The world begins with refining skills

Chapter 385 Hokage, you must consider the bigger picture! (Seeking monthly votes)

There was an uproar at the scene!

They initially thought it was a member of the Uchiha clan openly slandering the Hokage and trying to cause trouble.

Unexpectedly, Sarutobi Makoto actually did it, and even let it slip in public.

Now there's no room for maneuver.

"Hiss! Sending people to cause trouble at the Uchiha clan's properties, what was Sarutobi Shiroo thinking?"

"I don't care about that. What I care about is that the Uchiha have actually stood on the side of justice today!"

"How do you think a Chunin like him would dare to provoke the Uchiha? Could it be the Hokage?"

A middle-aged ninja in his thirties had a sudden inspiration and voiced his guess.

"Shh! Are you crazy? How can you say something like that?"

His companion quickly covered his mouth, looking at the middle-aged ninja in shock, not understanding how he dared to say such things that made fun of the Hokage.

"Ah!" The middle-aged man then realized what he had just said and was also startled.

They nervously looked around, but thankfully no one seemed to care about their little incident at that moment.

Sometimes, being so ordinary that you don't even stand out is a kind of happiness!
"I don't know what came over me, this thought just suddenly flashed through my mind, and then I blurted it out."

The middle-aged ninja was a little scared. Luckily, no one else heard it, otherwise he would have had to undergo an investigation by the Anbu.

As an ordinary Chunin, he was always very careful and never spoke carelessly.

what is it today?
The middle-aged ninja tugged at his hood, which had been blown askew by the wind, wondering if it was because he had been under too much pressure lately.

What the middle-aged ninja didn't know was that his companions actually had similar thoughts to him.

It just wasn't said out loud.

Not only them, but other Konoha ninjas around them also harbored some disrespect for the Hokage.

If someone were to put these disrespectful thoughts together, they would find that the weaker the ninja, the more of these bad thoughts they had.

Even if powerful ninjas had such thoughts, they would quickly suppress them.

Not far to the east of the Sarutobi clan's territory, on a three-story building, a prominent nose slowly emerged from the cement wall.

Then the lips, eyes, and ears.
A head quickly emerged from the wall, followed by a complete body, detached from the entire wall from top to bottom.

It was as if it wasn't a wall of reinforced concrete, but a layer of soft water.

Looking at the crowd not far away, whose minds had been disturbed by his words, Mu Sheng smiled faintly.

Human nature is inherently selfish. No matter how well Hiruzen Sarutobi's ideological work is done, or how noble his Will of Fire is touted, it's all ultimately selfless.
It cannot cover up the stark reality!
The high-ranking officials and various ninja clans, who hold the power in the village, possess the most powerful ninjutsu and the most abundant resources.

Those commoner ninjas, on the other hand, only had the Three Body Techniques taught at the Ninja Academy and a pitifully small number of low-level ninjutsu!

During wartime, they are tasked with the most dangerous cannon fodder missions; when there is no war, they are tasked with the most complicated and tedious D-level and C-level missions.

They can't earn much money, and their strength can't grow due to a lack of high-level ninjutsu. How could these people not have negative emotions?
Otherwise, where do the rogue ninjas in the ninja world come from?

Speaking of which, we must commend Hiruzen Sarutobi for his consistent advocacy of the Will of Fire.

Under the influence of this mindset, the endurance of the Konoha ninjas was greatly enhanced.

However, now, Mu Sheng has dug a gap in this city wall built by the Will of Fire.

"Thoughts can be guided, and in a world with extraordinary powers, this guidance is even simpler!"

"My foolish Hokage! Are you prepared to stand against everyone?"

"Jie Jie"

The matter was not over yet outside the gates of the Sarutobi clan.

"Hey! Everyone heard that!"

Uchiha Touhuan spread his arms and shouted to the crowd, "He confessed to ordering his men to kidnap the Uchiha Araki couple!"

"I...I didn't! I just told them to cause trouble, I didn't arrest anyone!"

Sarutobi Shiroo repeatedly denied it.

He was well aware of which was more serious: sending people to cause trouble at the shop or capturing Uchiha clan members.

"You think you can just say you don't know them? You just said you didn't know the Araki couple."

Uchiha Touhuan, being unreasonable, tried his best to pin the blame on Sarutobi Shiroo.

