However, Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to stop it, but unfortunately, Danzo Shimura only wanted to support it, determined to deplete Baimu and the Uchiha clan. And Tsunade... Hmph, if she was unlucky, then so be it if she died.
Even if she didn't die, fighting the Cloud Village would leave her crippled if not dead. As long as Tsunade, Uchiha Baimu, and the Uchiha clan were all depleted, it would be beneficial to him.
Danzo was restless for the position of Hokage. He had already seen hope. The immense trauma brought by the Third Great Ninja War had caused widespread discontent in the village, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's prestige had also been affected to some extent.
And naturally, his Danzo's instigation played a part in this, so the opportunity had already arrived. If he didn't seize it, he would truly be letting himself down.
"Danzo, don't be reckless."
Hiruzen Sarutobi could not support this. If he let him act so recklessly, wouldn't his plan potentially fall apart? That was something he could not accept.
"Reckless?"
Upon hearing this, Danzo immediately became angry.
He loudly said, "Hiruzen, what do you mean by this? Konoha, Konoha, this is for Konoha? They already have such resolve, why don't you support them?"
Is the Cloud Village easy to deal with?
Uchiha Baimu, that evil Uchiha, should go face the Cloud Village's AB duo. I don't believe he can win. It would be best if he died.
Also, if something happens to Tsunade, that would be even better. If nothing happens, it doesn't matter. Anyway, one less is one less. Uchiha Baimu dying would only benefit us and not harm us.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."
Danzo, do you think I don't know what you're thinking?
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood Danzo too well and knew what he was planning. He certainly didn't want to waste the village's fighting power like this, and moreover, Tsunade was involved. She was the granddaughter of the First Hokage, the princess of the Senju clan. Even though the Senju clan had declined, if something truly happened to Tsunade, it would cause an uproar.
Not just the Senju clan, but probably all the ninja clans, big and small, in Konoha would be furious about it.
Although he had ways to appease them, the concessions would likely be significant.
Was Hiruzen Sarutobi willing to do this? Absolutely not.
This was him cleaning up Danzo Shimura's mess.
Moreover, it would harm his own interests.
So, this matter naturally couldn't be done.
"Danzo, this isn't a problem that can be solved by one person; it requires Konoha as a whole to solve the difficulty. And the threat of the Cloud Village cannot be handled by one person or a few. My idea is to mobilize Minato, Uchiha Baimu, and Tsunade to go. What do you all think?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that Danzo's attitude was already very clear, and Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane hadn't spoken, which meant their stance was given: they definitely supported Danzo's approach. So he couldn't object, or rather, he could object, but he would have to consider more. The best outcome would be to agree, but it would require mobilizing Minato Namikaze to go along.
You want to do this, right?
Fine, it's not impossible. My condition is that Minato Namikaze must go, then I can agree.
Minato Namikaze?
Danzo's face immediately darkened upon hearing this. I was hoping that the evil Uchiha would be gone, so why do you want to transfer Minato Namikaze there too?
If he were transferred, the problem would be significant.
"No, Minato Namikaze cannot go. Although the Stone Village intends to negotiate peace, we cannot guard against Onoki launching a surprise attack. We must be wary of this."
Danzo refused, and he had his reasons.
"Oh?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
However, after a moment's thought, she found it normal and directly said, "The Stone Village wants peace talks? Then that's fine. You stabilize the Stone Village and quickly achieve a ceasefire. Then have Orochimaru and Jiraiya launch an offensive to deal with the Sand Village. We'll go deal with the Cloud Village. Once they're dealt with, the war can be said to be over."
So confident?
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face almost fell.
No, how could she be so confident?
Tsunade, don't be foolish, this could easily lead to trouble!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was truly anxious, fearing some uncontrollable event.
But the problem was that Tsunade being so confident actually made Danzo feel that this was a good thing. It would be best if both the evil Uchiha and that woman Tsunade were eliminated. Your demise would be most beneficial to me... Yes, dying would be best.
"Hiruzen, since they've said so, we should support them." Danzo was already impatient. He didn't want Hiruzen Sarutobi to stop this; on the contrary, he wanted him to actively promote it.
"People are in a hurry to send, why don't you support it?"
"Tsunade, I'll send Minato over, don't worry." Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored Danzo; he knew Tsunade was very stubborn.
