Uchiha's personal opinion

Marginalization...

Nara Shikahira sighed again.

"I understand. Does Lord Qufeng need a meal now? I'll arrange for someone to prepare it."

"Let's prepare some barbecue, I feel great today."

Akimichi Torifu continued reading the battle report jointly sent by Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo, as if trying to find something fascinating about it.

"Ok."

Nara Shikahira got up and left.

Just as he lifted the tent flap, Akimichi Torifu gave him another word of advice.

"No need to prepare too much... just know when to stop."

"Know when to stop..."

Nara Shikahei pondered the seemingly suggestive word as he left to arrange dinner.

……

"Let's withdraw the troops. There's no point in continuing the fight. Let's stop while we're ahead..."

In the southern region of the Land of Rain, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade gathered together to discuss the next phase of military affairs.

After reading the battle report, Tsunade said this with a sense of boredom.

During the battle with Sunagakure, her boyfriend, Dan Kato, whom she had recently started dating, was ambushed by Sunagakure. Although he survived thanks to timely rescue, he suffered severe bleeding in his abdomen and internal organs due to the attack and had to be sent back to the better-equipped Konoha Hospital for treatment after receiving emergency care.

Although Tsunade was in the Land of Rain at this time, her heart had already flown back to Konoha with her lover.

Furthermore, given the astonishing achievements of Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo, the three of them were not very confident that they could defeat them.

Continuing to fight the Sand Village is really pointless.

"Let's retreat."

Jiraiya naturally agreed to Tsunade's suggestion. Even though he knew that his beloved Tsunade had gotten together with someone else, he still couldn't let go of his old sycophantic behavior.

Besides, the Land of Rain, where it rains almost every moment, is incredibly boring. There are no izakayas or hot springs, and the great writer Jiraiya hasn't been there to gather material in a long time.

Orochimaru did not respond, but simply read the battle report over and over again.

"The Uchiha clan is really willing to spend a fortune to support Sakumo's rise to power..."

After a long while, Orochimaru finally put down the battle report: "I thought that arrogant clan wouldn't be capable of selflessly sacrificing themselves for others."

“That kid…” Tsunade said with a stern face, “Uchiha Tokumitsu, it must have been him who made the decision… He’s a little different from the other Uchiha.”

"Indeed... the traditional Uchiha clan doesn't have as many tricks up their sleeves as he does."

Jiraiya agreed.

"Sunagakure is already shrinking its battle lines, should we still take the initiative to withdraw our troops?"

Although he knew that his two companions were right, that continuing a war in the Land of Rain would only increase bloodshed and bring no benefit, Orochimaru was still somewhat unwilling.

"Know when to stop..."

Tsunade lowered her head and continued to emphasize her point of view.

"It seems that Sakumo-senpai's position as the Jonin team leader is truly secure this time..."

Since Tsunade had no intention of continuing the fight, Orochimaru refrained from offering his opinion further.

"How about we break contact with Sunagakure tomorrow and gradually retreat the day after?"

Neither Tsunade nor Jiraiya had any objections.

After chatting for a while, the two said goodbye and left.

Orochimaru, sitting alone in the tent, suddenly turned grim, then picked up the battle report and began to read it again.

According to Danzo's suggestion, Hiruzen Sarutobi also had a secret letter to deliver to Orochimaru.

Orochimaru did indeed intend to follow his teacher's instructions and do something bad to Uchiha Tokumitsu.

Everything was proceeding according to plan. The only unexpected thing was that Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo on the battlefield of the Land of Rivers achieved a major victory in such a short time and then withdrew from the battle. Naturally, the plan to divert the disaster southwards also fell through.

“Uchiha…”

Chapter 105 The Clash of Ideas

Three days after the withdrawal from the battlefield, the Hokage's edict from Konoha arrived at the temporary base of the mobile forces in northern Land of Rivers.

In the edict, the Hokage enthusiastically praised Sakumo Hatake for his great achievements in the battle against Sunagakure in the Land of Rivers, believing that this battle would lay the foundation for at least five years of peace on Konoha's western border, and praising him as the true successor to the Will of Fire.

As for Uchiha Tokumitsu, the imperial edict only mentioned him briefly, saying, "He fought bravely and is worthy of being a descendant of the Uchiha clan," and then nothing more.

This letter is disgusting to read.

If Uchiha Tokumitsu hadn't already established an alliance with Hatake Sakumo and supported his candidacy for Jonin class leader, he probably would have immediately started cursing upon seeing the contents of this edict.

Even so, Uchiha Tokumitsu couldn't help but show his disgust.

At a time like this, they're still resorting to such low-level literary tricks. I really can't understand how the Konoha F4 managed to secure their high-ranking positions.

"Lord Deguang, the contents of the edict are indeed unfair, however..."

Hatake Sakumo also felt embarrassed, but didn't know what to say.

"I see."

Uchiha Tokumitsu waved his hand, indicating that no explanation was needed. "But Sakumo-kun, are you sure you're ready?"

