Uchiha's personal opinion

Uchiha Tokumitsu, along with the clan's patriarch and elders, made no attempt to conceal their intention to send their clan's ninja army into battle.

Firstly, such a large-scale ninja mobilization is inherently difficult to conceal, especially for the Uchiha clan, whose entire clan is under scrutiny. Secondly, the Uchiha clan is eager to establish its authority in public, and the clan leader and elders, who have finally reached a consensus within the clan, are eager to flex their muscles in front of the village and other ninja clans.

In addition, it also showed the village how much the Uchiha clan valued the interests of the Land of Grass, so that the Konoha F4 wouldn't make any embarrassing strategic miscalculations due to selfish motives in the future.

The distance from the Uchiha clan's territory to the gates of Konoha was not far. The Uchiha ninja army marched out of the village in formation, calm and unhurried, amidst countless lurking, watching, and spying eyes filled with solemnity, fear, envy, and even hatred.

Although Uchiha Tokumitsu was nominally the lord of this "Tokumitsu Red Guard," he did not travel with the team this time.

Because he also serves as the deputy commander of the village's mobile force, an elite standing ninja army composed of twenty-one Jonin, he has no intention of relinquishing his post.

Privately, he had already instructed Uchiha Hatake, one of the secret guards, to inform Uchiha Himon through the Ninja Cat, and to have him issue another request for assistance, specifically requesting the Mobile Force to come and assist in the rescue and raid. In this way, the elite forces under Uchiha Tokumitsu's command could be fully combined, giving them the confidence to crush the southern camp of Iwagakure in one fell swoop.

As the Uchiha ninja army advanced, the spies from various countries lurking within Konoha could no longer contain themselves and launched carrier pigeons and ninja hawks in an attempt to send intelligence. However, the police ninjas, who had already laid ambushes both inside and outside the village, shot down the ninja hawks and pounced out to capture them one by one.

The police operation, both inside and outside the village, naturally caused a series of disturbances.

The Hokage's disciples, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya, who stood at the highest point of the Senju clan's territory watching the Uchiha ninja army's departure for battle, had different expressions.

Tsunade bit her lip slightly.

Her feelings towards the once-powerful Uchiha clan were quite complex. However, the Senju clan's power had declined beyond repair; the clan, which had once been on par with the Uchiha, now couldn't even muster a single squad of able-bodied young ninjas.

Tsunade sighed, forcing herself to abandon the naive idea of ​​competing with the Uchiha clan.

The Senju clan's retreat from public life wasn't due to any noble cause as the founding clan, but rather a pressing issue of family continuity. If the fighting continued, the Senju clan would truly be wiped out…

As Orochimaru gazed at the well-organized and imposing elite Uchiha ninja army, he couldn't help but habitually lick his lips.

At this point, Orochimaru had not yet completely lost heart and transformed into someone obsessed with advanced technology and immortality. He still harbored the dream of becoming the Hokage. Besides ninjutsu, he still had some desire for power.

At this moment, he truly understood why his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and other Konoha elders were so wary of and ostracized the Uchiha clan.

Putting everything else aside, this ninja army in front of us is probably no less powerful than the Hokage's direct ANBU.

Moreover, this is far from the full strength of the Uchiha clan.

The police officers deployed throughout the streets to maintain order were the same familiar faces, indicating that this elite ninja force was not drawn from the police department openly controlled by the Uchiha clan. This demonstrated a profound and formidable foundation.

"Uchiha..." Orochimaru's nostrils twitched slightly, like a venomous snake eyeing its prey, ready to devour its prey. "Truly a clan favored by the Sage of Six Paths..."

As for Jiraiya, he was also uncharacteristically different, showing none of his usual playful demeanor. Instead, he wore a resolute and serious expression.

“About three hundred people…” Jiraiya’s voice was somewhat muffled, as if something was blocking his throat, “of which about one-tenth are Jonin…”

Tsunade and Orochimaru simply watched the Uchiha ninja army's actions silently, without saying a word.

"Don't you guys have any thoughts or anything to say?" Jiraiya asked his two silent companions as the Uchiha ninja army left the village, a slight sigh of relief in his voice.

Tsunade remained silent.

"What are you going to say? What should you say? What do you want to say?" Orochimaru glared at Jiraiya, annoyed. "Are you going to boast about the Uchiha's power or condemn their arrogance?"

Jiraiya was speechless this time.

Orochimaru turned and leaped toward the Hokage Building.

"Orochimaru..." Jiraiya hurriedly exclaimed.

"I'm going to find Sarutobi-sensei!" Orochimaru said without turning his head, leaving behind those words.

Tsunade also used the momentum from the roof to leap back to the Senju clan's territory.

Jiraiya glanced around, somewhat hesitant, but finally gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and chased after Orochimaru's retreating figure, calling out, "Orochimaru, wait for me..."

Faced with the Uchiha clan's rampant and reckless behavior, Konoha had no intention of stopping them.

Although ninjas are not allowed to leave the village without the Hokage's order or when not on a mission, in practice, this rule is practically non-existent. Leaving aside the arrogant ninja clans, even the more capable Jonin and Chunin among the common ninjas don't take this rule seriously.

Moreover, it is an unwritten rule that ninja clans with long histories and profound traditions send their unregistered clan ninjas to carry out private missions or private jobs commissioned by the clan.

Moreover, when carrying out clan missions, ninja clan members usually pay attention to concealing their whereabouts, since they are undermining the village, and it is not good to be too blatant.

However, the practice of directly conscripting clan ninjas to form a ninja army, just like the Uchiha clan today, to carry out war missions directly ordered by the clan's high-ranking officials, was unprecedented in Konoha and even the ninja world.

