Chapter 41: Gentleman, Konoha Needs a New Leader
The meeting room in Konoha's command headquarters was filled with swirling smoke.
Uchiha Fugaku sat at the head position, hands crossed under his chin. His scarlet Sharingan slowly swept across the clan heads present.
"Everyone, Kirigakure has looted four hundred billion ryō from the Land of Fire. Now their combat strength is depleted—this is the best opportunity for us to counterattack."
Akimichi Chōza snorted coldly, his fat body leaning forward slightly: "Counterattack? Clan Head Fugaku, your Uchiha already got enough benefits from Iwagakure. Now you want to monopolize Kirigakure's wealth too?"
Uchiha Sanpō chuckled lightly, a hint of mockery in his eyes: "Clan Head Chōza, if the Ino–Shika–Chō really have the ability, you can go ask Kumogakure for reparations."
Nara Shikaku narrowed his eyes, his fingers lightly tapping his temple: "Battalion Commander Sanpō, you can't say it like that. We Ino–Shika–Chō were responsible for holding back Kumogakure's main force—otherwise, how would the Uchiha have had the chance to show off on the Iwagakure front?"
Nara Shikaku: We Ino–Shika–Chō also want a share of Kirigakure's wealth!
Clan Head Kurama scoffed: "Holding them back? I heard the AB Combo from Kumogakure almost broke through your defensive line?"
The atmosphere in the meeting room instantly became tense.
Hyūga Hiashi watched coldly from the side and finally spoke: "Arguing is pointless. The current question is—who will attack Kirigakure, and who will stay behind to defend?"
Clan Head Kazami immediately added: "Of course the strongest combat force should lead the attack! Our Kazami clan specializes in tracking—we must participate in the offensive!"
Yamanaka Haiichi slammed the table: "Nonsense! How many people does your Kazami clan even have? We Ino–Shika–Chō working together are enough to sweep Kirigakure's remnants!"
Uchiha Fugaku's Sharingan slowly spun; the temperature in the meeting room seemed to drop sharply.
"Actually, there's no need to argue at all."
Everyone froze, their gazes snapping toward him.
Uchiha Sanpō spoke calmly: "We currently have over seven thousand ninjas, while the Kirigakure ninjas invading the Land of Fire number only around two thousand. Instead of arguing here about who goes and who stays, why don't we first split our forces and conduct a three-day encirclement to completely eliminate all remaining Kirigakure remnants inside our borders."
"And then?" Shikaku narrowed his eyes.
Uchiha Sanpō's lips curved slightly: "All genin stay behind to guard. Chūnin and jōnin will attack Kirigakure."
Hiashi's brows furrowed: "Genin stay behind? That's against the rules."
Because the Hyūga clan specialized in reconnaissance, many of their surviving genin were present and naturally unwilling.
Uchiha Sanpō sneered: "Rules? In the Third Great Ninja War, the genin mortality rate was 78.6%. Sending them to Kirigakure to die is worse than letting them guard at home."
The meeting room fell into brief silence.
Uchiha Fugaku slowly nodded: "Sanpō's suggestion is reasonable. First clear out the enemy remnants inside our borders, then concentrate our elites to attack Kirigakure."
"I agree," Clan Head Kurama immediately supported.
Shikaku pondered for a moment and finally nodded as well: "That works, but the distribution of war spoils must be agreed upon in advance."
Uchiha Sanpō said indifferently: "Distribute according to war merits—whoever kills more enemies gets more."
Inuzuka Tsume snorted coldly: "Your Uchiha's Sharingan has much higher enemy-killing efficiency than ours."
Inuzuka Tsume
Watching the clan heads arguing until their faces were red and necks thick over the distribution of spoils.
Uchiha Sanpō slowly stood up and said: "Everyone, since all of you want more war spoils, how about we make a deal?"
Inuzuka Tsume's ninken let out a low growl. She narrowed her eyes: "A deal? What kind of deal?"
Uchiha Sanpō smiled faintly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable force:
"As long as after the war ends, you support our Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku becoming the Fourth Hokage, then the distribution of war spoils… can be discussed."
The meeting room suddenly fell into dead silence.
Hyūga Hiashi's pupils widened slightly; veins faintly appeared at his temples as he subconsciously activated his Byakugan, as if to confirm he hadn't misheard.
The three Ino–Shika–Chō clan heads exchanged glances. Nara Shikaku's fingers lightly tapped his temple, a calculating light flashing in his eyes.
Uchiha Sanpō chuckled lightly: "I'm only stating a fact. Konoha now needs a powerful leader, and our Clan Head is the most suitable candidate."
Akimichi Chōza leaned his fat body forward, his voice low: "The selection of the Fourth Hokage should be decided by the village's higher-ups, not through a war spoils exchange."
Uchiha Sanpō raised an eyebrow mockingly: "Higher-ups? You mean Hiruzen Sarutobi and his advisory group? Or are you saying… your Ino–Shika–Chō have already decided on Namikaze Minato internally?"
Nara Shikaku's gaze turned cold: "Battalion Commander Sanpō, watch your words."
Uchiha Fugaku had remained silent the entire time, but his Sharingan slowly spun as he observed everyone's reactions.
Hyūga Hiashi suddenly spoke: "If we… support Clan Head Fugaku, how does the Uchiha plan to distribute the war spoils?"
Uchiha Sanpō shook his head: "War spoils will first be used to pay compensation for casualties on the Kumo and Kiri fronts. The rest will be distributed among the clans according to war merits."
The meeting room fell quiet again.
This condition was far more generous than they had expected.
Nara Shikaku pondered for a moment and slowly said: "This matter cannot be decided by just us clan heads. The Hokage's appointment requires jōnin voting, and even approval from the daimyo's office."
Uchiha Sanpō stared at him: "So, are the Ino–Shika–Chō supporting or opposing?"
Shikaku did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Yamanaka Haiichi and Akimichi Chōza. The three exchanged glances in a split second, but it was enough for Uchiha Sanpō to catch their hesitation.
"We need time to consider," Shikaku finally said.
Uchiha Sanpō sneered: "War waits for no one. Kirigakure is weak right now—this is the best opportunity. If we drag this out…"
He deliberately left the sentence unfinished, but the meaning was clear: the longer they delayed, the more variables would arise.
In the end, Clan Head Kazami was the first to break the silence: "If the distribution of war spoils is as you say, I support Clan Head Fugaku."
Clan Head Kurama also nodded: "The Uchiha's strength and achievements truly deserve the position of Hokage."
The Ino–Shika–Chō remained silent, but their attitude had already softened.
Uchiha Fugaku stood up; his Mangekyō Sharingan slowly spun as his voice rang with authority: "Everyone, Konoha needs a new leader. And I can lead the village toward an even stronger future."
A moment later, Nara Shikaku let out a slow breath: "…We will consider it carefully."
Uchiha Sanpō nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Then the plan to encircle and annihilate the remaining Kirigakure forces is settled."
The meeting ended, and the clan heads left one after another.
Over 7,000 Konoha ninjas spread out like a tide, launching a sweeping encirclement of the remaining Kirigakure forces inside Fire Country territory.
The result was without suspense. The Kirigakure ninjas' morale was already low; facing an enemy force three times their size, they had no power to resist.
Three days later, the battle report arrived: 731 killed, 409 captured, with the remaining remnants fleeing toward the Land of Hot Springs…
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