The domineering Uchiha drove the Third Hokage mad!

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Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi's fingertips trembled, and cigarette ash fell into the ashtray.

"Danzo was right in front of me when the Uchiha Mitsunaga cut off his head. That kid didn't hesitate for a second when he did it."

Mitokado Homura adjusted his crooked glasses and said, "The Root base has been breached, and its secrets have been exposed. Now, the people of Konoha have lost trust in us."

The office fell into a deathly silence, but the ticking of the second hand of the clock in the corner suddenly became disturbing.

Koharu Utatane broke the silence, asking, "Hiruzen, what are your thoughts?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly opened a drawer and took out a scroll engraved with a flame emblem: "The Uchiha clan definitely has other plans. We must consider our own future. The 'Twelve Guardian Ninja' plan proposed by the Daimyo three months ago is now the time to launch."

Koharu Utatane frowned: "Hiruzen, didn't you previously 'look down on the Daimyo,' saying that the Daimyo wanted to develop his ninja strength to counterbalance Konoha... so you never agreed... Now you want to pledge allegiance to the Daimyo... and it's been dragging on for over three months... Do you think the Daimyo will still agree?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, his fingers tracing the scroll, interrupted, "Times have changed. The future of Konoha is no longer up to us. I've decided to have Asuma join the 'Twelve Guardian Ninja'... and at the same time, have him lead a portion of the Sarutobi clan... to join the Daimyo... as an apology."

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged glances briefly in the air and nodded in tacit agreement.

Mitomon Homura pushed up his glasses: "We agree. In fact, I also want to send some of my clansmen... to join the daimyo."

Hiruzen Sarutobi made the decision, his voice unusually urgent: "Then let's do it this way. Let's leave tonight, lest something goes wrong!"

Mitokado lowered his voice: "What's the specific route?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding his pipe, tapped the table: "Meet at 3 a.m., and take the Sarutobi clan's secret passage."

......

In the study of the Sarutobi family mansion, 13-year-old Asuma kicked over a low table.

The tea set shattered with a crash, and hot tea trickled down the floor.

"I'm not going! Why should I be one of the 'Twelve Guardian Ninja'?"

The boy stubbornly held his head high, his messy hair as unruly as his temper.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed deeply: "Asuma, this isn't a request for your opinion, this is an order!"

Sarutobi Asuma scoffed, "That old bastard Shimura Danzo deserved to die. I didn't offend the Uchiha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his hand on the wall, shaking the entire doorway: "Shut up! Do you think this is a ninja game? The Uchiha Mitsurugi can kill an advisor elder in the street today, and tomorrow they can massacre the entire Sarutobi clan!"

Asma was momentarily stunned by his father's rage, but the boy's rebellious nature quickly prevailed.

"Then let the eldest brother go! Doesn't he always brag about how amazing he is?"

"Shin-no-suke... he has other missions, you are the most suitable candidate." Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flickered, and his voice suddenly became low.

Asma keenly caught her father's momentary hesitation.

"I don't want to leave Hong... I promised to stay with her, to eat tricolor dumplings with her tomorrow..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi crouched down, looking his son straight in the eye: "Asuma, listen to me, our clan is in imminent danger of destruction. If you go to the daimyo, at least you can preserve a spark for the clan."

Sarutobi Asuma pursed his lips, his eyes glistening with stubborn tears: "What about Kurenai?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi forced a smile and reached out to ruffle his son's messy hair: "We'll be fine. You can come back anytime once the situation stabilizes. Maybe by then you'll be the leader of the 'Twelve Guardian Ninja,' and that girl Kurenai Yuhi will definitely look at you with new respect."

Asma turned her face away, but did not refute him further.

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that he had already compromised.

"Go pack your things, only take the most essentials. Meet at the ancestral hall at 3 a.m. Remember, don't tell anyone, including Hong."

Sarutobi Asuma nodded silently and left the room.

......

At 3 a.m., Sarutobi Asuma carried a small bundle on his back, with more than twenty Sarutobi clan members beside him.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado each brought twenty-one members of their clan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slipped a secret letter into Asuma's inner pocket.

"Have you remembered the route? After exiting the secret passage, head straight for the small river to the east. There are people there to meet you. You must reach the daimyo's residence within a day and personally deliver this letter to the daimyo."

Asma nodded, his throat tightening.

Only now did he truly realize that he bore the future of his family on his shoulders.

"Father......"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gently patted his son's back, suppressing the stinging sensation in his nose: "Go, let the name of Sarutobi spread far and wide in Daimyo Prefecture."

With a muffled thud as the mechanism was activated, the floor of the ancestral hall slowly slid open, revealing a dark hole.

Asma took one last look at his father and the familiar shrine before turning and walking into the secret passage.

More than sixty people followed closely behind and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

As the floor closed again, the crowd gradually dispersed.

A figure emerged from the shadows, a cold smile playing on Sarutobi Shinnosuke's lips.

"Father truly doted on my younger brother, preferring to let him escape while leaving his eldest son to die?... I always thought you were only strict with me, but now I realize you never considered me your heir!"

Seeing his eldest son so disappointing, Hiruzen Sarutobi angrily cursed, "Foolish! Have you ever thought about what the clan will think of you if you, as the heir, leave when the clan is in danger? Will you still be worthy of inheriting the clan then?"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke's voice grew increasingly shrill: "That's just an excuse... You must be lying to me!"

Seeing his eldest son so foolish, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt somewhat weary.

He sighed and said, "Now the village only has 10208 ninjas left. Our Sarutobi clan, along with the Utatane, Mito, and Shimura clans, has a total of 3695 ninjas. If all of our clans are killed, Konoha will only have a little over 6000 ninjas left. Will we still be able to defend the Land of Fire then? That's why I sent Asuma there to tell the Daimyo that our situation is very dangerous and we need the Daimyo's support!"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke is only 24 years old now, so he can't possibly understand the intricacies involved.

He lowered his head, looking aggrieved, and said, "Father... I was wrong!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to slap Shinnosuke, but upon hearing him admit his mistake, his outstretched hand fell limply to his side.

He was filled with deep emotion: "...Shinnosuke, my foolish eldest son! You're not as talented as Asuma, and you're not as bright... How could I have entrusted the Sarutobi clan... to you... Don't blame me... It's all fate..."