Chapter 29: War Preparations in Konohagakure

If the four Kage heard Sarutobi Hiruzen's complaints, they would surely shout back in indignation:

"You overfed bastards, just hand over the fertile Land of Fire so our ninja can have enough to eat, and of course we would love peace too!"

As the sky began to brighten, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzo gathered at the Hokage Office, bringing intelligence from across the village.

Mitokado Homura reported first: "The Ino-Shika-Cho can mobilize 10 Ino-Shika-Cho Teams; one is an all-Jonin team, and the remaining nine are all Chunin."

"Additionally, the Yamanaka Clan is mobilizing 22 extra ninja, including two Jonin, four Special Jonin, and the rest are all Chunin."

"The Akimichi Clan is mobilizing 13 extra ninja, including three Jonin, one Special Jonin, and the rest are all Chunin."

"The Nara Clan is mobilizing 15 extra ninja, including one Jonin, four Special Jonin, and the rest are all Chunin."

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked: "With so many scattered ninja from the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans, have they not tried to form new Ino-Shika-Cho Teams?"

Mitokado Homura replied: "We have already tried; among the 10 Ino-Shika-Cho Teams, half are newly formed, as the others truly cannot achieve the necessary synergy."

Utatane Koharu reported: "The Inuzuka Clan is mobilizing 45 ninja, including four Jonin, six Special Jonin, 23 Chunin, and 12 Genin."

"The Aburame Clan is mobilizing 41 ninja, including five Jonin, three Special Jonin, and the rest are all Chunin."

"Most importantly, the Hyuga Clan is mobilizing 133 ninja, including 12 Jonin, 24 Special Jonin, 58 Chunin, and 34 Genin."

"Other small ninja clans such as the Kurama Clan, Shiranui Clan, Yamashiro Clan, Arakawa Clan, and Fukuda Clan have collectively mobilized 255 ninja, including 14 Jonin, 11 Special Jonin, 113 Chunin, and the rest are all Genin."

Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could say anything, Shimura Danzo said: "Not enough, far from enough; the number of Genin is simply too low."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a grimace: "Indeed, there aren't enough Genin, who are in the highest demand and likely to suffer the highest casualties."

"But if we continue to draft more ninja, we will only have to lower the age requirements for Genin again."

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura sighed in unison.

Utatane Koharu said: "We have no choice but to let the students at the Ninja Academy graduate early."

Mitokado Homura added: "There is no other way; otherwise, the ninja clans would not let those excellent children go to war."

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a surge of sorrow, and tears even streamed down his face: "I have failed Konoha, failed my teacher, and failed the First Hokage!"

Shimura Danzo sneered: "Alright, Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura, the three of you should stop putting on a show in front of me."

Utatane Koharu was furious: "Danzo, how can you be so cold-blooded!"

Mitokado Homura tried to explain: "We are not putting on a show; we are feeling worried and heartbroken for the children!"

Shimura Danzo's single eye rolled: "Ridiculous!"

"In the past few years, how many children have you and the two of them personally ordered to graduate early and sent to the battlefield?"

"As far as I know, the number of Genin under ten years old alone exceeds ten thousand, and the survival rate is less than three percent."

"I truly know that you, Hiruzen, and the others have sent tens of thousands of children to the battlefield together; no matter how heartbroken you act in front of me, I cannot believe you are sincere, I only find you hypocritical!"

"Shut up!" x2

Shimura Danzo was completely dismissive of the angry roars from Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

Don't look at how Mitokado Homura stood tall when facing the Nine-Tails; at best, he was just standing to the left of Sarutobi Hiruzen, unfolding a scroll to release a few harmless Ninjutsu.

As for Utatane Koharu, heh, she didn't even appear on the battlefield at all.

She was no longer the fierce but incredibly brave Konoha ninja she once was.

What?

You say Shimura Danzo didn't face the Nine-Tails directly either...

Don't you worry about that!

He went to suppress the Uchiha Clan who were manipulating the Nine-Tails; the risk he took was greater than that of the Third Hokage and Fourth Hokage combined!

Therefore, Shimura Danzo felt he had every right to look down on all his old classmates equally, including Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had poked the Nine-Tails with a stick.

As for whether the Uchiha Clan actually manipulated the Nine-Tails, and whether he, Danzo, actually took any risks, don't you worry about that either!

It is a pity, though, that Shimura Danzo had been Sarutobi Hiruzen's hatchet man for too long; the instinct to obey and fear had already seeped into his marrow.

Even though Danzo already looked down on Sarutobi Hiruzen, when the Third Hokage glanced over at him, he still shuddered violently, gave an indescribable shiver, and obediently shut his mouth.

But with him stirring things up, the atmosphere in the Hokage Office had completely changed.

There was no more sorrow or sacrifice, no more tragedy or helplessness, only the cold, calculated demand for cannon fodder and the deficit in the actual number of ninja.

Anyone who does math problems often knows that math problems are the kind that, as long as you know how to solve them, you can finish them very quickly.

In just half an hour, a new plan for the mobilization and apportionment of ninja was produced.

Subsequently, the Konoha F4 set out together to negotiate the mobilization of ninja with each of the ninja clans.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, also went out in person to persuade the Hyuga Clan to provide personnel and to arrange for the Ninja Academy to prepare for large-scale early graduation.

Shimura Danzo, showing great "courage," chose to go directly to the Uchiha Clan to demand people.

Under Shimura Danzo's deliberately impolite and overbearing hardline orders, Uchiha Fugaku was thoroughly enraged and angrily rejected the plan to send more personnel.

Danzo didn't even mention that it was the Third Hokage's plan, deliberately misleading the Uchiha into thinking it was his own reckless behavior.

Moreover, Shimura Danzo pulled a little trick.

He deliberately lingered outside for two extra hours before returning to the Hokage Office with the news of his mission's failure, which happened to form a sharp contrast with the joy of the other three having completed their missions.

In just an instant, in the minds of the Third Hokage and the other two, their assessment of the Uchiha Clan plummeted significantly.

Even if Uchiha Fugaku had a flash of insight at this moment and suddenly thought of this possibility, rushing to the Hokage Office to explain everything, it would not be able to restore the Uchiha Clan's standing within the Third Hokage's faction.

Shimura Danzo possessed an absolutely astonishing talent for internal strife, snitching, and spreading rumors.

Even if placed in the history of the Dragon Kingdom, among the cliques of treacherous officials who are incapable of success but adept at causing failure, he would still be able to occupy a seat.

He was just too evil!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was gloomy as he puffed fiercely on his pipe, finally making up his mind.

"No, the Uchiha Clan absolutely cannot stay out of this; they must provide people and show their attitude to prove their loyalty to Konohagakure!"

"I, the Third Hokage, will go to the Uchiha Clan Compound myself; even if I lose all face, I must make them hand over more ninja!"