As he spoke, the Gekko clan head stole a glance toward the Fifth Hokage at the head of the table. Toshiro's expression remained composed, but there was an unKiriakable smile playing at his lips.
It's done.
A subtle satisfaction settled over the old clan leader. He had lived long enough to recognize an opportunity when it presented itself. The feud between the Uchiha and the Sarutobi clans had been brewing for years, and now, with the Uchiha in power, aligning with the winning side was simply common sense.
Why let a golden opportunity slip away?
On one hand, he was finally releasing years of pent-up resentment. On the other, he was seizing the chance to align himself with the Hokage. There was no guilt in it—only satisfaction.
He understood that merely earning the Hokage's favor wouldn't bring immense benefits to his clan overnight. However, it would at least shield them from unnecessary hardships. And if he could establish a strong relationship with the Fifth Hokage, then perhaps the current prosperity of the Utatane clan could one day become the future of his own clan.
"Exactly! Koharu-san, twelve years old, is hardly young anymore," another clan leader chimed in, echoing the sentiment. "As Gekko-san mentioned, our clan's children were sent to the battlefield as young as eight or nine. If they could fight, so can yours!"
"That's right," another voice added. "I even heard that during the last conflict, a four-year-old Uchiha child was sent to the battlefield. Surely, it's time for your clans to step up as well!"
"You can't always stay in the rear," someone else scoffed. "It's about time you all stood at the front lines like the rest of us!"
As the head of the Gekko clan took the lead, all eyes in the room shifted—some to Utatane Koharu, others to the Sandaime, and the many prominent clan heads beside them.
Their expressions ranged from amused to expectant, as if savoring the irony of the moment.
In the past, it had been these very clans who pressured others into sending their young to the battlefield, while the Ino-Shika-Chō trio remained safely behind the lines. Now, the tables had turned—it was only a matter of time.
Hmph!
Chief Gekko certainly has a keen sense of timing.
And these so-called elite clans… It seems two generations of comfort have dulled their sense of duty. Now, they must face the reality they once imposed on others.
Seated at the highest position, Toshiro had a clear view of the shifting expressions below. A faint smirk played at his lips as he silently commended the Gekko clan head's words.
The man had spoken the undeniable truth.
And if there were truly talented individuals within the Gekko clan, perhaps… they were worth investing in.
Aligning with Uchiha Toshiro was not something just anyone could do—only those with real ability could earn that privilege. Those lacking true talent might as well retreat quietly.
"Hiruzen!"
Utane Koharu, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment, turned to the Sandaime for support.
The audacity of these people—especially that old fox, Gekko! If she had her way, the entire Gekko clan would have been sent to the front lines as expendable soldiers.
"Ahem!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen cleared his throat twice, his aged eyes scanning the room. The faces that once held unwavering respect for him now bore expressions of scrutiny, even from those who had stood by his side just moments ago.
A fleeting sadness crossed his features.
These were once his allies, his subordinates, his loyal comrades. Yet now, even they were beginning to distance themselves from him.
Was this the moment they had decided to sever ties?
"As far as I know, this war has not reached the level of total devastation, and the village has yet to issue a large-scale mobilization. The children are still young—forcing them into battle will only harm Konoha's long-term interests."
Using Konoha's well-being as his argument, Sarutobi Hiruzen pressed on.
"With the strength of the Fifth Hokage, the Kiri Ninjas stand no chance. I believe victory will come soon, and there's no need for these children to be sacrificed unnecessarily."
"If the Fifth Hokage truly feels the numbers are insufficient, then despite my age, I still have enough strength to fight on the front lines and slay our enemies myself."
After making his declaration, the Sandaime swept his gaze across the room.
The clan heads, who had been vocal just moments ago, suddenly avoided his eyes, lowering their heads in silence. The weight of his authority, built over decades, still held sway over them.
All except for one—Gekko, who remained steadfast, his expression unyielding.
Toshiro, observing the scene, was unsurprised. Sarutobi Hiruzen had been Hokage for forty years—of course, he still had influence. That was to be expected.
