Uchiha's personal opinion

Although Sakumo Hatake's proposal only mentioned the police department and the ANBU, who can guarantee that this strange trend won't suddenly spread to other departments in Konoha in the future?

Such as the administrative department managed by Koharu Utatane, the finance department overseen by Homura Mitokado, and the Root organization, which Danzo nominally called the Dark Unit Training Department...

The reason why the Konoha leadership has been able to maintain firm control over the village is not only due to their personal strength and the support of some ninja clans, but also because they have taken charge of key departments within the village and have used the blurred power boundaries of these departments to encroach on more private power.

Sakumo Hatake's proposal was to sever all the tentacles of Konoha's upper echelons.

Especially when they turned to the last few pages of the proposal, the densely packed signatures of Jonin (high-ranking ninja) made the two advisors turn pale with fright.

"Hiruzen..."

Xiaochun, who had just changed dorm rooms, quickly asked.

"I summoned Danzo," the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, interrupted Koharu Utatane. "We'll talk when he arrives!"

"Squeak~"

When you mention Danzo, Danzo appears.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Danzo entered the Hokage's office in his wheelchair.

"I am coming."

Danzo said calmly.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, instructed Homura Mitokado to hand the proposal to Danzo.

Danzo took the document, glanced at it briefly, and then closed his eyes and remained silent.

What do you think should be done?

Although the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi did not explicitly state who he was referring to, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu both turned their gazes toward Danzo.

"The way to death."

Danzo said calmly, "There's no turning back now. Either Sakumo Hatake and the Uchiha clan will gain power, or we'll eliminate them completely!"

"...Does it have to get this big of a fuss?"

"Turn to the next room," Xiaochun said tremblingly.

Danzo's words were practically a statement that civil war was inevitable.

"Continue," the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, gestured.

“This is an open conspiracy.” Danzo kept his eyes closed, his mind racing with calculations. “The connection between Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo is much closer than we imagined!”

The third generation continued smoking his pipe.

"Moreover, this proposal absolutely cannot be agreed to, otherwise the generational succession order of the Hokage lineage established by Tobirama-sensei will be completely destroyed, and even the one-village-one-country system established by Hashirama-sama will be broken as a result!"

Mitokado Yan and Utatane Koharu's faces grew even paler.

"But we can't publicly reject it either, otherwise the village's Jonin will have an even bigger misunderstanding," the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, added.

This is why he was conflicted.

Neither agreeing nor rejecting, nor even postponing or delaying, will have much effect.

Once this proposal spreads throughout the village, the Konoha leadership will find themselves in an even more passive position.

This is no longer a simple matter of comparing strengths; it's a battle for hearts and minds.

"We must find a way to eliminate Hatake Sakumo and Uchiha Tokumitsu; they are the root of all trouble." Danzo's tone was unusually calm.

But Koharu and Mitokado felt an unusual chill.

"The Uchiha clan can be weakened, but we cannot do without them." The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, also stated his bottom line: "The war is not over yet, and we still need the power of the Uchiha."

“And there’s that old man Setsuna, hiding behind the scenes!” Danzo continued.

"The premise is to eliminate Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo discreetly!"

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, smoked his pipe more and more rapidly.

"Given their strength... it will be very difficult to eliminate them quietly..."

Mitokado Yan put aside her discomfort and took the initiative to participate.

"We can't use our power, otherwise things will get even more complicated if they get out..."

Koharu, who was turning over a new bed, chimed in.

"Has Kirigakure made any moves lately?" After a moment of contemplation, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, asked, "Danzo, is there any new information about Root?"

"With the killing of their master by Hatake Sakumo, Kirigakure is currently in a power vacuum and in turmoil," Danzo thought for a moment. "...But the Kirigakure civil war is very likely to end in the near future, at which point they will resume their continental offensive..."

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, didn't continue speaking, but simply smoked his pipe in silence.

"Perhaps... the Land of Whirlpools can cause some trouble to lure Kirigakure here..."

Danzo continued to offer suggestions, "And the mobile force is currently the only elite ninja force the village can muster..."

Colluding with enemy countries to kill with a borrowed knife!

Mitokado Yan and Utatane Koharu dared not speak any further.

"The mobile force is an indispensable and vital force for the village... If it is completely wiped out, the blow to the village will be enormous." The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was still somewhat hesitant.

