Revitalizing the Uchiha clan starts with becoming a Kage.

Shisui stared at Shoji, her expression slightly serious, and said.

Shisui had asked Shoji about this issue once before the Rock-Sand War broke out six months ago. At that time, Shisui was actually somewhat opposed to Shoji taking over as the vice-leader of the Jonin team. In Shisui's view, his clan should keep a low profile, not compete or fight, and try to do their best to benefit the village. Only in this way could they gain the recognition and trust of the other people in the village!

Being too high-profile is not good for their clan.

Although the subsequent developments seemed to be moving in a direction that would benefit the Uchiha clan step by step, Shisui, from his heart, preferred to use a more prudent approach. He was very cautious in dealing with the high-ranking nobles and politicians of the Land of Earth, especially the Daimyo.

“You don’t understand, Shisui. Some decisions depend on the person. If we weren’t in Iwagakure right now, but in Kumogakure, Sunagakure, or even still in Konoha, your statement would be correct. But we are in Iwagakure now, and you’ve been in contact with the Third Hokage for a whole year. I think you should know very well what kind of person he is!”

256. Situation

Jiang Si gently blew on the tea, took a sip, and then spoke slowly and deliberately.

The same thing, in different environments, with different people, will lead to completely different judgments. At first, Shoji did come to Iwagakure with the same idea as Shisui, but after getting to know them, Shoji discovered that not only Onoki, but also people like Kyoto, Date, Bunga, and Akatsuchi had great goodwill towards the Uchiha clan. Of course, these people were definitely influenced by Onoki, but this undoubtedly shows that the Uchiha clan can take a slightly bigger step!

All that's needed is to grasp the most important issue of 'the measure of power'. As for the remaining issues, if I'm too low-key and humble, that's not what Onoki wants to see. This is Shoji's guess and judgment, and the fact is exactly as Shoji predicted. I won't go into the details of what happened before.

The subsequent period, including the half-month or so that Shoji 'led' the Jonin team, is enough to illustrate certain points!

Of course, the most important point is that the strategy of the Land of Snow, the capture of the southern fortress, and the defeat of the main force of Sunagakure are all benefits that Tsukasa has truly seized for the village. One cannot be too high-profile, but if one is always low-profile, it is also easy to lose one's presence!

The Uchiha clan isn't here to be 'criminals,' but to choose a strong alliance with Iwagakure. They need to carefully manage the boundaries of this alliance, and Shoji believes that his Tsuchikage will give the right 'attitude'!

Upon hearing Jiang Si's words, Shi Shui's expression faltered slightly, before he shook his head with a wry smile: "Perhaps I was indeed being a little too cautious, after all, that incident only happened less than a year ago!"

Time flies, yet it feels like it was just yesterday.

A year ago, after the Uchiha clan broke ties with Konoha, Shoji brazenly led the Uchiha clan to leave Konoha and join Iwagakure. This event left a very deep impression on all the Uchiha clan members except for those who were still infants!

In particular, Shisui, who initially trusted the Konoha leadership the most, firmly believed that Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, would understand the Uchiha clan and save them from their perilous situation.

The imprint is so deep!

Even after a full year in Iwagakure, Shisui was still deeply moved!

It wasn't that he didn't want to believe Onoki, but rather that he cared too much, which made Shisui more sensitive than ever before!

Although Shoji secretly wanted to criticize Shisui's personality in this aspect, he could understand it to some extent. If Shisui hadn't had this kind of personality, such a tragedy wouldn't have happened in the original story.

It just goes to show that some things really are destined!

It's really difficult to judge or view these things using ordinary opinions or perspectives.

"Hehe, but that's all in the past now, Zhishui. What we need to look forward to now is the future of our clan. The vast majority of the villagers have accepted our clan's existence, unlike when we first arrived a year ago. At the previous two clan meetings, I already said that I hope our clansmen can have more opportunities to step out of the village and let our presence be seen in every corner of the village. Recognition and trust are two-way. If we want others to see us as companions and family, our clan must also do this, be upright and honest. Isn't that what we need? Zhishui?"

Jiang Si stared directly at the still water before him and said in a deep voice.

"Yes, you're right, Shoji. I agree with that. This is a necessary step for our clan to fully integrate into the village, and in fact, we've done a pretty good job, haven't we?"

Zhi Shui nodded, expressing his agreement.

"Yes, this is all thanks to the coordination of the clan leader and elders. Of course, the most important thing is the change in ourselves. Now we can truly be called the Uchiha clan of Iwagakure!"

