Saving the Uchiha clan starts with becoming the clan leader.

Nara Shikaku sat to the side, a helpless smile on his face, and nodded slightly when his eyes met Kakashi's.

"Lord Hokage."

Kakashi stepped forward and bowed his head in greeting.

"Kakashi, I'm asking you, do you know about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?" Akimichi Torifu went straight to the point without uttering a single unnecessary word, almost leaving Kakashi completely bewildered. Fortunately, his genius mind did react quickly, "I know."

"You even know that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is the Fourth Hokage's child?"

The questions are becoming increasingly straightforward.

Kakashi was silent for a few seconds, then nodded: "I know."

"Then why have you never gone to see him?" Akimichi Torifu asked, seemingly out of curiosity.

This time, Kakashi remained silent for even longer. Fortunately, Akimichi Torifu was not in a hurry and waited patiently for Kakashi's answer. Nara Shikaku, standing nearby, was also somewhat curious. After about a minute, the Fourth Hokage's disciple spoke again, saying, "I haven't figured out how to meet... Naruto."

Seeing Naruto,

He had seen Naruto from afar on the street several times, and each time he couldn't help but think of his teacher, then Obito, then... Rin, and the pain of losing his cherished things time and time again. So he chose to escape, indulging in missions and killing, numbing his heart.

Until he learned that his father's suicide was a result of being plotted against and forced.

His father, whom he was once so proud of, ended his life in such a cowardly way. This was the earliest and deepest scar in his heart. When this scar was torn open with the most violent means and left bleeding, his anger could no longer be controlled, which is why he did such a thing.

"Lord Hokage, has something happened to Naruto?"

Kakashi raised his head, one eye was pitch black and the other was scarlet. However, the emotions contained in those heterochromatic eyes were not fake. Although the deepest scar in his heart was still bleeding, this pain finally gave him the courage to face Naruto. It had been many years since he had sought justice for his father, and he did not want to be late any longer with Naruto.

"It is a little troublesome."

Akimichi Torifu nodded. "Naruto's situation is complicated, involving past events, grudges, and entanglements. I don't know what the Fourth Hokage was thinking when he made his son the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, but... the fact that he is the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki cannot be changed. Sooner or later, he will have to shoulder the fate of the Jinchūriki."

What is the fate of a Jinchūriki?

It's just a weapon of war.

Kakashi remained silent, listening attentively.

“You haven’t been communicating with the outside world these days, so you may not know that the war between the village and the Mist Ninja broke out shortly after you stepped into the Anbu’s prison. The Uchiha clan chief led a large army to clash with the Mist Ninja on the eastern border. I plan to send the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to see what war looks like.”

Kakashi suddenly looked up, his handsome face, which resembled White Fang's, revealing an uncontrollable look of surprise. "Naruto is only five years old! Isn't that a bit too early?"

"Five years old is not young anymore. We all went to the battlefield with our parents and elders when we were five or six years old. Kakashi, you were the same. And... don't underestimate Naruto. You'll be surprised by his intelligence when you meet him."

Akimichi Torifu sighed with a hint of melancholy.

What I saw and heard yesterday is still fresh in my mind. Naruto Uzumaki's intelligence and well-behaved nature left a deep impression on me. The Fourth Hokage... what a pity! If Minato Namikaze were still alive, Konoha might be a different place.

"I understand."

Kakashi had no rebuttal.

He graduated from the Ninja Academy at the age of five and immediately went to the battlefield. He became a Chunin at the age of six and a Jonin at the age of twelve. He earned his position step by step through the battles. There is no reason why he can do this but Naruto cannot!

"Then, Lord Hokage, is there something you need me to do?" He had a vague idea of ​​why he had been summoned, but reason told him that such a thought was wishful thinking.

The next moment,

The voice from the Fifth Acting Hokage confirmed his suspicions.

"I need you to protect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki on the front lines."

Akimichi Torifu spoke slowly and deliberately.

Kakashi paused for a few seconds before asking, "Hokage-sama, um... is it alright to choose me for this kind of thing? I'm a criminal!"

