Shisui suddenly pulled back the hand he was using to stop Itachi, because this was an opportunity for the Uchiha Clan.
The Uchiha Clan had always wanted to become Hokage, but there was a secret unwritten rule to becoming Hokage: one had to be a disciple of a former Hokage, or at the very least, have some connection to a former Hokage.
Currently, the Uchiha could not break into the Hokage's inner circle; even though Shisui and Inabi had entered the Anbu, the Uchiha were still not accepted by the higher-ups.
They needed a closer relationship.
Danzo was a disciple of the Second Hokage and one of the four high-ranking officials of the Village; if Itachi entered his Root and became his disciple, the relationship between the clan and the higher-ups would become much closer.
Except for Mikoto, any other member of the Uchiha Clan would agree to Itachi joining Root if they came here.
But the Third Hokage disagreed: "No. I will say it again: Itachi is too young. The First Hokage established Konoha precisely to change the cruelty of the Warring States Period, where adults sent children to the battlefield."
"No matter how dangerous the current situation is, we cannot send children to the battlefield."
During the Third Great Shinobi War, Kakashi and the others went to the battlefield to kill people while they were still minors, but the prerequisite was that they had already graduated from the Shinobi Academy and become true Shinobi.
Since they were Shinobi, going to the battlefield was their duty, though Genin mainly handled the transport of strategic supplies.
The main fighting on the battlefield was done by Jonin and Chunin; Genin on the battlefield were just there to be fodder for the enemy.
There were no such requirements in the Warring States Period; as long as you could hold a shuriken, it didn't matter how old you were; they would send you straight to fill the front lines.
The Third Hokage was a man of principle.
Jiraiya and Minato both supported the Third Hokage's decision.
"The old man is right. I have seen many Shinobi on the battlefield who collapsed due to the cruelty of war."
"Many adult Shinobi cannot endure that kind of immense pressure, let alone a child?"
Jiraiya pushed Itachi back down and continued to cut his hair: "Itachi, adult matters should be handled by adults. You should just focus on your studies at the Shinobi Academy!"
Itachi was still somewhat unwilling: "But this is trouble caused by the Uchiha Clan itself. As a member of the Uchiha Clan, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch."
Jiraiya pinched his face: "What trouble caused by the Uchiha Clan itself? Stop taking everything upon yourself."
"Elder Danzo, you are old enough, stop encouraging Itachi to go to the battlefield. All the Shinobi of the Uchiha Clan have already participated in the war; they don't need one more in Itachi."
"Hmph!"
Danzo gave a cold snort. He wished everyone in the Uchiha Clan would go to the battlefield to fill the lines; it would not only fill the gaps in the Konoha Shinobi forces but also eliminate these evil Uchiha.
Killing two birds with one stone!
Sarutobi, Jiraiya, and Minato were all pedantic people. Had they already forgotten the trouble caused by Madara and Ryou?
In the end, it was because that guy Ryou was too soft-hearted and didn't make these people truly experience the fear of death.
After Itachi's hair was trimmed, the Third Hokage prepared to let him and Izumi leave; they needed to discuss some adult topics.
Children shouldn't hear them.
As he was leaving, Itachi said to the Third Hokage: "Hokage-sama, if I participate in the graduation exam and become an official Shinobi, can I go to the battlefield?"
"Itachi..."
The Third Hokage had a headache. He had tried so hard to stop this child, yet this child was still so eager to go to the battlefield.
Do you think the battlefield is a game of house, where if you fall down, someone gives you a shot, and you get back up as a hero again?
The Third Hokage did not answer, but Danzo interjected: "Yes, the Shinobi Academy allows talented students to graduate early."
"Itachi, with your talent, you are qualified to participate in this year's graduation exam."
"Go back and wait for the notification! Once you graduate, you will join my Root."
Itachi bowed to Danzo: "Thank you, Danzo-sama!"
Immediately, Itachi pulled Izumi and left Shisui's room.
After Itachi left, the Third Hokage and his group prepared to ask Jiraiya and the others about the process of competing for the Seven-Tails in Takigakure.
Before that, Minato, Jiraiya, and the others wanted to know about the situation with Sunagakure's One Tail.
The Third Hokage shook his head: "We only know a general idea; it's all intelligence transmitted from Sunagakure."
"That brat Ryou disguised himself as Sasori beforehand and infiltrated Sunagakure, approaching Granny Chiyo to find out where the One-Tail Shukaku was sealed."
"When Sunagakure was preparing to seal Shukaku into the Jinchuriki's belly, Ryou suddenly appeared, cruelly killed the Fourth Kazekage and the Sunagakure Elder Council, and then snatched the One-Tail Shukaku away."
Jiraiya shook his head after hearing this: "I have known Ryou since we were kids; we even peeked at the women's bathhouse together. I know his personality. Killing the Sunagakure Elder Council?"
"Doing so has no benefit for him, and he has no need to target people who have nothing to do with him."
Danzo said: "Only they know the truth about Sunagakure. We will ask carefully tomorrow after Granny Chiyo and the new Kazekage arrive."
Jiraiya immediately asked: "By the way, is there any news about Tsume?"
Jiraiya saw the Inuzuka Clan's Secret Technique on Ryou and guessed that Tsume's technique had been stolen by Ryou.
But he didn't know if Tsume had been killed.
Jiraiya hoped not.
The Third Hokage said: "Tsume is fine, but she sent intelligence saying that her family's Secret Technique was interrogated out by Ryou's Sharingan."
"Tsume is very self-reproachful!"
Jiraiya breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He should question Ryou less in the future.
He could not return to Konoha, and similarly, he would hold his own bottom line.
Jiraiya transferred all his hostility to Madara, guessing that Madara must have used some means to control Ryou.
That was why he had to work for Madara.
Of course, Ryou's greed for Kushina didn't look like an act. If Ryou came to snatch Kushina, Jiraiya would absolutely lose his temper with him.
Danzo said: "Alright, let's stop talking about this. Let's talk about Takigakure!"
"Jiraiya, you guys were quite lively when you arrived. Not only were there Takigakure Shinobi, but also the Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure and two Jinchuriki."
"Tell us quickly, what is going on?"
Danzo was very busy because Orochimaru had gone to Ryūchi Cave, so Danzo could only cooperate with Hiruko.
He was restoring the size of Root while looking for talent who could learn Edo Tensei.
Unfortunately, Danzo had not yet found anyone who could learn Edo Tensei.
This made Danzo suspect whether the technique of Edo Tensei was developed by his teacher specifically for Orochimaru.
Similarly, Danzo began to shift his target to Orochimaru's cells, catching wild children to transplant Orochimaru's cells in order to learn Edo Tensei.
As long as one could survive Orochimaru's white snake cells, one could possess Orochimaru's talent in techniques and learn Edo Tensei.
Jiraiya nodded and then told the four high-ranking officials about the competition for the Seven-Tails in Takigakure.
The four high-ranking officials listened attentively. When Jiraiya mentioned the genjutsu of Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan, Jiraiya glanced at Shisui.
Shisui nodded at Jiraiya, signaling for Jiraiya to reveal the ability of his Mangekyo, Kotoamatsukami.
After Jiraiya said it, the four high-ranking officials could not sit still.
To change a person's will permanently without needing eye contact—wasn't this ability too insidious?