"Kumogakure wants to recreate the First Great Ninja War," Orochimaru stated coldly.
"They want to be the ones who light the fire—leading the charge, forcing the other great villages to follow suit and surround Konoha."
The room fell into silence. Orochimaru's words echoed ominously. Though calm, his voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Konoha can defeat Kumogakure in a direct battle," he continued, "but we can't withstand a war on multiple fronts. Not now. Not so soon after the Nine-Tails' rampage."
His golden eyes swept across the council table. "So I ask you—will you sit by and watch this spiral into a war we can't win?"
Many of the minor clan heads shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Orochimaru's gaze. What he said wasn't wrong. But there was something in his tone, a dangerous edge that made them hesitate.
They weren't just hearing a warning—they were being pushed. Pressured to give full control to the Hokage's inner circle.
The idea of all four great villages aligning against Konoha still felt distant, abstract. It hadn't happened yet. And so, doubt lingered in the room like smoke.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a slow drag from his pipe. "Orochimaru makes a strong point," he said at last. "This war must be crushed before it gains momentum. Kumogakure must be defeated quickly—and decisively. We must make sure they don't have the strength to strike again."
He looked around the room. "Thoughts?"
Still, no one spoke. Not even Shikaku Nara, head of the Nara Clan, known for his brilliant tactical mind. He remained silent, his fingers steepled beneath his chin.
Everyone knew why. Proposing a high-risk counteroffensive—especially one that could cost many lives—was dangerous ground. If it failed, the blame could fall on him and his clan. And if it succeeded, the praise would go to the Hokage and his advisors. It was a losing game.
Danzo sat quietly, watching the hesitation unfold. A smirk tugged at the edge of his lips.
This was why he never believed in the "Will of Fire." When the time came to act, most preferred to stall or avoid responsibility altogether. At Root, hesitation was not an option.
Just as Danzo leaned back, ready to enjoy watching the meeting descend into indecision, a voice cut through the silence.
"The Uchiha Police Force is willing to take the lead in a frontal assault on Kumogakure," said Uchiha Fugaku, his tone firm.
All eyes turned to him. The room froze.
No one had expected that.
Not from the Uchiha.
Not now.
Facing the eyes of everyone, Fugaku remained unmoved, his expression unwavering as if he hadn't just placed the entire Uchiha clan at the center of the battlefield.
"It's good that the Uchiha are taking on such a responsibility," Hiruzaru Sarutobi remarked with a slow exhale of smoke, then decisively made a decision. "For this battle against Kumogakure, the Uchiha Guard will be the main force, with other clans as support."
The ninja patriarchs had no objections. Someone had to carry the heaviest burden, and the Uchiha were willing to take it on. It was, in many ways, a relief to the others. However, just as the decision seemed final, a voice rose in opposition.
Danzo, his face cold and stern, fixed his one good eye on Sarutobi. "Hiruzen, are you sure you know what you're doing? The Uchiha Guard's duty has always been to maintain order within the village. That has never changed since the Second Hokage's time."
The two other Hokage advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, also cast disapproving glances at Sarutobi. Neither had been consulted beforehand, and they were clearly displeased by the decision.
"Just because it's always been that way doesn't mean it's the right decision," Sarutobi replied, his voice calm but firm. "The village is at war now. The Uchiha volunteered to lead this charge, and I see no reason to reject them."
He then glanced sideways at Danzo, his tone slightly mocking. "Or perhaps, Danzo, you wish to lead the charge instead, competing with the Uchiha for battlefield dominance?"
Danzo's face darkened. He knew there was no way he could send Root into a frontal assault. His secretive and brutal tactics had always been for the shadows, not the open battlefield. But it was one thing to secretly oppose the Uchiha, and another to admit it publicly, especially in front of the council.
His hands tightened, but he stayed silent, the tension visible in his stiff posture.
Sarutobi's decision had disrupted Danzo's plans, but it also broke the unspoken balance of power within the village's leadership. The two other Hokage advisors—Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado—were clearly displeased. Their dissatisfaction simmered beneath their composed expressions, but they remained quiet.
Danzo, watching the situation unfold, saw the inevitable result: once the war was over and the Uchiha's strength was weakened, they might have their chance to accomplish their own goals. Until then, he would bide his time.
The Third Hokage nodded, his voice final. "If there are no objections, then the Uchiha Guard will be the primary force." He paused, looking at the assembled council. "Now, who will lead this army?"
Orochimaru, who had remained eerily silent until now, leaned forward with a cold smile. " Hokage, allow me to take command."
The room fell quiet as everyone turned their gaze toward him. His tone was chilling, but there was an air of undeniable confidence. "I don't think anyone will object."
Though his words were bold, the other clan heads didn't dare to challenge him. Orochimaru's strength and strategic mind were well-known, and in times of war, that made him a valuable asset. The ninja patriarchs collectively breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of Orochimaru leading the charge, despite his sinister reputation.
The Third Hokage frowned, his brow furrowing with uncertainty. "Orochimaru, this war is too important. Can you handle such a responsibility?"
Orochimaru's smile only widened. "I will not fail," he said, exuding the kind of confidence that made many wary.
After a long pause, Sarutobi nodded slowly. "Then it's settled. Orochimaru will lead the forces."
The meeting continued as the details were worked out. Sarutobi began to refine the strategy, with the Uchiha Guard at the forefront. Orochimaru interjected occasionally, giving his input on personnel and strategy. The arrangements proceeded smoothly, as no one wanted to challenge the Hokage's authority, nor did they wish to be at odds with the village's senior leadership.
When the meeting finally concluded, the various clan leaders filed out, but Orochimaru lingered for a moment. He turned to Sarutobi, his lips curling into a wry smile. "Well, that went smoothly, didn't it? But I suppose the old man really didn't have any other choice."
His earlier rhetorical question had been unexpected, but now, Orochimaru couldn't help but enjoy the irony. If the war failed, Sarutobi would likely place the blame on him, using him as a scapegoat to protect the Hokage's image.
Orochimaru didn't mind. Without Konoha, Sarutobi wouldn't be Hokage anymore. But Orochimaru would still be Orochimaru.
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