Getting Sasuke to give up on revenge is undoubtedly harder than climbing to the heavens.
"It's not about getting him to give up completely. I just don't want him to be trapped in the quagmire of hatred and thereby consumed by it. I hope he can master his hatred, rather than become a tool born for revenge. Moreover, I'll pass on what I've learned to him, which can somewhat compensate for the shortcomings in his Sharingan."
After listening to Kakashi's narrative, Hiruzen started to ponder.
Soon, Hiruzen nodded and said: "Since you're confident, then go ahead with your approach. You're right; the Sharingan is an unstable double-edged sword, especially with Sasuke, whose eyes are blinded by hatred. Letting him continue down the path of revenge could very well lead him to do something extreme that would endanger Konoha."
As for compensating for the lack of power in the Sharingan, Hiruzen trusts Kakashi.
Whether it's the fierce and swift White Fang Swordsmanship or the Lightning Style: Chidori Style developed in conjunction with Swordsmanship, both are sufficient to make Sasuke a powerful Jonin in the future.
"Yes, I'll take my leave now, Hokage-sama."
"Go ahead. Pay attention to the Anbu, and you can ease up slightly on the affairs of the Security Team."
Kakashi nodded, exiting the office.
◎
"I didn't expect the old man would interfere in the battlefield of the Land of Rain. Fighting on two fronts, the struggles on the board seem to be intensifying."
When the military forces of the Land of Demons started to indirectly interfere in the civil war in the Land of Rain, Ichihime had already received the information transmitted from the military, requesting her to make appropriate arrangements in the Land of Waves.
However, with the changing international situation, the military will definitely make other arrangements on top of the original plan, which Ichihime had foreseen long ago.
After all, the opponent is the more powerful Land of Fire compared to the Land of Wind, and coupled with other major national powers joining in, following the plan step by step would certainly result in big problems.
"Miss, now is not the time to concern ourselves with the affairs of the Land of Rain; the situation in the Land of Waves is also not optimistic."
Discussing matters with Ichihime in the meeting room is her deputy, Kado.
Though the situation in the Land of Rain might affect the Land of Waves, the Land of Rain is too far away to rely solely on the military's arrangements over there.
"I understand, according to what you said, there's significant resistance to the International Industrial and Civil Cooperative among civilians in the Land of Waves."
Ichihime had received this part of the news.
"Yes, things were developing smoothly at first, but in the past day or two, the trend has started to slowly reverse. The diplomats from the Land of Waves seem to be accusing us of trying to create internal chaos, and many civilians seem to be quite resistant to the cooperative."
Kado revealed the adverse situation one by one, a fierce glint showing in his eyes.
"Did the Daimyo of the Land of Waves initiate this? I didn't expect he had such capabilities."
"After all, he is the official figurehead of the Land of Waves. He's organized a few pirate extermination campaigns in the past, although they ended in failure, he's already accumulated considerable fame among the civilians. As long as he denies the cooperative, it indeed can have such an impact."
Kado said.
"It seems the debt has not caused him much pressure, and he still has the spare mind to interfere with our actions."
"The Land of Fire is maneuvering behind the scenes; this has nothing to do with the Daimyo's will in the Land of Waves."
Though the Land of Demons is powerful, the Land of Fire is closer to the Land of Waves.
Rejecting the proposal of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, while the Land of Fire might not do anything openly, they have a hundred ways to make the Daimyo of the Land of Waves lose face behind the scenes.
Whether the Daimyo of the Land of Waves is acting voluntarily or is compelled, his stance was irrelevant from the start.
The Land of Demons needs an excuse from him, as does the Land of Fire.
The situation has evolved into a showdown between the Land of Demons and the Land of Fire.
"What about the Isolated Island Merchant Alliance? Have they started to take action too?"
"Yes, a batch of ninjas with unknown identities have moved in, they're here to deal with us. From now on, Miss Ichihime must be careful about her safety."
Directly attack the legitimate reputation, secretly arrange suicide ninjas to implement assassination plans.
Already backed by the Land of Fire, the Isolated Island Merchant Alliance is certainly capable of such acts.
It's also the best way to quickly end the turmoil in the Land of Waves.
Though it might cause subsequent trouble, dragging it out won't be good for the Land of Fire and the Merchant Alliance.
They want to end everything rapidly.
The interference of the Land of Demons in the civil war of the Land of Rain has already made the Land of Fire sufficiently alert.
"Proceed according to the original plan; it's not time to completely tear faces yet. The cooperative's accumulation is still too thin. First, arrange the press there to control the public opinion."
The suppression from the Land of Fire is faster than expected, indicating that the top echelon of the Land of Fire is already aware of the threat from this cooperative.
The subsequent actions need to be even more cautious.
"Understood. I'll go make arrangements now."
Kado nodded, withdrew.
◎
The Land of Lightning, Valley of Clouds and Lightning.
Amid the vast white fog, the thousand mountains and rivers seemed to stand within.
In front of one of the mountain bodies, the robust Fourth Raikage, like a bull, transformed into a flash of lightning rushing towards the mountain.
Boom!
The massive mountain body shook instantly, blasted by the lightning, creating a giant hole.
Countless large stones fell onto the body of the Fourth Raikage, but were jolted aside by the Lightning Armor on his body.
The Fourth Raikage flexed his shoulder a bit, emitting a crackling sound full of explosive power, making him nod rather satisfied.