Chapter 22 The Clan Chief's Imposing Aura
Inside the Hokage's office, the atmosphere, which had been harmonious at the beginning, now seemed to have frozen into a heavy amber.
With a hiss, the match ignited and lit up.
The pipe burning between Hiruzen Sarutobi's fingers sent up a solitary wisp of smoke that twisted and swirled in the sunlight streaming through the window.
Those eyes, which usually held a hint of kindness and gentleness, were now sharp as an eagle's, fixed intently on the Uchiha clan leader opposite him.
Trying to catch even the slightest hint of wavering or hesitation in that wrinkled yet still resolute face.
However, no.
The Uchiha clan chief simply looked back at him calmly. His eyes, which had weathered the storms of the Warring States period and two Shinobi World Wars, were like two bottomless ancient wells, undisturbed by any ripples.
His demands just now—that the Uchiha clan go to the eastern front, become commanders of the ninja army, and gain independent command authority, and…
He then turned away, leaving behind the heavy burden of silence as he relentlessly pursued Danzo Shimura and his "Root" organization's numerous covert operations against the Uchiha clan.
This silence is not surrender, but a confrontation based on strength and determination.
With a family of one mind supporting him, the Uchiha clan leader stood taller than ever before in front of the Hokage.
Understanding this, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag of his cigarette, the pungent smoke swirling in his lungs before he exhaled slowly with a long sigh.
He leaned back slightly, resting on the back of the Hokage's chair, breaking the suffocating silence.
"Become the commander of the Eastern Ninja Army and have independent command authority..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke slowly, his voice hoarse from the tobacco.
"Clan Chief Uchiha, you should understand what this means."
"Since the founding of Konoha, there has never been a precedent of a ninja clan completely breaking away from the Hokage's command system on the front lines, let alone leading an entire ninja army!"
"Lord Hokage."
The Uchiha clan chief's voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness.
"The Uchiha are no ordinary ninja clan. We possess sufficient strength to face the challenge from Kirigakure on our own, and unified command can better unleash the Uchiha's combat power. Moreover..."
He paused slightly, then spoke in a way that was almost explicit and pointed.
"...It is more dangerous to entrust your back to an untrustworthy 'comrade' than to face an enemy head-on."
"We cannot defend against the Hidden Mist Blade while also having to guard against the kunai coming from behind."
"Of all the 'accidents' in the past, the Hokage should know this better than I do."
He mentioned Danzo and Root again, though not explicitly, but the chilling implication was like a drawn blade, standing between the two.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eye twitched almost imperceptibly.
He knew perfectly well what the other person was referring to: those Uchiha Jonin who disappeared during missions, those unsolved mysteries... Some things can't be uncovered, at least not now.
"Danzo is an elder of Konoha, and the Root organization exists to protect Konoha. They would never do anything to harm the village."
Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to downplay the issue and adopted a tough tone.
"But in times of war, internal distrust and suspicion are more deadly poison than any enemy!"
"Trust is mutual, Hokage-sama," the Uchiha clan head retorted without backing down.
"When one party is constantly subjected to suspicion, suppression, and even sabotage."
Is it too demanding to unilaterally require the other party to maintain trust and loyalty?
He leaned forward slightly, his aged eyes flashing with a sharp light, like a lion looking down on everything.
"I have come here today not to beg, but to represent the entire Uchiha clan and state our conditions for participating in the war."
"The Uchiha are willing to shed blood for Konoha, but every drop of blood shed should have value, rather than becoming a victim of political infighting or being stabbed in the back by their own people!"
"The power of the Uchiha must be used to protect the clan and the village, not wasted on internal strife and defensiveness. This is the bottom line for the Uchiha!"
The somber words were followed by another oppressive silence.
Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his fingers on the table, making a soft tapping sound.
He lowered his gaze, looking at the pipe with its wisps of white smoke rising from it, his mind racing as he weighed the options.
He desperately needed the Uchiha's fighting strength; if the eastern coast were breached by Kirigakure, the consequences would be unimaginable.
But the Uchiha's conditions, especially their requirement for command—
This is tantamount to carving out a country within a country within Konoha's military system.
Their relentless pursuit, using Danzo as a pretext, directly challenged his authority as Hokage.
Agreeing will lead to endless troubles.
If we don't agree, the eastern front will be in grave danger.
They weren't even sure what those restless lunatics from the Uchiha clan would do.
'Could it be that Danzo was right, and the Uchiha clan is indeed a pest that must be eliminated?'
'Did Danzo do something behind my back again to anger the Uchiha?'
After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his eyes, the sharpness in his gaze softening considerably.
"Konoha naturally values the power of the Uchiha clan."
He spoke slowly, choosing to compromise, but not to accept everything.
"But the Eastern Ninja Army is of great importance, and even as the Hokage, I cannot make a decision on my own."
Hiruzen Sarutobi skipped over the topic of Danzo and Root, as if that conversation had never happened.
"Go back first and wait for my instructions."
The Uchiha clan leader listened quietly, his face showing no change in expression.
Only after Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking did he slowly stand up, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the office.
"In that case, on behalf of the Uchiha clan, I await good news from the Hokage."
The Uchiha clan chief did not bow, but simply nodded slightly, then turned and walked steadily toward the door.
The moment he opened the office door, the noisy voices and bright lights outside flooded in, creating a stark contrast with the silent and oppressive space behind him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at his retreating figure as he disappeared through the door, the pipe between his fingers having been extinguished at some point.
He leaned back in his chair, rubbed his temples, and an indescribable gloom settled over his heart.
The Uchiha eagle has spread its wings, and the chains that bind it are breaking one by one.
"...These are turbulent times."
A faint sigh eventually dissipated in the empty Hokage's office.
Before long, the heavy wooden door was gently pushed open.
Having decided that "the money from the Hokage faction will be returned in full, and the money from the Uchiha faction will be split 30/70," Koharu Utatane walked into the Hokage's office.
Hearing from Hiruzen Sarutobi that the Uchiha had "forcibly seized" the Eastern Shinobi Army felt like the sky was falling.
She seemed to see the Uchiha ninjas like untamed beasts, running rampant along the eastern coastline.
The mission rewards, war bonuses, and even resources from the entire eastern region that should have flowed into the pockets of the Hokage faction...
They devoured everything!
"Hiruzen, we absolutely cannot agree to this!" Koharu Utatane screamed.
End of this chapter...