Uchiha's personal opinion

There was a tooth mark there.

It is the mark left by the white snake immortal of Ryuchi Cave who "bestowed" power upon him.

Chapter 366 Do you want to die?

Ebizo's move to dissolve the Elders' Council was a pioneering one.

After rejecting the Land of Wind's government's request to increase the tax rate on contracted oases, Uchiha Tokumitsu ordered the reorganization of the border troops while also intensifying his infiltration and reconnaissance efforts in Sunagakure.

What deserves the most attention recently is the enormous impact that the disbandment of the Elder Council has had on both Sunagakure and the Land of Wind.

During the government meeting, the elders, either due to their authority or fearing that the Third Kazekage and Ebizo would kill them, did not dare to oppose them on the spot. Instead, they chose to outwardly comply and quickly leave the capital.

However, after the matter was over, the Third Kazekage and the Grand Elder Ebizo jointly signed the formal disbandment order. The elders who returned to their fiefdoms abandoned their factional differences and quickly formed an alliance. They also nominated a senior elder as a scapegoat and formed an opposition ninja army—the Sunagakure Protectorate Army!

"...This is so damn distracting!"

Even though Uchiha Tokumitsu had lived two lives and was quite knowledgeable, he was still stunned by the outrageous actions of the Sunagakure elders.

To be fair, although the ordinary people of the Land of Wind were generally living in dire straits, the ninjas from Sunagakure actually fared much better than those from the ninja village era.

This is especially true for lower- and middle-ranking ninjas from commoner backgrounds.

Meanwhile, the Sand Village Jonin who came from commoner backgrounds mostly gathered in the Sand Village Inspectorate.

Although the Sunagakure Inspectorate nominally has supervisory power, it actually does little more than show its approval; calling it a rubber stamp is an understatement.

Therefore, they naturally harbored great resentment towards the elders who came from powerful clans and had been trying to change them.

According to Uchiha Tokumitsu's understanding, the Sunagakure Inspectorate, led by Yekura, regarded the elders as "village thieves" and had been plotting to "punish them."

As for Rasa's supporters, they were mainly from the middle class of Sunagakure, such as ninja clans with low to medium ninjutsu or ninja families. Although their strength was not weak, they still seemed somewhat weak compared to the common ninja who risked their lives to change the status quo or the Sunagakure clans who fought desperately to protect their vested interests.

But weakness is good!

Uchiha Tokumitsu certainly didn't want Sunagakure to produce another iron-blooded figure.

"Notify the United Company to immediately select ninjas to form three defense columns, with a tentative number of 2,100 people."

Uchiha Tokumitsu ordered, "At the same time, the assembly point for the defense column will be set up in the Land of Rivers. Once the Sunagakure civil war spreads to the oases contracted and operated by the United Company, we will immediately advance into the Land of Wind to carry out peacekeeping operations!"

Although the quality of the mercenaries employed by the United Company varied, they could still exert considerable combat power when fighting in formation, thanks to the various ninja tools issued by the Shogunate. In addition, with the western border defense forces led by Uchiha Fugaku as the main force, they were enough to pose a certain deterrent to Sunagakure.

"As ordered!"

The attendant ninja immediately obeyed and left.

As for whether Sunagakure would actually start a civil war, Uchiha Tokumitsu never considered that question.

The pressure cooker of Sunagakure has reached its breaking point. With just a gentle "trigger," the long-suppressed Sunagakure ninjas will transform into thugs and smash everything in their path.

Reports from the Internal Affairs Department and the Intelligence Department were also delivered at this time, and Uchiha Tokumitsu began to read them.

Although there are some discrepancies between the information and that of the intelligence personnel directly under the shogunate, the content is relatively broader and covers more aspects of Sunagakure.

"Notify the joint counter-terrorism forces to have Rasa lead the First Column to prepare for a move into the southern region of the Grass Country."

However, when Uchiha Tokumitsu saw the intelligence department's analysis of the mentality of the middle class in Sunagakure, he suddenly had an idea. He then shook the bell on the table and summoned another attendant ninja, giving him instructions.

"As ordered!"

The attendant ninja immediately vanished in an instant.

"What, don't you understand?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu turned to Uchiha Shisui, who was assisting with government affairs, and said.

"Yes, there are some..."

Uchiha Shisui nodded somewhat embarrassedly.

The southern part of the Land of Grass is the eastern part of the Land of Rain, and further south is the Land of Wind. Sending Rasa's First Column there would inevitably make Rasa interested in the affairs within the Land of Wind, thus causing his ninja army to do some "private business".

"The existence of Luo Sha is..."

Uchiha Shisui paused, embarrassed to say the phrase "a loyal dog of the Shogunate".