"That's for sure..."

Sakumo Hatake answered somewhat hesitantly.

"Promotion to a higher position isn't a leisurely affair like a dinner party, nor is it as straightforward as fighting on the battlefield. It involves exchange and compromise," Uchiha Tokumitsu said earnestly. "Perhaps there will be all sorts of rumors, harassment, and slander. Are you mentally prepared to endure all of that?"

"I am ready to start a new Konoha!" Hatake Sakumo said firmly, meeting Uchiha Tokumitsu's gaze.

"Our new Konoha..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu extended his hand.

Hatake Sakumo also reached out and shook hands tightly with Uchiha Tokumitsu.

……

New Leaf Village!

This is Sakumo Hatake's campaign manifesto.

After receiving the Hokage's order, Uchiha Tokumitsu sent the Red Guards back to the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Grass to continue their garrison, and together with Hatake Sakumo, he led the mobile force on their return journey.

At the same time, he also began to formally promote Sakumo Hatake's philosophy.

Hatake Sakumo believed that Konoha was already showing signs of decline, while the four great ninja villages were constantly rising. With the balance of power shifting, Konoha was very likely to lose its status as the strongest ninja village in the ninja world in the future.

In the past, the ninja world was dominated by "one superpower and four strong villages," but now it is dominated by five strong villages. It is this relatively balanced situation of the five major ninja villages that has led to the current situation of frequent wars in the ninja world.

Therefore, to restore peace, the strongest ninja village needs to step forward to maintain it.

The only way to achieve peace at present is to force the major ninja villages to abandon their path of rise through war and plunder by overwhelming force.

Konoha, without a doubt, is the super ninja village that stands up to maintain peace!

However, Konoha is currently stagnant due to various problems, so it urgently needs reform and revitalization to achieve the revival of the ninja village and even peace in the ninja world.

This idea, though it may seem unconventional, makes some sense upon closer examination.

The vision of maintaining peace in the ninja world united the doves in the village; while the idea of ​​restoring Konoha to become the strongest ninja in the world won the support of the martial arts faction.

Therefore, even before Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo returned to Konoha, the ideas he promoted had already spread widely among the Jonin of Konoha and gradually reached the Chunin level.

No idea or belief in the world can receive unanimous support. Even the most perfect theory can be found to be flawed and attacked.

In particular, the Konoha F4, knowing that Hatake Sakumo aspires to the position of Jonin squad leader and has already allied with the Uchiha clan, whom they see as a thorn in their side, will definitely spread rumors detrimental to Hatake Sakumo in secret.

Various opinions, both supporting and opposing them, were flying around Konoha, such as whether Sakumo Hatake was a henchman of the Uchiha clan attempting to control Konoha, or that the "New Konoha" was splitting Konoha and would exacerbate its decline.

When Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo led their troops back to Konoha, even the ordinary villagers of Konoha already knew about Hatake Sakumo's ideology and the ideological debate that ensued.

But touching their ideologies is to touch the Achilles' heel of Konoha's F4.

Therefore, when Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo arrived in Konoha, not only did no high-ranking officials come to greet them, but after Hatake Sakumo returned to his home, many villagers would often stand at the door shouting and cursing, accusing Hatake Sakumo of being a sinner who split Konoha.

Uchiha Tokumitsu would naturally not tolerate such people.

Under his arrangement, his ruthless Uchiha teammates from the police department arrested all the villagers who dared to offend him and threw them into the police department's prison, refusing to release them no matter who pleaded for their release.

Even the secret agents who were secretly observing and tried to stop them were ruthlessly rejected by the police department.

Uchiha Tokumitsu wasn't solely focused on antagonizing the current Konoha leadership, nor was he planning to launch a coup to end the life of the Konoha F4. If the other side was willing, they could sit down and talk, but only if they didn't obstruct his and Hatake Sakumo's plans.

Immediately afterwards, rumors arose that "Sakumo Hatake was in cahoots with the Uchiha clan."

……

In the past, the only mainstream ideology in Konoha was the "Will of Fire," lacking a truly meaningful development program.

Although the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, continued to elaborate on and expand upon it, the already weak "Will of Fire" still failed to convince all the people of Konoha.

Especially the militant faction.

While Sakumo Hatake's philosophy also did not involve specific implementation, it at least set a goal.

On the third day after returning to the village, Sakumo Hatake, who was annoyed by the rumors, once again went to the Uchiha clan's territory to have a heart-to-heart talk with Tokumitsu Uchiha.

“Lord Deguang…”

Upon meeting, Hatake Sakumo sighed repeatedly.

"You're already finding this bothersome?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu joked, "We've practically snatched profits from other people's pockets, so these rumors are to be expected."

That being said, even though Uchiha Tokumitsu had given Hatake Sakumo a lot of warnings beforehand, when he actually faced the attacks and slander, Hatake Sakumo found that his heart was not as strong as he had imagined.

"You know, my true intention is to do what's best for Konoha..."

Sakumo Hatake appeared to be in a very low mood.