Konoha: The Soul King from the Uchiha Clan

Chapter 182 He still has some self-awareness.

The night before, at 8 PM, in the Hokage Building, Konoha Village, in the small conference room.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in the Hokage robes and smoking a pipe, sat calmly and composed in the main seat. To his left sat Danzo Shimura, and to his right sat Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.

At this moment, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were reviewing the intelligence, while Danzo had read the intelligence even earlier than Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"That bastard Onoki, he's truly despicable!" Mitomon Homura pushed up his glasses and said hatefully.

Why did they have to make their move right after Kirigakure withdrew their troops? Their intentions were sinister, and they were deliberately trying to disgust Konoha.

Even before taking any action, they were constantly making underhanded moves, stirring up trouble and sowing discord everywhere.

Why isn't that old codger dead yet?

"Sigh, what's done is done, there's no use complaining anymore, we should think about how to deal with it."

"Hiruzen, Danzo, what are your thoughts?"

Koharu casually tossed the intelligence scroll onto the table, sighed, and looked quite worried.

"What other opinions could there be?"

"Only by thoroughly inflicting pain on Iwagakure can we make Onoki behave himself!" Shimura Danzo said expressionlessly, his eyes flashing with malice.

"So, who should we choose?"

As he spoke, Mitokado Homura looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took off his pipe, and as he spoke, smoke billowed from his mouth and nose, his voice deep and steady.

"Let Orochimaru and Uchiha Gen go."

"The combined forces of Iwagakure and Kusagakure are coming on strong. Shinnosuke and Shikaku are not bad in terms of strategy and tactics, but they are ultimately a step behind in terms of hard power."

"Iwagakure has dispatched top fighters such as Huang Tu and the Five-Tails Jinchuriki. If their high-end combat power suffers a loss, they will be at a disadvantage."

Sending Shinnosuke is not only irresponsible to the frontline ninjas, but also to Konoha.

"Shin-no-suke and Shikaku should go to the Land of Rice Fields to take over."

"The war situation there has entered a period of calm, and with the two of them's abilities, there shouldn't be any problem."

The three nodded slightly in agreement.

"I heard that Orochimaru and Uchiha Genji have learned the Spirit Transformation Technique?" Mitokado Homura asked.

That's right, Uchiha Gen shared half of the credit for assassinating ten Cloud Village Jonin, and Orochimaru readily agreed.

One of Orochimaru's dreams was to learn all the ninjutsu in the ninja world. Although he never actually learned them, the outside world believed that it would ultimately be beneficial for him to have learned them.

Because of his recognition of Orochimaru's talent in ninjutsu, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not believe that Orochimaru had not learned it.

"Hmm." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly.

"Despite its many flaws, the art of spiritual transformation is unpredictable and can kill without leaving a trace, or from a thousand miles away."

"Although Orochimaru and his apprentice did not achieve victory on the battlefield in Kumogakure, they still gained an advantage."

"They came once before, and now they're coming again. Their patience must be reaching its limit."

"If there's a third time, the master and disciple might..."

There's a limit to bullying people, especially ninjas like Orochimaru and Uchiha Gen who wield immense power. If you really bully them too much, the consequences will be severe!

Upon hearing this, Danzo's heart stirred. If he pushed Orochimaru and his disciples to the brink and forced them to fight Hiruzen and his son, wouldn't he have an opportunity to take advantage of the situation?

"I know, so this is the last time. The transfer order needs to make that clear."

"Once the war is over, I will appease them by letting them choose ninjutsu from the Book of Seals."

"Two Orochimarus, one Uchiha Gen."

"Also, give them some other rewards."

Mitokado Homura breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Hiruzen, it's good that you know what you're doing."

Alas, it's a pity that Hiruzen was still rational. Although he had the idea of trying to support his eldest son, he ultimately did not have the intention of forcibly supporting him.

That's true. Although Shinnosuke is quite strong, he's still a step behind him.

If his strength doesn't improve, let alone others, he'll be the first to complain!

The Hokage's strength is mediocre, how can this be acceptable?

Even if his strength increases, he won't be satisfied unless someone is significantly stronger than him.

It's one thing for Hiruzen to be superior to me, but why should some kid be superior to me?

Although Shinnosuke's rise to power would guarantee the interests of the veterans and their families, his rise to power would guarantee the same, and even be more effective!

Danzo Shimura's mind was racing, but his face remained expressionless and serious, clearly demonstrating his mastery of the art of daydreaming in class and slacking off in meetings.

"Hiruzen, the war in the Land of Rice Fields has lasted for so long, I think it's time to resolve it."

"Taking advantage of our strength, Konoha should send more elite forces to support the Land of Rice Fields, and strive to defeat Kumogakure and bring peace!" Koharu Utatane suggested with a serious expression.

As for concentrating elite forces to repel Iwagakure?

Forget it. Hiruzen never wanted Orochimaru to achieve any more merits. He wouldn't have let Orochimaru command troops if there were no other suitable candidates.

Even if they repelled Iwagakure afterward, they would most likely handle it discreetly and not publicize their achievements.

Besides, Orochimaru didn't give them and their families any benefits like Sarutobi Gounaga did, so why should we speak up for Orochimaru?

Mitokado Homura and Shimura Danzo echoed his sentiments.

"Let's give it a try. I hope Shinnosuke won't let me down."

"Alright, next we'll discuss our strategy for dealing with the combined forces of Iwagakure and Kusagakure."

……

The next morning, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Nara Shikaku, and the others left the village following orders and headed straight for the Konoha camp in the Land of Rice Fields.

After traveling through the night, the group arrived around 9 p.m. Orochimaru and Uchiha Gen, who had received the news, came out to greet them with dark faces.

After hearing the transfer order, the master and apprentice's faces darkened even more, and they didn't give Shinnosuke a kind look from beginning to end, making the atmosphere quite awkward.

Fortunately, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Choza, and others smoothed things over; otherwise, the scene would have been so awkward it could have been dug out with one's toes.

After handing over the matter overnight, the master and apprentice left together with dark faces.

"Orochimaru-sensei, this is the second time. Maybe others think we're easy to bully."

"I think it's time to teach them a lesson," Uchiha Gen said expressionlessly.

"Hmm...we should teach them a lesson."

"I'll give you a bottle of my secret laxative later. Find a chance to slip it into their food before breakfast tomorrow," Orochimaru said with a faint smile.

Uchiha Gen: "..."

What color is this? Are we just kids playing house?

"Hehehe..."

Seeing Uchiha Gen's speechless expression, Orochimaru smiled, turned around, patted Uchiha Gen on the shoulder, and said, "You don't need to feel sorry for me."

"Because I really don't care anymore."

"What about just now...?"

"Not caring doesn't mean I have to give them a friendly attitude, otherwise wouldn't those old guys take advantage of me?"

"Besides, if I don't come along, it will be awkward for you, and you'll offend too many people."

"Although Shinnosuke is not as strong as you, he is stronger in terms of status, seniority, and position. There is no need to offend him to death."

"They're in the wrong, so they won't take a slight attitude to heart."

"Again, you're not doing anything?"

"There's no need to do it. They got the benefits from Kirigakure, so we'll see if they're tough enough here."

"If it's not tough enough, it'll be even more embarrassing!"

"If they're tough enough, what's wrong with giving them the credit?"

Uchiha Gen laughed and said, "I guess they're not tough enough, otherwise they wouldn't have been evenly matched before."

"Yeah, let them embarrass themselves."