Tatsumi and his group of ninja school students were currently enjoying a time of peace.
Most of them were not yet aware that the footsteps of war were approaching, and no one could escape it.
At the same time, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, walked into the Hokage Building.
The Hokage Building was built on the eve of Konoha's founding. It could be said to be the oldest building in Konoha.
This was the place where missions were usually assigned and office work was done.
As the Third Hokage walked along the corridor leading to the front door of his office, he felt somewhat uneasy.
Even as the Hokage of Konoha Village, he still had times when he had to compromise.
This had been proven years ago.
And today was precisely one of those times.
The Third Hokage was wearing a white ceremonial robe. He smiled at the Anbu guarding the corridor and said, "How is it? Are you tired?"
The ninja immediately straightened his body and said excitedly, "Hokage-sama, thank you for your concern, I'm not tired!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen patted him on the shoulder. "Relax a little, no need to be nervous."
"Have our advisors arrived?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.
The ninja immediately replied, "They are already in the office."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and waved friendly to the guard. He continued along the winding path towards the office.
The Third Hokage walked slowly. He didn't know what Konoha would face this time.
Based on the intuition he had developed over many years as a leader, he realized that this was different from the usual small-scale frictions.
His childhood was spent in the late Warring States period.
He experienced the First Ninja World War.
After the Second Hokage-sama died in the ambush in the Land of Lightning, he was temporarily appointed as Hokage.
At that time, Konoha's situation was on the verge of collapse. Various clans stood side by side, and Konoha faced both internal and external troubles.
Those heroes who had not completely aged and had fought their way out of the Warring States period were eyeing the Hokage position in Konoha.
However, he immediately took on the important task entrusted to him by the Second Hokage.
The young him matured faster than anyone could have imagined. He lived up to the Second Hokage's trust and inherited the Hokage's glory with his extraordinary ability.
Even today, he was still as trusted as he was in the past.
However, the entire ninja world was now in turmoil. War might break out at any moment.
This concerned the future of Konoha. The Third Hokage sighed. He had to deal with it carefully.
The Third Hokage pushed open the door and walked in. He saw his friends, Mitokado Homura, Danzo, and Utatane Koharu, were already inside.
"You've arrived." Sarutobi Hiruzen walked into his office and sat down in the Hokage's seat.
"Homura, what is the situation in the Land of Grass?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.
"According to news from the Land of Grass, both sides are currently restrained, but there are occasional frictions."
Mitokado Homura immediately took out a well-organized report and handed it to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"That's good." Then Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly glanced at the report.
He breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the situation didn't continue to deteriorate.
"But Hanzo keeps claiming that the Grass Ninja Village has captured their Rain Ninjas. Now he is demanding that the Grass Ninja Village hand over the captured ninjas," Mitokado Homura said with a headache.
"The ninjas of the Grass Ninja Village are like grass swaying in the wind. They are a bunch of cowards who try to please other countries everywhere. How dare they provoke Hanzo?" Danzo said disdainfully.
"What exactly does Hanzo want to do? Does he have the guts to challenge the five great nations and start a war?" Utatane Koharu asked doubtfully.
"What is it that he wouldn't dare to do? Hanzo thinks highly of himself. He always feels that his strength is comparable to the Kage of the five great nations, or even stronger."
"He has long felt that the small Rain Ninja Village is no longer worthy of his strength. He has been seeking an opportunity to make the Land of Rain the sixth great nation."
Danzo sneered.
"That's right. Moreover, the reason he used this time is something we can't criticize at all. Regardless of whether the Grass Ninja Village has detained them or not, he has a reason to invade the territory of the Land of Grass."
"Although we are a great nation, one move affects the whole body. Peace is hard-won. We cannot provoke disputes at will," Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed.
"Hiruzen, you are too kind! Hanzo is pointing the finger directly at the Land of Grass. They are our vassals! Our Konoha is the strongest village. This can easily be underestimated by other countries. Otherwise, any village will bully us," Danzo retorted.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent.
It had been many years since the First Ninja War. All countries had long been recuperating and had sufficient troops.
What Danzo said was not without reason. These countries had long coveted the prosperous land of the Land of Fire.
However, peace was hard-won! Sarutobi Hiruzen really didn't want to go to war unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Alright. Let's leave it at that. Homura, you continue to send ninjas to the Land of Rain to negotiate with Hanzo, put pressure on him, and make a serious protest to Hanzo. Strive to get him to sit down and negotiate," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
"Koharu, you go and contact the Kazekage. Just say that I want to continue talking to him about the alliance."
"Danzo, you continue to send Root ninjas to the border to gather information."
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his temples after issuing the orders.
The office was silent for a while.
"Hiruzen, what did that old fox Uchiha Shan want from you?" Shimura Danzo suddenly asked, narrowing his eyes.
"It's nothing, just about Tatsumi's matter," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied faintly.
"Kagami's son! What happened?!" Utatane Koharu stood up and looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"It's nothing, it's nothing. That kid is very good. He was just talking about the Jonin who will lead Tatsumi after graduation."
"Wasn't it already decided that Tsunade would lead the team?" Koharu narrowed her eyes.
"Uchiha Shan wants Tatsumi to have a Jonin from the Uchiha clan as his Jonin teacher after graduation," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
"Hmph, what wishful thinking. How could Kagami's son be handed over to the Uchiha clan? All these years, he has been ostracized by them in the Uchiha clan."
"Now that they have discovered that his talent is no less than his father's, they want him to return to the clan? There is no such cheap thing," Utatane Koharu shook her head and said.
"However, Uchiha Shan's attitude is very firm! Tatsumi's surname is Uchiha no matter what. He said that only the Uchiha people understand the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan best."
"An Uchiha Jonin is more conducive to Tatsumi's growth. I can't refute this reason at all," Sarutobi Hiruzen said helplessly.
"No! I don't agree. Tsunade's medical ninjutsu is excellent. If something happens to Tatsumi during the mission, he can get timely treatment," Utatane Koharu didn't give the Third Hokage any face at all.
"That's right. For his safety, I think he should be taken into Root. Under my watch, I can take care of Kagami's orphan. When necessary, I can personally take him as a disciple," Danzo said, glancing at Utatane Koharu with a blank expression.
"Bang."
Utatane Koharu smashed the table in front of her with a punch.
The people present were suddenly startled.
After all, the people present had been teammates with Koharu for decades.
In their impression, Koharu had always been a quiet and intelligent female ninja.
She had always been the lubricant in their six-person team.
In the words of the Second Hokage-sama, she was the only one among these people who inherited the rationality of the Second Hokage-sama.
Therefore, they rarely saw Utatane Koharu get angry.
"Danzo! Don't think I don't know what you're thinking! We are friends and teammates, so I have never wanted to interfere with what you do in Root. But, if you want to lay your hands on Kagami's son, don't blame me for being rude!"
Danzo became silent. He tugged at his collar. He felt a surge of anger lurking in his throat.
"Kagami is dead! Do you know that! He has been dead for many years. I know you back then..." Danzo suddenly burst out.
Utatane Koharu grabbed Danzo's collar.
"Shut up! I don't want to hear these words again. What happened between me and him has nothing to do with you! If I hear these words again, I will kill you. You know I have that ability."
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