly defected to Kirigakure, Konoha would become the laughingstock of the entire ninja world.
Imagine it—a ninja village forcing one of its own clans to seek refuge in another village. If such a thing happened, Konoha's reputation might never recover.
However, considering Uchiha's current ventures—Uchiha Evernight City at the harbor terminal, the establishment of the Uchiha Group Company, and their trade agreements with all five major nations and shinobi villages—it seemed unlikely they would choose to rely on any single village for development.
Still, once the thought took root, it was hard to dismiss entirely. With a heavy heart, Sarutobi Hiruzen said:
"Forget it. There's no need to bring up Uchiha again. The outcome of the war is final, and it cannot be changed. Make the necessary arrangements as soon as possible. Given the circumstances, even as Hokage, I cannot escape accountability. You must be prepared."
The Third Hokage ordered an investigation, noting that only his son had returned from the coalition. Although other villages had suffered heavy losses as well, Sarutobi Yūzan and Sarutobi Shinnosuke, as representatives of the Hokage and the coalition, could not evade accountability.
Fortunately, Sarutobi Hiruzen was the Hokage and had not led the team himself, meaning he bore only partial responsibility.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke, however, was in a different position. Regardless of the Akatsuki organization's power or the significant losses inflicted on the five major villages, as the leader of the team, he had to bear some responsibility.
Otherwise, what would it mean? Could Akatsuki's strength justify such losses without consequence? The thought was absurd.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke listened to his father's words, his expression slightly dull.
So... was the village not planning to pursue the matter of Uchiha Yagami's refusal to assist his fellow villagers?
No... What was the old man thinking? Didn't he previously try to drag Uchiha into trouble? Now, when presented with such a perfect opportunity, he was letting it slip by?
Sarutobi Shinnosuke couldn't understand his father's reasoning. After witnessing Uchiha Yagami's prowess on the battlefield, he, too, felt Konoha's previous treatment of the Uchiha clan was a mistake. Konoha truly needed shinobi like Uchiha.
He told the Third Hokage what Yagami had done on the battlefield, hoping that Hiruzen could use it as an opportunity to bring Uchiha back into Konoha's fold.
Bonds and trust could be rebuilt over time, but the first step was to bring them back.
Yet he couldn't understand what was wrong with his father. Didn't the old man understand his point? And didn't the Third Hokage and Danzō usually work together? Why did it feel like it was his son whose thinking had faltered...
In truth, Sarutobi Hiruzen fully understood his son's thoughts. It was precisely because he knew the limits of Sarutobi Shinnosuke's reasoning that he dismissed his proposal outright.
How strange that someone who could barely manage the complexities of Anbu now thought he could mend Konoha's relationship with the Uchiha. Did he not see how fractured that relationship already was? Wouldn't his efforts only provoke the Uchiha further?
Using Konoha's casualties to guilt Uchiha Yagami and the entire Uchiha clan would only backfire. Yagami didn't owe Konoha anything. Did Shinnosuke think Uchiha Yagami had stayed behind to safeguard Konoha's reputation? Clearly not, considering Yagami had already returned.
The Uchiha didn't need to act based on Konoha's interests, nor did they have any obligation to protect Konoha's shinobi. To put it bluntly, they simply didn't care about Konoha anymore. Trying to strong-arm them into cooperation would only widen the divide. The Uchiha clan's temperament was not so easily controlled.
Elsewhere, amidst the ruins of Amegakure, a Time-Space vortex formed, and Obito appeared alongside Konan and the Deva Path. Surveying the destruction around them, the three remained silent for a time.
"All five paths have been taken, and this village..." Obito began.
"Please... let us have a moment of silence," Konan interrupted sharply.
Obito, already in a sour mood, suddenly felt the urge to lash out.
Damn it. Are the two of you crazy? You're enemies of the entire ninja world, and yet you're indulging in emotions like this. No sense of responsibility as villains! Why did Uchiha Madara choose the three of you, anyway?
"Uchiha Yagami..." The Deva Path spoke at last, breaking the silence. "He was able to disrupt my execution of the Six Paths Forbidden Technique forcibly. His presence is a significant threat to our plan."
Obito couldn't help but feel a flicker of amusement at those words.
It seemed this incident had stirred some change within Nagato. That, at least, was a positive outcome...
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