Chapter 273: Planning an Escape Route for the Clan
After leaving the Hokage's office, Nara Shikasuke first returned normally to his own office. Following Lord Mizuki's requirements, he wrote out the "Wood Release Sacred Body Hero Trial" activity proposal and had it sent to Lord Mizuki for review.
After obtaining approval, he dispatched personnel and resources, having people begin implementing the propaganda content in the proposal.
Only after finishing everything did he clock out normally and return to his clan.
Upon entering clan grounds, he didn't go home. Instead he ran directly to the clan head's residence, having the clan head summon the elders for a meeting.
Once everyone assembled, Nara Shikasuke wore a troubled expression as he explained the jonin council's decisions.
These elders were all intelligent people. Without needing Shikasuke's detailed explanation, they immediately understood the inherent danger.
"Has he gone mad?"
"Wood Release cell transplantation—is that something so easily accomplished?"
"If it were truly that easy, Danzo would have already succeeded!"
"What 'hero trial'!"
"He's clearly treating village shinobi lives as a joke!"
Nara Shikasuke rubbed his temples forcefully, sighing:
"I'm also unclear what Kazuma and Mizuki are thinking. Perhaps they were truly terrified by Uchiha Yasushi's Perfect Susanoo."
"Facing an excessively powerful enemy, not everyone can calmly assess the situation."
"The village is currently unsettled. Far more than just Kazuma and Mizuki are frightened."
"After this period of continuous failures, the village's cohesion grows increasingly poor."
"I'm deeply worried—if we let Mizuki continue like this, before Uchiha Yasushi even attacks, the village will collapse on its own."
"Sigh. Haven't you told Mizuki or Kazuma about these concerns?" an elder immediately questioned.
"Of course I have!" Nara Shikasuke sighed. "I've privately advised Mizuki many times. But he always demands I produce alternative plans for resolving Uchiha Yasushi, otherwise he absolutely refuses to give up."
"Seeing I couldn't persuade him, I privately sought out Lord Kazuma. But Mizuki risked his life rescuing Kazuma from Takumi Village. Now Kazuma trusts him greatly, supporting all of Mizuki's plans."
At his words, all the elders immediately developed headaches.
They didn't fear a foolish Hokage—that might even make control easier.
But they most feared a Hokage foolish without self-awareness, instead thinking himself clever.
Add in stubborn arrogance, and things became completely hopeless—beyond any salvation.
After a moment of silence, someone finally sighed:
"Then we can only hope for the best now."
"That ridiculous 'Wood Release Hero Trial' will never succeed. But that Tenseigan synthesis plan has some reliability."
"During the previous successful Tenseigan synthesis, everyone witnessed those eyes' power."
"That was just little Hinata's body, yet it displayed such tremendous power. If an adult jonin possessed them, the power would surely multiply several times."
"If several Tenseigan are truly synthesized, we might actually defeat Uchiha Yasushi!"
"Shikasuke, did you summon us because you fear those foolish Hyuga Main House members will botch things again, so you want us helping the Main House?"
"No." Nara Shikasuke shook his head, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces as he spoke seriously: "I invited everyone here to discuss the Nara clan's future direction."
"Currently, Konoha Village deteriorates daily. Powerful enemies lurk outside. Whether it can continue existing remains uncertain."
"My meaning is—everyone should best prepare in advance to handle unexpected developments."
"You—what are you suggesting?" The elders gasped, staring at Shikasuke in shock.
Shikasuke's gaze locked intently on the questioner, speaking earnestly:
"You should understand what I'm saying."
"We must prepare for the worst scenario—if Konoha Village is truly destroyed by Uchiha Yasushi, or dissolves on its own, how should the Nara clan respond?"
"This—this..." Many elders were shocked. "How is that possible? Konoha Village is the shinobi world's strongest village..."
The elders' voices trailed off.
They'd obviously realized current Konoha Village was no longer the Konoha of old.
In current Konoha Village, anything could happen. Even destruction wasn't impossible.
Though Nara clan members possessed universally high intelligence, having lived in Konoha Village for so many years, their emotional attachments ran deep. They genuinely resisted this conclusion from the bottom of their hearts.
Seeing everyone unanimously fall silent without speaking, Shikasuke knew they struggled to accept this. He sighed before explaining:
"If possible, I'd also like to continue remaining in Konoha Village."
"The Nara clan painstakingly operated here for over a century, developing from an ordinary clan step by step into the prime candidate for Hokage Advisor. We formed ironclad alliances with the Yamanaka and Akimichi clans. Who knows how much effort and sacrifice this required."
"Moreover, our land holdings, pastures, shops... all this wealth is bound to the Land of Fire. Once we leave, the losses would be completely incalculable."
"Of course I hope the village ultimately finds methods to resolve Uchiha Yasushi and overcome this disaster."
"In fact, if Kazuma hadn't ultimately chosen Mizuki—if I'd obtained that position—I would definitely devote full effort to solving this problem."
"But regrettably, out of gratitude considerations, Kazuma let that Mizuki fellow govern Konoha Village in his place."
"This made all our previous plans completely futile."
"Without sufficient authority, our subsequent plans cannot unfold at all—stillborn in the womb."
"So although this is extremely difficult for everyone to accept, for the family's future, we must begin seeking escape routes now."
"I'm not saying we'll truly betray Konoha Village, but we must have such a contingency plan."
"Once circumstances slide toward the worst outcome, the Nara clan cannot sink together with Konoha Village's broken ship."
"Wealth and such can be abandoned, but alliance relationships cannot."
"We must communicate with the Yamanaka and Akimichi families in advance, reaching consensus with them to advance and retreat together in the approaching great upheaval."
Everyone fell silent for a time. Ultimately reason conquered emotion.
Everyone raised their hands, unanimously passing this "abandon ship plan."