Konoha: The Soul King from the Uchiha Clan

Chapter 323 Dead End

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane remained silent, exchanging glances before all giving each other a wry smile.

"Heh...Do we even have a choice?" Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, and said with a bitter smile.

"Why isn't it there?"

"What if you'd rather sacrifice yourselves, your families, and your clansmen than see this evil Uchiha rise to power?"

"If that's the case, I can only grant your wish and let you get what you want," Uchiha Gen said with a half-smile.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two were speechless upon hearing this. Are there really such foolish people in this world?

The older generation is gone, but there is hope as long as the younger generation lives. If they all die, there is no hope left.

"You've been keeping quiet all these years, waiting for this day, haven't you?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice.

"That's right, I don't want to play mind games and schemes with you anymore."

"In my view, the best strategy is to use force and power to suppress people, and to physically destroy all those who disobey."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed. "Could it be that you've been playing this game both domestically and internationally since you took power?"

"That's too radical of you. You'll put Konoha in a position where it becomes the target of everyone's ire!"

"If you are alive, you can still keep the situation under control. But once you die, Konoha will face an overwhelming backlash and may very well be destroyed..."

Uchiha Gen glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Of course I wouldn't do that."

"Playing like this is essentially raising the difficulty level from simple to challenging, unless there is absolutely no other choice."

"The so-called struggle is about uniting the majority and striking down a small group of people, whether it is internal or external."

Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Thankfully, the guy in front of him hadn't been blinded by the immense power...

"I agree to make you the sole candidate for the Fifth Hokage, and I also agree to your request to decide when you will take office."

"I will convene a meeting of all Konoha Jonin three days from now at 9:00 AM to announce this on the spot."

"But I will keep an eye on you after you take power. If Konoha shows any tendency to be destroyed by you, I will kill you at all costs!"

After uttering a harsh remark, Hiruzen Sarutobi got up and left.

I have no appetite!

Upon hearing this, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu also got up to leave, but after taking a few steps, they politely returned to greet Uchiha Gen.

He didn't act like a Hokage's assistant at all, nor did he rely on his seniority. He was polite, courteous, and even respectful and humble.

After the three left, Uchiha Gen muttered to himself, "I hope you behave yourselves and don't do anything funny, otherwise I really will go on a killing spree."

"You only get one chance."

After saying that, Uchiha Gen buried his head in his rice and ate it seriously, not wanting to waste such a good meal.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi and his two companions safely left the Uchiha clan compound, the Konoha Anbu members who had been hiding and disguising themselves in the surrounding area also dispersed.

The three of them didn't bother to fill their stomachs; instead, they went straight to the Hokage's office, carefully inspected it, and then began to talk.

"Hiruzen, are you really going to announce Uchiha Gen as the sole candidate for the Fifth Hokage?"

"Although there is no evidence, just a gut feeling, I think Danzo's mysterious disappearance is probably related to the deeply hidden Uchiha Gen..." Mitokado Homura said with a solemn expression.

Uchiha Gen: You guessed right!

"Doesn't that further prove how terrifying Uchiha Gen is?"

"He's really daring!"

"This kind of unbridled and lawless style of behavior is far more terrifying than Fugaku's."

"If we don't do as he says, he might actually take action."

"Sigh, it was so much better when Fugaku was the head of the Uchiha clan. Why did he suddenly die?"

"Is that mysterious person trying to harm Uchiha Gen, or helping him?"

Koharu's expression was first serious, then filled with regret.

"Sigh, Koharu's words make sense. Uchiha Gen isn't just all talk; he's a man of action!"

"I don't want him to become Hokage at all, but what can I do?"

"Circumstances are beyond our control!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, with a pipe dangling from his lips, pressed his temples with both hands, sighing and looking like he had a headache.

"His strength is indeed terrifying, but are you, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kushina, and other elite Jonin of Konoha really no match for him?" Mitokado Homura said with a look of resentment.

"So what if we have the ability to fight?"

"If we can't defeat Uchiha Gen, our families and clansmen will definitely not survive."

"Even if we manage to defeat him by sheer luck, can we capture him?"

"The opponent can fly, and they can also use the Thunder God Technique."

"Can't you imagine what the consequences would be for Konoha if they escaped?"

"Even if we spare the enemy and then kill them, what happens after that?"

"After the great battle, Konoha was devastated, suffering heavy losses. It's unknown how many of Konoha's Kage-level fighters, core Jonin, and ordinary ninjas will survive..."

"The Kazekage of Sunagakure will definitely break the alliance and avenge my husband."

"If Sunagakure makes a move, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure will follow suit, and may even act before Sunagakure does."

"These ninja villages have been coveting the Land of Fire for quite some time now, and they will certainly not let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip by."

"If these major ninja villages make a move, how could those smaller ninja villages, which are like hyenas, remain indifferent?"

"At that time, Konoha will face a situation even worse than the Third Shinobi World War, and the possibility of the village being wiped out is very high."

"If Konoha Village ceases to exist, what will become of our families and clansmen?"

"The lessons of Wochao Village are still fresh in our minds."

"Going against Uchiha Gen is a dead end no matter what."

"Konoha must not be destroyed in my hands, absolutely not!"

At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi's usually kind and gentle face suddenly turned ferocious and terrifying...

"For the sake of Konoha, for the sake of my family and clan, we must swallow our anger and do as he says."

"Don't resort to underhanded tactics. Once you've made a choice, stick to it firmly. Being two-faced is an extremely foolish decision."

"We may not live to see the day when the clouds part and the sun shines through, but our descendants will."

"Could it be that Uchiha Gen can live indefinitely?"

"No matter how strong he is, he's still just a mortal being, and he'll die sooner or later..."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances, then sighed in unison, "Well, that's all we can do."

After a while, the two of them went to work, hungry and listless.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was also hungry and had no appetite, but he forced himself to handle government affairs.

Three days later, at 8:50 a.m., the Konoha Jonin, who had been notified in advance, rushed to the Hokage Building.

Except for those Jonin who were on important missions or unable to return in time, all other Jonin were present.

These Jonin included civilian Jonin, clan Jonin, clan leaders, and Konoha's high-ranking officials; all were from Konoha's middle and upper echelons.

All the Jonin who entered the Hokage Building sat down in the main conference room, whispering and speculating with the familiar ninja beside them. The conference room was quite noisy.

Hiashi Hyuga was also asking Gen Uchiha about the contents of today's meeting. Gen Uchiha did not answer directly, but just smiled and remained silent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and his group did a very good job of keeping it a secret, not even telling their own people, for fear that their own people might cause some unmanageable trouble before things settled down...

In the end, you won't harm anyone else, but you'll end up harming your own people.

At 8:59, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane walked out from behind the stage expressionlessly, and the conference room quickly fell silent.

After exchanging greetings and taking their seats, Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the composed Gen Uchiha with a complex expression before speaking…

(End of this chapter)