Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou [170]

Konoha.

Inside the Hokage Building, in the office hosting the Jōnin Council, four enormous chairs were placed prominently.

On those chairs sat the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, alongside Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.

Meanwhile, one by one, Konoha's Jōnin entered the room. They stood solemnly within the meeting chamber, their expressions heavy. Only a select few elite Jōnin, as well as the clan heads of Konoha's prominent families, appeared calm as they knelt at the front, sitting cross-legged on the floor.

Although no official hierarchy had ever been explicitly established, the ingrained sense of respect and deference etched into their bones was evident.

Clan leaders from the esteemed Senju, Uchiha, Hyūga, Aburame, Inuzuka, and Yamanaka families, many of them elderly, had come in person. This alone made it clear that this Jōnin Council meeting was convened in response to the ongoing war within the ninja world.

"Everyone!"

As the deep voice of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, echoed through the room, all attention turned toward him, their expressions growing even more serious.

"The war has begun. The combined forces of Sunagakure and Kumogakure have launched an attack on Konoha!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice, heavy and laced with suppressed anger, reverberated through the chamber. Yet, the atmosphere among the Jōnin present was strangely peculiar.

Once, countless Konoha shinobi looked up at the elders with admiration and respect. But now, those gazes have changed significantly.

Sitting at the front, Shirou silently watched the lofty elders deliver their speeches, his face impassive. However, within his mind, he heard the voice of Uzumaki Kushina.

["Shirou, don't you think the atmosphere at this Jōnin meeting feels different from before?"]

Uzumaki Kushina had recently mastered a technique similar to the Yamanaka clan's mental communication.

Hearing her teasing tone in his mind, Shirou's eye twitched slightly as he responded internally in kind:

 ["It can't be helped. These high-sounding words might fool ordinary villagers or a few hot-headed Genin, but the Jōnin know too much about the village's darkness to be easily deceived."]

As the two communicated privately, a cold, scolding voice from Tsunade suddenly echoed in their minds.

["Enough! You two, pay attention!"]

 Tsunade's abrupt interruption made Shirou glare at Kushina. Kushina, embarrassed, murmured in her mind:

 ["I… I'm used to it. I accidentally linked Tsunade and Mikoto too…"]

While they were quietly exchanging words, the elders seated above took turns delivering their speeches. When it was Mitokado Homura's and Utatane Koharu's turn, the two slammed the table in anger.

"Everyone, the conflict in the Land of Lightning stems from the seeds of discord they planted themselves, dating back to the Warring States Period. And now they're claiming this is Konoha's fault? Ridiculous!"

"And as for the Tailed Beast rampage—Kumogakure has no evidence whatsoever to prove it was caused by Konoha. Meanwhile, we still have evidence from just a few years ago of their attempts to harm our Jinchūriki!"

What audacity! Utatane Koharu, one of the Hokage's advisors, angrily struck the table, as if Konoha had been gravely wronged.

Shimura Danzō also expressed his outrage, pounding the table with similar fury.

"Sunagakure's missing Kage—the so-called strongest Kazekage in history—disappeared, and they blame Konoha? This is nothing but a blatant excuse to start a war!

 A village Kage isn't some ordinary Genin! Even assassinating a single Jōnin within Sunagakure would be extremely challenging. Whatever internal conflicts they have, they've chosen to pin the blame on us!"

However, as Shimura Danzō raged and slammed the table, the Jōnin present exchanged strange glances.

Does anyone believe this?

Jōnin aren't fools. Their information-gathering abilities are exceptional. Tracing the origins of the Land of Lightning's conflict with the Land of Fire was a simple task.

And who could be responsible for that, if not Shimura Danzō?

 This was the unspoken consensus among everyone present. Many Jōnin even felt a sense of quiet alarm and wariness.

Unbelievable. They had thought that the so-called Darkness of the Shinobi World had finally quieted down over the past two years. Who would have guessed he had been brewing something this big?

It was clear to all that unless the Land of Lightning's internal conflict was resolved, this hidden threat would persist indefinitely.

No matter how much he tried to deflect blame, Shimura Danzō's title as the Darkness of the Shinobi World was now cemented. There wasn't the slightest dispute about it across the entire ninja world.

Some within Konoha had already begun to suspect that this so-called Ninja Hero was willing to incite war as part of a conspiracy to claim the Hokage's seat. The Third Hokage's reputation within the village had already taken a hit.

"Everyone!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice rang out once more, commanding the room. His authoritative presence caused even the most skeptical Jōnin to wear serious expressions.

Sarutobi Hiruzen scanned the room with a solemn gaze before speaking in a grave tone:

"The ninja world is in turmoil. War has already begun! The Intelligence Division has failed in its duties regarding such critical information. Effective immediately, I am announcing the following personnel changes:

Nara… will be demoted from Head of the Intelligence Division to Squad Leader of the Analysis Team.

Senju Tsunade will take over as Head of the Intelligence Division.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke will serve as Deputy Head of the Intelligence Division.

Uchiha Shirou is appointed as Head of the Medical Division, with Sarutobi Biwa as Deputy Head."

