"Lord Third…"
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was deep in thought, Akimichi Chōza, now mostly recovered, spoke up in a hoarse voice, "Is war… coming?"
Hiruzen's thoughts were interrupted. Hearing Chōza's question, he couldn't help but sigh.
"Yes," he replied. "At least, for now, it seems so."
"We… cough! Cough-cough!"
A heavy feeling immediately settled in Chōza's chest. He opened his mouth to speak but was seized by violent coughing, staining the white bedsheet with specks of blood.
"Senior Chōza, don't speak!"
Hyūga Kumokawa quickly rose and stepped forward, pulling out tissues to wipe the froth and blood from the corner of Chōza's mouth, helping him lie back down.
Then, Kumokawa turned to Hiruzen, who had fallen into silence. A flicker of anger appeared on his face. "Lord Third, Kumo and Iwa have pushed us again and again, pressing us at every step. We can't hesitate any longer!"
Hearing this, Hiruzen was momentarily stunned. He lowered his head with a bitter smile, replying perfunctorily, "You're still young. You don't understand what war means…"
"No, I understand."
Hiruzen's words were interrupted before he could finish. He instinctively raised his head, meeting a pair of pure eyes filled with determination and resolve.
"No one wants to face a cruel war. My father and mother both died on the battlefield."
The two locked eyes. Hyūga Kumokawa said in a deep voice, "But we've retreated step by step. We have nowhere left to retreat!"
Hiruzen's eyes paused slightly. He spoke slowly, "Why…"
"Because behind us is Konoha! Our families and friends!" Kumokawa spoke word by word, his voice grave. "Lord Third, please give the order. Even if I stand alone, I am willing to stand on the front line."
"If they want war… we'll give them war!"
His words fell into the ward, plunging it into deathly silence. Hiruzen, Utatane, and Chōza all looked at Hyūga Kumokawa, their gazes slightly frozen. Their shrinking hearts inexplicably gave birth to a surge of emotion.
They could hardly believe these words had come from the mouth of a fifteen-year-old boy.
These adults and old-timers… seemed to pale in comparison to a single child.
"...Kumokawa."
After a long silence, Hiruzen seemed to have reached some decision. His eyes, glimmering faintly with light, met Kumokawa's gaze. He said seriously, "These words… would you dare say them again in front of others?"
"I dare," Hyūga Kumokawa nodded without hesitation.
Utatane beside him seemed to realize something and couldn't help but speak up. "Hiruzen, you can't possibly be thinking of…"
"Yes," Hiruzen nodded. "I intend to take this child to the Jōnin meeting."
"Lord Third, you can't be serious!"
Hearing this, Chōza's expression changed slightly, and the words blurted out instinctively.
As a member born into a ninja clan, he understood those from similar backgrounds all too well.
Even within the Akimichi clan, which staunchly supported the Hokage, there were still many who cared only for their own and their clan's interests, refusing to risk their lives for Konoha as a whole.
To put it bluntly, this was the "bad roots" of the ninja clans. The power of these clans didn't stem merely from wealth and military strength. More importantly, it came from their monopoly of knowledge and culture—ninjutsu, secret techniques, and the like.
Ninjutsu was extremely precious. Ninjas from civilian backgrounds found it difficult to acquire. Only the clans could firmly grasp these resources through internal family inheritance and education.
Furthermore, the trust and mutual support within a clan formed a powerful and extensive social network. This network not only helped them gain higher political status but also solidified their social influence, creating a fragile balance with the "Kage."
But that was as far as it went.
"Senior Chōza." Hyūga Kumokawa's voice was calm. "I want to go."
Looking at Kumokawa's calm and firm expression, Akimichi Chōza and Koharu Utatane felt a surge of emotion.
"To think that someone from the notoriously pedantic Hyūga clan could emerge, willing to cast aside clan-centric views…"
Chōza had, after all, been a companion of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato. Influenced by him, his sense of belonging to Konoha had long surpassed his loyalty to his clan. Utatane, shaped by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, was even more so.
It was precisely because of this that they understood the implications of Kumokawa's choice.
Hiruzen, of course, knew this as well. The look he gave Hyūga Kumokawa grew even more gentle.
"Then let's go." He patted Kumokawa's shoulder, giving it a slight, gratified squeeze. "Don't worry. You won't be alone."
He was, after all, the Third Hokage. He hadn't yet reached a point of complete decay.
Kumokawa was right. Since there was no avoiding it, there was no point in further hesitation.
He now had to act before Kumo could react. He had to first frame Kumo as the party actively provoking the conflict, mobilize the anger of Konoha's ninjas and the Fire Daimyō, and draw a portion of ninjas from the clans to form the first strike force.
But extracting resources from those clans was no simple matter. Even he, as Hokage, couldn't forcibly compel them to send their clansmen to die on the battlefield. Doing so would inevitably cause those clans to become alienated, listening to orders but not truly obeying.
But if a young ninja from a clan like Hyūga Kumokawa actively stepped forward… the situation would be completely different.
However, this also meant Kumokawa would become the "bird that sticks its head out." It meant he would be backstabbing the Hyūga clan, even the entire faction of ninja clans.
It meant severing ties with the Hyūga clan completely, essentially abandoning his own surname, abandoning the resources the Hyūga clan had provided him.
After all, before his death, Hyūga Hizashi had entrusted Hyūga Kumokawa to his brother, Hyūga Hiashi. The resources Kumokawa could potentially obtain from the clan in the future were far beyond what an ordinary ninja could dream of.
Therefore, this was by no means a decision and choice that could be made easily. This was precisely why Hiruzen and the other two were so surprised and gratified.
So… was Hyūga Kumokawa truly that noble and selfless?
Click.
Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed open the door to the conference room. The light cast his shadow upon the wall, along with the figure following closely behind him.
Under the conference room lights, it wasn't just their two shadows that were printed out. On both side walls, rows of swaying human silhouettes were cast—some aged, some young, some mediocre and simple, others ambitious.
The moment Hiruzen walked in, everyone in the room stood up in unison.
"Lord Third."
Diverse voices rang out as one at this moment, their tones anxious, deep, or confused.
Though some were still unclear about the reason for this meeting, those with intelligence channels had already made their guesses.
Therefore, this "Lord Third" felt more like a form of oppression.
An oppression that was coincidental yet unanimous—a collective pressure directed at the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.