"The middle class of Sunagakure is in a state of confusion. Neither the Kazekage faction, Ebizo's veteran faction, the elder faction, nor the Inspectorate will allow them to remain in a state of uncertainty any longer."

Uchiha Tokumitsu casually handed over the intelligence department report, gesturing for Uchiha Shisui to take a look.

"...So, we need to establish a banner for the middle class of Sunagakure?"

Uchiha Shisui quickly glanced at the report and then shared his understanding.

"Yes."

Uchiha Tokumitsu smiled and nodded, "The guiding role of a flag is very important..."

Since Sunagakure already has four factions, it wouldn't matter if there were one more "Knowledge Faction" led by Rasa.

After all, the middle class of Sunagakure held a positive attitude towards cooperation with the shogunate and the United Company.

After quickly finishing his official duties, Uchiha Tokumitsu glanced at the clock.

"It's already 11 a.m."

You're so diligent...

Even with his current high status, Uchiha Tokumitsu still insists on working every day, sometimes even working overtime until 2 PM. He is truly a model worker, and his dedication is admirable.

"Let's go, Shisui, let's practice illusion magic at the training grounds today~"

Uchiha Tokumitsu instructed his attendant ninja to summon Uchiha Makoto, and then smiled at Uchiha Shisui.

"Okay!"

……

When the Third Kazekage made up his mind to agree to dissolve the Council of Elders, he knew that it would lead to division and even conflict among the various factions in Sunagakure.

However, he still inexplicably harbored a glimmer of hope, believing that the elders were, after all, the village's seniors, and even if they opposed him, they would only collude to cause trouble in the upcoming election. In this way, after the previously suppressed demands of all parties were brought to the surface and vented, it would actually be beneficial to the long-term stability of Sunagakure.

But he didn't expect the elders to be so resolute!

This is blatant opposition and actively instigating a civil war!

How dare they! Where do they get the ability! Where do they get the guts!

"Aren't they all afraid of dying?!"

In the capital city government of the Land of Wind, the Third Kazekage crumpled the Elders' "Proclamation of the National Protection Army" into pieces and roared angrily.

The Grand Elder, Hai Laozang, slowly read through the intelligence documents, his expression unchanged.

Ye Cang, the leader of the Inspectorate and the Scorching Escape Envoy, simply stood aside coldly without saying a word.

Fortunately, among the four factions in Sunagakure, three are willing to sit down and talk.

At least on the surface, they are standing together.

"Especially this old man..."

Yekura glanced discreetly at the composed and unperturbed Ebizo.

That said, it was he who directly proposed dissolving the Elders' Council...

An old silver coin...

Ye Cang gave a slight snort and continued watching the Third Kazekage, who was going berserk.

An ANBU member knocked hurriedly on the door, and before anyone inside could reply, pushed the door open and handed a document to the Third Kazekage, who was trying to quell his anger.

"This……"

The Third Kazekage opened the secret letter and immediately his veins bulged and his face turned red.

"How dare he! How dare he!"

"That bastard Luo Sha! How dare he!"

Ebizo, leaning on his cane, got up and gently took the intelligence document from the Third Kazekage's hand. After a quick glance, he sighed.

The document was then passed on to Yecang.

"It's actually the United Company and that guy Luo Sha..."

Yekura quickly read through the intelligence and was also somewhat taken aback.

The intelligence agency reported that the combat ninja forces assembled by the United Company had entered the Land of Rivers and that Rasa had led his troops to move to the southern part of the Land of Grasses.

Moreover, in terms of security classification, it is the simplest level of confidentiality.

In other words, the Shogunate, or rather Uchiha Tokumitsu, who controlled the movements of these two ninja armies, did not take them seriously at all, but openly threatened them by mobilizing the ninja armies.

Furthermore, the fact that the United Company resolutely rejected the Third Kazekage's demand for increased taxes made him feel even more humiliated.

But now...

Beset by internal and external troubles, the Third Kazekage felt utterly exhausted.

"The Elders are no match for us."

Ebizo stood up and slowly began to straighten his clothes.

"I know……"

The Third Kazekage also understood this fact.

But what he couldn't understand was why those old fogies would dare to instigate a split and even raise the so-called "National Protection Army" banner.

This is a capital offense for splitting up a ninja village!

Do they think that after their defeat, they will continue to forgive and even keep them in high positions as if nothing had happened?

"I will order the main ninja army to launch an immediate attack. If Lord Kazekage is willing, you may also send troops tomorrow. After all, this matter cannot be delayed any longer... In addition, their split was at my behest."

As Ebizo walked to the door to leave, he suddenly said something that left both the Third Kazekage and Pakura completely astonished.

"I'll give you a list later, remember not to kill them."

"Why……"

The Third Kazekage's face contorted with rage. "Elder, do you have a death wish?!"

Despite their differing factions, Yekura also showed resentment as she stared at the elderly Ebizo.