 The announcement of these appointments caused shockwaves among the Jōnin. At the same time, many began to understand the underlying motivations.

Shirou, for his part, subtly scanned the various clan heads before resting his gaze on Tsunade.

As expected of someone cunning and experienced. First, shift responsibility and assign blame to the Intelligence Division. Then, offer incentives to the clans. No wonder Tsunade chose to remain silent—it's about more than just the war; it's also about maintaining power.

Shirou's calm and calculated mind quickly pieced together the situation. He especially noted the excitement in the eyes of the Uchiha, Hyūga, and other clan heads.

The Intelligence Division was responsible for gathering information across the entire ninja world. While it lacked military strength, it was undeniably a central pillar of power.

With Tsunade as its leader, she would naturally need to bring in her people. But how many members of the Senju Clan were left?

This opened the door for the Uchiha, Hyūga, Aburame, and other clans to secure positions within the Intelligence Division. It was a calculated move by the Third Hokage, designed to appeal to the interests of these clans and stabilize their support.

For the Uchiha Clan, this was an unprecedented opportunity. Previously excluded from the village's inner workings, they had long sought a way into the center of power. This was leagues beyond the minor role Itachi had in the ANBU in the original timeline.

The Intelligence Division wasn't weaker than the ANBU in influence. Moreover, the Uchiha could now assign at least a dozen of their shinobi to work under Tsunade's leadership.

This was an irresistible opportunity—a massive win that brought them directly into Konoha's power structure.

At the head of the room, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath. Satisfied with the pleased expressions of the clan heads, he exuded a commanding presence as he declared in a firm voice:

"Now, I officially announce Konoha's entry into a wartime state.

Jiraiya is appointed Commander of the Land of Rivers defense line, tasked with holding off Sunagakure.

Orochimaru is assigned to the borders of Ame, Kusa, and Taki to prepare against Iwagakure. Alongside him, the Root Division, Nara… and others will cooperate, with two thousand shinobi dispatched to support Jiraiya's forces in the Land of Rivers.

Uchiha Fugaku and Hyūga… will oversee the former Land of Whirlpool's borders to guard against Kirigakure.

Senju Tsunade will take command of the frontline against Kumogakure, supported by Uchiha, Hyūga, Aburame, and other Jōnin. A force of over 3,500 shinobi is already stationed at the border."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's masterful deployment of Konoha's vast war machine was evident. In an instant, over ten thousand ninjas were mobilized, plunging the entire Land of Fire into a state of war.

Standing at the forefront, Sarutobi Hiruzen radiated an oppressive aura. Though he was seething with anger internally—knowing that every shred of evidence pointed to him as the orchestrator of these ninja world crises—his resolve to secure both the village's safety and his reputation burned brightly.

"Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu are hereby assigned as Konoha's envoys to Sunagakure and Kumogakure, respectively. If peace cannot be achieved, then we will fight!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's resounding declaration ignited a fierce battle spirit within the chamber, sending a wave of determination through the gathered Jōnin.

At this time, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was in his prime—unlike later, when he grew old, weak, and lost his fighting spirit. Furthermore, this war was aimed directly at him.

He had already been holding in a bellyful of rage!

"Everyone, Konoha needs us, the Land of Fire needs us. For the village! Fight!"

"Fight!"

In an instant, the Jonin meeting room erupted with a deafening roar as one Jonin after another revealed terrifying fighting intent. Regardless of the circumstances, the war had already begun, and the enemy had initiated the attack against them.

There was only one choice: fight back!

After the Jonin meeting ended, as the Third Hokage issued one command after another, countless ninjas within Konoha entered a state of readiness.

Numerous ninjas received deployment orders, and even the Ninja Academy intensified its teaching and training efforts. Everything was being prepared for the war.

However, as the attendees dispersed, the meeting room was left with the clan leaders of various families and some key Jonin in the village.

It was clear that what followed was of utmost importance.

The atmosphere in the meeting room grew even heavier than before.

Those who remained would now participate in Konoha's highest-level secret operation.

"The 'Kumogakure Collapse Plan!'"

As the words echoed through the room, everyone's expressions became gravely serious. Even the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, revealed a rare solemnity as he spoke in a deep voice:

"The war has already begun. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu will represent Konoha in negotiating with Sunagakure and Kumogakure, respectively. We all know that such negotiations are almost impossible to succeed.

"This is merely to lull the enemy into a false sense of security. In secret, I have decided to personally lead an elite combat unit. Together with Tsunade, we will operate in a dual-pronged approach—one overt, one covert—both targeting the border."

At that moment, Danzo Shimura, seated above, spoke in a voice as chilling as ice:

"This time, we have a high-ranking spy embedded within Kumogakure. The success rate of the plan is very high. Root will deploy two elite combat squads to assist."

Danzo paused briefly before continuing in a low voice:

"The Shimura clan is willing to contribute five Jonin and twenty Chunin!"

After hearing Danzo's decision, countless clan leaders and elite Jonin present couldn't help but react with shock. Amidst their complex emotions, there was a peculiar sense of awe.

