Uchiha Chapter 78: Briefing
Konoha — Hokage's Office
After listening to Gōenji's report, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled for the first time since the beginning of the Third Shinobi World War.
There hadn't been much good news lately, but Gōenji becoming one of Konoha's strongest combat assets was certainly one of the exceptions.
Hiruzen was particularly pleased when Gōenji explained how he had used Shadow Clones and the Four Violet Flames Formation to keep Ōnoki occupied, while relying on his powerful Fire Release to exert such overwhelming pressure on the battlefield that the Tsuchikage had been forced to focus on him.
The tactic showed that Gōenji wasn't simply a reckless fighter.
He understood that the old fox, Ōnoki, was not someone who could be dealt with easily.
If it had been another Uchiha, they might very well have charged straight at him.
"You've done very well. You have proven yourself worthy of inheriting the Will of Fire. The future of Konoha will be placed in your hands, Gōenji."
Gōenji's expression remained respectful.
"Hokage-sama, you're too kind. I'm only doing what I should. It's just a shame I couldn't defeat Ōnoki. If I had, Konoha's situation might have been considerably better."
He deliberately sighed as he spoke.
The moment Hiruzen mentioned the Will of Fire, however, Gōenji felt a wave of disgust.
It wasn't that he didn't understand what the Will of Fire represented.
The fact that it could effectively influence and indoctrinate people simply proved how powerful the ideology was.
But there were people for whom that influence was particularly harmful.
For young shinobi who had only just stepped onto the battlefield, for example, the effects could be particularly harmful.
They were barely old enough to understand the world before being sent to a battlefield where people died every day.
How cruel was that?
Those children were the true victims of war.
For adults, however, the situation was different.
Shinobi were highly educated and trained people. They might be influenced or misled, but they weren't stupid.
The fact that they didn't resist it also meant that, to some extent, they needed the emotional support and conviction it provided.
Otherwise, the mindset of completing a mission at any cost—like the one that had existed before the death of Konoha's White Fang—could have caused even greater losses for the village.
Besides, being a shinobi was an extremely stressful profession.
Without something like the Will of Fire supporting them psychologically, shinobi would be far more likely to break under the pressure.
Kakashi was a perfect example.
Even now, he still hadn't recovered from the grief of losing his father.
Hiruzen looked at Gōenji curiously.
"Gōenji, how long do you think this war will continue? Do you think Konoha can win?"
There was little confidence in his voice.
He feared that this war would prevent Konoha from maintaining its position at the pinnacle of the shinobi world, just as the First and Second Shinobi World Wars had threatened to do.
And after the Battle of Mount Kikyo, the pressure on him had only grown heavier.
That was why he wanted to hear a different perspective from Gōenji.
"As for the war, I don't think it'll end anytime soon," Gōenji replied. "Perhaps the fighting will only stop once the military strength of the various countries has been weakened to the point where their own survival is threatened."
As long as the major villages still had enough military strength to fight without threatening their own survival, it would be difficult for them to stop.
The other countries had coveted the fertile lands of the Land of Fire for a long time.
Now that the conflict had already escalated to this level, with multiple forces joining the war, there was even less reason for them to stop.
Hiruzen nodded.
"Indeed. Unless they face the threat of total destruction, they won't give up. In that case, Konoha has no choice but to follow the same rule. We have to fight until the end—until we survive, or until they can no longer continue."
He was somewhat surprised by Gōenji's answer.
He hadn't expected the young man to think about such matters.
It seemed that as a jōnin, Gōenji's ability to think strategically was no worse than anyone else's.
"Is there anything else, Hokage-sama?" Gōenji asked.
"I know you've always been researching ninjutsu and need a great deal of reference material," Hiruzen said. "I've decided to open the Scroll of Seals and allow you to choose one technique as your reward. It's compensation for your outstanding performance on the battlefield."
After discussing the matter, Hiruzen, Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and Danzō had ultimately decided to open the Scroll of Seals and allow Gōenji to choose a forbidden technique to study.
It would not only strengthen Konoha's position in the war, but also serve as a means of stabilizing Gōenji.
The four of them had reached this decision together.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
A flicker of surprise passed through Gōenji's eyes, but he readily accepted the offer.
He was somewhat surprised that Hiruzen was actually willing to let him see the Scroll of Seals.
However, Konoha's situation did appear to be extremely critical.
He knew that opening the Scroll of Seals required the approval of Konoha's top leadership.
This was completely different from the original story, where Naruto simply stole the scroll.
"There is one more troublesome matter."
Hiruzen's expression became more serious.
"Because of the Battle of Mount Kikyo, Konoha's combat strength has been greatly reduced. A large portion of our personnel have also been sent to the front lines, leaving the village itself relatively empty."
"To prevent an enemy attack, you'll need to join the Uchiha Police Force and patrol the village."
"Is it really that serious?" Gōenji asked.
"Yes. To prevent the enemy from attacking our homeland again, we have to take additional precautions. Since you've returned to rest, once you've recovered, you can report directly to the Police Force."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Gōenji slowly withdrew from the office.
Hiruzen watched him leave and sighed.
"These really are troubled times. The situation on the battlefield is extremely unfavorable…"
…
Uchiha Clan District
Gōenji returned to the Uchiha clan compound.
When he saw Granny Natsume again, he smiled.
"Granny Natsume, you're selling fruit again? How's business lately?"
Natsume froze for a moment.
Then a wrinkled smile appeared on her aged face.
"Oh, it's you, Gōenji. What brings you here? The fighting has been so intense that business hasn't been very good either. If I'd known, I would've given those fruits to you last time."
Gōenji rubbed his forehead, ignoring the strange comment.
"Is that so? Looks like the war has affected you too, Granny Natsume. Don't let it get you down."
"Hah! Why should I be sad?"
Natsume laughed.
"I'm already seventy or eighty years old. If I die, I die. I've already lived longer than Uchiha Madara, and that's enough for me."
She paused, then continued proudly.
"You know, back in the day, Madara-sama was actually my uncle. We were a generation apart, but I always felt that I was much more impressive than he was. Hahaha!"
Gōenji was stunned.
"Granny Natsume, Uchiha Madara was actually your uncle?"
His curiosity immediately surged.
"What kind of person was he?"
He had always been curious about how other Uchiha viewed Madara.
The original story hadn't gone into much detail about that.
Especially people who had lived in the same era as Madara—such as relatives from his own generation.
"Hah. Now that's a truly remarkable man."
Natsume's expression became nostalgic.
"He was a genuinely extraordinary figure. He pushed the Uchiha clan to its peak."
"Unfortunately, my uncle was too arrogant, just like the other members of our clan. Otherwise, the Uchiha could have become even stronger."
She raised her chin proudly.
"But I'm not bad myself."
"I've lived longer than my uncle. I've even lived longer than the First Hokage."
"I'm the most impressive one of all!"
Granny Natsume continued talking without pause.
Gōenji simply listened.