Thinking about the harmonious interactions between his own clansmen, ordinary Iwa ninjas, and even common people that he had seen on the streets of the village over the past three or four months, a faint smile appeared on Shoji's face.

"Ok!"

In other aspects, there may be different opinions of varying degrees, but on this point alone, the core members of the clan, such as Shoji, Shisui, Fugaku, Sōgen, Genran, Chie, Yatsushiro, and Kogahara, all share the same view. The main reason is that they have seen the results. They have people who trust them above, people who favor them in the middle, and people who respect them below!

Ultimately, if they had all achieved such a status within Konoha, the Uchiha clan would never have made the decision to stage a coup or secede.

It takes two to tango!

Even the good aspects.

Even the bad aspects.

Ultimately, it all depends on the mutual consent of both parties.

Over the past year, the Uchiha clan has held regular clan meetings about once a month to summarize the duties of each clan member in their respective positions, as well as their relationships with other Iwa ninja and villagers.

Here are some key points to note.

Also, I'll explain some key points.

While Shoji and Shisui are undoubtedly the main figures, the movements of the lower-ranking members such as Hachidai, Kohara, Tetsuka, Inahikasa, and the younger members like Ao and Enjo are equally important, because they are the Uchiha clan members that ordinary Iwa ninja and civilians can actually come into contact with!

The images of these clan members often represent the most basic impressions that the village has of the Uchiha clan!

Furthermore, even the seven- or eight-year-old children, including Itachi Uchiha and Izumi Uchiha, at the Ninja Academy, got along well with the other students. These Uchiha children were all carefully selected for their calm or gentle personalities.

Itachi and Izumi represent the male and female characters, respectively.

They are all gentle and calm types.

Everything that has unfolded this year has been developing in accordance with the Uchiha clan's most optimistic plan. The time is now for the Uchiha clan to fully integrate into the village. Not only are they planning to send more members of the remaining clan to village positions, but they are also arranging for children of school age to enter the Ninja Academy next year.

This is also a matter of attitude!

Of course, the specific allocation will ultimately depend on Ohnoki.

The Uchiha clan wanted to demonstrate their attitude through such actions!

257. Year-end work (Third update)

A routine handover conversation.

It didn't take long. Shisui learned about the current situation in the village and the clan from Shoji. Shoji also learned from Shisui about some changes in the high-ranking officials of the Land of Earth, as well as some issues regarding the attitude of his own family's third Tsuchikage. After chatting for a couple of rounds, Shoji took his leave.

One is that Shoji also has his own things to deal with, and the other is that Shisui also needs to rest. It can be said that in the past year, Shisui has been the hardest working member of the Uchiha clan. His 'travel steps' are probably more than ten times that of Shoji. Throughout the year, he can only return to the village to rest a handful of times!

I finally managed to come back this time, just in time for the year-end.

Of course, you should also get some rest.

"Well then, I won't bother you any longer. The village and clan should be relatively quiet for the next while, so just wander around and get some rest. You'll probably only have five or six days of relaxation like this. Once the New Year is over, things will get busy again immediately!"

After finishing his last cup of tea, Jiang Si stood up and said with a smile.

"Yes, you too, Shoji!"

Shisui also stood up and said gently.

"Ah, I know!"

After nodding with a smile, Jiang Si strode away from Zhi Shui's house and headed back to his own home!

Although the end of the year is approaching and most Iwa ninjas can enjoy a short rest and do not need to perform missions, at most they will only be on duty at designated locations, that is only relative to ordinary Iwa ninjas!

As the vice-leader of the Jonin team.

The end of the year is going to be even busier for the officers than before!

The most direct impact is reflected in the deployment and allocation of border defense forces. These personnel, which are usually replaced or replenished regularly, are now particularly important as the New Year approaches, especially on the southern and eastern borders. Although Sunagakure may seem to have been crippled by Iwagakure, its basic strength is still there. If we relax even a little bit, we will be in serious trouble.

The Sand Village seized the opportunity to retake the fortress. The loss of territory was a minor issue; the biggest problem was the impact on lanthanum mining and, most importantly, the chakra armor research project. Lanthanum mining was already on track, and a new research team had been formed with the Land of Snow.

Over the next five years, Iwagakure will focus its efforts on developing a set of chakra armor suitable for Iwa ninja, with costs that can be further controlled and reduced. This is Iwagakure's most important project for the next few years. It was stated early on that when the manufacturing method for chakra armor was acquired, it was not necessary for all personnel to be equipped with it. Even if only one or two thousand people were equipped with chakra armor, such a force could serve as the most elite spearhead, launching a surprise attack on any of the five great ninja villages' main territories!

