"Uchiha Sasuke... Uchiha Sasuke..."
With the rise of the Land of Demons, the Uchiha Clan also exists over there. This is something that can't be kept from Sasuke for a lifetime.
Because it's unrealistic.
Now with his orders, even if someone mentions the Land of Demons in the village, they are very secretive about the Uchiha Clan there. It's a temporary concealment of the source of information.
But Sasuke will eventually find out, maybe a year later, two years later, four years later... In any case, this matter cannot be concealed forever. It can only be delayed for a while.
Knowing that there are still clan members alive, what kind of decision will Sasuke make?
For Sasuke, who has already lost his clan, revenge has become his only reason for living.
Even though he was raised with the ideology of the Will of Fire since childhood, he might still consider leaving Konoha to seek true Uchiha power in the Land of Demons.
"Lord Hokage."
A knock on the door sounded from outside the office.
"Come in."
Hiruzen put away the folder recording the intelligence on Sasuke, carefully placed it in a drawer, and spoke to the person outside the door.
The office door opened, and Jonin Squad Leader Nara Shikaku walked in from outside, carrying a pile of heavy files, which he placed on Hiruzen's desk.
"Things have become busy again recently."
Looking at the pile of unprocessed documents, Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and frowned.
"There's no helping it; the situation in the Land of Rain is changing too quickly, and now the Land of Demons is getting involved. The daimyo is starting to get anxious."
Shikaku sighed.
The Land of Fire currently does not have the strength to engage in a war with the Land of Demons.
The aftermath of the Third Ninja Realm War has not been completely recovered; a few months ago, the conflict with the Land of Wind also cost Konoha a batch of elite, and if a full-scale war with the Land of Demons breaks out, the chance of victory is very small.
Hiruzen opened the top file; unsurprisingly, a significant portion of these documents were about the civil war issues in the Land of Rain.
"Do you think Konoha should get involved now?"
The stealth operations of Root in the Land of Rain are extremely secretive. Those who truly disturbed the situation in the Land of Rain were the ninja squads affiliated with the Daimyo's Mansion of the Land of Fire. Danzo's Root only gathers intelligence and does not directly participate in combat.
"In any case, we can't let the Land of Demons underestimate Konoha's power."
Shikaku thought for a moment and said this.
At times like this, the attitude must be a bit tougher; even if it's just an appearance of toughness, we must present Konoha as still powerful, to prevent any rebellious countries eyeing the Land of Fire from making rash moves.
"Deterrence, then?"
"Yes. The Land of Demons holds the same idea. Judging from their strategy in the Land of Waves, they don't want direct warfare with great nations but prefer controlling from behind, engaging in proxy wars. Now their entry into the Land of Rain follows the same principle."
Proxy wars.
That makes it easy to understand.
Using small countries as chessboards, conducting behind-the-scenes games with great nations, both sides comfortably settled in the rear without letting the situation spiral out of control.
"But we must also consider the possibility of full-scale warfare with great nations; what they're doing now is just to make us drop our guard."
Hiruzen said.
Shikaku listened and nodded seriously.
Hiruzen's point is not without merit; they must not let the Land of Demons gain the upper hand, and even if full-scale warfare doesn't break out, preparations for resource mobilization during pre-war times must be completed.
"First, deploy fifteen hundred ninjas to the western borders of the Land of Fire, presenting an attitude of advancing into the Land of Rain. The village should enter a pre-war state, and we must be fully prepared against the Land of Demons."
"Let's convene a Jonin meeting to discuss this matter."
Shikaku suggested.
"Arrangements will be made for it shortly."
The previous Jonin meetings were more form than substance, but now, with the declining authority of the Hokage, their importance is being emphasized by Hiruzen. Otherwise, balancing the power of the advisors and Root wouldn't be simple.
Thinking about this, Hiruzen couldn't help but reminisce about the past with White Fang and the Sannin.
"By the way, regarding Uchiha Sasuke, Shikaku, what do you think is the best way to arrange this?"
Hiruzen suddenly remembered something and asked Shikaku.
"Uh... This matter..."
Honestly speaking, Shikaku didn't want to get involved in handling the affairs of the Uchiha orphan, as it often meant trouble.
"No pressure when you're here with me."
Hiruzen hoped Shikaku would speak the truth.
Shikaku sighed, knowing he couldn't escape this.
"Then I'll be blunt, Lord Hokage. According to what my troublesome son says, Uchiha Sasuke has basically completed the necessary training at Ninja School. Be it Three-Body Jutsu or Taijutsu, compared to his peers, he is undoubtedly ahead. If Uchiha Sasuke wants to advance further, staying in Ninja School is not very meaningful."
Shikaku responded.
Theory, after all, is something that needs to be taken to practice.
From the perspective of cultivating excellent ninjas, a more elite private tutoring approach for Sasuke would be more suitable.
After all, his son Nara Shikamaru is taught in the same way.
The knowledge in Ninja School is generally rudimentary, while the family's Hiden Ninjutsu forms the foundation, where an elite small-class private teaching method is adopted within the family.
Although the establishment of Ninja School created so-called 'fairness', this fairness is relative, not absolute.
Moreover, Sasuke has a Kekkeigenkai that most ninjas don't possess, letting it go to waste like this would only squander his talent.