While Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya were hungrily studying various Forbidden Techniques from the sealing scroll to improve their strength, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not idle either.
He immediately ordered the Anbu, who were from the Sarutobi Clan, to notify the heads of the various major clans to prepare for a meeting.
Facing two enemies who Minato Namikaze claimed had reached Kage-level, Hiruzen knew he could no longer resolve the situation on his own.
He had to rely on the power of the entire Konoha.
In comparison, he could resolve the enemy using only the Ninja completely loyal to him.
But that would entail too great a sacrifice.
For the stability of the entire Konoha, the hidden forces under his sole control were crucial bargaining chips to maintain his position as Hokage.
They could not suffer any losses.
Therefore, after weighing his options, Hiruzen Sarutobi still chose to use his usual methods to rally the entire Konoha clans to contribute personnel and effort.
After all, this was to protect Konoha!
To deal with the crisis of the entire Konoha Ninja Village, to inherit the fire will, and to eliminate the great threat to Konoha, this was a responsibility everyone must bear.
With this great responsibility, all the strong clan members of Konoha would be mobilized by him in his capacity as Hokage.
As for any potential sacrifices?
Please, all of this is for Konoha!
As members of Konoha, how can you stand idly by? Do you still have the fire will? Are you thinking of betraying the village?
Hiruzen Sarutobi, unable to confront his own dark side, pushed everything onto the slogan of “for Konoha.”
In Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, the enemies to be dealt with this time were hidden members of the Uchiha Clan, who had audaciously attacked his Hokage disciple’s grandson and even attempted to kidnap the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki from the future.
Their rebellious intentions were clear, requiring no suspicion, and they needed to be eliminated directly.
Facing such traitors, his usual rhetoric about the fire will would certainly be ineffective.
However, in terms of strength, with two such powerful individuals, plus their Sharingan and the power of the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki they had acquired, just thinking about it made Hiruzen Sarutobi realize how much sacrifice this mission would demand, no less than fighting a Ninja World War.
If these two Uchiha Clan members, who were secretly hiding their identities, also had the Mangekyo Sharingan as a trump card, it could potentially inflict even deeper pain upon Konoha.
Facing such potential losses, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not possibly issue a direct order as Hokage, sending his loyal direct subordinates on such a mission.
He could only push it onto all the clans of Konoha.
This way, even if there were significant losses, it would be as if he himself suffered no damage.
Once the matter was concluded, Konoha would have eliminated Uchiha traitors, struck a blow at the Uchiha’s active forces, and once again deterred the Uchiha Clan.
The major clans would have lost strong individuals who could challenge the Hokage's authority, which would further benefit Konoha's stability and strengthen the Hokage's authority.
At the same time, he would also once again bestow favor upon Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya, his disciple and grand-disciple, helping them rescue Uzumaki Naruto while also securing the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki.
Such a triple win, how could it not be wonderful?
Thinking these thoughts, Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips curved upward.
At once, with his calculations in mind, he had already decided what rhetoric to use in the coming days to command the clan heads of Konoha to contribute personnel and effort, and how to give Danzo a look to help him undermine the Uchiha Clan's reputation.
As his old friend and a sharp blade he used to restrain the various major clans, he would surely not hesitate when it came to dealing with the Uchiha.
Soon, as Hiruzen Sarutobi's communication reached Root and the heads of other neutral clans, these clan heads, who had now fully recognized his true nature, secretly went to Root for a private meeting with Danzo Shimura.
“Heh heh!” Danzo Shimura sneered, presenting a piece of intelligence to the clan heads who had gathered early.
The intelligence detailed the three individuals who had appeared in the Hokage Office.
Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze were one thing, but the third person was Yamato, the Wood Release Ninja he had cultivated, who came from a future parallel dimension.
However, this Ninja had already betrayed him.
According to Sai's report, this Wood Release Ninja named Yamato, under the enticement of Kakashi Hatake, had defected to Hiruzen Sarutobi, was brainwashed by his fire will, and completely broke away from the will of Root.
Although Danzo himself was so furious his teeth ached, wishing he could kill this person immediately, he knew it was not the right time.
He merely suppressed his anger and calmed down, continuing, “Now it seems Hiruzen Sarutobi has also obtained intelligence on these Ninja from the parallel dimension.
Although Yamato, that traitor, is with them, the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki from the parallel dimension is already under my control.
Their current appearance's purpose is self-evident: they must be here to acquire the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki and plan to send powerful individuals for a rescue mission!”
At this point, he also explained the Roran mission and the information about the visitors from the parallel dimension to everyone, which shocked them.
No wonder Danzo Shimura could possess a Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki; it turned out to be from a parallel dimension.
They just hadn't expected that Danzo Shimura could even create Wood Release Ninja, but it was a pity that this person was brainwashed and betrayed by that bastard Hiruzen Sarutobi's fire will.
However, since Danzo Shimura himself could create Wood Release Ninja once, he could do it a second time.
By following Danzo Shimura, they might also have the opportunity to have Wood Release Ninja in their own clans.
For a moment, the eyes of the clan heads burned with eagerness.
Danzo Shimura didn't mind this.
Wood Release was a distant prospect.
The support of these people was far more important.
For him, becoming Hokage first was more crucial.
As for promises, Danzo never kept his word.
For Konoha, it was not impossible to go back on his word.
He paused, then looked at the clan heads present and continued, “However, according to my disciple Sai, the two Uchiha Clan members who appeared in Roran are not ordinary powerful individuals; they have definitely reached the Kage level.
They easily defeated Minato Namikaze’s Flying Thunder God Technique and Yamato’s Wood Release!”
At these words, everyone present was surprised.
“What? These two have reached Kage-level? The Uchiha Clan actually hides such powerful individuals? How come we've never heard of their reputation? This isn't something that can be simply cultivated!
Without enough combat experience, it's impossible to become a Kage-level expert.
Can the Uchiha Clan hide so well?!”
“Indeed, such powerful individuals are very troublesome.
Ordinary methods probably won't be enough.
Unless we send a large-scale Ninja army to surround and besiege them, otherwise, the outcome is likely unpredictable,” one clan head said worriedly.
“Damn Hiruzen Sarutobi, what is he doing? Every time something like this happens, he just rallies all the clans of Konoha to act together.
Can't he solve it himself?! He has so many powerful individuals secretly, yet he only relies on us! He's a true beast!” another clan head complained indignantly.
“Exactly, that’s how he managed to accumulate a fortune of 5,000 Ninja.
When he encounters difficulties, he rallies everyone to solve them; when he finds benefits, he enjoys them alone.
With his methods, how can we possibly grow stronger? Sooner or later, we'll be completely devoured by him!” another clan head echoed.
For a moment, the heads of the neutral clans spoke up one after another, expressing their dissatisfaction and doubts about Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Clearly, at this moment, after Hiruzen Sarutobi’s true nature was completely exposed, these clan heads already understood his intentions.
They all knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi simply wanted to obtain the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki without making any sacrifices himself.
So, he used the name of Konoha to command everyone to act, letting other clans bear the risks and pressure.
Perhaps, even before the mission began, the true objective of the mission would be hidden by him, and he would fabricate a so-called “threat to Konoha” theory to deceive everyone, making them willingly risk their lives for him, using Konoha to mobilize them.