Uchiha's personal opinion

Jiraiya sighed.

Kousuke the toad then turned into a wisp of smoke and disappeared.

……

Meanwhile, in the distant land of fire, in the daimyo's prefecture.

Recently, the most discussed topics among nobles and courtiers, both openly and secretly, have not been trade issues after the opening of trade routes between countries, nor have they been gathering to condemn Uchiha Tokumitsu as before. Instead, they have been discussing how to deal with the seemingly harmless Yoru-no-Murakufu.

Mimura Yomaki, who was stationed in the province of Kawa, and his shogunate quickly became a thorn in the side of the daimyo and nobles.

All of this stemmed from a travelogue that Jiraiya sent to Tsunade.

"...The shogunate established by Jonin Mimura Hasumaki recruited some refugees from the Land of Rivers to cultivate the land. The fields were initially cleared by ninjas, and wild animals and bandits in the surrounding area were eliminated. The refugees who came to seek refuge could receive hundreds of acres of new land. Although the newly cultivated land was relatively barren, the shogunate provided rations for the refugees. Therefore, the refugees from the Land of Rivers heard the news and flocked to the shogunate's castle..."

"...The Shogunate levied an eleventh of the tax on displaced people, and those who were willing to perform corvée labor for the Shogunate could have part of their land tax reduced; in addition, the Shogunate allowed displaced people to trade various handicrafts on their own, and stationed ninja squads in the markets for protection. Compared with other areas that were desolate due to the war, the Shogunate-controlled areas seemed more vibrant."

These seemingly complimentary words, however, were more painful to the nobles than death itself.

It wasn't the disparity in governance that bothered me, but rather the fact that the Yoru-no-matsu's actions had truly shaken the foundations of the one-country-one-village system.

The ninjas of the ninja village do not engage in production but specialize in missions and battles. The daimyo and nobles rule the people and support the ninja village.

This is the core foundation of the "one country, one village" system.

The actions of the Yoru-no-maki shogunate, however, fundamentally undermined this system.

"If the ninjas find that they can also govern the people well, then we have no reason or value to exist!"

"Mimura Yomaki is a traitor to the country!"

"All the other shogunates are traitors! They are rebels who have broken the alliance between Lord Hashirama and the daimyo families!"

The nobles and courtiers of the daimyo prefecture were all speaking out in private, each one more radical than the last, but no one dared to speak to the daimyo and volunteer to go and reprimand the Ye Juan shogunate to "set things right".

After the incident where Uchiha Tokumitsu threatened the daimyo, the nobles discovered that those uncouth and uncultured ninjas could really kill people when provoked!

……

The standoff between the police department and the secret service on the outer edge of the Death Forest intensified, and the size of the opposing forces also increased.

In addition to the main force of the North District Police Station, the Uchiha Shige also mobilized all the combat action teams from the East and West Districts, plus the assault troops directly under the police headquarters, totaling more than 200 Uchiha people participating in this standoff.

The Anbu, disregarding defenses in other areas, also assembled over forty elite Anbu members, who, along with a group of clan ninjas led by Mitokado Homura and police ninjas, engaged in a standoff.

Mitokado Homura also gave a death order: even if it meant death, the Uchiha members of the police department must not step into the Forest of Death before the Ministry of Internal Affairs base has completed its transfer!

After learning of the standoff, Uchiha Tokumitsu also prepared to lead his troops back to the village.

As the police department conducted a large-scale sweep in Konoha Village, the plots that had been hidden in the shadows were gradually exposed.

Furthermore, after the Ninja Cat Clan learned about the massive financial flows between the Daimyo's residence and the Sarutobi clan from the black market, Uchiha Tokumitsu could conclude that the Daimyo had colluded with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Speaking of which... what if Konoha also established an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu casually said to the ninja guard beside him.

"Ok?"

The guards and ninjas did not understand his meaning.

Although the standoff between the police department and the ANBU was quite significant, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, did not make a public appearance. Instead, the action teams from the three major police departments continued to communicate with the ANBU ninjas on the front lines. Advisor and elder Mitokado Homura strongly argued that the forest was the ANBU's secret base, using this as a reason to refuse the police department's investigation.

But the police department wasn't stupid. If it really was an ANBU base, then naturally it would be the ANBU's head who would come to communicate, not Mitokado Homura. Therefore, they concluded that there must be some unspeakable secret in the Death Forest!

"Either the police department enters the forest to search, or the Hokage issues a warrant!"

At the entrance to the Forest of Death, Uchiha Yomo drew his katana and pointed it at Mitokado Homura.

He also lost patience and could no longer continue the standoff.

In the past few days, he has also sent his people to try to infiltrate the depths of the forest from other directions to conduct reconnaissance, but they have all been stopped by the Dark Guard.

In addition, the constant pressure from Uchiha Tokumitsu in the Land of Whirlpools made him increasingly tense until he could no longer endure it.

Mitokado Yan also had a gloomy expression.

It was one thing for Uchiha Tokumitsu to be rude to him, after all, the Mangekyou Sharingan was something he couldn't afford to mess with; but Uchiha Yomo, the so-called ninja clan leader who was just a puppet in his eyes, actually dared to be so arrogant in front of him.

If Danzo were still alive...

At this moment, Mitokado Homura, like Sarutobi Hiruzen, deeply missed the dead demon Danzo.

"...The Hokage has issued a notice designating the Forest of Death as a special defense zone for the Anbu, and no unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter!"

Seeing that things were not going well, Mitomon reluctantly pulled out a document from his pocket that had been stamped but not dated.