In the current situation, she was determined to do this, and if he didn't agree, it would cause problems, not to mention the front lines were indeed not optimistic.
The Kumogakure side had already been pressing closer, with their army gathered in the Land of Frost, and also detouring through the Land of Waterfall, intending to launch a surprise attack.
However, it was currently unknown whether they planned to attack Konoha or Iwagakure; it remained to be seen.
But according to the war reports from the front, the situation could be said to be far from optimistic.
If it weren't for that brat Onoki killing the Third Raikage, the Kumogakure army would very likely have advanced all the way.
So, Onoki killing the Third Raikage bought Konoha some breathing room, at least preventing major problems on the border, but without a general to hold the line, it would be easy for them to be breached.
Originally, Hiruzen Sarutobi had planned to send Minato Namikaze, but Tsunade's proactive request for deployment undoubtedly changed things.
Even if he wanted to refuse or re-deploy Minato Namikaze, Danzo's repeated disruptions, coupled with Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado's ambiguous attitudes, undoubtedly gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a massive headache.
You people still don't understand what the bigger picture is; you just want to target the Uchiha, to the point where you're now even thinking of sacrificing Tsunade, is that it?
"Tsunade, I can agree to your request, but I require that you do not go deep, and focus primarily on defense.
I will arrange for Minato Namikaze to come over as soon as possible.
Before that, do not act rashly!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew he couldn't refuse anymore; on one hand, there was the pressure from Danzo and the others, and on the other, Tsunade's attitude.
To be honest, Tsunade's behavior, which clearly showed an alliance with the Uchiha clan, undoubtedly infuriated Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Even if it was just one Uchiha Hakuo... no, he was the clan head now.
Tsunade being close to him didn't that mean she was close to the Uchiha clan?
Because of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally had concerns in his heart and was displeased.
Don't you know the threat of the Uchiha clan?
Don't forget, you are from the Senju clan.
Furthermore, the Second Hokage's teachings... Tsunade, have you forgotten?
However, although Hiruzen Sarutobi was displeased, he wouldn't go so far as to harm Tsunade, unlike Danzo.
So, he intended to reprimand her but wouldn't put Tsunade in danger, which meant Minato Namikaze had to be sent over.
"Hiruzen!"
Danzo was furious.
Are you determined to go against me?
"Danzo, no more talk." Hiruzen Sarutobi knew it was useless to continue, so he immediately stopped Danzo from speaking further.
"Old man, let's go."
Tsunade no longer wanted to stay, she waved her hand and was about to leave.
However, the moment she turned around, she immediately remembered something and turned back to say, "Oh, and one more thing.
I was attacked and rescued not only by Uchiha Hakuo's help, but also by two other people who saved me.
Now they are both with me, and they will settle in Konoha in the future.
However, they are not shinobi, so you must remember this and not disturb them."
After saying this, she left the Hokage's office with Hakuo, leaving behind a troubled Hiruzen Sarutobi and a furious Danzo Shimura.
As for Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado?
Their opinions and attitudes were clearly not important at this moment.
Danzo was already fuming about this and immediately said angrily, "Look, Hiruzen, Tsunade is too lawless now.
What kind of talk is that?"
"Enough, Danzo, this is just a small matter, say no more." Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and said slowly.
"Small matter, my ass! Those two are problematic." Danzo instinctively suspected everything, and Tsunade's attitude undoubtedly made him furious.
She doesn't respect me.
Why is Tsunade like this?
Just because you are from the Senju clan and your grandfather was the First Hokage?
Alright, those are your foundations, but they are in the past.
Now, the Third Hokage is in charge of Konoha, and I, Danzo, we are the Konoha elders, the leaders of Konoha.
Without Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo wouldn't have such great power, so even if he had opinions about Hiruzen Sarutobi, he couldn't kick him out, unless he himself became Hokage, then it would be different.
Otherwise, as long as he wasn't Hokage, he would have to rely on Hiruzen Sarutobi to gain his current power.
Without Hiruzen Sarutobi's protection... could he be so reckless and lawless?
The answer is no, so Danzo was very clear about what he should do.
Even if he had conflicts and opinions with Hiruzen Sarutobi, he still maintained restraint.
At least for now, he was restrained, and there was nothing overly outrageous.
In the original plot, it was also because Hiruzen Sarutobi took over again after the Fourth Hokage died and continued to be Hokage, which drove Danzo crazy and led him to choose assassination.