"Sarutobi-san is volunteering for the front lines?"
"I was just debating whether to send you there myself. Now that you've brought it up... well, that makes things much easier!"
Watching Sarutobi Hiruzen's slightly startled expression, Toshiro smirked inwardly.
The old man feigned surprise, but Toshiro had his suspicions—he was certain Hiruzen had ulterior motives.
His clan had already been plundered once by Danzo. There was no way he would allow himself to be caught off guard again.
If he were to engage the Kiri Ninjas on the front lines while Sarutobi Hiruzen schemed from the shadows, he'd make sure to return the favor with an unexpected, decisive counterattack.
What kind of fool would he be to let that slide?
It wasn't out of the realm of possibility.
Hiruzen had been Hokage for decades—who knew what schemes he still had hidden? And with so many influential clan heads surrounding him, he had both manpower and reputation at his disposal.
If something were to happen while Toshiro was away, it wouldn't be surprising in the slightest.
"As for Sarutobi-san's reluctance to send additional troops... well, that's not entirely unreasonable."
"However, from what I understand, the Kiri Ninja's attack this time was rather unusual. They launched an assault without provocation, and the timing is… highly suspicious. Sarutobi-san, don't you have anything to explain?"
In truth, this Kiri Ninja conflict was likely orchestrated by Obito and Danzo, and Hiruzen was probably unaware of it.
But did that really matter?
Isn't the new patriarch of the Shimura clan still standing behind him? Since he supports Sarutobi, he should take responsibility for this situation.
"As long as Sarutobi-san can make this war disappear without a trace, not only will those 300 additional troops be unnecessary, but no one will have to go to the battlefield at all."
Toshiro wanted to see if Sarutobi Hiruzen had any ties to Obito. If the old man could truly put an end to the war with just a few words, then Toshiro would have to reconsider whether it was wise to let him remain unchecked.
More importantly, even if he had the power to stop the war, he couldn't afford to do so himself—otherwise, he'd risk accusations of colluding with the Kiri Ninja.
"Speaking of Danzo... I'm sure everyone here is well aware of his actions. This time, he conspired with the Kiri Ninja, attempting to incite unrest within the village. It's time to eliminate him once and for all!"
"This..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his mouth as if to protest, but in the end, he simply slumped back into his chair, defeated.
He did have a way to pacify the Kiri Ninja—after all, this entire conflict had been orchestrated by Danzo. It was Danzo who had been in contact with them all along.
There was no reason to keep Danzo alive any longer—eliminating him swiftly would prevent further trouble.
"Danzo is a man of immense evil; he cannot be allowed to remain any longer!"
As the head of the Aburame clan, Aburame Shibi had more reason than most to condemn him. Many children from their clan had been forcibly taken into Root under Danzo's command.
For years, they had seethed with resentment, but there was little they could do. With the Third Hokage in power, any attempts to seek justice had been futile.
"Yes! This man is a poison to Konoha. The sooner we remove him, the better!"
"Haha! That bastard is finally getting what he deserves. Serves him right!"
At the mere mention of Danzo, the room filled with righteous fury. Whether they were clan-affiliated or civilian-born shinobi, they all shared the same sentiment—they wanted nothing more than to see Danzo dead by their own hands.
More than that, however, occasional glances of hostility began shifting toward Sarutobi Hiruzen himself.
Danzo's collaboration with his accomplices had never been particularly subtle. Even if people didn't react immediately, after witnessing his schemes unfold time and time again, it was only a matter of time before they pieced everything together.
"In that case," Toshiro said, his tone firm, "given that Danzo possesses far too many of Konoha's secrets, we will forgo a public trial. Once the matter is settled, we'll hand him over to the Aburame clan leader."
Danzo's knowledge was deeply intertwined with Konoha's intelligence network. If the information locked inside his mind wasn't extracted, the village could suffer significant losses.
"I'm fine with that."
Shibi's response was as succinct as ever, his expression unreadable behind his dark glasses.
He understood exactly what the Fifth Hokage was implying by entrusting Danzo to him—but that was precisely the outcome he desired. There was no reason to refuse.
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