'I used to be the one seeking others' opinions, yet I never imagined that one day, I would be the one being asked.' Hiruzen thought.
But there was nothing he could do about it.
That night, when Toshiro finalized the new personnel appointments, Hiruzen had initially intended to secure the position of Hokage's advisor.
Despite both his and the Nidaime's persistent efforts to advocate for his role, their pleas were met with a firm and unequivocal rejection. In the end, the decision was absolute—the former Hokage would not be granted any official position.
At first, they considered pushing back, unwilling to concede so easily. However, the Shodaime proposed an alternative solution.
He nominated his granddaughter as the new Hokage's advisor, ensuring that he himself held no official title. If not for his status as the head of the Sarutobi clan, Hiruzen wouldn't have had any seat at this very meeting.
"Well! What Sarutobi-sama said is quite reasonable," someone finally spoke up, nodding in agreement. "If peace is an option, no one truly desires war."
Observing the Sandaime's somber expression, Toshiro didn't immediately refute his words. Instead, he acknowledged them before responding firmly:
"But this time, the Kiri Ninjas launched an unprovoked attack. We cannot afford to show too much weakness; otherwise, the other nations might see Konoha as an easy target!
Furthermore, I intend to use this opportunity to demonstrate Konoha's strength—to remind the entire ninja world that we remain the most formidable village, unshaken and unrivaled!"
"Hokage-sama is absolutely right! We must show them Konoha's true might!"
"Exactly! We've endured years of border skirmishes, always choosing restraint. It's time we put an end to this nonsense!"
A wave of agreement surged through the room. Toshiro's words ignited a passionate response, and considering their opponent was merely Kiri, both the noble clans and civilian ninjas alike believed this was a fight they could win.
"…I… have no objection," Sarutobi finally conceded, his voice laced with resignation.
After glancing at the clan leaders distancing themselves from him, clearly eager for action, Sarutobi Hiruzen reluctantly conceded to Toshiro's proposal for war.
It wasn't just the clan heads— even the civilian Jonin present at the meeting were in favor of taking the fight to the Kiri Ninjas. They paid little attention to him, the now-outdated Sandaime…
"Since war is inevitable, we must consider our troop strength. Currently, we have only 2,000 soldiers on the front lines. Against Kirigakure, who outnumber us nearly three to one, we clearly need reinforcements.
I propose mobilizing an additional 2,000 troops, bringing our total force to approximately 4,000. I will personally lead them into battle to crush them!"
"Though we may still be slightly outnumbered, I have full confidence that we can turn the tide—perhaps even launch an offensive into the Kiri's homeland and make them truly understand Konoha's strength!"
No one was surprised by the call for reinforcements—it was a logical step. However, what did catch them off guard was Toshiro's declaration that he would lead the forces himself.
No one had expected the Fifth Hokage to personally step onto the battlefield. This was a stark contrast to the Third Hokage's leadership style.
The Sandaime had not set foot on the front lines in years. If Toshiro truly intended to push straight into the Kiri Ninja's homeland, as he claimed, then this could be a decisive moment—one that many were eager to see unfold.
"The Aburame clan will deploy five Jonin, along with our Chuunin, totaling 60 shinobi," Aburame Shibi announced.
Typically quiet and reserved, he was the first to step forward, immediately committing his clan's forces to the battle.
While only five of them were Jonin, the remaining 50-plus Chuunin represented nearly the full strength of the Aburame clan's available combatants.
As the acting head of the Anbu, Shibi had invested everything into securing his position. He had mobilized every shinobi he could without dipping into the younger generation.
If further reinforcements were required, it would mean sending shinobi under the age of 16 into battle—a step he was hesitant to take.
"The Hyuga clan will deploy ten Jonin this time, along with an additional hundred shinobi," Hyuga Hiashi declared.
As direct descendants of the Otsutsuki bloodline, Hyuga shinobi had a notably higher success rate in battle compared to the Aburame. If not for the rigid structure of the main and branch families—where many within the clan lacked the ambition to become ninjas—their numbers could have been even greater.
"The Inuzuka clan will send..."
One after another, the various clan heads stepped forward, announcing the forces they could commit to the war effort. Each of them had pushed their limits in contributing personnel.
The reason was clear: while many of them had gained advantages under Toshiro's leadership on the night he assumed office, most were still acting in an interim capacity. If they failed to prove their loyalty and capability now, their positions would be anything but secure.
"Based on my rough calculations," Toshiro said, "the total number of shinobi pledged by the clan leaders so far is approximately 900. Once we factor in the Uchiha clan's contribution, we should reach a total of around 1,000 Shinobi."