"Hiruzen! You're too weak!" Danzo exclaimed urgently, "Have you forgotten? More than half of the Jonin in the Mobile Force are those evil Uchiha! And they're followers of Uchiha Tokumitsu!"

"If we don't eliminate them all at once, it will be just like when Tobirama spared Setsuna Uchiha, creating countless unnecessary troubles for the future!"

Danzo was both angry and anxious, and kept shouting at him.

“Every bit of the village’s strength is precious and should not be wasted meaninglessly…”

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, still refused to budge.

"If the ninjas of the mobile unit manage to survive, I will recruit them into the Root organization for re-education and give them another chance to reform!"

Danzo said somewhat reluctantly.

Mitokado Yan and Utatane Koharu nodded slightly.

"If anything goes wrong with this matter... Danzo, do you understand the gravity of the consequences?"

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaned back in his chair and said softly.

"The root's duty is to eliminate all potential enemies who may threaten the village, whether they are enemies of the four great nations or rebels within the village!"

Danzo resolutely declared, "I will lead the Root as a last resort! Even if Kirigakure is incompetent, I will ensure they never return!"

"We must act with utmost care and not let even the slightest word slip out..."

Thick plumes of smoke completely obscured the face of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"My roots are all sealed with the seal of the Root of Disaster, there is absolutely no possibility of leaking the secret!" Danzo said viciously. "Besides, this is just the Root acting alone, what does it have to do with you!"

Mitokado Yan and Utatane Koharu breathed a sigh of relief.

Danzo also noticed the strangeness between the two and couldn't help but glance at the two advisors with disdain.

"Then you can go and prepare." Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his pipe, indicating that Danzo could leave first.

Danzo slammed the door and left, and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, turned his gaze to the two advisors.

"Danzo needs some more time to prepare. You need to find a way to stall Sakumo..."

"We will meet with Sakumo to explore the specific powers and responsibilities of each department."

"Turn to the next room," Xiaochun said first.

“The reason why there is ambiguity in the powers of each department is because the departments were not well thought out when they were set up in the past. In order to solve the new problems that keep emerging, the powers of each department have overlapped. There is nothing wrong with that.” Mitomon Homura also chimed in, “Departmental reform is necessary, but it also needs to be done with caution.”

"That's right, and we also need to have a good discussion with the Jonin team."

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, said with apparent approval.

"Departmental confirmation of rights is imperative, but specific reform measures need to be discussed by all parties and implemented only when conditions are ripe, so as to avoid causing unnecessary impact on the village."

Mitokado nodded repeatedly.

"Yes...we must be careful."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was very pleased that his old friend was so understanding.

Although the two old friends were of average strength and not very powerful, they were still capable of playing political games.

"Moreover, we can't loosen up too much at the beginning; we have to work on it slowly with Sakumo Hatake."

After thinking for a moment, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, added, "We can't let them become suspicious..."

"Let's start by dealing with the conflict between the police department and the secret service, and then bring up the issue of the specific boundaries of authority and responsibility of each department, escalate the topic, and muddy the waters..."

That's exactly the point...

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep, satisfying puff of his pipe, feeling almost ethereal.

"We have inherited the spirit of Lord Hashirama and the legacy of Teacher Tobirama, and we must safeguard the interests of the village and promote its development..."

"I understand, I understand..."

The two advisors nodded repeatedly, like two nodding beetles.

"Then you should go and communicate with Sakumo and the other ninjas first... This matter can't be delayed any longer..."

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, picked up the proposal and handed it to Koharu Utatane. "Remember, don't be too tense, and don't rush things. Just maintain a reasonable pace of negotiation..."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu accepted the proposal and pledged their loyalty before leaving.

After the two left, the office returned to calm.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart remained unsettled for a long time.

"Sakumo... if only you were more well-behaved..."

"I shouldn't have... why did I have to get involved with the Uchiha clan..."

Chapter 115 A Plan to Turn the Tide

The Land of Whirlpools, which had been quiet for a long time, is once again thrown into turmoil.

According to intelligence from the eastern border defense forces, Hidden Mist ninjas have been appearing in the Land of Whirlpools for several days in a row, and have been spying on the eastern region of the Land of Fire.

As a well-known weak ninja force in Konoha, the Eastern Border Defense Force's lack of strength is a fact that everyone knows. Therefore, it is quite normal for them to immediately report the enemy situation to the village and request tactical guidance without further reconnaissance.