The apology had been expected.
But when the Third Hokage stepped forward himself, the room became slightly awkward.
A few heads lifted.
Some jonin from the civilian ranks spoke first.
"Hokage-sama… those incidents were not deliberate."
Another quickly added, "Uncertainties… they happen in tense times."
Their voices were careful.
Measured.
But the village leadership's attention was elsewhere.
They were watching the Uchiha.
Waiting.
The clan stood in silence.
A few exchanged glances.
Nothing more.
No outrage.
No gratitude.
The other shinobi clans were no different from the Uchiha in one regard.
The apology had come late.
Measures made years ago had already shaped losses that could not be undone.
A few clan heads exchanged quiet looks.
They understood this much.
Still—
Shikaku stepped forward.
"Thank you for considering our difficulties, Hokage-sama."
His voice was calm.
It was not forgiveness.
It was recognition of necessity.
The Nara could not afford to be distant from the village.
None of them could.
Their lands, their missions, their influence — all flowed through Konoha, directly or indirectly.
Shikaku inclined his head slightly.
"Those mistakes were indirect. We did not foresee them either. It would be unfair to place all fault upon the village."
It was a careful sentence.
A controlled opening that allowed others to follow.
The Hyuga clan head stepped forward next.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. Those were… uncertainties."
Others echoed similar words.
Neutral responses.
Safe responses.
Gratitude was offered just enough to preserve balance and show respect to the position of Hokage.
Across the room—
The Uchiha remained silent as everything unfolded.
Elder Kazuto glanced at the Grand Elder, then at Toyoma.
"Should… we say something too?"
Toyoma looked at him for a moment before letting out a chuckle.
"Elder Kazuto," he said softly, "do you truly believe they are grateful for the Hokage's acknowledgement and apology?"
His voice was low.
Only those closest to them could hear.
The Grand Elder smiled faintly.
"All clan heads here know what the Hokage and his council have done," he said. "Even the village leadership knows their apology changes nothing for the clans."
Kazuto frowned slightly.
"Then why are they thanking him?"
"Because they do not wish to make the situation worse," the Grand Elder replied calmly.
"So they speak politely. That is all."
Toyoma's eyes shifted toward the Hokage.
"If we acknowledge that those were merely mistakes… or say it was not deliberate," he continued, "then he gains the advantage. Every future decision concerning the Uchiha will lean in his favour. He will remind everyone that we accepted his words."
Kazuto slowly looked toward the front of the hall.
The Hokage and the elders were watching the Uchiha side.
It was not obvious.
But it was clear enough.
They were waiting for a response.
Kazuto exhaled quietly.
"And here I thought… he was genuinely showing regret."
Toyoma's expression did not change.
"That is the difference between a leader and a ruler," he said.
"A leader means what he says. A ruler says what is necessary."
At that moment, Toyoma's gaze met the Hokage's.
He smiled faintly.
The Third Hokage understood.
The Uchiha would not speak.
The Hokage then looked toward the clan heads.
"The village is grateful for your understanding. We will do our best for every clan that calls Konoha home."
The hall slowly settled.
Homura stood up.
"Now, to more urgent matters. There are several important considerations regarding the war. The village requires your opinions and ideas."
Tsunade and Jiraiya straightened slightly.
Koharu adjusted the scroll in her hand before speaking.
"We have received reports from the Sand border. The Sand Village is at its limit. Their daimyo has completely cut off funding. If this situation continues, there is a strong chance they will lay down their weapons by the end of the month."
A murmur spread through the hall.
The Inuzuka clan head let out a short laugh.
"They are already that poor, and they still chose to fight Konoha?"
Koharu glanced toward Tsunade.
"It is largely thanks to Princess Tsunade. Her research on Elder Chiyo's poison shifted the situation on the battlefield. She saved many of our shinobi."
Several jonin bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama."
"We will not forget your efforts," Shikaku added.
Many of the Ino–Shika–Cho shinobi had been stationed at the Sand border, and her work had directly affected their survival.
Tsunade's expression did not soften.
"I only did what was necessary," she said calmly, looking toward the jonin and clan heads.
