When Uchiha Yakoto opened the door and returned home,
his mother, Uchiha Mie's gentle voice, responded.
"You're back. Your father is at a Clan meeting; he'll be back soon."
"Do you want to eat something first?"
"No, no, I'll go practice swordsmanship first."
Returning to his room, Uchiha Yakoto reached out for his sword, channeling Chakra.
Under the influence of Magnet Release, the practice sword flew into Uchiha Yakoto's hand.
Yakoto arrived at the training ground, gripping the hilt of his sword, his eyes focused, and began to swing it.
As time passed, minute by minute, Yakoto's forehead was covered in sweat.
Just then, Uchiha Chikoto's voice suddenly rang out.
"Relax. Hold the sword firmly, but your entire body shouldn't be tense."
Hearing his father's voice, Yakoto took a deep breath, tightened his grip on the longsword in his hand, and tried his best to relax his body.
He continuously tried swinging the sword in his hand, and the sound of the sword brought with it a series of whistling sounds.
Yakoto's movements became smoother and smoother, the sword blade cutting through the air, leaving trails of silver.
Uchiha Chikoto's face showed a satisfied smile. He nodded and said softly, "Very good, just like that. Maintain this state, feel your body's condition, and keep your breathing steady."
Watching Yakoto gradually get into the swing of things, Uchiha Chikoto said no more and turned to go back home.
Inside the house, Mie was cooking. Hearing her husband's movement, she turned and asked,
"How was it? Did anything happen at the Clan meeting? Did the Clan Chief say anything to you?"
Looking at his wife's eyes, which held a hint of doubt, Uchiha Chikoto replied with some hesitation.
"The war situation isn't looking good. The Third Hokage is asking the Uchiha Clan to send more people to join the battlefield."
"Are you going too?" Mie asked with some worry.
"I'm afraid it's not just me; you might have to go too," Chikoto sighed.
There weren't many people left in the Clan, so even people like Uchiha Mie, who had long since retired from the Ninja ranks, would likely have to return to the battlefield.
Although Mie no longer served as a Ninja after marriage, she was, after all, a genuine Double Tomoe Chunin within the Uchiha before.
Someone of this level would almost certainly not be able to escape conscription; she would likely go to the battlefield with Uchiha Chikoto.
"What about Yakoto then?" Looking at Uchiha Yakoto, who was diligently practicing swordsmanship outside the window, Mie's eyes were full of worry.
"Don't worry, the Third Hokage is asking us to go to the battlefield."
"The Clan Chief isn't foolish either; he wants the Uchiha Clan to integrate into the Village at a deeper level."
"To win us over, the Third Hokage will arrange for an Uchiha Genius to become a Disciple of the Sannin, and also open up more rights to the Uchiha."
"Regarding that spot, the Clan Chief has already nominated Yakoto. At the same time, the Clan Chief also promised me that he would take good care of Yakoto."
"Should we tell Yakoto then?"
Uchiha Chikoto's gaze also fell on Yakoto outside the window, with a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"I haven't decided yet. Let's wait a bit longer."
Inside the Hokage's office,
"Are you mad?! Hiruzen!"
"How can you open up so many rights to the Uchiha Clan?"
"Besides Logistics and Root, you've even opened Anbu to the Uchiha Clan!"
"The Uchiha are an evil Clan."
"Have you forgotten our teacher's warning?"
Danzo Shimura was looking angrily at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was sitting in the Hokage's seat.
"Danzo is right," Utatane Koharu echoed from the side. Although she was dissatisfied with Hiruzen Sarutobi opening so many departments to the Uchiha Clan,
her main dissatisfaction was with Hiruzen Sarutobi's attitude of deciding everything without consulting them.
Homura Mitokado sat on the other side, saying nothing.
The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the main seat, silently puffing on a pipe.
"The Village now needs the Uchiha's strength. It's not a question of whether or not to compromise with the Uchiha Clan."
"It's only a question of how much to compromise."
"Danzo, if we could achieve victory without relying on the Uchiha Clan, solely with your Root, I would, of course, have the confidence to say no to the Uchiha."
"But the question now is, can you and your Root do it?"
After speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked coldly at Danzo Shimura in front of him.
At this time, Hiruzen Sarutobi had not yet grown old; he was still the undisputed Ninja Hero, exuding an undeniable Aura.
Danzo Shimura gritted his teeth, but in the end, said nothing more.
"Even so, you shouldn't have made such a decision privately without discussing it with us," Utatane Koharu still expressed some dissatisfaction.
"I am the Hokage; I have the right to decide everything."
"The Village is currently at war, and the victory of the war is above all else."
"Alright, this matter ends here. I don't want to discuss it any further."
When Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "I am the Hokage," his eyes were not on Utatane Koharu but stared directly at Danzo on the side.
Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze, Danzo seemed to return to that day, the day he regretted for the rest of his life.
His heart was filled with resentment.
"Hiruzen, you will regret this."
With that, Danzo slammed the door and left.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo's retreating back and sighed helplessly in his heart.
He knew that Danzo's prejudice against the Uchiha Clan had a long history, but the current situation forced him to make such a choice.
"Koharu, I know you are dissatisfied with my decision. But we must face reality; the Uchiha's strength is necessary for the Village,"
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Utatane Koharu and said.
"The situation on the battlefield doesn't allow us to do otherwise."
"Alright, this matter is concluded."
"You may all leave now."
Returning to Root, Danzo Shimura's heart was filled with humiliation; he had flinched under Hiruzen's gaze.
He actually flinched, and it was yet another time he flinched in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Past scenes floated before his eyes.
If he hadn't flinched back then, then Danzo Shimura should already be the Hokage now.
And it was because of that one flinch.
It was that one flinch in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
An unspeakable humiliation permeated his heart.
Damn, damn, damn.
Danzo punched the table, angrily throwing everything in the office.
He couldn't accept that he had flinched again in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Third, you called for me?" Tsunade wearily pushed open the Hokage's office door.
Looking at his Disciple, who now appeared so dejected, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was also filled with mixed emotions.
Ever since Kato Dan and Senju Nawaki died, Tsunade had developed hemophobia and could no longer remain on the battlefield.
Upon returning to Konoha, Tsunade began to indulge in pleasures, spending her days either drinking or gambling, visibly declining.
"Sigh, Tsunade, you must also pull yourself together."
"Their spirits in heaven would be very sad to see you like this."
"You should rest well for a while. I will arrange another squad for you to lead after some time."
"You must also try to move on."