"It really wasn't me. I have no grudge against the Uchiha Araki couple. Why would I arrest them?"

"Since you have no grudge against them, why did you send people to cause trouble in their shop?"

"Because...because..." Sarutobi Shiro was momentarily speechless, unsure how to explain.

Could it be that this was a mission sent by the clan to damage the reputation of the Uchiha clan?
If that's really the case, then he's truly finished.

"Why? Can't figure it out, huh?" Uchiha Touhuan stepped forward, staring intently into Sarutobi Seio's eyes.

"If it's not a feud with the Araki couple, then it's a feud with my Uchiha clan."

"What right do you have to be enemies with the Uchiha clan, a piece of trash who only became a Chunin because of your clan?"

"So," a meaningful glint flashed in Uchiha Touhuan's Sharingan, "it's the Sarutobi clan."

"enough!!!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted Touken Uchiha's attempt to escalate the situation with a furious shout.

His political instincts told him that the situation made him feel uneasy.

The actions of the Uchiha clan, and the reactions of the surrounding Konoha ninja, all revealed something eerie.

"Clan Chief Rin, since your Uchiha clan has determined that this matter is related to Sarutobi Shiroo, as the clan chief of the Sarutobi clan, I will now hand him over to the Uchiha for disposal!"

"Clan Chief Lin may leave with her people!"

In this bizarre situation, Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to abandon Masao Sarutobi to quell the matter.

'It's time to urge Danzo to act faster!'

He originally wanted to wait a little longer, until the standoff with Kumogakure ended, until Root was ready, and until his forces were stronger.
He can't wait any longer. If the Uchiha clan dares to openly surround the Sarutobi clan today, they might dare to directly attack the Hokage Building tomorrow.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi carries the title of the strongest Hokage, he knows his own limitations best.

If he were to be surrounded and ambushed by hundreds of Uchiha ninjas, his old bones would likely be gone.

Not to mention, behind the Uchiha clan is that young man whom he fears.

"No, no! Hokage-sama, clan leader, please don't hand me over to the Uchiha!"

Upon hearing that he was to be handed over, Sarutobi Shiro panicked: "I have rendered service to the clan, I have shed blood for the clan!"

Why does that sound so familiar? Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, and quickly remembered that the boy had said something similar to him before.

Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression became even more unpleasant.

Why learn from that deep-thinking boy, Kanbara!

"Shut up! Merit is merit, and demerit is demerit; they cannot cancel each other out!"

"No matter how many merits you have made in the past, that is no excuse for your current crimes!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, and two Anbu ninjas stepped out from behind him, subdued Sarutobi Masao, and threw him to the Uchiha clan ninjas.

"Chief Lin, this farce has caused a great disturbance. Please leave with the justice you demand!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi made a gesture to see the guest out.

Uchiha Rin smiled slightly: "Hokage-sama, we're taking Sarutobi Makoto with us, and we're also going to find the Uchiha clan members!"

"As I said, the Uchiha have come here today for three things, and this is just one of them!"

Rin Uchiha's meaning was clear: three things meant three people, and right now, only Masao Sarutobi was available, which couldn't satisfy her demands.

"Makoto, where are the Uchiha Araki couple? Hand them over at once!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi scolded, "If it weren't for the stupid things this idiot did, things wouldn't be in this state now."

However, while Hiruzen Sarutobi was reprimanding Makoto Sarutobi, he overlooked one question: were the Uchiha Araki couple really kidnapped by Makoto Sarutobi?

And why did I never doubt this point from beginning to end?

"I'm innocent! I didn't kidnap the Uchiha Araki couple, why don't you believe me?"

Sarutobi Shiro felt extremely wronged; he hadn't done anything wrong, yet people were blaming him for it.

It's like accusing an impotent man of rape; this is just too much!
"The people are already in your hands. I believe the Uchiha have plenty of ways to confirm the whereabouts of the Araki couple!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, unwilling to dwell on the matter any longer, simply passed the buck to the Uchiha clan.

"Chief Lin, please lead your people away!"

“The village is only so big, where could Sarutobi Shigeo possibly hide people?” Uchiha Rin laughed.

"Since we're already here, why don't we go in and search?" Uchiha Rin said, pointing in the direction of the Sarutobi clan. "What do you think, Hokage-sama?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened completely.