After the standoff began, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, instructed his men to go to the Forest of Death to buy time and quickly arranged for the Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel to evacuate.

As a precaution, an undated proclamation was also issued to prevent unforeseen circumstances.

However, this announcement completely confirmed that there must be some special secret hidden in the Forest of Death!

Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to prevent others from entering the Death Forest!

"very good!"

Uchiha Yomo's expression immediately brightened, and after sheathing his blade, he signaled to the police department to evacuate.

"It seems the Hokage no longer takes the Jonin's resolution regarding the ownership of the various Konoha departments seriously! Then prepare to face impeachment!"

After uttering a harsh remark, Uchiha Yomo led his troops away, while Mitokado Homura stood motionless in place.

After the failure of the "Tokugawa Purge Plan", Danzo and the main force of Root were captured and killed by Uchiha Tokugawa and Hatake Sakumo. Afterwards, the two led the ninja army to garrison outside the village, forcing the Hokage to bow down and compromise.

In order to resolve the crisis, one of the conditions for reconciliation proposed by Mitokado Homura as an envoy was that "the village would no longer establish internal ninja organizations."

The fact that the Hokage has now issued this decree demarcating the Forest of Death indicates that another root-like organization has emerged in Konoha.

What will Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo think?

What do the Jonin squad members think?

What would the other Konoha ninjas, who were celebrating the destruction of Root, think?

Mitokado Haru didn't dare to think any further...

Konoha... is becoming increasingly torn apart!

……

After learning the information from the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Tokumitsu prepared to return to the village to contact Hatake Sakumo and launch a large-scale impeachment. Even if he could not remove the Hokage from power, he was determined to use this opportunity to put the Hokage's power in a cage!

Whether there are any secrets hidden in the Forest of Death, or whether the Hokage faction has formed a secret organization, is not important!

All Uchiha Tokumitsu needs to do is make Hatake Sakumo, the other Jonin team members, and the Reform Society members feel that the higher-ups are targeting them.

However, a piece of bad news from Kirigakure disrupted Uchiha Tokumitsu's plans—two days ago, just as the Hozuki, Mizuki, and Kaguya clans were plotting, the Third Mizukage led the Kirigakure Anbu in a surprise attack, annihilating the leaders of the three clans in one fell swoop, and then massacring members of the three clans throughout Kirigakure and even the Land of Water.

Chapter 182 The Uprising of the Mist Hidden Clan

"Where is our fleet?!"

Upon receiving the intelligence, Uchiha Tokumitsu was stunned for a while. His first reaction after regaining his senses was to summon the fleet.

The information about the turmoil in the Hidden Mist Ninja Clan was delivered by a ninja hawk sent by Minazuki Chino, and it was two days later when it reached the Tokugawa Shogunate.

"Lord Deguang, the three newly built ironclad warships are currently undergoing sea trials in the western waters..."

The attendant ninja quickly flipped through the intelligence report and then replied.

"Order the fleet to return to port immediately! Also, summon the headquarters ninja army to prepare for battle!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu gave the order.

"...Lord Deguang, the fleet has only trained one crew of sailors so far, but their abilities are not yet sufficient to control the fleet to the Land of Water."

Another ninja servant from the Uzumaki clan hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and saying, "Furthermore, we are not familiar with the sea routes, and the ironclad ship may run aground if it ventures there rashly due to its deep draft..."

"Are we just going to stand by and watch our allies perish?!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu frowned deeply.

The importance of the Hidden Mist Ninja Alliance is self-evident; every Uchiha ninja who has benefited from the smuggling trade knows it all too well.

After this change, the smuggling business between the Uchiha clan and the Kirigakure clan will inevitably be cut off.

However, even though the three great ninja clans of Kirigakure were caught off guard by the Mizukage and their strength may have been reduced to less than one-tenth, Uchiha Tokumitsu still decided to go and help them.

It wasn't just because of the benefits of past cooperation, nor just to fulfill the obligations of being an ally, but also because of the fame and prestige gained from supporting the Hidden Mist Ninja Clan.

Nothing is more heartwarming than offering help in times of need!

Nothing commands more reverence from the ninja clan than the idea of ​​survival or the continuation of a lineage!

However, the whirlpool attendant also raised a problem: the fleet under the Tokugawa Shogunate was only recently established, and they didn't know much about the performance of the ships or the conditions of the sea. Going into battle rashly would indeed be very risky.

But remaining unmoved when allies are in trouble is not Uchiha Tokumitsu's style.

"Recruit the transport fleet of the Minazuki clan that is stranded there, and then gather the Uchiha Jonin from headquarters..."

After thinking for a while, Uchiha Tokumitsu abandoned the idea of ​​launching a major attack. "I will lead them to meet up with our allies from Kirigakure..."

"...Lord Tokumitsu!"

The ninja servants under his command were terrified and tried to stop him.

Uchiha Tokumitsu waved his hand, interrupting what they were about to say.

"I remember your name is Uzumaki Mari, right?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu's gaze fell upon the ninja servant from the Uzumaki clan.

"Yes, Lord Deguang!"

Mari Uzumaki replied respectfully, "I am the one who is here..."

"She was the first Uzumaki clansman I rescued during my mission to aid the Land of Whirlpools, right?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu said, "The tragedy of the ninja clan should not be repeated, should it?"

"Your love is as selfless as the sun..."

Mari Uzumaki paused for a moment, then knelt on one knee: "Please allow me to fight alongside you!"

"I understand how you feel, but as servants, you have more important things to do. Go and prepare..."