In Konoha
In the Hokage's office
"YOU CAN'T SEND THEM TO THE BATTLEFIELD, HIRUZEN! HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN SENSEI'S WARNING? THIS CLAN POSSESSED BY EVIL."
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened as it fell on Danzo. He lifted his pipe, inhaling from it slowly, the curl of smoke rising like a wordless rebuke as he ignored him.
Rage flared in Danzo's eyes as Hiruzen ignored him. He was seconds from yelling when Hiruzen silenced him with a low, authoritative command.
"Danzo, I am the Hokage — not you. You have no say in this matter."
Danzo's face twisted with barely contained anger when he heard this, but Hiruzen continued speaking as if he hadn't noticed.
"You know the situation is growing severe. Our latest intel confirms that Kirigakure has deployed a large regiment. To respond effectively and secure all three fronts, we need to send out fresh genin to bolster our numbers—and we must accelerate the academy's graduation process."
Danzo fell silent at Hiruzen's words, his expression tightening. After a brief pause, he retorted.
"I can dispatch my Root to deal with those Kiri shinobi. Trust me—I'll see it finished."
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "I trust you, Danzo, don't misunderstand me. But this situation is different. According to the intel we received, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen themselves are leading the invasion.'"
Danzo's eyes widened, while Hiruzen, on the other hand, stared at him seriously.
"I'm aware you don't trust the Uchiha, and frankly, I'm cautious of them myself. That's precisely why I'll be sending the Hyuga, the Shimura, and your Root operatives to fight beside them."
"Also, If you intend to step onto the battlefield yourself, then I will appoint you as the regiment commander."
Danzo's eyes shone with anticipation, only for his heart to plummet at the thought of facing Fuguki and the other Kirigakure swordsmen in battle.
'For now, I must bide my time. I'll order my Root to harvest the Sharingan from every Uchiha corpse. Eventually, the time will come when I erase that wretched clan and claim the Hokage seat for myself.'
After making up his mind Danzo looked at Hiruzen and said.
"Hiruzen, it is not yet my time to enter the battlefield. Assign the regiment commander as you wish. I will see to it that my clan and my Root are prepared to move out."
Danzo then turned around and left the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen was highly amused by Danzo's actions but remained silent. He swiftly summoned his ANBU and ordered them to summon the heads of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans to his office.
_______
After ten minutes, Fugaku and the heads of the Hyuga clan entered the Hokage's office and bowed respectfully to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen smiled at them and started greeting them.
"Fugaku, Himari, thank you for coming. I summoned you to my office to inform you that Kirigakure has invaded our land. I have decided to form a regiment consisting of the Uchiha clan, the Hyuga clan, the Shimura clan, and some civilian-born shinobi to face Kirigakure's forces."
Fugaku and Himari nodded their heads seriously to Hiruzen.
Himari was a man in his late forties, wearing a green kimono. He looked every bit like a Hyuga clansman, with white eyes, fair skin, and dark black long hair.
Hiruzen paused for a moment before continuing, "I would have loved for Ichiro to be the commander of this regiment—he is exceptionally talented in leadership and earned quite a reputation during the last war. Sadly, his health does not permit it. Himari, you will take command of this regiment, and Fugaku, you will serve as the vice-commander."
Fugaku narrowed his eyes at Hiruzen's words, and seeing this, Hiruzen began explaining the reasoning behind his choice.
"Fugaku, the reason I chose Himari is that he, too, made a name for himself in the last war, and because you only recently became head of the Uchiha clan."
"In terms of experience, Himari clearly stands out, and his expertise is exactly what we need at this moment."
"Kirigakure's forces are led by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, so we must exercise caution when confronting them."
Both Fugaku and Himari widened their eyes in surprise, then gave Hiruzen stiff nods of acknowledgment.
"Go notify your clans immediately and make your preparations. You two are to meet your subordinates at the village gate in an hour."
Fugaku and Himari nodded upon hearing Hiruzen order they bowed to him and they quickly shunshined away.
After they left his office, Hiruzen stood by the window and, lighting his pipe, began to smoke.
'This war is going to be far more brutal than the last. I have a bad feeling about it, and I need to be ready for anything that might come.'
After making up his mind Hiruzen shunshined away.