Naruto's civilian cannon fodder starts with the three-body technique

Chapter 288 You Regret My Shadow (Bonus Chapter, 10,000 words per day)
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly and took a puff of his pipe.

Mitokado Homura looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and finally revealed his true intentions: "How about we temporarily suspend Unno Sasuke from his position as commander of the frontline mobile support force? This would show our respect for the daimyo and serve as a warning and punishment to Unno Sasuke, making him understand the seriousness of the matter. If the investigation is clear and there are mitigating circumstances, we can reinstate him to his post later."

"Remove him from command?" Koharu Tsurugi frowned.

She understood Mitokado Homura's intentions; this was undoubtedly a major blow to Umino Sasuke's prestige. However, she did not directly object, but instead looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen: "That elite force was built and established by Umino Sasuke himself, and it has great prestige. If we rashly change its commander, I'm afraid the morale of the ninjas on the front lines will waver. Besides, if Umino Sasuke is replaced, who will take his place?"

Upon hearing the word "position," Mitokado Homura was overjoyed and wanted to immediately say that he was a very good choice. However, to avoid suspicion, he carefully said, "The frontline mobile support force is an elite force that has won every battle. It would be difficult to convince the people if we rashly appointed a Jonin to take over this position. How about letting Torifu, the frontline commander, temporarily take charge?"

Koharu glanced at Mitokado Homura and immediately saw through her old teammate's little scheme, but she didn't call her out on it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, a shrewd and calculating man, knew Mitokado Homura quite well, and was even more familiar with him. So he remained silent for a long time, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table as he pondered. Mitokado Homura's suggestion was exactly what he wanted. Suppressing Umino Sasuke's momentum and weakening his influence in the military was exactly the result he wanted. Now that the daimyo was taking the blame, he could dismiss him from his post. This punishment would show the daimyo his stance without shaking the morale of the ninjas on the front lines.

"Menyan has considered everything very thoroughly." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded before speaking and making the final decision, "Until the matter is thoroughly investigated, Sasuke Umino is no longer suitable to serve as the commander of the frontline mobile support force."

The order was issued simultaneously: Umino Sasuke was immediately relieved of his post as commander of the frontline mobile support unit, which was temporarily placed under the command of the frontline commander-in-chief, Akimichi Torikaze.

Furthermore, Umino Sasuke and Hatake Sakumo are ordered to immediately hand over all duties upon receiving this order and return to Konoha as quickly as possible to answer questions!

After saying that, he looked at the ANBU member in charge of recording: "Immediately draft the order and send it to the front line and to Hatake Sagumo simultaneously using the fastest ANBU Ninja Hawks!"

"Yes!" the ninja from the shadows replied in a deep voice, quickly recording the order.

Upon hearing this, Mitokado Homura lowered his head, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips.

Koharu Utatane, who witnessed the entire event, sighed inwardly, feeling a vague unease. After leaving the office, she wrote to her clan, advising them not to get too involved and to maintain a respectful distance from Sasuke Umino. While Sasuke Hatake was easy to handle, Sasuke Umino was no pushover. He possessed immense prestige and strength and seemed less bound by ninja rules, so he might not simply sit idly by.

Mitomon Homura, on the other hand, took immediate action as soon as he left the Hokage's office. Considering that his own clan's ninjas on the front lines in the Land of Rivers had been completely wiped out by Umino Sasuke and had lost all influence, he found the mission squad leader and obtained a transfer order for the Mitomon clan to support the front lines. He transferred most of the clan's ninjas to the front lines in the Land of Rivers in preparation for taking command of the mobile support forces in the future.

……

The Anbu Ninja Hawk had barely flown out of Konoha when the door to the Hokage's office was suddenly pushed open by a powerful force.

"Monkey! What stupid order did you just give?!"

Danzo Shimura, brimming with barely suppressed rage, strode in. His single eye was fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi behind the desk as he demanded, "Recalling Sasuke Hatake and Sasuke Umino—do you know what you're doing?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have expected this. He slowly tapped his pipe on the corner of the table, relit it, exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, and then looked up at the front of him: "Danzo, you are, after all, an advisor to the village. You should pay attention to the most basic etiquette. This is the Hokage's office."

"Etiquette? Heh!" Danzo scoffed and immediately launched into a tirade, "Now you're talking to me about etiquette? Do you even know that the battle on the front lines has reached its most critical moment? The logistics of the Sunagakure front-line troops have been turned upside down by those two brats, and their morale is on the verge of collapse!"
Chiyo was also led back to the heart of the Land of Wind, and the defense line of the Land of Rain was on the verge of collapse.

With just a little more effort, we can completely crush Sunagakure and end this war!

And you!

Why would they summon them back at this crucial moment?!
"You're giving Sunagakure a chance to breathe; you're betraying Konoha's interests!"