To put it in a very ambitious way, if all the Iwagakure ninja in Iwagakure could wear a set of chakra armor, then in the Fourth Shinobi World War that breaks out someday, Iwagakure would have the ability to take on the entire shinobi world single-handedly!

This is absolutely not a joke!

Because of the limitations imposed by conventional forces.

One Iwa ninja wearing chakra armor can be used as two people. Their effectiveness in single combat is already very obvious. Once they form an army to march and fight as a whole, their lethality and destructive power are incomparable.

Only then will Iwagakure be able to act with impunity and no longer need to care about anyone in the ninja world!

Therefore, before this plan is completed, control of the southern region is extremely important. The troop deployment, including not only the southern fortress, but also personnel covering Lianyuan Mountain and the subsequent emergency, reconnaissance, and logistics outposts, totals more than a thousand guards. The proportion of Jonin among them is far higher than that of ordinary border outposts!

There are also designated personnel for sealing and barrier operations. This is a force configured to effectively deal with the appearance of the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki. After all, if Sunagakure were to decide to retake the southern fortress, it would be the moment when the One-Tailed Jinchuriki could be sent back to the battlefield!

This kind of preparation definitely needs to be made in advance.

It's always better to be prepared!

As for the eastern region, we must mention the ninjas from Kumogakure and Konohagakure who fought in the Land of Hot Springs for more than half a year. If we add the more than half a year of fighting before the Uchiha clan, including Shoji, left Konoha, the two ninja villages have been locked in a stalemate in the Land of Hot Springs for more than a year and a half!

In total, the number of Cloud Ninja and Konoha Ninja who died on the battlefield was definitely no less than, and should even be said to be far greater than, the number of Iwa-Sand battles six months ago. Moreover, judging from the current situation, the Cloud Ninja has the upper hand in all aspects!

Unlike before when Hiruzen Sarutobi helped the Konoha ninja gain an advantage on the front lines in the Cloud and Wood regions, in the current battlefield in the Land of Hot Springs, the Konoha ninja are being completely suppressed by the Cloud ninja. It's not that Hiruzen Sarutobi's reinforcements were not timely, but rather that the Cloud ninja clearly have the upper hand in terms of strategy and tactics!

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had attempted to send someone to Kumogakure to negotiate peace with the Fourth Raikage two or three times during this period, he was rejected time and time again. The Fourth Raikage, A, was clearly determined to take advantage of this opportunity to swallow up the entire Land of Hot Springs!

He no longer intends to be restricted on both sides of the battlefield; he is determined to maintain control of the war on at least one side!

This is why Hiruzen Sarutobi was so hesitant. Otherwise, if he had simply marched in with a large army, the Fourth Raikage A would have reconsidered. It was precisely because of this subtle attitude that the Fourth Raikage A saw an opportunity!

This is an opportunity that Konoha itself has given us!

There's no reason for Kumogakure to let this go!

Iwagakure, or rather Onoki, saw this point, which is why they emphasized the need to guard the eastern border of their village. Although the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, Han, was redeployed, the defense forces in other areas could not be neglected at all!

During this time, Shoji was dealing with relevant issues with Huangtu, Yanjue and others. As for Date, the strategic base on the Snow Country side had been initially completed. The first batch of Iwa ninja, under the guise of exchange, were stationed in the Snow Country and Yukigami Village under Date's leadership.

This period is the most important stage.

Ita will definitely not come back.

With one less person to share the workload, the number of other tasks to handle naturally increases.

During this period, for several days it seemed like I was just clocking in and out normally, but in reality, I was handling village affairs at home every night.

258. The New Year

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It was in this somewhat tight and tense atmosphere that we met.

Shoji and the Uchiha clan also ushered in their first New Year in their new home. Last year's New Year's Day was the day that the Uchiha clan left Konoha, and it was also the day that the Uchiha clan stepped into the 'unknown future'. Now, their clan has found a place to belong again in Iwagakure.

Unlike the anxiety of that day last year, the entire Uchiha clan compound was filled with a festive atmosphere when the New Year's bell rang this year.

'Happy New Year!'

Jiang Si stood in his own corridor, watching his younger brother and sister happily setting off various fireworks in the courtyard, a faint smile appearing on his face.

At this very moment, with the ringing of the New Year's bells, we entered what is known in the original story as Konoha Year 51!

There are still nine years left before the original plot unfolds!