Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 47 They want war, so we'll give them war!

"Third generation sir."

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was pondering, Akimichi Tou, who had mostly recovered, said in a hoarse voice, "Is war about to begin?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts were interrupted when he heard Akimichi Tou's question, and he couldn't help but sigh.

“Yes,” he replied, “at least for now.”

"We... cough cough! cough!"

Akimichi Tou felt a sudden heaviness in his chest. He opened his mouth to say something, but then coughed violently, staining the white sheets with specks of blood.

"Senior Tang Dong, please stop!"

Hinata Kumokawa quickly got up and went over to him, taking out a tissue to wipe the saliva and blood from the corner of his mouth, and then helped him lie down again with his arm.

Immediately, Hyuga Kumokawa looked at the silent Sarutobi Hiruzen, a hint of anger appearing on his face, and said, "Third Hokage, Kumogakure and Iwagakure have repeatedly pushed their luck. We can't hesitate any longer!"

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi paused for a moment, then lowered his head and gave a bitter smile, saying dismissively, "You're still young, you don't understand what war means..."

"No, I understand."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was interrupted before he could finish speaking. He subconsciously looked up and was met with a pair of pure eyes full of determination and resolve.

"No one wants to face the brutality of war. My father and mother both died on the battlefield."

The two locked eyes, and Hyuga Kumokawa said in a deep voice, "However, we have already retreated again and again, and there is nowhere left to retreat!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes paused slightly before he slowly said, "Why..."

"Because behind us is Konoha, our family and friends!" Hyuga Kumokawa said solemnly, word by word. "Third Hokage, please give the order. Even if it's just me, I'm willing to stand on the front line."

"They want war, so we'll give them war!"

Upon hearing this, the entire ward fell into a deathly silence. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Touya Akimichi all looked at Akigaru Kumokawa with slightly lingering gazes, their previously timid hearts inexplicably stirred by a sudden emotion.

They simply couldn't believe that these words came from the mouth of a fifteen-year-old boy.

These adults and old folks seem to be no match for a child.

"...Yun Chuan".

After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have made a decision. His eyes, slightly gleaming, met Hyuga Kumokawa's gaze, and he said seriously, "Do you dare to say these words to anyone else?"

"I dare." Hinata Kumokawa nodded without hesitation.

Koharu Utatane, who was standing nearby, seemed to realize something and couldn't help but ask, "Hiruzen, you wouldn't be thinking of..."

“Yes.” Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. “I’m going to take this child to the Jonin meeting.”

"Lord Third Generation, this is unacceptable!"

Upon hearing this, Akimichi Tou's expression changed slightly, and he blurted out the answer instinctively.

As a member of a ninja clan, he knew those who also came from ninja clans all too well.

Even among the Akimichi clan, who are staunch supporters of the Hokage, there are still many who only care about their own and their clan's interests and refuse to risk their lives for Konoha as a whole.

To put it bluntly, this is the inherent weakness of the "ninja clan." The power of the ninja clan does not only come from wealth and military strength, but more importantly from the monopoly of knowledge and culture such as ninjutsu and secret techniques.

Ninjutsu is extremely precious, and it is very difficult for ninjas of commoner origin to acquire it. Only ninja clans can firmly grasp these resources through family inheritance and education.

Furthermore, the mutual trust and support within the ninja clan created a powerful and extensive social network. This network not only helped them gain higher political status but also consolidated their social influence, forming a fragile balance with the "Kage." However, that was all.

"Senior Doto," Hinata Kumokawa said calmly, "I'm going."

Looking at Hyuga Kumokawa's calm and determined expression, Akimichi Tou and Utatane Koharu felt a sense of emotion.

"I never expected that the traditionally conservative Hyuga clan would actually have members who would abandon their clan's prejudices."

Akimichi Toudou was, after all, a companion of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Under his influence, his sense of belonging to Konoha surpassed his sense of belonging to his clan. Koharu Utatane was even more so under the influence of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

That's why they understood what Hinata Kumokawa's choice meant.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was naturally aware of this, so his gaze toward Hyuga Kumokawa became even gentler.

"Let's go then." He patted Hinata Kumokawa on the shoulder, then squeezed it gently with relief, saying, "Don't worry, you're not alone."

He was, after all, the Third Hokage; he hadn't reached the point of complete decay.

Hinata Kumokawa is right. Since there's no way to avoid it now, we can't hesitate any longer.

He now needs to act before Kumogakure can react, portraying them as the ones who initiated the conflict, stirring up the anger of the Konoha ninja and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, and drawing some ninja from the ninja clans to form a force to strike first.

However, it is not easy to squeeze money out of those ninja clans. Even he, the Hokage, cannot force them to send their clansmen to the battlefield to die. Otherwise, it will inevitably cause those ninja clans to become disloyal and disobedient.

If it were a young ninja from the Hyuga clan, like Kumokawa, who would step forward voluntarily.

That would be a different story.

But this also means that Hyuga Kumokawa will become the one who sticks his neck out, and that he has betrayed the Hyuga clan and even the ninja faction.

This means a complete break with the Hyuga clan, or even the complete abandonment of one's surname and the resources the Hyuga clan provides.

It's important to know that before Hyuga Hizashi died, he entrusted Hyuga Kumokawa to Hyuga Hiashi, and the resources he would be able to obtain from the clan in the future would be far beyond what ordinary ninjas could match.

Therefore, this was by no means a decision or choice that could be made casually or easily, which is why Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two were so surprised and gratified.

So, is Hinata Kumokawa really so noble and selfless?

--------

Click.

Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed open the conference room door, the light casting his shadow on the wall, along with the figure following behind him.

Under the conference room lights, not only their shadows were cast, but also the silhouettes of people swaying on the walls on both sides, some old and some young, some plain and simple and some ambitious.

The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi walked in, everyone present stood up in unison.

"Third generation sir."

A variety of voices rose up at that moment, some anxious, some deep, and some doubtful.

Although some people are still unclear about the reasons for this meeting, those with intelligence channels have already made some guesses.

Therefore, the address "Third Generation Lord" feels more like a form of oppression.

An overwhelming sense of pressure, as if everyone was speaking in unison, directed at Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage.

(End of this chapter)