Nara Shikaku's tone was calm.
He had no good feelings for Danzo. While he would show basic respect, nothing more could be expected.
After all, their Ino–Shika–Chō three clans held a very stable ecological niche in Konoha.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been reinstated, could only remove them from their management positions, but he had no way of revoking the positions of their clan members.
Especially the Yamanaka Clan!
Without the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques, the Interrogation and Torture Department would be completely paralyzed.
While genjutsu and conventional interrogation had some effect, they were far inferior to the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques.
The Nara clan's intelligence was also irreplaceable!
If Hiruzen Sarutobi encountered trouble and difficulties, he dared not ask them for too much help.
The Akimichi clan was the strongest among the three clans, and also their three clans' combat power foundation. This was why Nara Shikaku remained calm even though Ino–Shika–Chō had been kicked out of the core leadership.
However, unfortunately.
As Danzo spoke, Nara Shikaku couldn't maintain his composure.
"This is a Hokage order. Each family will provide seventeen people!"
"Root is in urgent need of fresh blood. Since all three of you clan heads are here, it saves me an extra trip. I'll give you two hours to prepare."
"And don't think about fooling me. At the very least, I need elite Chunin, and the number of Jonin-level personnel must not be less than five."
"I'll give you one day to prepare. I'll be back at this time tomorrow!"
After speaking.
Danzo directly pulled out the Hokage order, let the three of them glance at it briefly, and then put it away.
Yes!
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had only agreed to his conscription of seven people from each family, if Danzo didn't play a little trick, then he wouldn't be Danzo, the darkness of the Ninja World.
So, hehe.
Through Root's master forger, he directly changed the number seven to seventeen on this Hokage conscription order.
Thinking of this, Danzo admired himself even more.
Heh heh.
He truly was a little genius!
Then.
He ignored the ugly expressions of the three people in front of him and left Nara Shikaku's house directly.
Inside the tea room, there was a deathly silence.
With Danzo's departure, the faces of the three present turned extremely grim.
Bang!
Akimichi Choza was the first to lose his temper, slamming his palm on the table.
"Damn it, I absolutely refuse!"
"I'd rather the entire clan defect to the Uchiha than allow our clan members to join Root."
"There's no room for discussion on this point."
"What are your opinions?"
At this moment, Akimichi Choza expressed his thoughts without any hesitation.
Apparently.
He had been completely enraged by Danzo. That was seventeen clan members!
And five of them had to be Jonin-level.
If they really handed these people over, the Akimichi clan might as well declare its disbandment.
"The Village has indeed gone too far this time!"
Inoichi Yamanaka's face was grim, and then he spoke directly: "I absolutely cannot accept it either. We might as well collectively defect to the Uchiha."
Yes.
Unlike the Nara and Akimichi clans, Danzo particularly liked to use Yamanaka clan members.
Therefore, Inoichi Yamanaka naturally knew more about Root than the other two, so even he, normally calm, made the same decision as Akimichi Choza.
Immediately after.
The two looked at Nara Shikaku, the smartest person among the three clans.
And, regarding this.
Nara Shikaku exhaled a mouthful of stale air, then drained the tea in his hand.
"Inoichi, Choza, don't rush!"
"Danzo gave us a day, we have enough time to analyze this matter."
"First, point one."
"Do you think, given Hiruzen Sarutobi's temperament, he would grant Danzo such extensive authority?"
Almost instantly.
As Nara Shikaku spoke, Inoichi Yamanaka and Akimichi Choza fell silent.
That's right!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation was already very bad. If it weren't for the fact that the Village couldn't find a suitable person now, Hiruzen Sarutobi would not be qualified to be Hokage at all.
A person who values his reputation so much, in this complex environment, even if Root truly needed reinforcements, it's impossible for him to issue such an unscrupulous authorization that disregards the lives of Ninja Clanss, isn't it?
Doesn't he fear forcing all Ninja Clanss to rebel?
One must know.
In the current Konoha, they were not the only dominant force; the Uchiha had already risen!
Inoichi Yamanaka pondered for a moment: "Shikaku, what do you mean?"
"I think we shouldn't make a decision," Nara Shikaku slowly said, "It's the same old saying: sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight!"
"Danzo wants manpower, so we'll give it to him. But remember to remind our people that once they leave the Ino–Shika–Chō clan territory, they should immediately defect and run towards the Uchiha clan territory."
"Internal strife, huh!"
"It's happened once already, so what if it happens again?"
Hiss!
As Nara Shikaku spoke, Inoichi Yamanaka and Akimichi Choza couldn't help but twitch their mouths.
Akimichi Choza couldn't help but ask: "Will fooling Danzo like this really work?"
"It's not a big problem," Nara Shikaku slowly said, "Just fool him."
"If the Uchiha hadn't risen before, then we definitely couldn't have fooled the Konoha Leadership like this."
"Now, it's different!"
"Unless Hiruzen Sarutobi wants our entire clan to defect to the Uchiha, even if he knows everything in his heart, he'll have to pretend not to know anything on the surface."
"Even if he wants to settle accounts with us, he'll have to wait until after the Uchiha are eliminated."
"But, the question is…"
"Can the Konoha Leadership last until then?"
"Even if the Konoha Leadership eventually wins, they will certainly suffer great losses. At that time, even if they still want to settle accounts with us, how much strength will they have left?"
"If the Konoha Leadership can truly eliminate the Uchiha without harm, then our Ino–Shika–Chō will just continue to humble ourselves. In any case, Hiruzen Sarutobi is very old, even if he lives a long life, how many more years can he live?"
Inoichi Yamanaka and Akimichi Choza nodded in agreement.
It must be said... Nara Shikaku's method was good. Regardless of who won in the end, Ino–Shika–Chō might not get into the core, but continuing their clan wouldn't be much of a problem.
"Alright, I agree!" Akimichi Choza said.
Inoichi Yamanaka: "Let's settle it then."
Immediately after.
With this important matter settled, the atmosphere naturally became relaxed.
Akimichi Choza drank a cup of tea and couldn't help but ask: "How many other Ninja Clanss do you think will defect to the Uchiha after Danzo does this?"
"I feel it will definitely be quite a few," Inoichi Yamanaka said directly, "The Aburame Clan will definitely collapse."
"Their clan is not good with words. No matter who takes power in the end, they won't be able to enter the core leadership."
"And their insects are too versatile; they lack neither offensive nor defensive means, and even possess sensory abilities."
"Furthermore, the Aburame Clan doesn't have a deep foundation. If they don't want their clan to be annihilated, they must defect to the Uchiha!"