The domineering Uchiha drove the Third Hokage mad!

Chapter 41 Gentlemen, Konoha needs a new leader

The meeting room of Konoha's command headquarters was filled with smoke.

Fugaku Uchiha sat at the head of the table, his hands crossed and resting on his chin. His crimson Sharingan slowly swept over the clan leaders present.

"Gentlemen, Kirigakure has plundered 40 billion ryo in the Land of Fire. Now that their fighting strength is depleted, it is the best time for us to counterattack."

Akimichi Choza snorted coldly, his obese body leaning slightly forward: "Counterattack? Clan Chief Fugaku, your Uchiha clan has already reaped enough benefits on the Iwagakure battlefield, and now you want to monopolize Kirigakure's wealth?"

Uchiha Mitsumine chuckled, a mocking glint in his eyes: "Clan Chief Choza, if you Ino-Shika-Cho clans are really capable, you can also ask Kumogakure for compensation."

Nara Shikaku narrowed his eyes, tapping his temples lightly with his fingers: "Captain Mikado, you can't say that. We, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, are responsible for holding back the main force of Kumogakure. Otherwise, how would the Uchiha have had the chance to make our mark on the Iwagakure battlefield?"

The clan chief of the Kurama clan scoffed, "A distraction? I heard that the Cloud Village's AB combination almost broke through your defenses?"

The atmosphere in the meeting room instantly became tense.

Hiashi Hyuga, who had been observing the situation coldly, finally spoke up: "Arguing is pointless. The question now is, who will attack Kirigakure, and who will stay behind to defend it?"

The Kazami clan chief immediately chimed in, "Of course, the strongest clan will lead the attack! Our Kazami clan excels at tracking, so we must participate in the offensive!"

Yamanaka Inoichi slammed his fist on the table: "What a joke! How many people are there in your Kazami clan? The Ino-Shika-Cho trio combined are enough to wipe out the remnants of Kirigakure!"

Fugaku Uchiha's Sharingan twitched slightly, and the temperature in the conference room seemed to drop abruptly.

"Actually, there's no need to argue at all."

Everyone was taken aback, and all eyes turned to him.

Uchiha Mitsumine slowly said, "We currently have over seven thousand men, while the Kirigakure ninja who invaded the Land of Fire only number around two thousand. Instead of arguing here about who should stay and who should leave, we should first disperse our forces and besiege them for three days to completely eliminate the remaining Kirigakure ninja within our borders."

"And then?" Shikaku squinted.

Uchiha Mitsunori smiled slightly: "All genin will stay behind, while chunin and joinin will attack Kirigakure."

Hiashi's brow furrowed: "Leave the genin behind? That's against the rules."

Because the Hyuga clan excels at reconnaissance, many of their genin survived, and naturally, they were unwilling to participate.

Uchiha Mitsunori sneered: "Rules? In the Third Shinobi World War, the casualty rate of genin was 78.6%. Sending them to their deaths in Kirigakure is less desirable than having them stay home and guard the village."

A brief silence fell over the meeting room.

Fugaku Uchiha nodded slowly: "The three peaks' suggestion is very reasonable. First, clear out the enemies within our borders, then concentrate our elite forces to attack Kirigakure."

"I agree," Chief Anma immediately chimed in.

After a moment's thought, Shikaku finally nodded: "Okay, but the distribution of the spoils must be agreed upon in advance."

Uchiha Mitsunori said calmly, "It will be distributed according to battle merits. Whoever kills more enemies will receive more."

Inuzuka Tsuru sneered, "Your Uchiha Sharingan is far more efficient at killing enemies than ours."

Watching the tribal chiefs argue heatedly over the distribution of the spoils of war, their faces flushed red.

Uchiha Mitsunori slowly stood up and said, "Everyone, since you all want more spoils, how about we make a deal?"

Inuzuka Tsurugi's ninja dog barked softly, and she narrowed her eyes: "A deal? What kind of deal?"

Uchiha Mitsumine smiled slightly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable power:

"As long as you support our clan leader, Fugaku Uchiha, to become the Fourth Hokage after the war, then the distribution of the spoils will be negotiable."

The conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Hiashi Hyuga's pupils widened slightly, and the veins on both sides of his forehead visibly appeared. He activated his Byakugan, as if to confirm whether he had misheard.

The leaders of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans exchanged glances. Nara Shikaku tapped his temples lightly, a calculating glint in his eyes.

Uchiha Mitsunori chuckled and said, "I'm just stating a fact. Konoha needs a strong leader right now, and our clan leader is the most suitable candidate."

Choza Akimichi, his obese body leaning slightly forward, said in a low voice, "The selection of the Fourth Hokage should be decided by the village's higher-ups, not by the exchange of benefits from a war."

Uchiha Mitsumine raised an eyebrow sarcastically: "High-ups? You mean Hiruzen Sarutobi and his advisory group? Or... you Ino-Shika-Cho clans have already decided on Minato Namikaze?"

Nara Shikaku's eyes turned cold: "Captain Mitsumine, watch your words."

Fugaku Uchiha remained silent throughout, but his Sharingan slowly rotated, observing everyone's reactions.

Hiashi Hyuga suddenly spoke up: "If we... support Clan Chief Fugaku, how does the Uchiha plan to distribute the spoils of war?"

Uchiha Mitsunori shook his head: "The spoils of war will be used first to pay compensation for casualties on the battlefields of Kumogakure and Kirigakure, and the remainder will be distributed among the various clans according to their merits in battle."

The meeting room fell silent again.

This condition was far more generous than they had anticipated.

Nara Shikaku pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "This matter is not something we clan leaders can decide. The appointment of the Hokage requires a vote by the Jonin, and even the approval of the Daimyo's office."

Uchiha Mitsunaga stared at him: "So, do you, the Ino-Shika-Cho clan, support or oppose?"

Shikaku didn't answer immediately, but instead looked at Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza. The three exchanged glances for only a moment, but it was enough for the Uchiha Mitsuru to catch their hesitation.

"We need time to consider," Shikaku finally said.

Uchiha Mitsumine sneered, "War waits for no one. Kirigakure is currently weakened, making this the perfect opportunity. If we drag this out..."

He deliberately left it unsaid, but the meaning was clear: the longer it drags on, the more variables there will be.

Finally, the Kazami clan chief broke the silence first: "If the spoils are distributed as you say, I support the Fugaku clan chief."

The clan chief of Kurama nodded in agreement: "The Uchiha clan's strength and achievements certainly deserve the position of Hokage."

The three races of pig, deer, and butterfly remain silent, but their attitude has softened.

Fugaku Uchiha stood up, his Mangekyou Sharingan slowly rotating, his voice authoritative: "Gentlemen, Konoha needs a new leader. And I can lead the village to a stronger future."

After a moment, Nara Shikaku slowly exhaled: "...We will consider it carefully."

Uchiha Mitsunori nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Then, the plan to wipe out the remnants of Kirigakure is settled."

After the meeting concluded, the heads of various ethnic groups left one after another.

More than 7000 Konoha ninjas spread out like a tide to encircle and annihilate the remnants of Kirigakure within the Land of Fire.

The outcome was predictable: the Hidden Mist ninjas, already demoralized, were powerless to resist an enemy three times their size.

Three days later, the battle report arrived: 731 people were killed, 409 were captured, and the remaining remnants fled to the Land of Hot Springs...