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face immediately darkened: "Betrayal of Konoha? Danzo, watch your words! Recalling them was a strict order from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. The two of them were spreading treasonous words in the Land of Wind, such as 'overthrowing the rule of the nobility and liberating the entire ninja world,' which has angered the Daimyo. The Daimyo personally ordered their recall and severe punishment. I did this to appease the Daimyo's anger and for the future of Konoha. I only relieved Umino Sasuke of his post because I protected them, and didn't arrest them directly!"

“Severe punishment is severe punishment! Recall is recall! These are two separate matters!”

Danzo's voice suddenly rose, filled with a frustrated anger, "So what if the Daimyo gave the order? Does the Daimyo understand battlefield timing better than us? We can delay, we can give excuses, we can tell him that the situation at the front is urgent and they cannot be recalled for the time being, and that we can bring them back after Hatake Sagumo and Umino Sasuke have completely defeated Sunagakure!"
When the time comes, I have no objection to how to explain things to the daimyo or how to punish him! Whether he goes to jail or his tools are destroyed, it's all up to the daimyo!

For Konoha's ultimate victory, what do a little sacrifice and overstepping matter?! Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo, who was both familiar and unfamiliar to him, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. When did Danzo become so smart? This was not his usual style. It seemed that he was really anxious this time. For the sake of victory, even his mind was working faster.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind raced, but he remained outwardly calm.

He shook his head, then put on that extremely annoyingly kind and gentle expression, and actually advised in a slow voice: "Danzo, your thinking is too utilitarian. The pillars of Konoha are not tools that can be discarded at will after use!"

Umino Sasuke and Hatake Sagumo have made great contributions to Konoha. How can we sit idly by and watch them fall into the wrath of the Daimyo for the sake of our immediate interests?

I'm recalling them now precisely to protect them and give them a chance to explain and make amends!

This is what it truly means to live up to the expectations of pillars of society; this is the true will of fire!

"You haven't forgotten what Tobirama-sensei taught you, have you?"

"Protection? Will of Fire? Tobirama-sensei's teachings?" Upon hearing these keywords, Shimura Danzo was immediately provoked and began to lose his composure again. "Sarutobi Hiruzen, is your so-called protection simply giving up an easy victory? Is your so-called Will of Fire simply bowing and scraping before the Daimyo? Who has forgotten Tobirama-sensei's teachings?!"

Danzo Shimura's eyes were filled with anger and regret. The scene from back then resurfaced in his mind. He shouldn't have hesitated and let the monkey get there first. Tobirama-sensei wouldn't have chosen such an indecisive and weak guy who only knew how to live off Tobirama-sensei's legacy as his successor to the Hokage. If Konoha were in his hands, it would have dominated the ninja world long ago.

Upon hearing this question, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly turned extremely ugly, his pipe cracking as he gripped it tightly: "Danzo! How dare you! Everything I've done is for the long-term stability of Konoha. The Daimyo's support is the foundation of Konoha's existence. Without the Daimyo's financial support, military funding, and resources, how can Konoha survive? How can it support its ninjas? Your plan, though seemingly radical, is actually pushing Konoha to the opposite side of the Daimyo; you're playing with fire!"

"Playing with fire? I think you're the one putting Konoha in danger!" Shimura Danzo retorted without backing down, his voice icy cold. "To curry favor with the Daimyo, you're giving up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for victory, waiting for Sunagakure to recover and launch a comeback? That's the greatest crime against Konoha!"

Right now!

Take back your stupid order!
Let them continue their mission and defeat Sunagakure. I'll handle the aftermath and explain it to the Daimyo. I'll take full responsibility for all the consequences!

"The order has been given and cannot be changed!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi refused outright, his eyes filled with undeniable authority, and said decisively, "The prestige of Konoha cannot be changed overnight. My mind is made up, and there is no need to discuss this further!"

"Konoha's victory was ruined by your single decision!"

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's righteous and awe-inspiring posture once again, Danzo Shimura was extremely disappointed. He knew that, as before, arguing any further would be futile.

After a long silence, he stared intently at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, word by word, "You will regret this!"

"I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen Sarutobi responded without backing down, his voice carrying an absolute air of authority.

"Hmph!" Danzo let out a cold snort filled with anger and disappointment, turned around abruptly, strode towards the door, and slammed the heavy Hokage office door shut with all his might.

There was a loud bang.

The loud crash echoed through the corridor, making the walls seem to tremble. Several valuable paintings and calligraphy pieces fell from the walls and were shattered by shards of glass.

Looking at his beloved calligraphy and paintings, Hiruzen Sarutobi calmly said to the air, "The losses will be deducted from the Root's budget."

"Yes!" A member of the ANBU appeared in a flash, quickly cleaned up the mess, and then used a teleportation technique to leave with the report of the damage.

(End of this chapter)