Chapter 53: Konoha's Cancer Clan Ranking
Inside the Uchiha clan shrine, candle flames flickered, illuminating every solemn face present.
Uchiha Sanpō scanned the crowd and spoke slowly: "Orochimaru leaving the village is also a good thing. Clan Head Fugaku's campaign for the Fourth Hokage now has one less strong opponent."
His words caused the atmosphere inside the shrine to tighten instantly. The election for the Fourth Hokage was the key for the Uchiha clan to break the higher-ups' suppression.
"Additionally, Inabi, have you finished compiling the list I asked you to prepare?"
Uchiha Sanpō's gaze turned toward Uchiha Inabi, who was sitting in the corner.
Uchiha Inabi stood up, pulled out several sheets of paper from a document bag, and distributed them to every core member present.
"This is the casualty data from the various battlefields of the Third Great Ninja War."
Everyone lowered their heads to look. The numbers on the paper were shocking.
Uchiha Shisui's Sharingan unconsciously began to spin. When he saw those numbers, it was as if he could smell the bloody scent of the battlefield again.
Casualty Rate Ranking
First place: Kirigakure front, overall commander: Hyūga Daiwa, casualty rate 79.6%, total participants: 3,000, 2,247 dead, 142 severely wounded.
Second place: Sunagakure front, overall commander: Orochimaru, casualty rate 67.7%, total participants: 7,000, 4,264 dead, 479 severely wounded.
Third place: Kumogakure front, overall commander: Namikaze Minato, casualty rate 58.5%, total participants: 5,500, 2,860 dead, 359 severely wounded.
Fourth place: Iwagakure front, overall commander: Uchiha Fugaku, casualty rate 45.1%, total participants: 8,000, 3,226 dead, 378 severely wounded.
Uchiha Shisui furrowed his brows tightly and sighed: "The high casualty rate on the Kirigakure front was because most of the 3,000 participants were students who graduated early. But why was the casualty rate on the Sunagakure front also so tragic?"
Uchiha Sanpō let out a cold laugh: "Because the Ino-Shika-Chō, Inuzuka, Aburame, and other clans were all transferred by Hiruzen Sarutobi to the Kumogakure front to help the Golden Flash farm achievements. On the Sunagakure front, besides 1,500 Hyūga clan members and 300 Senju clan members, the remaining 5,200 were all civilian ninjas. It's already a miracle that Orochimaru held on for so long."
"Haha Haha Haha!" Uchiha Kusuri raised the paper high and laughed out loud.
He raised his voice mockingly: "The Hyūga clan really suffered a huge loss this time. They bet on Orochimaru, yet of the 1,500 they sent to the Sunagakure front, 893 died and 94 were severely wounded. Hiruzen Sarutobi pitied them and gave them the overall command of the Kirigakure front. As a result, of the 300 they sent, 243 died and 42 were severely wounded."
Hearing such casualty figures, even Uchiha Yadai laughed.
"The Hyūga clan is also a thousand-year clan, but this time they really got unlucky. They only had 2,166 ninjas in total. Now 1,136 have died and 136 are severely wounded. They've lost more than half their strength. It will take them more than ten years to recover."
Upon hearing this, cold laughter gradually rang out inside the shrine. The Hyūga clan had always been arrogant, but now they had suffered heavy losses because they chose the wrong side.
Uchiha Sanpō restrained his smile, his gaze turning cold: "The Iwagakure front had the lowest casualty rate because our Uchiha, Akimichi, and Kazami clans were holding the front line, which allowed us to control the casualties among the civilian ninjas."
"But precisely because of this, our Uchiha clan suffered 1,277 deaths on the Iwagakure front, 122 deaths on the Kirigakure front, and 63 deaths during the invasion of Kirigakure Village. Total: 1,462 Uchiha clansmen died in battle, and 175 were severely wounded and disabled."
Hearing about so many clansmen's deaths, the shrine fell into dead silence.
Uchiha Sanpō slowly stood up. His Sharingan flashed with a cold light.
"I have compiled the casualty data of each major clan into two lists: 'Konoha Hero Clan Ranking' and 'Konoha Cancer Clan Ranking'. I plan to release both lists together."
Everyone looked at the contents of the two lists.
Hero Ranking
First place: Uchiha clan, total ninjas: 3,819, total participants: 3,819, 1,462 dead, 175 severely wounded.
Second place: Hyūga clan, total ninjas: 2,166, participants: 2,000, 1,136 dead, 136 severely wounded.
Third place: Akimichi clan, total ninjas: 1,244, participants: 1,200, 568 dead, 113 severely wounded.
...
Cancer Ranking
First place: Sarutobi clan, total ninjas: 1,644, participants: 1,100, 54 dead, 11 severely wounded.
Second place: Koharu clan, total ninjas: 848, participants: 800, 16 dead, 2 severely wounded.
Third place: Shimura clan, total ninjas: 616, participants: 600, 27 dead, 3 severely wounded.
...
Because the data was collected by Uchiha Inabi, he stood up to explain to everyone.
"The Cancer Ranking mainly records clans that slacked off and played tricks during the war. For example, the Sarutobi clan has 1,644 ninjas in total, but they only sent 1,100 to participate. Among them, 500 were responsible for logistics transport, and 600 were stationed in relatively safe areas. They also abandoned their comrades multiple times during the war, so the actual death toll was only 54. The Shimura, Koharu, and Mitokado clans were the same. Their casualty rates were pitifully low."
Uchiha Sanpō clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention.
"I plan to make 80,000 copies of these rankings. We will try to let every Konoha villager know who truly protected them on the battlefield… and also let those clans that were sacrificed by the higher-ups understand exactly how many people Hiruzen Sarutobi's decisions killed… Only in this way can Clan Head Fugaku gain enough support when campaigning for the Fourth Hokage."
Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku stood up excitedly.
He crossed his hands, his Mangekyō Sharingan slowly spinning: "The public opinion war has already begun, but these alone are not enough. We need allies: the Hyūga, Senju, Ino-Shika-Chō, and other clans are all suitable allies. We should do our best to win them over."
Uchiha Sanpō nodded and added: "I previously promised the Hyūga clan an advisor elder position. They are willing to support us. Before we cleared the Root base, I talked with Senju Akaki. They are also willing to support us. During this war, the Ino-Shika-Chō also have a lot of complaints about Hiruzen Sarutobi, so they can be won over as well… As for the civilian ninjas, as long as they see the rankings we distribute… they will clearly understand who is truly willing to protect them."
In the Third Great Ninja War, the Uchiha clan paid a heavy price in casualties, but they also achieved great merits.
Uchiha Fugaku's gaze swept across every clansman present: "From today onward, the Uchiha clan officially participates in the campaign for the Fourth Hokage. I hope everyone will work together!"
Uchiha Yadai also stood up. He raised his right arm high and shouted fanatically: "The position of Hokage… will finally belong to our Uchiha!"
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