Sougen sat in his chair, his hand resting on the armrest, chin slightly raised, and eyes cold as ice as he gazed at the furious protestors, as if watching a group of unruly children throwing tantrums. Even though, by age, he was less than half as old as any of them.
"Fifteen hundred people? Even if we count the kids who haven't graduated from the ninja academy, our clan couldn't gather that many! This is just... personal vendetta... an unreasonable demand!" Sarutobi Saemon argued furiously, barely keeping his composure as he swallowed the words "personal revenge." Google seaʀᴄh ɴovelfire.net
Saemon, a man in his early forties, was the current head of the Sarutobi clan. Five years ago, when Sarutobi Hiruzen returned as Hokage and his eldest son joined the Anbu, the position of clan leader was handed to his nephew, Sarutobi Saemon.
He was a mediocre man.
Saemon was chosen not for his talent or brilliance, but because he was an obedient nephew, loyal to carrying out Sarutobi Hiruzen's orders, even if he couldn't always execute them perfectly. At least he followed orders without question.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen still held power, Saemon's life might still be as carefree as it once was.
But, alas, life doesn't entertain "what-ifs."
When Hiruzen fell from grace, not only did he plunge into the abyss himself, but Sarutobi Saemon's life became much more difficult! Yet, this man still seemed oblivious.
"I'm starting to wonder if you even need your ears anymore. But since I'm in a good mood today, I'll repeat myself. This time, listen carefully. Sarutobi, Shimura, Mitokado, Koharu, Kazamatsuri, and Ise clans—you will provide me with 1,500 people. No more than 300 of them can be Genin. I want at least 1,200 Chunin."
"That's still too many!"
Even one-sixth of that, 250 people, was a painful number for any clan. Unlike Jonin, who could usually fend for themselves on the battlefield if they weren't unlucky, Chunin and Genin were little more than cannon fodder in a war between two villages.
Since Sarutobi Hiruzen became Hokage, the Sarutobi clan had seen little large-scale combat. At first, they fought alongside Hiruzen in bloody battles, but over the years, many clan members opted for safer roles within the village's departments and institutions, slowly advancing through work and missions. They weren't helpless flowers, but they hadn't faced the rigors of war in a long time.
Even during the Third Ninja War, fewer than 100 Sarutobi participated. In contrast, the Uchiha clan sent over 300 to the battlefield, with a third dying and another third returning with life-altering injuries.
"And besides, the Sarutobi clan specializes in Fire Release jutsu, which puts us at a disadvantage against Mist ninjas."
Sarutobi Saemon struggled to find excuses, desperate to avoid sending his clan to the battlefield, but his reasoning only angered Sougen.
"Fire Release, you say?"
A mocking laugh echoed through the room.
With a sneer curling his lips, Sougen's eyes burned with fury hotter than magma. "You're the first to boast about Fire Release in front of an Uchiha. I have to admire your courage, but that excuse won't work."
"Back then, the Uchiha clan fought Mist ninjas without hesitation under the Third Hokage's command. And now the Sarutobi clan wants to hide in their shells? Is this how your clan shows its love for the village? No! I will not allow you to tarnish the name of the Third Hokage!"
Sougen declared righteously.
The room fell into a stunned silence. The clan heads stared, speechless, at Sougen, who stood with a sense of justice, while Saemon was left dumbfounded, unsure how to respond. The spectacle of the Uchiha leader, who had personally removed Hiruzen from power, now defending his name, was absurd enough to make anyone laugh.
"Hokage-sama, please permit my impudence," Sougen turned to the acting Hokage, Akimichi Torifu, with respect.
"Do as the Uchiha leader says," Torifu sighed inwardly, unable to deny Sougen's request. He had no choice but to begin dismantling the influence of the Sarutobi and other clans that were deeply entrenched in Konoha's institutions. It was a task he could no longer avoid.
"Rest assured, Hokage-sama and Uchiha-sama. The Shimura clan will quickly assemble 250 fighters and will even provide five additional Jonin."
The Shimura clan head, an elderly man with gray hair, unlike Saemon, clearly understood the shifting tides in Konoha. Knowing the village had changed, he wisely chose to cooperate rather than resist.
"I hope the Shimura clan won't disappoint me," Sougen said, closing his eyes as the meeting came to an end.
The details of the war against Mist would now be handled by the Nara-led planning group, and the objections of the Sarutobi and the other clans? No one cared. If any clan dared to act rashly, no one would hesitate to suppress them.
As the meeting ended, Akimichi Torifu remained seated, looking at the spot where Sougen had sat. After a long pause, he sighed deeply. It was no wonder Sarutobi had targeted the Uchiha clan so intensely. With their suspected control over tailed beasts and unmatched power, it made governing as Hokage awkward.
"At least I'm just a temporary Hokage," Torifu muttered with a self-deprecating smile, stroking the Hokage hat before him.
He had no desire to fight a battle of wits with Sougen. The Uchiha problem would be one for the next permanent Hokage to solve.
"Any updates on finding Jiraiya and Tsunade?" Torifu suddenly asked.
"No results yet," came a reply from the shadows.
Torifu murmured, staring at the Hokage hat, falling into another long silence.