"Shimura Danzo was a criminal who was to be executed. Your killing of him can only be described as a procedural error that violated the rules of the Anbu. Putting you in a cell is your punishment."

"I······"

"Stop rambling. I'm just asking if you're willing to take on this mission. If you are, put on that uniform and get ready right away. If you're not, go back to your cell and continue reading your books." Akimichi Torifu interrupted Kakashi's nonsense. The charge of attempted assassination of the Hokage was only mentioned verbally at the beginning, but it was never actually put on paper.

In addition, there were indeed many people outside who went out of their way for Kakashi, and even some members of the Akimichi clan had received help from Sakumo Hatake. After all, the infamous White Fang of Konoha was actually a fool who would abandon his mission for his comrades. Some people thought he was reckless and unworthy of being a ninja.

However, some people are also very grateful for Sakumo Hatake's care and for saving their lives.

Guy was able to send things to Kakashi thanks to the help of these people, among whom the most important was Aburame Shiki, the head of the Aburame clan.

Akimichi Torifu was unwilling to let the already weakened village lose even more talented people!

He looked at Kakashi, waiting for Kakashi's answer.

"Understood."

How to choose?

There's no need to even think about it.

Kakashi picked up the mask and costume that were hanging on the chair.

A white fox-face mask with red stripes, a black multi-functional mask... these were originally his things. Even the small dachi that his father gave him to kill Shimura Danzo was returned to him intact.

"Go back and prepare first. Once you're ready, report to the Hokage Building. Someone will guide you on what to do." Akimichi Torifu gave a few more instructions before Kakashi took his leave with the pile of things, leaving Akimichi Torifu and Nara Shikaku in the room.

Nara Shikaku watched as the door closed again.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, he asked, "Grandpa, handing over the Nine-Tails... Naruto Uzumaki to the Uchiha clan feels a bit inappropriate." This was already a euphemism; in his view, it was more than just inappropriate. Handing over the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to the Uchiha clan was practically giving a tiger wings.

If the Uchiha clan were to harbor any ill intentions, Konoha might be transformed in an instant.

He really didn't understand why Old Master Qu Feng would make such a decision!

[Chapter 107 Naruto Uzumaki Prepares to Head to the Front Lines]

"Shikaku, do you think I should follow Sarutobi's example and suppress the Uchiha clan?"

In front of Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Torifu spoke frankly and without mincing words. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio had been allies since the Warring States period. Nominally, they were three families, but in reality, they were as close as one family.

They are truly in a relationship where one suffers and the other prospers.

"Suppression is not necessary. The Uchiha clan of today is not the same as the Uchiha clan of the past. They are not so easy to bully. But precisely because of this, we should hold onto important combat forces like the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Otherwise... the Uchiha clan will truly be left without anyone to control."

At this time, Nara Shikaku was not anyone's friend, but the head of the Nara clan and the leader of the Ino-Shika-Cho triad. He set aside personal feelings and thought entirely from the perspective of his family and village.

Upon hearing these words,

Akimichi Torifu gave a helpless smile.

“Shikaku, you haven’t seen the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha. You don’t understand how terrifying Madara Uchiha was. In that era, if it weren’t for the First Hokage, Madara Uchiha might have conquered the entire ninja world. Numbers are meaningless in front of him.”

Nara Shikaku frowned, unable to comprehend the invincible power that Akimichi Torifu had described.

and also,

He didn't understand why Uchiha Madara was being brought up. Was it because of the information sent back by Uchiha Sogen? That mysterious person who claimed to be Uchiha Madara... Apart from Uchiha Sogen and the captured Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, no one else had ever seen this mysterious person.

"Grandpa, are you worried about that mysterious person who claims to be Uchiha Madara?"

Uchiha Madara,

Is it really that powerful?

It was just a name, yet it made Old Master Qu Feng turn pale upon hearing it.

"more or less!"

Akimichi Torifu did not deny that the members of the Yamanaka clan at the front line, with the cooperation of Yagura Karatachi, had searched the other party's memories. Although it was not clear whether it was really Uchiha Madara, he was indeed a powerful member of the Uchiha clan who manipulated Yagura Karatachi, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki and the Fourth Mizukage, with his Sharingan.