"If you truly wish to thank me… then begin training more medical jonin within the village and clans."
The room grew quiet.
Her long-standing proposal for a proper medical unit had never been fully supported.
In the past, many had dismissed it as impractical.
Even now, they had only been "considering" it.
Several jonin looked away.
The Hokage and the elders exchanged glances.
It would increase expenses.
It would require resources.
Homura spoke carefully.
"Tsunade… we are not deliberately avoiding this issue. You are now one of the elders. You understand the financial pressure the village is facing."
Tsunade's eyes hardened slightly.
"Not deliberately?" she repeated.
"At the border, I had barely a handful of medical shinobi. Do you understand what that means when the number of wounded keeps increasing every day? They worked day and night without rest. Some of them collapsed from exhaustion."
Her voice was not loud.
But it carried weight.
The Third Hokage sighed quietly.
"Training a medical jonin requires significant resources. We must consider the village's finances carefully."
"It will cost money," Tsunade acknowledged.
"But it will not be wasted. Fewer deaths. Faster recovery. Shinobi is returning to missions sooner. Stronger battle endurance. How is that not strengthening the village?"
She was not speaking emotionally.
She was speaking logically.
Jiraiya leaned back slightly.
He had known about Tsunade's dream of establishing a separate medical unit for years. This time, he did not intend to stay silent.
"Do not worry, Tsunade," he said. "We will support you. We will help build a separate unit as much as we can."
Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade and gave a slight nod.
"We will try to train more as well," he said calmly.
Several jonin exchanged looks.
For the first time, they were thinking seriously about her proposal.
Shikaku stepped forward again.
"Tsunade-sama… the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans have retired kunoichi and shinobi. Some of them could join your unit for training. It would not weaken the clans, and it would strengthen the village."
It was a practical suggestion.
Other clan heads began considering similar arrangements.
If they contributed carefully, they could strengthen the village without reducing their active forces.
The atmosphere in the hall shifted once more.
What had long been dismissed as an idealistic idea was now becoming a serious discussion.
The Third Hokage glanced at Homura, who was already deep in thought. Koharu remained silent for a few moments, her fingers lightly resting on the scroll in her hand.
She had clearly been considering the matter for some time.
Finally, she spoke.
"In small numbers, we can begin training a few," she said calmly. "We will monitor the cost and the results carefully."
Her eyes shifted toward Tsunade.
"But if you are asking for a fully established unit immediately… that will be difficult for now."
Homura gave a slow nod.
"Yes. It can be done gradually."
Tsunade blinked, slightly taken aback.
She looked directly at Koharu.
"Old lady… you're actually supporting it?"
There was clear surprise in her voice.
Koharu's expression hardened instantly.
"Do not misunderstand," she replied sharply.
"This is only a trial. If it does not produce proper results, it will not continue."
Her tone was firm — almost cold.
Inside, irritation flickered.
Why am I even supporting her? Koharu thought. With that attitude, can she even manage something this large?
But outwardly, her expression remained controlled.
The Third Hokage looked around the hall once more.
"Well," he said slowly, "if the elders are willing to test it… and the Ino–Shika–Cho clans are prepared to contribute personnel for training, then we shall proceed this way and observe the results."
It was not full approval.
But it was movement.
Hyuga Hiashi spoke next.
"Tsunade-sama has been requesting this for a long time. Now we have witnessed its importance ourselves."
Several jonin nodded in agreement.
"Yes, it can be implemented gradually."
"It is reasonable."
Support, cautious but present, began forming across the room.
On the Uchiha side, Toyoma's gaze shifted toward Tsunade.
He spoke in a low voice, meant only for the Grand Elder and Elder Kazuto.
"What she is asking for… is not a small matter. We should also consider training medical ninjas within our clan."
The Grand Elder glanced at him.
"Is there truly a benefit in that?" he asked.
"Medical ninjas are often weaker in direct combat. That is why most clans avoid training them in large numbers."
Toyoma did not answer immediately.
