Just for Fun

"Cloud Concealment Village wants to recreate the First Ninja War."

"They intend to be the vanguard, paving the way for a coalition of ninja villages to besiege Leaf Village."

With just a few words, the conference room fell silent, save for the calm, unhurried voice that continued.

"Today’s Leaf Village can defeat Cloud Concealment, but it cannot withstand their alliance with other ninja villages."

Orochimaru’s gaze swept across the room, his sinister smile lingering. "Are you all content to watch Leaf Village descend to such a state?"

Most of the clan leaders from the smaller ninja families avoided meeting Orochimaru’s eyes and remained silent. His words struck at the heart of the matter and made sense, yet from another perspective, they could be seen as alarmist, raising the flag of ‘the village’s survival’ to pressure them into total compliance with internal directives.

The four great ninja villages besieging Leaf... after all, it hasn’t happened yet.

The Third Hokage and the other senior leaders, knowing this, would surely not sit idly by and let such a situation arise.

At this thought, the clan leaders of the smaller ninja families exchanged covert glances. What they needed to consider was whether the Third Hokage’s plans would make them pawns, sacrificed for the greater good.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag from his pipe and spoke, "Orochimaru is right. This battle must be fought swiftly and concluded quickly. We must decisively crush Cloud Concealment’s offensive in a short time. At the very least, we must strip them of the ability to continue waging war."

"Gentlemen, what are your thoughts?"

Around the long table, silence reigned—even Shikaku Nara, reputed to have an IQ over 200, said nothing. After all, he was merely a jonin representative, not someone who could devise strategies that demanded human sacrifices or suicide missions.

If it succeeded, all would be well; if it failed, he would lose his standing and bring resentment upon his clan.

Only the Hokage or his advisors could bear the consequences of failure. The lesser strategists and commanders were already exhausted patching up the high command’s plans, far too wary to involve themselves in such pivotal matters.

Even as the village faced crisis, each person harbored their own thoughts. Danzo, sitting in the corner, regarded them coldly, inwardly scoffing.

If this were Root, a single command from him would see every Root ninja willingly give their lives for the village—that was how a ninja ought to be. Hiruzen, with his talk of the ‘Will of Fire,’ was laughable. When crisis struck, people still shrank back. Only those without foundations, civilians dependent on the Hokage, believed in such ideals.

Danzo’s lips curled in a mocking smile, eager to see how the Third Hokage would handle this now.

But then, from behind the long table, a low and solemn voice rang out, altering Danzo’s expression.

Fugaku Uchiha, face stern, spoke slowly, "The Uchiha Police Force is willing to participate in a frontal assault against Cloud Concealment."

Hearing this, the assembled clan leaders stared in astonishment, bewildered by the Uchiha’s intentions.

Under their scrutiny, Fugaku remained unmoved, his expression unchanged, as if he hadn’t just committed his entire clan to the battlefield.

"The Uchiha’s sense of responsibility is admirable," Hiruzen said, exhaling smoke as he made the decision. "For this battle against Cloud Concealment, the Uchiha Police Force will be the main force, with other clans providing support..."

Someone had taken up the most arduous burden. Naturally, the other clan leaders had no objection; in fact, it was good news for them. Yet Danzo abruptly rose, voicing his opposition.

His single eye fixed on Hiruzen, Danzo’s face was cold. "Hiruzen, do you realize what you’ve decided? The Uchiha Police Force’s duty is to maintain the village’s security—this has never changed since the Second Hokage."

The two Hokage advisors also turned their gaze toward Hiruzen, clearly dissatisfied. Hiruzen had neither consulted Danzo nor them before making this decision.

"Just because it’s always been so, does that make it right?" Hiruzen replied, his face indifferent. "The village is at war. If the Uchiha volunteer, what is the problem?"

He let his eyelids droop, glancing sidelong at Danzo. "Or perhaps Root wishes to join the battle and compete with the Uchiha for command?"

"You—!"

Stung by Hiruzen’s words, Danzo’s expression changed dramatically.

He could never send Root to the main battlefield. Root had always taken on dark and bloody tasks to avoid open warfare and preserve strength. But Danzo could hardly reveal that the leadership had long suppressed the Uchiha. That was an unspoken agreement—one could act on it, but never speak it aloud.

Especially not in front of so many clan leaders.

Under their scrutiny, Danzo’s face darkened and he offered no further objection.

Hiruzen’s move was dignified and indeed disrupted some of Danzo’s plans, but it also broke the tacit understanding among the village’s high command. Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, the Hokage’s advisors, were evidently dissatisfied with this decision.

Being well acquainted with how the Uchiha operated, Danzo understood their mindset. After the war, once the Uchiha’s strength waned, other methods could be employed to achieve his goals.

With this thought, Danzo’s frustration dissipated. The outcome remained uncertain.

"Since there are no objections, it is settled—the Uchiha Police Force will be the main force," Hiruzen said quietly. "Now, who will command this ninja army..."

"Hokage-sama, allow me," Orochimaru said, for once using an honorific. He looked around the table, offering a cold smile. "I believe no one would object."

No one met Orochimaru’s gaze, but rather than feeling threatened, many breathed a sigh of relief. War, at any time, was terrifying, but with Orochimaru’s strength, they felt much more secure.

"You wish to command?" Hiruzen’s brows knitted, his tone skeptical. "This ninja war is of great importance. Orochimaru, are you prepared to bear the responsibility?"

"I will not fail."

Orochimaru’s lips parted in a confident smile, as if everything was in his grasp. He pledged his commitment on the spot.

The two exchanged glances, then Hiruzen nodded. "Very well, you shall lead this war."

With that, he began detailing the personnel arrangements, starting with the Uchiha Police Force as the main force, assigning specifics down to every jonin and chunin.

Orochimaru occasionally interjected, stating his requirements for certain personnel.

With no threats to their core interests, none of the clans opposed the leadership, and the arrangements proceeded smoothly.

Once their duties were assigned, the clan leaders began to leave.

As he exited the conference room, Orochimaru glanced at Hiruzen, his face full of mockery. "Heh, it went smoothly enough, but the old man really is being overly cautious."

That earlier retort had been unexpected, but upon reflection, if the war failed, the old man could shift the blame onto him.

The Hokage could never make a major mistake!

To preserve the purity of the office, a scapegoat was needed—him.

Yet Orochimaru cared little for this. Without Leaf, the Hokage would no longer be Hokage, but Orochimaru would still be Orochimaru.