Naruto: From Capturing the Main Clan to Becoming the Mastermind

Chapter 82 We're just cannon fodder!

"You think so too? And even now, you haven't given up."

Hyuga Yu looked at Genji, a Jonin. The latter hesitated for a moment, looked at the intelligence reports, nodded helplessly, and said with a wry smile:

"You can do whatever you want with us. Please forgive the ninja clans behind us. We only agreed to Danzo's plan and did not start it immediately. They are unaware of this."

Hyuga Yu chuckled softly, "When Danzo carried out this plan, the first people he thought of were you weak ninja clans. After Danzo lost power, the first people he couldn't help but see were you."

Genji frowned deeply, taking Hinata Yu's light laugh as mockery, but couldn't even think of a rebuttal.

Without strength, without confidence... that's how it is.

Because Danzo had leverage over them, they were naturally more anxious than the other ninja clans.

Those large and powerful ninja clans are far superior to them. The other side is confident that Konoha needs them, but they are not.

On the other hand, Kurama Unkai, with mixed feelings, was more shrewd than Genji, and seemed to have picked up on some kind of hint from Hinata Hare's words.

Danzo's first thought was of these weak ninja clans...

Speaking of which, as far as he knew, the ninja clans that agreed to this plan were all weak, or like his own clan, they had once been powerful but had long since declined for various reasons.

Kurama Unkai's expression suddenly darkened. He stood up and bowed deeply to Hinata Yu. "Thank you for your guidance and for sparing my life, sir. From now on, the Kurama clan will follow your lead."

As he spoke, he gestured to Jonin Genji with his eyes. Although the latter was somewhat doubtful, his years of comradeship made him believe that the other party would not betray him, so he hurriedly stood up and said something similar.

Hinata Yu didn't respond, but said calmly:

"Step down."

"yes!"

Kurama Unkai respectfully agreed and left with the bewildered Genji Jonin.

After returning home with Kurama Unkai, Genji couldn't help but ask, "Why?"

Those three words encapsulated many of his doubts.

Why didn't Hyuga Yu punish them?

Why did Kurama Unkai thank him, completely betting his entire fortune on Hinata Yu?

"Think carefully, which ninja clans participated in this plan back then?" Kurama Unkai asked with a gloomy expression.

"I don't know much, about Kurama, Tottori, and our Urakawa..."

As Genji spoke, his brows furrowed.

"Have you noticed? They're all small ninja clans. Their influence isn't strong; they're clans that don't have much of a presence in the current ninja world."

Anma Yunhai said in a low, melancholy tone:

"We initially thought this plan had considerable support, which is why we chose to join. But Danzo never revealed the specific list of ninja clans participating in the plan. Was it due to a secrecy agreement, or because there were too few participants?"

Genji said somewhat uncertainly, "At least Root should help, right? This is Danzo's plan to dominate the Land of Fire, how could he possibly..."

Kurama Unkai interrupted coldly, asking a strange question, "In your eyes, which holds a higher status, the Daimyo or the Hokage?"

"big……"

Looking at Kurama Unkai's indifferent eyes, Genji closed his eyes and said, "Hokage."

As a member of a ninja village, one might respect the daimyo who has always provided financial support, but if one had to choose between the two, the Hokage would naturally be the better choice.

Because they were taught from a young age that the leader of Konoha is the Hokage, and that they must obey the Hokage's orders.

A famous name?

Does Konoha have an organization specifically dedicated to promoting the greatness of the Daimyo?

Who dares to say in Konoha every day that the Daimyo is the master of the Land of Fire and has a higher status than the Hokage?

There are definitely some near the Daimyo's residence, but not in Konoha. From education to daily life, the Hokage's power and status are the highest.

Not to mention that Minato's previous actions reinforced this impression once again. It's likely that the ninjas standing behind the Fourth Hokage at the time deeply believed that the Hokage was more important than the Daimyo.

"There are only the two of us here, so just say it directly, don't deceive yourselves."

Kurama Unkai pressed Genji with his gaze, his tone softening, "Since the Hokage's status is so high, how should the status of those below him be determined?"

Genji finally understood what he meant: "The great ninja clans, the high-ranking officials of Konoha are the great nobles of the Land of Fire."

This can actually be seen from the Third Hokage's succession. At that time, because of the Second Hokage's death, although there was the Second Hokage's appointment before his death, the Daimyo still consulted with various parties... namely, the opinions of the ninja clans.

However, because the Second Hokage still wielded considerable influence, and because Hiruzen already had a powerful ninja clan behind him, he was able to smoothly assume the position of Hokage.

If a similar situation were to occur again, or even if the Fourth Hokage failed to appoint a successor, the Daimyo would have to consult with Hyuga Yu, Tsunade, Uchiha Fugaku, and Jonin class leader Nara Shikaku, among others, before appointing the Hokage.

In the Land of Fire, aren't the nobles the ones that the daimyo needs to treat with utmost care?

"It may seem that the Hokage needs to be appointed by the Daimyo, but in reality, it is recommended by the people of Konoha. The Hokage and the Daimyo are of equal status, and the people after them are of equal status to the high-ranking officials of the Land of Fire."

Anma Yunhai's eyes were filled with complex emotions. "One country, one village system...the country and the village are equal."

"Watch your words!" Genji said solemnly, "This is not something we can discuss."

"Why not? Recently, Sarutobi Asuma of the Sarutobi clan had a big fight with the Third Hokage."

Kurama Unkai said coldly, "This descendant of the Third Hokage wasn't in the Fourth Hokage's team at the time, didn't personally experience that scene, and still thinks that the only lord of the Land of Fire can be a daimyo, and even wanted to become one of the Twelve Guardian Ninjas."

This matter is common knowledge, even if not explicitly stated, and most of the ninja clans have heard about it. This is one of the reasons why the Third Hokage went to work as a guard for Danzo.

I'm so angry I don't want to stay in the clan anymore...

Genji paused, then sighed, "Our identities are different from his."

Glancing at him, Anma Yunhai asked, "Then let's not talk about it anymore. You understand our situation, right?"

"Hmm." Genji nodded, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Only people like us would agree to Danzo's plan. Those powerful ninja clan leaders... are the beneficiaries."

Those people have already reached the top tier of the Land of Fire, but because of their identity as ninjas, they don't have many opportunities to demonstrate their status in the Land of Fire.

As a beneficiary, should the other party protect their own interests and safeguard the "one country, one village" system, or choose to undermine the system and redistribute the benefits?

This can be seen from the contest between Danzo and the Fourth Hokage.

Most ninja clans only consolidate their own interests instead of venturing into the unknown. The Uchiha clan behind the Fourth Hokage couldn't squeeze into the core, so they chose to take a gamble. If the other party had originally been a high-ranking member of the village, they might not have had such courage.

They were similar to the Uchiha, but their strength was not as good as the Uchiha. The other party had the ability and courage to bet on the Fourth Hokage and won a "huge sum", standing at the forefront of the era.

However, as a weak ninja clan, they lacked the courage and confidence to take a gamble and could only go with the flow, eventually accepting Danzo's plan.

Because Danzo was supporting them, they thought there was no problem... but they were actually very wrong!

"We are cannon fodder used by Danzo to test the resistance to abolishing the one-country, one-village system!"

Yuan Er gritted his teeth.

(End of this chapter)