Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 23 Uchiha, the Hokage's Blade

"The third army is mainly composed of members of the Uchiha clan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice echoed in the quiet conference room, each word striking a clear chord in everyone's heart.

These words shocked everyone present.

The heads of the various families, in particular, all wore expressions of disbelief.

Should the Uchiha clan be assigned to lead a front in one direction?

This is something that has never happened before in the history of Konoha.

Since the Second Hokage established the security forces, the power of the Uchiha clan has been confined to the village.

This reflects both the First Hokage's guilt towards Madara and the Second Hokage's wariness of the Uchiha's immense power.

But now, the Third Hokage is going to break this decades-old pattern himself!

Uchiha Kagami's body jolted violently. He looked up, unable to believe his ears.

He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, and for the first time, a strong emotional fluctuation appeared in his gentle eyes.

He knew this was more than just a military appointment.

This is the Hokage's profound trust in the entire Uchiha clan.

"Hiruzen! This...this is not right!"

Mitokado Homura was the first to stand up and object, his expression more serious than ever before. "The Uchiha clan's power is too great, and... you know that too. If they were to form their own army, the consequences would be unimaginable if anything went wrong on the battlefield!"

"Advisor Yan is right."

Koharu, who was switching dorm rooms, immediately chimed in, "We can't take that risk!"

The concerns expressed by the two advisors also reflected the sentiments of most people present.

It wasn't that they didn't trust the Uchiha, but rather that they didn't trust the uncontrollable power rooted in the Sharingan.

Danzo Shimura sat in the chair, saying nothing.

At this moment, his heart was churning with turbulent emotions.

Looking at Hiruzen, the opponent he once envied and later revered, he now felt that he was unfathomable.

I thought that Hiruzen's previous attempts to win over the Uchiha were nothing more than a kingly maneuver, aimed at sowing discord and gaining control.

But to his utter surprise, Hiruzen actually dared to entrust such a crucial battlefront to the Uchiha clan at the very moment the war broke out.

This courage, this trust...

Danzo asked himself honestly, if he were in that position today, he would never dare to do such a thing.

He will use Root, the most ruthless methods, to keep the Uchiha clan firmly in the village, never allowing them any opportunity to come into contact with the outside world.

Hiruzen, what exactly does he want to do?

Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored Koharu and Homura's objections; his gaze remained fixed on Kagami Uchiha the entire time.

"Mirror, what do you think?"

Uchiha Kagami took a deep breath and stood up from his seat. He didn't answer immediately, but turned around and bowed deeply to all the high-ranking members who had doubts about the Uchiha clan.

"Esteemed advisors, esteemed clan leaders."

His voice was steady and powerful, carrying a convincing strength.

"I know everyone's concerns. The Uchiha's past did indeed bring pain to the village. But that's in the past."

"The Uchiha of today are the Uchiha of Konoha! The Will of Fire burns in our hearts as well!"

He raised his head, his gaze intense.

"What the Hokage gives us is not adventure, but glory; it is an opportunity for us to wash away the stains of the past and prove our loyalty with our own blood and lives!"

"I, Uchiha Kagami, swear on my own honor and the honor of the entire Uchiha clan!"

"The Third Army will become the sharpest sword thrust into the heart of Iwagakure, and will never betray the Hokage's trust!"

His words were powerful and inspiring.

The clan leaders who had initially harbored doubts found their worries largely dissipating as they looked at the gentle yet resolute Uchiha man before them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction.

He knew that Jing would give him that answer.

"Of course, I won't let the warriors of the Uchiha fight alone."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze to the other three clan leaders.

Deer antlers in Nara, taking wind from the autumn road, Tianchi in the mountains.

"The Third Army will be led by Uchiha Kagami and will be in charge of the border war of the Territory Country."

"At the same time, I ordered that each of the three tribes—the boar, the deer, and the butterfly—send half of their elite forces to the Third Legion, with Nara Shikaku serving as strategist and assisting Kagami in command."

"Your mission is not to conquer cities and seize territories."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone became serious.

"I want you to use the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan to build an impenetrable intelligence barrier along the long border of the Land of Earth!"

"I want every troop movement of Onoki, every supply transport, and even every scout bird he sends out to fly around, to be under our surveillance!"

"I will make Iwagakure completely blind and deaf before us!"

A calculated scheme.

Everyone present understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's intention.

He didn't simply send the Uchiha clan to fight.

The goal is to perfectly combine the Sharingan's most powerful talent—its perceptive abilities—with the seamless cooperation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

This is no longer a traditional combat unit.

This is a unit with intelligence gathering and battlefield control capabilities that are ahead of their time.

With this illusionary wall in place, Iwagakure will have no secrets left from Konoha.

The Uchiha clan will truly earn the respect and recognition of the entire village through this irreplaceable strategic value.

They will no longer be merely "capable warriors," but indispensable strategic cores.

Having figured this out, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged a glance.

They had nothing to say.

Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Torifu, and Yamanaka Taichi stood up and bowed deeply to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"We obey the Hokage's orders!"

At this point, the deployment of the three armies was complete.

The entire conference room was completely silent.

All eyes were on Hiruzen Sarutobi, who sat in the main seat.

"Finally, the Fourth Army."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, his voice returning to its calm state.

"I will personally oversee the northern defense line."

"Danzo, you will serve as my deputy, commanding Root and the Anbu, and be responsible for all intelligence and defense work on the northern front."

Danzo Shimura suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with astonishment.

He never expected that Hiruzen would entrust him with such an important position.

Let him become the Hokage's deputy, and together they will guard the nation's borders.

An indescribable emotion welled up in his heart.

It was the excitement of being trusted, and the sense of responsibility of being entrusted with important tasks.

He stood up and bowed his proud head deeply to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Yes, Hiruzen... no, Hokage-sama!"

The four armies have been deployed.

Konoha's war machine has completed its final adjustments.

Hiruzen Sarutobi walked to the window and looked down at the prosperous and peaceful village. In his eyes, there was no fear, only boundless fighting spirit.

"Pass on my orders."

His voice echoed throughout every corner of the conference room and throughout the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

"The war has begun!"

boom!

With his command, the entire Hidden Leaf Village, a sophisticated war machine that had been lying dormant for years during peacetime and had been honed to perfection by his own hands, roared into operation with unprecedented unity and high morale.