Uchiha's personal opinion

She just wanted to discipline Hiruzen Sarutobi, but she didn't want Konoha to be torn apart even more from then on.

Similarly, she hoped that the Uchiha clan could gradually integrate into the village like the Senju clan, rather than becoming increasingly "gloriously isolated."

……

The Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage, unusually, did not smoke, but instead focused intently on the content of the meeting as described by Tsunade.

As a seasoned leader, he naturally understood the deeper meaning behind Uchiha Tokumitsu's words.

However, he couldn't explain it to Tsunade openly, because that would expose the Hokage lineage's ongoing plan to marginalize the Uchiha clan, a plan that had been in place since the Second Hokage.

As a teacher, he still wanted to preserve the image of Tsunade in her mind.

"How should ninja clans and villages coexist..."

At the Uchiha training ground, Sakumo Hatake asked the same question.

In the past few days, he has been summoned by the Third Hokage for private talks and guidance, and the Third Hokage has also subtly explained the undercurrents stirred up by the ninja clan.

"Villages belong to villages, and ninja clans belong to ninja clans." Uchiha Tokumitsu held a skewer of yakitori and chewed on it with abandon.

After a period of intense combat training, Uchiha Tokumitsu arranged for his guards to prepare some local delicacies from the Uchiha clan.

Although it wasn't as elaborate as the banquet when Tsunade was received, it was generous in quantity, enough to satisfy the Jonin's large appetite.

"Sakumo-kun, the yakitori and lantern are both very good, you should try them while they're hot." Uchiha Tokumitsu chewed on a skewer of meat, trying to change the subject.

Hatake Sakumo also picked up a skewer of meat and started eating, but still didn't change the subject as Uchiha Tokumitsu had hoped: "Tokumitsu-kun... do villages and ninja clans really have to be so distantly different?"

"Well then, I have a question, please forgive me, Sakumo-kun." Uchiha Tokumitsu finished a large meat skewer in a few bites, tossed the bamboo skewer aside, and looked at Hatake Sakumo.

Sakumo Hatake nodded with full affirmation.

"I remember that the Hatake family was a powerful samurai clan during the Warring States period, right? And they were also one of the pioneers in combining chakra with samurai swordsmanship."

This history comes from the secret records of the Uchiha clan, and Sakumo Hatake, being a member of the Hatake clan, was naturally familiar with it.

“In the mid-Warring States period, the Hatake clan had approximately three hundred members. When they joined Konoha, the Hatake clan had about four hundred members…” Uchiha Tokumitsu casually picked up another glass of juice, “But… does the Hatake clan still have two hundred members now?”

Sakumo Hatake was stunned.

This incredibly real yet chilling question left Sakumo Hatake, who had poured all his passion into Konoha, completely bewildered.

"Sakumo-kun... how long has it been since you turned around and looked at your clansmen who have been left far behind you?" Uchiha Tokumitsu picked up a string of lanterns again and handed it to Hatake Sakumo.

The rich, smooth egg yolk bursts in your mouth, and in addition to the flavor created by the fusion of ingredients and cooking techniques, there is also a hint of fishiness and bitterness that is not completely masked by the seasonings.

Just like Sakumo Hatake's feelings at this moment.

He hadn't really thought about that.

As Konoha's golden brand, "Konoha's White Fang" enjoys a prestigious reputation, but it also means that he will inevitably be entangled in various arduous tasks. In fact, since becoming famous, Hatake Sakumo has spent most of his time active in various parts of the ninja world to carry out various high-difficulty missions. While making a name for himself, he has indeed not paid attention to the people and affairs of his clan for a long time.

Ironically, the longest vacation I've had in recent years was precisely the time I spent recuperating after co-commanding the Mobile Force with Uchiha Tokumitsu during the War of the Uzushiogakure.

“Tokumitsu-kun is right…” Hatake Sakumo said with a hint of self-mockery, his head bowed, somewhat embarrassed, “I am indeed an incompetent head of the family…”

Uchiha Tokumitsu remained noncommittal and continued to hand Hatake Sakumo a skewer of grilled chicken gizzards.

