Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was very confident and assured.
After speaking, he subtly glanced at Danzo Shimura, feeling puzzled in his heart.
Normally, Danzo Shimura, that old man, was always a warmonger.
Today, facing such obstruction from the two Advisors, he didn't even utter a single word.
This didn't quite align with his usual demeanor.
"Hiruzen, I advise you to first look at the latest list of fallen Ninja before making a decision."
Utatane Koharu reminded him again, interrupting Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts.
He snapped out of his bewildered contemplation and glanced at Utatane Koharu.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he picked up the list of fallen Ninja on the table and began to examine it.
He flipped through the list of casualties page by page, and many names on it were very familiar.
Among these names, some were from his own Sarutobi Clan.
There were also clansmen from other Konoha noble families.
Including the Hyuga Clan, Uchiha Clan, Inuzuka Clan, Akimichi Clan, Yamanaka Clan, and Aburame Clan.
Besides their names, the list of casualties also recorded their age and gender.
The more Hiruzen Sarutobi read, the heavier his heart became.
Because most of these fallen Ninja were young people.
The youngest was only eight years old, and the oldest was no more than thirty-five.
The elderly could be sacrificed, but the young were the future of a Ninja Village, the fresh blood of the Village.
Without the replenishment of fresh blood, the decline of a Ninja Village and a country was almost an inevitable outcome.
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi had to admit that a hint of wavering had indeed arisen within him.
Sitting in his chair, his eyes were half-open, half-closed.
Danzo Shimura, who had remained largely silent, quietly observed Hiruzen Sarutobi's reaction.
At this point, he suddenly spoke.
"What Hiruzen just said is correct; while our Konoha has suffered considerable losses in this war, the enemy is no different."
"Now it's a test of whose endurance is stronger, and whoever can hold out until the end will be the victor.
We have just repelled the Hidden Mist Village's forces, forcing the Land of Water to agree to peace talks; the advantage is currently on our side."
"To retreat when we clearly hold the advantage, I cannot understand such an action.
Of course, the final decision rests in your hands, Hiruzen."
After speaking, Danzo Shimura again seemed to enter a meditative state, continuing to doze with his eyes half-open, half-closed.
His words just now had truly struck a chord with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Send out more intelligence units to gather information on all factions on the battlefield.
See the comparison of combat strength between our side and the enemy's."
"In short, we can now concentrate some forces to go to the battlefield and support other fronts.
We'll know the result if we keep fighting; this matter is decided."
After Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, he relit his pipe and looked out the window.
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances.
They looked as if they wanted to speak but held back.
Meanwhile, the outwardly calm Danzo Shimura was secretly rejoicing within... Uchiha Ryosuke was moving swiftly through the forest, making his way.
He was preparing to return and rendezvous with the members of the Uchiha Clan.
Throughout his journey, his super perception continuously scanned the entire battlefield without a moment's pause.
Since the Hidden Mist Village suffered heavy losses under his leadership in the counterattack.
They no longer dared to send large forces into the Land of Fire to conduct harassment operations.
And the defeat and demise of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist further intensified the Land of Water's apprehension.
Currently, on the eastern front, at least within Uchiha Ryosuke's sensory range, no enemies were active.
"I suppose the Third Hokage will either recall us or send us to support other battlefields," Uchiha Ryosuke thought silently, when he suddenly stopped.
No sooner had he stopped than a figure appeared on a horizontally extending branch of the large tree opposite him.
The person looked younger than him, only in his teens.
He had short black hair, carried a short sword on his back, and wore a Konoha forehead protector.
His face was resolute, and his firm gaze also revealed a hint of scrutiny and curiosity.
"The Uchiha genius, the flawless Ninja, 'Shisui of the Body Flicker'..."
With just a glance, Uchiha Ryosuke recognized the person.
After all, they were both members of the Uchiha Clan, and the name Shisui of the Body Flicker was now known to everyone.
Uchiha Shisui's gaze moved from Uchiha Ryosuke's face,
and slowly fell upon the weapons he carried on his back.
These were all spoils of war from defeating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist earlier.
Including the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei used by Hozuki Senjin, and Kabutowari used by Ameyuri Ringo.
Also, Kuriarare Kushimaru's long sword: needle, and Munashi Jinpachi's Bakutō Bibara.
If not for the other three Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist escaping while their comrades distracted Uchiha Ryosuke,
Uchiha Ryosuke could have collected all seven Ninja Swords.
"It seems I arrived late."
After a few glances, Uchiha Shisui spoke calmly.
The meaning of his words seemed to imply that he, too, had come to pursue the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
"Is that your target too?"
Uchiha Ryosuke pointed to the weapons on his back.
"There have been many rumors about you on the battlefield recently, so it seems you must have awakened the Sharingan by now, right?"
Uchiha Shisui asked in return.
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Ryosuke suddenly used Advanced Body Flicker Technique, instantly appearing in front of him.
The two stood side by side, and Uchiha Ryosuke turned his head to look at him:
"Currently, I am already in the highest form of the Sharingan."
He was probing.
He wanted to see how developed Uchiha Shisui's Sharingan was.
Sure enough, Uchiha Shisui's eyes showed a slight hint of surprise when he heard him say that: "Mangekyo?"
Such a question revealed a great deal of information.
Firstly, Uchiha Shisui already knew about the Mangekyo.
Ordinary Uchiha Ninja wouldn't know such a secret.
This most likely meant that he had now awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Mangekyo?"
Uchiha Ryosuke continued to play dumb, showing a confused and puzzled expression:
"Isn't the highest form of the Sharingan three tomoe?"
As he said this, the surprise on Uchiha Shisui's face quickly faded.
It was replaced by a look of sudden realization: "No, it's not."
"Above the three-tomoe Sharingan, there is an even higher form; that is the true power of the Uchiha Clan."
As he spoke, the form of Uchiha Shisui's eyes suddenly changed.
His originally dark and bright eyes instantly transformed into the Mangekyo Sharingan.
It was in the shape of a four-bladed pinwheel, filled with a mysterious and unfathomable aura.
Seeing the Mangekyo Sharingan displayed by Uchiha Shisui.
Uchiha Ryosuke once again showed a surprised expression.
This time, he was genuinely surprised.
He hadn't expected Uchiha Shisui to have already awakened the Mangekyo at this time...