No choice, he really was desperate to become Hokage.
"Whether there's a problem or not, Tsunade said there isn't.
What else can you do?
Remember, that's Tsunade!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said indifferently, reminding Danzo, Homura Mitokado, and the others.
"Alright, alright, alright!"
Danzo was almost fuming, but he couldn't do anything to Hiruzen Sarutobi, so he could only turn and leave.
But as he walked to the door, the more he thought about it, the angrier he got, so he threw out a line.
"Hiruzen, you will regret this!"
And what Danzo got in return, naturally, was Hiruzen Sarutobi's statement, "Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
This sentence undoubtedly made Danzo even more agitated, and he slammed the door shut and left.
"Hiruzen, isn't this a bit too much…"
As soon as Danzo left, the two remaining in the room, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, looked at each other, and then Homura Mitokado spoke.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want to waste words and immediately made a decision: "Alright, no more talk.
Immediately issue an urgent secret order to finalize the peace talks, and then send Minato to the front lines of the war against Kumogakure, making sure he arrives earlier than Tsunade and the others.
Additionally, have the Anbu send people to constantly monitor Tsunade and Uchiha Hakuo.
You two don't need to worry about this; you only need to be responsible for the peace talks.
Remember to resolve it as quickly as possible, understood?"
"Understood!"
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane saw that Hiruzen Sarutobi had already made all the arrangements, meaning they didn't need to offer any more opinions, so they could only compromise... and left the Hokage building.
Tsunade, having stopped, said to Hakuo beside her, "Alright, let's rest for a bit, then we'll set off!"
Shizune was already waiting for her at home.
She wanted to go back to her own house to see her; it had been a while since she left, so she needed to go back and check.
Besides, this guy Hakuo had become the clan head, shouldn't he go back to the Uchiha clan compound to take a look?
Being a clan head isn't that easy, especially for someone like Hakuo who came to power through a coup… wait, the Uchiha are different, and besides, with this guy's strength, do I need to worry?
And for Tsunade, she realized she was really worrying too much.
It's hard to say if it was due to the power Hakuo bestowed upon her.
Am I caring too much about him?
Tsunade was a little confused.
Hakuo said, "We'll leave tonight.
I'll come to your house.
For now, Esdeath and Alice Lize can go back with you.
I'll just finish up my affairs."
"Huh?"
Tsunade was stunned.
No, are you really giving orders so directly?
Good heavens, he's truly impolite, completely treating me as a subordinate.
Although Hakuo's tone wasn't quite giving orders, in Tsunade's view, it was pretty close, and Esdeath and Alice Lize had already walked to her left and right sides.
Clearly, they were going to follow her back.
"I say, what are you trying to do?"
Tsunade was very displeased, asking in a hushed voice.
"I'm not interested in dealing with some fools right now, so I had them go back with you.
I need to resolve clan matters, but there's no real trouble, as everything is under my control!"
Within the clan, there were still the members of the White Flame Society led by Natsu.
These Uchiha were completely loyal to Hakuo, and they had already received Hakuo's orders and were prepared to prevent any internal unrest.
Hakuo just needed to go back and take over.
And for the Uchiha, strength is paramount.
As long as powerful strength is displayed, everything will settle down smoothly.
Even if there are some stubborn individuals, what then?
Currently, no one in the Uchiha clan can stop him.
Shisui Uchiha is still too young, and as for some old stubborn ones, there's even less to say.
Strength?
Completely nonexistent.
So Hakuo wasn't worried about any turmoil; this matter would simply settle down smoothly.
Tsunade pouted, saying, "You're really confident, but thinking about how terrifying you are, I don't have much to say.
Even if I were displeased, what good would it do?"
"What are you displeased about? Tsunade, without him, would you have the changes you have today?" Esdeath snorted, very displeased with Tsunade's attitude.
"I'm just talking, and I'm not allowed to complain?" Tsunade said with an annoyed expression, feeling very irritated by Esdeath's overbearing attitude.
But then, there really was nothing she could do; the other person didn't care about her.
She couldn't possibly start a fight here, could she?
That certainly wasn't an option, so she had to compromise.
"Alright, Tsunade, don't go gambling.
I'm having them follow you to keep an eye on you, got it?" Hakuo didn't care what Tsunade did; he had made arrangements, and it was intentional.
Don't forget, she's a gambler, so he had to be careful…