"They are a support class," he said calmly. "Not strong alone, perhaps. But they increase overall squad endurance. They reduce losses. They allow stronger shinobi to return to battle faster."
He paused slightly.
"That is not weakness. That is sustained strength."
Elder Kazuto listened carefully.
Toyoma continued.
"As for cost, the Uchiha have sufficient resources. Training a limited number will not burden us."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"There are more benefits than drawbacks."
Kazuto slowly nodded, beginning to see the idea.
"But… do we not already have healing pills?" he asked, still uncertain. "Why would we need a medical ninja as well?"
Toyoma looked at him.
"Healing pills only increase the body's natural recovery speed three or four times," he explained patiently.
"They cannot remove poison instantly. They cannot close severe wounds in battle. They cannot stabilise a dying comrade."
He leaned slightly closer.
"But if we combine healing tools with trained medical ninja… imagine how difficult it would be to defeat an Uchiha squad that refuses to fall."
The Grand Elder and Kazuto exchanged looks.
They had not considered it this way before.
Excitement flickered in the Grand Elder's eyes.
"Kazuto," he said, voice slightly energised, "begin drafting a proposal. We will establish a separate Uchiha medical squad."
But then—
His expression shifted.
Something occurred to him.
"Wait…"
His voice lowered.
"How could I forget?"
Toyoma and Kazuto both looked at him.
The Grand Elder's tone grew serious.
"Medical techniques require strong Yang chakra control."
He exhaled slowly.
"And among the Uchiha… Yang-dominant users are rare."
Silence followed.
Toyoma and Kazuto understood the concern immediately.
The idea was powerful.
But it would not be simple for the Uchiha.
Toyoma looked slightly troubled.
"Well… first we should check inside the clan and see how many actually have strong Yang chakra," he said quietly.
"If there are even twenty or thirty, that will be enough for now."
"We can test it first," Elder Kazuto sighed, already thinking about the complications.
On the Hokage's side, the discussion about the medical unit slowly came to an end.
That was when Danzo, who had been silent until now, turned his eyes toward the Uchiha.
They were talking among themselves.
He then looked at the jonin and spoke in a clear voice.
"If we are discussing medical units and the death rate of shinobi due to lack of treatment… then how can we not discuss the Uchiha healing pill?"
The moment he said that, the hall quieted.
All eyes turned toward him.
The Uchiha also looked up.
Toyoma tilted his head slightly.
"Well, what exactly do you want to discuss, Shimura head?" he asked casually.
Some jonin shifted uneasily.
Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi both looked toward Danzo.
And here I was thinking this meeting would end peacefully, Shikaku thought.
The Sannin also watched with interest.
They had heard about the fourteen-year-old Uchiha's actions before.
Now they were watching him in the council hall.
Danzo looked at Toyoma steadily.
"The Uchiha have researched something this valuable," he said.
"Yet the village was not informed. Don't you think something of this level should be used for the benefit of the entire village?"
The tension thickened.
Everyone waited for the response.
Toyoma was quiet for a moment.
Then he smiled faintly.
"So Elder Danzo wants the Uchiha to use our resources for the village's benefit?"
He leaned slightly forward.
"Hmmm… I don't remember when those resources were left with the Uchiha."
The hall grew still.
"Was it your mother who left them?" Toyoma continued innocently.
"Or perhaps your father?"
Danzo's face darkened immediately.
Some jonin sucked in a breath.
Toyoma didn't stop.
"Grandpa," he said, turning to the Grand Elder, "did Elder Danzo's mother bring those resources to the Uchiha compound? I think you would remember."
The Grand Elder pressed his lips together, clearly holding back laughter.
"No… no, she did not," he replied, barely controlling himself.
Toyoma nodded seriously.
"That's strange," he said. "From the strength the Shimura clan has shown until now, I don't recall them achieving anything big enough to fund our research either."
A few suppressed chuckles escaped from somewhere in the hall.
Danzo's expression turned cold.
The insult was no longer hidden.
It was direct.
It was public.
And it was deliberate.
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["Many of you said the chapters should be longer, so I made this one over 2,000+ words. Let me know if this length feels good to you."]