Having confirmed that Uchiha Sogen's information was not false, he still harbored a deep and unresolved worry.

He vividly remembered the horrific scene of the Nine-Tails' rampage five years ago. He had participated in the battle and would have almost died that night if the Fourth Hokage hadn't arrived in time. There was one thing he had to admit, whether he liked it or not: he, the Fifth Acting Hokage, was probably the weakest Hokage in history.

He was able to take the position of acting Hokage only because of his status and the fact that the Ino-Shika-Cho trio behind him were not weak.

In terms of strength

He was no match for Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and Kagami Uchiha, who were all deceased. At most, he was confident that he could fight Mitokado Homura or Koharu Utatane in a one-on-one fight, and that was all. This lack of strength left him without enough confidence.

If that mysterious Uchiha clan member were to invade Konoha again and release the Nine-Tails, he really didn't have much confidence in quelling a disaster of that scale.

Therefore,

Sending Naruto Uzumaki to the side of Uchiha Sogen, who was capable of suppressing the Tailed Beasts and had defeated that mysterious man, was naturally a reasonable choice.

“I know what you’re thinking, Shikaku, but I can tell you that I am indeed worried that Madara Uchiha is still alive. But that’s only one of the reasons that prompted me to send the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to the front lines. The other reason is because of Mugen Uchiha.”

Akimichi Torifu left no room for misunderstanding for Nara Shikaku.

this matter,

He had to make things clear to avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary trouble for his family.

“I see the shadow of Madara Uchiha in Uchiha Sogen. Even though he may not be as strong as Madara Uchiha in my memory now, the problem is that Konoha does not have a second First Hokage. As long as Uchiha Sogen is alive, the rise of the Uchiha clan is unstoppable.”

At this point, Akimichi Torifu also seemed rather disheartened.

"Shikaku, don't think that just because I became Hokage, our three clans are the masters of the village. Your family are all smart people, and you are the smartest of the smart. Don't let my chance to become Hokage blind you. When Jiraiya and Tsunade return to the village, this position will have to be returned sooner or later."

"Even if we take a step back and say that Jiraiya and Tsunade don't want to come back, so what? I'm almost seventy years old. How many more years can I sit in this position? Shikaku, we have absolutely no need to be enemies with the Uchiha clan."

Nara Shikaku rubbed his face, his brows furrowing even more, and asked, "I understand, old man, but what if the Uchiha clan wants... an Uchiha Hokage?"

"so what?"

Qiu Dao asked a question in return, his expression natural, like a still, calm well.

Nara Shikaku was stunned.

Akimichi Torifu, seeing his junior who had been working so hard lately that he was getting stuck on his own thoughts, earnestly advised, "Let the Uchiha clan fight for the Hokage position if they want it. Even if Uchiha Sogen becomes Hokage, so what? Are they going to wipe out our Ino-Shika-Cho trio?"

"The Third Hokage and his group were wary of and suppressed the Uchiha clan partly because of Tobirama-sensei's influence, and partly simply to maintain their power. As for whether the Uchiha clan is an evil clan, I think you, Shikaku, should have your own judgment, right?"

Nara Shikaku's expression changed; the anxiety in his eyes faded, and he regained his usual laziness and leisure.

"call!"

He took a deep breath, scratched his head vigorously, and said with a wry smile, "Grandpa, I misunderstood. I've been so busy these past few days that I'm completely overwhelmed... I unconsciously drifted back to the state I was in when I was advising the Third Generation."

Grandpa Qu Feng was right.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio and the Uchiha clan are not enemies.

Being wary of and suppressing the Uchiha clan will only bring them a terrifying enemy, not any benefit. Their clan is their foundation, and the position of Hokage is just icing on the cake. As long as the Hokage doesn't go on a rampage like the manipulated Fourth Mizukage who slaughtered his own people, it doesn't matter to them who becomes Hokage.

This is the common attitude and choice of most families in the village.