Since the establishment of Konoha and the establishment of the one village, one country system, no ninja clan has been able to independently form an army and carry out war missions on its own.

However, there is no reason to condemn or oppose the Uchiha clan's actions on the surface.

Because the members of these ninja forces are all clan ninja trained within the Uchiha clan, meaning they are not even Konoha ninjas.

In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with his two advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, who were observing the Uchiha Ninja Army's movements through a crystal ball, remained silent.

The atmosphere inside was as heavy as death.

Even Mitokado Homura, known for her quick wit, and Utatane Koharu, famous for her eloquence, were at a loss for words in the face of the Uchiha clan's blatant demonstration.

terrible!

This was the first idea of ​​the two consultants.

The Uchiha clan must be weakened!

This was the second idea that immediately arose in the minds of the two consultants.

"Hiruzen..."

Koharu called softly to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was staring intently at the crystal ball with a livid face.

The third generation's expression softened slightly, and he turned to look at her.

"This matter cannot be left like this!" said Koharu Tsurugi through gritted teeth.

"So what?"

The third generation's tone was as cold as a thousand-year-old block of ice.

More than three hundred Uchiha clan ninjas, like three hundred resounding slaps, relentlessly struck the Third Hokage's face.

He could even imagine the arrogant and malicious tone in which those old ninja clans, who were already dissatisfied with the Hokage Building's control, were discussing this matter.

And how did the Jonin (high-ranking ninja) discuss this matter?

When the news reached the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Fire, how did the Daimyo and his officials view the fact that the Hokage's power had been challenged by the Uchiha?

It should be noted that there have always been people around the daimyo who advocate taking control of the ninja villages back to the daimyo. Those who hold this view include not only the nobles of the royal family, but also the ninjas who protect the daimyo.

Furthermore, how will the figures from the other four major countries discuss this matter?

Should they unite in condemnation of the ninja clan's reckless behavior, or loudly mock Hiruzen Sarutobi for his incompetence in managing his subordinates?

This is obvious without even thinking about it.

In the short time it took Koharu Utatane to utter a single sentence, countless thoughts were already swirling in Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.

But for the time being, he had no other options.

On the Hokage's desk, besides the intelligence documents submitted by the Uchiha clan, there was also a message from the Konoha Expeditionary Force Command stationed in a border city of the Land of Rain.

The leader of Amegakure, Hanzo the Salamander, has personally led the Amegakure army, which was originally stationed on the northern border of the Land of Rain, south to join forces with the Amegakure army that was originally stationed in the southeastern region of the Land of Rain and confronting Konoha. The commander of the dispatched army, Danzo Shimura, immediately felt immense pressure and had no choice but to urgently send a letter back to the village for help.

"Have Onoki and Hanzo the Salamander... already joined forces?"

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, said with some pain.

"I suppose that's true..."

Mitokado also sighed deeply.

"Knock knock knock."

A crisp knock came from the doorway.

"Come in!"

Orochimaru, looking calm and collected, and Jiraiya, who was slightly out of breath, walked in.

Looking at his two imposing disciples, the Third Hokage suddenly felt at ease, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face.

"Teacher," Orochimaru and Jiraiya greeted respectfully.

"Take a look." The Third Hokage picked up the intelligence files on the table and handed them to the two men. "Important recent military intelligence."

Orochimaru and Jiraiya took the documents and began to read them.

"Take a look, what do you think we should do?"

"I will return to the front lines of the Land of Rain immediately." Orochimaru's expression was somewhat solemn. "As for the ninjas who have returned to the village on rotation, please come down and regroup them as soon as possible, Master."

Finally, a genuine smile appeared on the Third Generation's face.

……

As Iwagakure reinforced its troops on the southern border of the Land of Earth, eyeing the Land of Grass, news of the Uchiha clan's ninja army's expedition, which originated from Konoha, spread throughout the ninja world with terrifying speed, like a natural disaster or plague.

The five great nations and five great ninja villages, both openly and covertly, all know that a clan ninja army from the Uchiha clan of Konoha is heading towards the Land of Grass with bloodshot Sharingan eyes and murderous intent.

Besides Konoha, which is caught in a dilemma, Iwagakure, another of the five great nations, is also attracting much attention due to the actions of the Uchiha clan.

The prelude to the Second Shinobi World War was a battle where Hanzo of the Rain Village launched a counterattack to reclaim lost territory from Konoha, or a decisive battle on the plains where the Uchiha clan clashed head-on with the Great Ninja Army of the Iwagakure Village. The bigwigs of the shinobi world were holding their breath in anticipation.

Chapter 76 Oppression! The Unspeakable Bloodthirsty Ninja Clan Approaches the Border

The plea for help from Uchiha Himon, sent in the name of the Northwest Border Defense Force, arrived quickly.

For security and timeliness, a messenger team of three Uchiha ninjas departed from the garrison camp in the Land of Grass and arrived in Konoha in just one day and one night. The letter requesting assistance was then escorted by a group of Uchiha ninjas from the police department and watched by a group of ninja clans who seemed to enjoy the spectacle, before finally reaching the Hokage Building.

So when the letter requesting help was placed on the desk of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, he was a little confused.

Before a concrete plan could be devised to deal with the Uchiha clan's unauthorized organization of ninja forces to fight outside the village, another request for assistance from the border troops arrived.

The content also directly requested that mobile units be deployed to provide reinforcements.

What do they take the village for?!

What do they take Naruto for?!

Even though Hiruzen Sarutobi had been Hokage for many years, he couldn't help but be furious.

"Uchiha!"

The meerschaum pipe that he usually cherished was smashed against the wall of the Hokage's office and shattered into pieces.

"Truly... utterly arrogant and domineering!"

Enraged, Hiruzen Sarutobi gritted his teeth, his usual composure and kindness completely gone.