Mid to late July, Year 32 of Konoha.
"We don't have enough troops!" Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of smoke and said gloomily, "We must prepare. The situation on the Rain Country battlefield isn't looking good."
"But all active-duty ninjas have already been deployed," Koharu Utatane sighed and said, "Apart from the ninjas needed for daily operations in Konoha, there are no other available forces left."
"Of course..."
"There's still the Uchiha clan."
Koharu Utatane looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and said, "As for how to arrange them, that's up to you. The best solution now is to seek allies."
However...
Upon hearing the suggestion to seek allies, Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand holding the smoking pipe trembled slightly. He said helplessly, "Which villages can even be allies with Konoha now?"
Thanks to the three Mangekyō Sharingan incidents, Konoha's reputation was already in tatters. Coupled with the sudden appearance of Wood Release, it was unlikely any village would want to see Konoha produce another God of Shinobi.
"What should we do about Uzushiogakure?" Danzo asked with a frown. "No matter what, we've already paid the deposit."
Uzushiogakure was shameless—they fled as soon as war was declared!
The fact that Uzushiogakure hadn't clashed with Sunagakure and Amegakure in the past few months suggested there was some conspiracy at play.
It seemed he'd have to send ninjas to investigate.
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head helplessly. "We've already issued a condemnation against Uzushiogakure, but there's little hope of success."
Given Konoha's current situation, there was nothing they could do to Uzushiogakure. Moreover...
Rumors were spreading in the village that Uzushiogakure had done its best, that Uzushiogakure had suffered heavy losses for Konoha, that Uzushiogakure was a good nation. If they acted rashly now...
Konoha's reputation would truly be ruined!
To this day, Sarutobi Hiruzen still hadn't found the source of these rumors. But now he was certain...
This was definitely Uzushiogakure's doing!
"And we must stop the rumors," Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "No matter what, we have to suppress the rumors in the village."
Otherwise, how could they justify attacking Uzushiogakure later?
"I'll have Root assist," Danzo nodded. "We'll definitely control the rumors in the village."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. "Then, the current issue is how to resolve Orochimaru's situation."
Facing three villages at once...
If not handled properly, the frontlines could collapse.
"How is Sakumo's situation?" Koharu Utatane frowned and asked. "Can we gather forces to support Orochimaru?"
"He's also..." Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head with a bitter smile. "The minor villages have formed an alliance. Sakumo's situation isn't looking good either."
If they acted recklessly, it wouldn't intimidate anyone and might even backfire.
"Tch." Koharu Utatane sighed. "What about Lady Mito? Have we asked her about Uzushiogakure?"
Perhaps Lady Mito had a solution?
"Hah." Sarutobi Hiruzen's face twisted into a helpless expression. "Since last time, Lady Mito has refused to see me."
"She said that unless it's about the Nine-Tails, not to visit her anymore."
"..."
Koharu Utatane frowned, feeling equally helpless. Clearly, the matter of the jinchūriki had left Lady Mito displeased.
But no matter what...
With Konoha in such dire straits, Lady Mito shouldn't just stand by and do nothing!
"Then the only solution left is..." Koharu Utatane narrowed her eyes and looked sharply at Sarutobi Hiruzen. "The Academy."
"!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes widened. "Those children haven't even graduated yet. They shouldn't be sent out like this..."
"But it's the only way," Koharu Utatane said gloomily. "Besides, the sixth-year students should graduate soon. Most of the Academy students are from Konoha's major clans. They've already received systematic training and can handle various genin-level missions."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent for a moment before finally sighing, as if conceding defeat. He nodded. "I'll leave this matter to you."
"No matter what, we must ensure the children's safety. They..."
"Are Konoha's future!"
"...Understood." For some reason, Koharu Utatane felt a strange discomfort upon hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, but she still nodded. "I'll make the arrangements."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction, then glanced subtly at Danzo before turning to the others present. "In that case, Konoha is counting on all of you."
"No matter what..."
"Konoha must emerge victorious!"
Uchiha Clan.
"It seems we must prepare." The Uchiha clan head calmly stared at a specially crafted kunai on the table. When the village recalled all Uchiha members stationed outside, he knew...
The Uchiha could no longer stay in Konoha.
"Father..." Uchiha Fugaku looked at the Uchiha clan head with a trace of reluctance. "Must we really do this?"
"We have no choice," the Uchiha clan head shook his head, his expression unreadable. "The moment the Mangekyō Sharingan appeared, our path was set."
The Uchiha clan had never been well-treated in Konoha. With the reappearance of the Mangekyō Sharingan, their situation had only worsened.
Everyone feared the Uchiha's eyes.
"What about the clan elders..." Uchiha Fugaku hesitated. "Some in the clan still side with Konoha."
Especially the elders—most were ambitious individuals who wanted to return to Konoha's core leadership. But...
Everyone was pretending otherwise!
Did they really think that by dutifully performing their duties as police officers, the higher-ups would leave them alone?
Unless the Uchiha clan never awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan again, they would never be at ease.
"Tch." The Uchiha clan head sighed and stood up. "Back then, when Madara-sama urged the clan to rebel and follow him, those old fools refused for the sake of their comfortable lives."
"But no one realized that only with Madara-sama in the Uchiha clan would no one dare to act against us."
"They were all fools." The Uchiha clan head lamented. "The moment Madara-sama left, the Uchiha clan's fate was sealed."
"Yet some still don't understand. They crave a return to Konoha's core, dream of an Uchiha becoming Hokage, even..."
At this point, they still thought of seizing the Hokage position by force?
"What a bunch of idiots!" The Uchiha clan head sighed and looked at Uchiha Fugaku. "In the next few days, I'll arrange for some clan members to leave. You'll go with them."
"Father, I..." Uchiha Fugaku quickly spoke up. "I'm already a jonin. I can help..."
"Silence!" The Uchiha clan head said coldly. "Your duty as clan leader is to leave here and guide the clan forward. As for the rest..."
"None of it concerns you."
Seeing Uchiha Fugaku fall silent, the Uchiha clan head sighed. "Once you're there, follow the orders of Uzushiogakure's leader. Hopefully..."
"The Uchiha can start anew."