Orochimaru asked, "Why can't we do it now?"
After the Nine-Tails Rebellion, Konoha had suffered heavy losses, with the deaths of many mid-level ninjas and the Fourth Hokage and his wife. Although the Nine-Tails wasn't lost, it would take over a decade for the new Jinchuriki to become a combat force, essentially losing two Kage-level powerhouses. On top of that, there was growing distrust among the villagers, particularly toward the Uchiha clan.
In short, Konoha was at its weakest point since the Third Ninja War.
Kumogakure hadn't made a decisive move yet, choosing to be more cautious with their surprise attack.
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply, the wrinkles on his face deepening.
The Third Hokage wasn't worried about an upcoming war with Kumogakure. Even if it escalated into another ninja-level war, Konoha could handle it. On paper, the combined forces of the Hidden Sand, Cloud, and Rock Villages weren't a match for Konoha.
The real problem, however, was how to send Konoha's combat forces to the battlefield and ensure they performed well. That was the most difficult task.
Hiruzen looked up at Jiraiya, who was silently frowning, and Orochimaru, who wore a sinister grin. He sighed inwardly.
As he grew older, he realized that while ninjas could be used as tools, they were not mere tools.
"Old man, seems like you've already figured something out," Orochimaru said, ignoring the Third Hokage's complicated gaze, his grin widening. "The real question is, what should be done with the Uchiha clan in this war with Kumogakure?"
The Third Hokage furrowed his brow. The Uchiha clan, as one of Konoha's two great pupil-based clans, was an essential fighting force. They would certainly be sent to the battlefield.
The problem was that the Uchiha were part of the village's guard team, tasked with protecting Konoha. While they weren't directly recruited unless it was absolutely necessary, they could be issued war missions, and their elite members could be called up. This was the same for other clans—despite holding positions within the village, they had to follow the village's leadership during the war.
Sending the Uchiha to fight in the war would weaken their sense of familial power, but it would also increase the strength and survivability of the ninja forces. The issue was whether the Uchiha, if blamed for the Nine-Tails Rebellion, would willingly take on dangerous missions when Kumogakure attacked.
The Third Hokage fell silent. If the blame for the Nine-Tails Rebellion was pinned on the Uchiha, they might refuse to accept dangerous war assignments, and the other clans would likely support them. That would put Konoha in a difficult position.
Sending the Uchiha on less dangerous missions would upset the other clans and risk preserving the Uchiha clan's power, allowing them to oppose the Hokage family after the war and even sabotage Konoha in the future.
Normal assignments never existed in situations like these, especially with the Uchiha clan's strength. Similar to how the Sannin and Minato and his wife had played crucial roles in past wars, ninjas had to contribute significantly during times of war.
The Third Hokage sighed. At least Orochimaru had avoided the village's dilemma for the time being. The issue with the Uchiha wasn't settled, leaving room for future negotiation.
Looking at the overall situation, it was clear that the village's top leadership had to bear the blame for the villagers' grievances during the Nine-Tails Rebellion.
Yes, there could have been a better way to handle it.
The Third Hokage stared at Orochimaru and asked, "Why didn't you present this information earlier?"
Jiraiya also turned his gaze to Orochimaru. The information had been obtained just yesterday—there was no reason for it to be delayed. The fact that Orochimaru only brought it forward now could only suggest that he had other plans.
Orochimaru didn't answer the question but instead asked, "How do you plan to handle the Uchiha clan during the Nine-Tails Rebellion? Are you going to pretend nothing happened?"
"You should know that even if Uchiha participates in war missions as they always have, the suspicion surrounding them won't go away."
The faces of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya darkened.
This wasn't something that could be verified or disproven, and how it would be judged depended entirely on people's perceptions.
Rational judgment had always been in the minority, especially after the villagers had just lost family members, friends, and loved ones.
During the Nine-Tails Rebellion, the village's leadership could only bear the burden of appearing incompetent, and the guilt would fall on those deemed responsible.
Others couldn't shoulder the blame, even if they wanted to.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Orochimaru, stop playing games. Tell me your solution."
"This matter is simple," Orochimaru replied, licking his lips. "Use the Uchiha Guard as the main force and let them fight against Kumogakure's surprise attack."
"This is impossible!" The Third Hokage's face suddenly changed. He immediately thought of the Second Hokage's policy to restrict the Uchiha clan and rejected the idea outright.
Kumogakure's attack was a temporary crisis, but removing the restraints on the Uchiha clan could create a significant long-term threat to Konoha's future.
The Second Hokage and the Hokage faction, including the Third Hokage and Danzo, all carried a deep-seated mistrust of the Uchiha clan due to the legacy of Uchiha Madara. This mistrust meant that they were constantly wary of the Uchiha, even when the clan was far weaker than Konoha in terms of power.
The Third Hokage cleared his throat, seeming to reconsider his initial reaction.
"This approach isn't feasible," he said. "If the Uchiha are the main force and manage to fend off Kumogakure's attack, it will only bolster their position. Until the suspicion around them is cleared, it will only intensify the conflict with the villagers."
After all, the war would eventually end, and rewards would be given to those who fought.
"Old man, I think you've misunderstood," Orochimaru said calmly. "The Uchiha would be the main force, yes, but the guards would meet Kumogakure on the front lines, while the rest of the Konoha Ninja Army defends the rear."
The Third Hokage frowned. "Are you asking me to watch them die?"
"No," Orochimaru replied, his smile growing more sinister, "When they die—when enough of them die—so many that it begins to hurt, so many that the villagers start to believe that the Nine-Tails Rebellion wasn't Uchiha's conspiracy, then it will be over."
The Third Hokage fell silent. Jiraiya was also stunned, both of them shocked by the coldness and brutality of Orochimaru's strategy.
But despite the cruelty, it was undoubtedly the most effective solution for the village. It would eliminate a large number of people, clear the Uchiha's name, lessen the threat they posed, and resolve the crisis of trust with the Uchiha. Afterward, the Uchiha would be more integrated into the village.
But…
The Third Hokage looked up at Orochimaru, his gaze hardening. "How sure are you that the Uchiha will agree to this?"
Orochimaru smirked. "They're Uchiha. Why wouldn't they agree?"
A little surprised, Orochimaru tilted his head and added, "I thought you knew Uchiha better than that, old man."
With that, Orochimaru nodded and smiled darkly, "They're out of their minds!"
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