By this point, he understood perfectly well that the Uchiha clan had made such a grand show of force precisely because they were targeting the Sarutobi clan!
Or perhaps he already had this suspicion, but his personality made him think of quelling the matter as soon as possible.

"Clan Chief Rin, do you know what you're saying?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice.

"For the sake of Konoha's peace, I have repeatedly tolerated the Uchiha's audacity. If Clan Chief Rin insists on provoking us..."
"Then I will let you know that I am not only the head of the Sarutobi clan, but also the Hokage of Konoha!"

As they spoke, figures from the Konoha ninja clans appeared one by one, surrounding the Uchiha clan.

His staunch supporters include the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi families.

The Aburame family, who possess the secret art of insect repellent.

The Inuzuka family, renowned for their expertise in breeding ninja dogs.

Other ninja clans, large and small, also began to appear here.

The only missing member is the Hyuga clan, a family renowned for its eye techniques on par with the Uchiha clan.

"Hehehe"

"Of course you're the Hokage, how could I not know that? It's just..."

A large amount of chakra suddenly surged from Uchiha Rin's body, and in the time it took to speak, it condensed into a five-meter-tall chakra armor.

“Every member of the Uchiha clan is an indispensable part of the Uchiha clan.”

Never abandon, never give up – this has always been the Uchiha clan motto!

Today, I will definitely find the Uchiha clan members!

'This...could this be...Susanoo?'

Looking at the chakra armored giant in front of him, Hiruzen Sarutobi instantly understood what was going on.

No wonder the Uchiha clan coup succeeded, no wonder these Uchiha clan members would submit to a 12-year-old girl.

It turns out that it was because Rin Uchiha awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan!

As the Hokage of Konoha, how could Hiruzen Sarutobi not know about the Mangekyou Sharingan?

Those are eyes that can rival the Wood Release of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!
While shocked, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also furious at Rin Uchiha's shamelessness.

What does it mean to never abandon or give up?

When did your Uchiha clan have such a clan rule?
You abandoned Madara Uchiha back then. You could abandon even the strongest member of your clan, so why can't you abandon two ordinary clan members now?

Did Madara Uchiha know about this?
'Uchiha Rin has awakened the legendary Mangekyou Sharingan; her strength has likely reached Kage level!'

'If I had a squad of ANBU ninjas assisting me, I should be able to take her down!'

'As for the other Uchiha ninjas, the Sarutobi clan and Konoha ninjas should be able to suppress them as well.'

'But if we do that, even if we manage to wipe out the Uchiha clan, Konoha's elite forces will be completely depleted!'

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that if he rashly started a war with the Uchiha, the other four great ninja villages would definitely take advantage of Konoha's heavy losses.

Also, where has Danzo gone? Why can't we see a single Root ninja?
Could it be that they want to watch him and the Uchiha clan both suffer heavy losses, and then come out to reap the benefits?
With the Uchiha clan eyeing him covetously from the outside and Danzo Shimura harboring wolfish ambitions from within, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt utterly exhausted.

"Clan Chief Rin, is the Uchiha going to war with Konoha?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi eventually suppressed his anger. He had nothing to lose, and now he was the one wearing shoes.

"The front line is still in a standoff with Kumogakure, and Iwagakure has been constantly probing us lately. Do you know what the consequences would be if Konoha were to experience internal strife at this time?"

"Hmm," Rin Uchiha tilted her head as if thinking, and the Chakra Armor Giant also tilted its head.

"Konoha's internal strife has severely weakened it, and the four great ninja villages have taken the opportunity to invade the borders of my Land of Fire. Konoha will probably be destroyed!"

Rin Uchiha spoke calmly about the possible future of Konoha Village.

The scene he described sent a chill down the spines of all the Konoha ninja present.

"In that case, Clan Chief Lin should take care of it."

"Therefore, Hokage, please consider the bigger picture and refrain from doing anything that would cause pain to your loved ones and joy to your enemies!"

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to raise the banner of righteousness for Konoha, Rin Uchiha beat him to it, and his expression froze instantly!
"The Hokage wouldn't be unwilling, would he? No way! No way!"

"Is the face of the Sarutobi clan more important to the Hokage than the safety of Konoha?"

(End of this chapter)