Sakumo Hatake let out a deep sigh.

He discovered that since coming into contact with Uchiha Tokumitsu, many things that had become commonplace suddenly concealed so many unspeakable darkness and conspiracies.

"Tokumitsu-kun, let's have another fight." After finishing the whole grilled chicken gizzard in one bite, Hatake Sakumo said to Uchiha Tokumitsu with a hint of frustration.

"Sure, but what should we compete in? Swordsmanship, knife skills, or ninjutsu?" Uchiha Tokumitsu finished his fruit tea in one gulp, casually tossed aside the empty cup, and said eagerly.

“My ninjutsu isn’t as versatile as Tokumitsu-kun’s, but it would be too unfair to Tokumitsu-kun to compete in swordsmanship as well. So let me use my ninja sword and you use your ninjutsu,” Hatake Sakumo suggested as a compromise.

Uchiha Tokumitsu naturally accepted this offer with pleasure.

In the previous swordsmanship competition, Uchiha Tokumitsu's Uchiha-style swordsmanship appeared unusually sluggish and powerless in the face of Hatake Sakumo's Hatake swordsmanship.

However, in the clash of ninjutsu, Uchiha Tokumitsu's endless stream of fire-style ninjutsu was able to suppress Hatake Sakumo relentlessly, forcibly depleting Hatake Sakumo's chakra to the point of near exhaustion.

Just as the two were getting ready for another battle, some noise came from afar.

One of Uchiha Tokumitsu's bodyguards teleported to his side to report the situation.

“Young Master Deguang is a member of the Dark Guard…”

"Oh~" Uchiha Tokumitsu didn't seem too surprised. "Does he need something? If it's nothing urgent, just tell him to get lost!"

"It is said that the Hokage wants to summon Jonin Sakumo."

"Then let him come over." Uchiha Tokumitsu sheathed his katana and put the small scroll he used to assist in casting spells back into the scroll case of his Jonin uniform.

"Looks like we can't fight today~" Uchiha Tokumitsu said with some regret.

"There's nothing we can do about it, after all, it's a summons from the Hokage." Although Sakumo Hatake's emotions had been somewhat fluctuating due to recent events, his love and loyalty to the village remained unchanged.

However, perhaps from now on I will spend more time and energy paying more attention to my family.

Hatake Sakumo thought to himself.

A messenger ninja dressed in black robes appeared before Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo, accompanied by two guard ninjas.

"Lord Sakumo, Jonin Tokumitsu; good day!" The ANBU officer ordered the officer to kneel on one knee and greet the two men. "I'm very sorry to bother you."

The members of the Dark Division are becoming more articulate and sensible.

Faced with such respectful attitude from the Anbu members, Uchiha Tokumitsu could not find any reason to make trouble.

"What is it?" Uchiha Tokumitsu asked, glancing sideways as he lightly tapped the hilt of his small katana at his waist.

"The Hokage plans to summon Lord Sakumo at his office in the Hokage Building at 4 PM. I have come to deliver the order." The Anbu member didn't take it seriously and answered Uchiha Tokumitsu's question directly.

It was around 3 p.m. at the time.

"I understand." Hatake Sakumo naturally agreed. "Please report to the Hokage-sama, and I will certainly meet with the Hokage-sama on time."

"Excuse me, I shall take my leave." With that, the Dark Guard vanished in a puff of smoke.

After this disturbance, neither of them had the will to continue their duel.

After quickly repairing the training ground, which had been cratered by ninjutsu, they headed towards the village.

"Deguang-kun, I have a question..."

"Speak." Uchiha Tokumitsu was used to Hatake Sakumo's awkward personality.

"What does the Uchiha clan... want?" Sakumo Hatake asked casually.

"The Uchiha want a status commensurate with their strength," Uchiha Tokumitsu replied without hesitation.

