Homura Mitokado already knew the movements of the Kumogakure forces.
Konoha, naturally, had also noticed.
So, an emergency meeting was once again convened in the conference room of the Hokage Building.
It was still the familiar room, and almost all the familiar people.
The reason for 'almost' was, of course, that Yuuki scanned the room and didn't see Homura Mitokado.
Remembering Homura Mitokado's strange behavior earlier.
Could he really have returned to rest and now gone back to Jiraiya?
Yuuki secretly wondered in his heart.
Our Lord Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, still entered last.
After glancing at everyone in the conference room, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke directly.
"Everyone has received the intelligence, so let's hear your thoughts!"
Yuuki was still the first to respond.
"Hokage-sama, my idea is the same as when we dealt with Hidden Mist; we should just fight directly and beat those Kumogakure bandits until they don't dare to show their fangs."
To be honest, Yuuki's previous battle against Hidden Mist was too quick and too brilliant.
This made many people feel a renewed sense of boldness, and while they didn't explicitly support Yuuki's idea, they were seriously considering it.
All those present were heads of various Konoha departments and clan leaders of various Konoha Ninja Clans.
They all had their own intelligence channels, more or less, and knew that while Yuuki's strength wasn't as exaggerated as the newspapers claimed—fighting ten thousand ninja alone—
they also knew that Yuuki's strength was already far beyond what the word Jonin could encompass.
Therefore, seeing Yuuki's young and energetic voice, and his formidable strength as reported in the intelligence,
a thought couldn't help but arise in their minds.
If Yuuki-kun were leading Konoha now, Kumogakure might not dare to provoke them like this.
The Third Hokage's long-standing policy of weakness towards foreign powers had actually displeased many Ninja Clans.
Our families sacrificed so many clan members for Konoha, yet after the war, we didn't even ask for compensation. Did our clan members die for nothing?
At this moment, Hiashi, seeing no one else speak shortly after Yuuki's statement, said,
"The Hyuga Clan seconds the motion!"
It was true that Hiashi wanted the Third Hokage dead, but ultimately, the Third Hokage was only an accomplice in Hizashi's death; the true mastermind was Kumogakure.
Hiashi had no intention of letting this opportunity slip by; he wanted Kumogakure to pay the price!
Then, some smaller clans, who had good relations with Yuuki through his long-term networking, also seconded the motion.
For a time, the entire conference room was filled with calls for war.
Hiruzen Sarutobi just listened in silence, occasionally puffing on his pipe.
Although the calls for war were loud, there were more silent people, and he needed to hear different opinions.
This was a technique Hiruzen Sarutobi had long mastered: as long as there were two or more opinions,
Hiruzen Sarutobi could choose one and make the final decision as the Hokage.
He would not reveal his stance until all opinions were presented.
Not everyone wanted war; some clans were weak, and war would require them to send people, which would exacerbate their already difficult financial situation.
There were also some who, from the beginning, were unwilling to actively provoke war. If Yuuki had proposed sending troops for defense, they would have supported it without hesitation.
The discussions became more and more numerous.
Ultimately, Hiruzen Sarutobi still chose a decision similar to the one against Hidden Mist, but he had learned from the previous lesson.
Hiruzen Sarutobi finally decided to immediately send reinforcements to the border and, at the same time, dispatch an envoy to inquire about Kumogakure's intentions.
If diplomacy could resolve the war, that would be good; if negotiations failed, then they would go for the real thing.
Yuuki had to admit that this approach was watertight. If negotiations truly succeeded, the only cost would be the expenses of assembling troops and marching.
And if negotiations failed, it wouldn't be like last time, with only 200 Jonin rushing to the Battlefield.
At this point, Yuuki, having understood his full strength after the battle with Hidden Mist—
Yes, 'understood.' Before, Yuuki only knew he was strong, that his template was strong.
He hadn't experienced actual combat, and without comparison, he couldn't know his true level.
Now, Yuuki pretty much understood his own strength. In a full-power burst, for the current Ninja World's powerhouses, who still largely prioritized offense over defense, Yuuki knew his output was already overkill.
And Yuuki's template-inherent immunity to flames and high-speed flight ability made him almost invincible.
Coupled with the Judgement Eye, which he originally thought would be ineffective on Obito, actually working quite well, Yuuki was now feeling rather inflated.
Yuuki felt that no matter how the Ninja World's situation changed, the true powerhouses were either developing cautiously, sealed away, or in the Pure Land.
So Yuuki wouldn't get angry at any of Hiruzen Sarutobi's actions, no matter how incompetent he was.
Because there was always him, the Head of the Military Police Force of Konoha, Uchiha Tomoki, to back them up!
Yuuki readily accepted Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision and said nothing more.
However, Yuuki accepting it didn't mean everyone could accept it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, negotiations, Kumogakure.
This once again reminded Hiashi of the look in Hizashi's eyes when he willingly sacrificed himself for Hiashi.
Hizashi, who had always resented the Main Family-Branch Family system, had no trace of resentment in his eyes that day.
There was only the love of a younger brother for his older brother and deep reluctance to leave Neji!
How could such a similar situation not make Hiashi feel emotional?
'Bang!!'
Hiashi, who usually kept his emotions hidden, turned red with anger, slammed his hand down on the table, and then stood up.
"Ridiculous, negotiations! Hiruzen Sarutobi, I don't have a second brother for you to negotiate with!!"
Then he dramatically flicked his sleeve and left the conference room.
Hiashi's departure made the atmosphere in the meeting, like when Yuuki left last time, turn strange.
Seeing the many gazes directed at him,
Yuuki thought, 'Why are you looking at me! This has nothing to do with me this time.'
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed for a moment, but then quickly returned to calm.
"Since the decision has been made, let's execute it. Meeting adjourned."
Then he also left the conference room.
Everyone else also left in twos and threes, all deep in thought.
When did it start, that the voices shouting 'Hiruzen Sarutobi' became more and more frequent?
Yuuki was still in the conference room, recalling the scene just now. 'Hiashi-senpai is truly bold; it seems he really loves his brother.'
After Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to the Hokage Office, his expression began to darken.
Yuuki dared to act that way towards him because, both in terms of his own strength and the strength of the Uchiha, he was someone Hiruzen Sarutobi greatly feared.
But Hiashi daring to act this way today truly angered him. First the Uchiha, now the Hyuga.
Would the clan leaders of families like Kagetsu and Ise also start shouting 'Hiruzen Sarutobi' in front of him in the future?
Is it the Uchiha that gives you such confidence?
Hiruzen Sarutobi speculated in his heart that ever since Yuuki became clan leader,
Hiruzen Sarutobi had noticed that the two great Dojutsu clans, who were originally at odds in Konoha, had begun to reconcile and even cooperated quite a bit.
Hiruzen Sarutobi still recognized Yuuki's 'hypocritical' face, after all, intelligence showed that he visited various Ninja Clans, big and small, in Konoha almost every day.
If Yuuki knew, he would definitely cry foul. 'What do you mean my hypocritical face? Besides, it's not that my networking skills are so strong, but that you, Hiruzen Sarutobi, are truly hateful.'
'My level is just average; it's just that my opponent keeps providing assists!'