If every family was prepared to bleed and send their elite forces, then what Danzo proposed was practically selling out his entire clan.

Everyone was well aware of the current state of the Shimura clan. With their limited number of ninja and their quality, if they all fell on the front lines, the Shimura clan would be reduced to little more than a name.

Danzo's ruthlessness extended to everyone. Even his own clan not only failed to benefit from his actions but continually suffered and bled because of him.

Many clan leaders twitched their mouths, unsure whether to admire Danzo's dedication or criticize him.

You could call him cruel—after all, he would sacrifice his clan for the sake of the village.

You could call him noble—but everything he did was ultimately driven by his obsessive desire to become Hokage.

Even Sarutobi Hiruzen showed a rare look of guilt. Over the years, Danzo had sacrificed far too much for Konoha.

"The Sarutobi clan will deploy ten Jonin and fifty elite Chunin!"

Benefits were distributed, and even the Uchiha clan was given the long-coveted opportunity to enter the center of power. This time, all the clans had mentally prepared themselves. Taking a deep breath, they began to speak in deep tones.

"The Uchiha clan will deploy fifteen Jonin!"

"The Hyuga clan..."

"The Nara clan..."

"The Akimichi clan..."

When it came to critical matters, each clan knew where their priorities lay. Moreover, the feasibility of this plan was exceptionally high.

The Kumogakure Collapse Plan was almost a perfect adaptation of the elite assault tactics once mastered by Sakumo Hatake.

Watching the determination in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, Shirou couldn't help but feel secretly apprehensive.

Decapitation operations are indeed highly effective and the fastest way to gain unparalleled fame. Sakumo Hatake once rose to prominence this way. But this time, the chosen opponent is the Third Raikage!

It wasn't that the differences in power were insurmountable; it was the disparity among Kage-level strengths.

Ninjas are often glass cannons—they deal high damage but are fragile. However, the Third Raikage had turned his weaknesses into strengths. With extreme speed, defense, and offense, he was virtually unmatched.

While Sarutobi Hiruzen was no weakling—he was a well-rounded Kage-level fighter with no apparent flaws, capable of deflecting the Nine-Tails with his staff and mastering all five elemental releases—he had no single skill taken to the extreme.

Though the Third Hokage excelled in all areas, against Kage-level experts who specialized in one extreme, his versatility became a liability.

Kage who are truly formidable often has a single, overwhelmingly powerful specialty. For example:

The Third Raikage's Lightning Release mode pushed his speed and offense to the ultimate level.

The Second Hokage's Water Release, capable of slicing through the God Tree, along with Flying Thunder God and other forbidden techniques.

The Third Tsuchikage's Dust Release, a devastating kekkei genkai.

Everyone has been blinded by the victories of the Second Shinobi War, enchanted by the title of the 'Strongest Hokage' and the aura of the 'Professor of Ninjutsu.' They've forgotten to open their eyes and truly see the world.

Almost no one considered the possibility of Sarutobi Hiruzen failing against the Third Raikage. Shirou shook his head inwardly.

Especially with a spy providing precise intelligence on the Third Raikage's location, and with Konoha's elite clans mobilized, the operation wasn't one of reckless deep infiltration. They were fighting on the border, not risking their lives in enemy territory!

Because of this, everyone believed victory was within their grasp. Especially under the determined gaze of Sarutobi Hiruzen, known as the "Strongest Hokage," their confidence in a perfect strategy grew even stronger.

"Everyone! The Kumogakure Collapse Plan must not fail!"

"Yes!"

Gathering Konoha's elite force—100 Jonin, 300 elite Chunin—led personally by the Hokage himself, this unit was powerful enough to shake any hidden village it attacked.

Particularly with Kekkei Genkai users, who were far superior to regular ninjas at the same level. Kekkei Genkai abilities like the Sharingan could allow one ninja to take on two; secret techniques thrived on their bizarre methods and coordinated teamwork.

Seeing this force, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt an overwhelming surge of confidence and ambition.

"This battle will be Konoha's victory!"

Sakumo Hatake had risen to fame through decapitation operations in the past, and back then, he didn't have this level of support.

Now, Sarutobi Hiruzen was stronger than Sakumo, and his forces were far superior in quality and quantity. They weren't isolated deep in enemy lines but fighting on advantageous terrain with insider intelligence. The advantage was his!

At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes burned with fiery ambition. This battle would be his breakthrough!

He wanted to reverse the tide of the war in a single stroke, demonstrating overwhelming power—one man defeating an entire nation. If his subsequent plans proceeded smoothly, everything would fall into place.

First, he would slay the Raikage. Then, he would defeat Sunagakure, intimidate Iwagakure's Onoki, and reprimand Kirigakure of the Land of Water!

One man would end the Third Shinobi War. The "Professor of Ninjutsu"? The "Strongest Third Hokage"? He wanted to elevate those titles even further!

At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes gleamed with fervor. Having devoted his life to Konoha, he now found himself facing the greatest challenge to his reputation. It struck a nerve.

Meanwhile, Tsunade, seated below, caught the look in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, and a trace of complexity crossed her face.