"More than just the police department?"

"Not just the police department."

Uchiha Tokumitsu nodded very firmly.

"for example?"

"For example, the Northwest Border Defense Force, the Mobile Force, and so on."

"Isn't it all under the control of the Uchiha clan?" Sakumo Hatake asked, somewhat puzzled.

"What Sakumo-kun really wants to ask is probably about those 'marginal offspring' of the ninja clans recently gravitating towards the Uchiha, right?" Uchiha Tokumitsu bluntly exposed Hatake Sakumo's little scheme.

Sakumo Hatake smiled somewhat awkwardly, but did not refute.

“You’re not the first one to ask,” Uchiha Tokumitsu said to himself. “But… does that mean the Uchiha should just stay holed up in the police department, separated from the village’s ninja and civilians, as a hostile target who is at odds with the Hokage and the ninja clans?”

“Of course not…” Although Hatake Sakumo was not particularly eloquent, he was still unable to refute the sharp-tongued Uchiha Tokumitsu.

"The Uchiha clan demands a status commensurate with their strength," Uchiha Tokumitsu reiterated.

"The Uchiha... are too strong," Sakumo Hatake sighed.

"Is being strong wrong?" Uchiha Tokumitsu disagreed. "A ninja should pursue the true meaning of power, only then will he not have lived in vain."

“That’s true.” Hatake Sakumo nodded. As a powerful ninja known as the “White Fang of Konoha” and renowned throughout the ninja world, he also had an unyielding drive to pursue power.

"The Uchiha clan possesses one-fifth of Konoha's Jonin," Uchiha Tokumitsu proudly stated. "Whether or not unregistered clan ninjas are included, the Uchiha are one-fifth of Konoha's ninjas. This is an undeniable truth that no one can refute."

"Moreover, since the Warring States period, the Uchiha clan has been a powerful ninja clan on par with the Senju. In any era, the Uchiha clan has rightfully held a status commensurate with its strength, which is only natural for the Uchiha."

"However, the Uchiha clan's power is currently severely weakened, so all we want is a stable place to stand."

"The Uchiha clan's strength has weakened..." Sakumo Hatake twitched his lips, unsure of what expression to make.

“Yes… the Battle of Naraku and Yomi had a huge impact on the Uchiha clan.” Uchiha Tokumitsu nodded seriously. “The Uchiha clan has reached its weakest point in thousands of years. Reviving the Uchiha clan is my lifelong dream.”

Uchiha Tokumitsu's words were, as always, a mixture of truth and falsehood.

But even if it was a so-called "long-cherished wish," it was still a milestone and a major goal for Uchiha Tokumitsu, and it wasn't entirely empty talk.

“The weakest period…” Sakumo Hatake’s lips twitched, unsure of what to say.

"It seems that Sakumo-kun doesn't really enjoy reading, especially the clan's historical records." Uchiha Tokumitsu wasn't surprised. Ninjas are often obsessed with pursuing the power of chakra, but they neglect the lessons of history and the power of technology.

It seems that, in any world, the only lesson people learn from history is that they never learn from history.

"I read books from time to time, like those written by Jiraiya..."

Sakumo Hatake coughed.

"Sakumo-kun!"

Before he could finish speaking, a strange, green creature suddenly rushed over from a distance and pounced on Hatake Sakumo at an extremely fast speed.

Sakumo Hatake tried to dodge by turning to the side, but was still grabbed by one arm.

"Wear……"

Sakumo Hatake said with a hint of exasperation, "There are so many people on the street, don't do that..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu turned and left; he wasn't interested in the Abnormal Seeds for the time being.

Chapter 70 Encountering a Snake! Life is but a dream, how can one dispel sorrow?

A light rain suddenly began to fall from the sky, the sound of rain pattering softly. Each drop drifted into the lake, lingering gently on the shoulders, gracefully splashing up dust and mud...

The scene was beautiful, but it was the scene that Uchiha Tokumitsu hated the most.