Although many clans boasted large clans, only a handful, such as the Hyuga and Aburame, had a significant number of combat-ready shinobi.
For most families, having even one or two Jonin was considered fortunate.
"Even with all these contributions, our numbers are still insufficient," Toshiro noted, shifting his gaze toward the civilian ninjas present before turning his attention to the Sandaime.
"Here's my proposal: Sarutobi, Shimura, Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi—your clans have recently expanded your ranks with mission-ready shinobi. I expect you to transfer another 300 to the front lines. As for the remaining deficit, we will supplement our forces with civilian ninjas."
Although these clans had already pledged their shinobi, Toshiro had no intention of letting them off so easily. This was the perfect opportunity to subtly weaken their influence while bolstering the village's war effort.
"Toshiro!"
A sharp voice cut through the room.
Utatane Koharu, known for her fiery temper, abruptly stood from her seat behind Sarutobi Hiruzen. Her expression darkened as she glared at Toshiro, barely containing her anger.
"You're deliberately targeting us!"
"We are all Konoha shinobi—why should our clans bear the burden of sending 300 more shinobi?"
Three hundred additional soldiers? Ridiculous! If their seven or eight families were to contribute that many, they would have to send nearly all their available fighters.
"If we provide another 300 men, we'll be forced to draft the youngest members of our clans—many of whom have just graduated from the Ninja Academy! They are inexperienced and completely unprepared for the battlefield!"
"Oh? So fresh graduates from the Ninja Academy are too unprepared for war?" Toshiro's voice dripped with sarcasm as he eyed Koharu's livid expression. A cold smirk tugged at his lips.
"If I recall correctly, the graduation age from the Academy is currently 12, isn't it? Perhaps we should ask the clan leaders present—what was the youngest age their clan members were sent to the front lines in the last war?"
With that, Toshiro's sharp gaze swept across the gathered clan heads, waiting for their response.
"That's right, Elder Koharu… or rather cland head Utatane," the head of the Gekko clan said with a measured tone, glancing between Toshiro and Koharu. "The children of our clan were sent to the battlefield as early as eight or nine years old. At twelve… that's hardly young anymore."
As the leader of a mid-sized Konoha clan, he spoke from bitter experience. During the last war, his clan's children barely reached eight or nine before being forced into battle.
And yet, what of these more privileged clans?
Even if their children graduated early, they spent years playing at being "ninjas" within Konoha's safety. Many of them were later funneled into cushy, low-risk assignments thanks to their elders' influence, ensuring their survival.
Meanwhile, for smaller clans like his, the reality was starkly different. Aside from a fortunate few, most of their young shinobi had perished on the battlefield.
"Konoha's founding brought all our clans together," the Gekko leader continued, his tone laced with irony. "Over the years, the Utatane clan has only grown stronger and more prosperous, their numbers ever increasing… A situation we smaller clans can only envy."
The head of the Gekko clan was far from young—he was even older than Utane Koharu. Over the years, he had watched helplessly as his clan's numbers dwindled, generation after generation lost to war.
Meanwhile, right next door, the prosperous Utatane clan—who had joined Konoha at the same time—continued to thrive, their influence growing stronger with each passing year. The disparity left him with an unshakable sense of injustice.
But what could he do? He was not a high-ranking official. When the village decided to conscript his clan's children, he had no power to resist. Time and time again, justifications were thrown at him, orders wrapped in empty rhetoric.
He had even set aside his pride once, lowering himself to beg Utane Koharu for assistance. But she had simply dismissed him with a cold remark: "These sacrifices are for Konoha."
With those words, she had cast him aside without a second thought.
Now, years after the war, he watched as the young shinobi of the Utatane clan grew up, married, and built their futures—while his own clan's land sat eerily quiet, its halls emptier with each passing year.
And with every wedding he attended, with every birth he heard celebrated from afar, his resentment deepened.
"And then there's the Sarutobi clan," he continued, his tone laced with barely concealed disdain. "For years, they've boasted of being Konoha's largest clan. Yet, when it comes time to defend the village, they send out fewer than 80 shinobi. Tell me, does that truly befit their grand title?"
Targeting the Utatane clan alone wasn't enough to satisfy the years of resentment simmering in his heart. So now, his gaze shifted to Sarutobi Hiruzen, seated beside Utatane Koharu, and to the other influential clan heads in the room.
"And what about the famed Ino-Shika-Chō alliance?" His piercing stare landed on Nara Shikaku. "Your clans have long been celebrated across the ninja world for their teamwork and strategy. Surely, Chief Nara, you intend to do more for Konoha than just this?"
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