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Horyu stood there, listening to the back and forth. He didn't have to say much. The others knew Danzo's approach was flawed. Cloud's aggressive move had shifted the landscape; appeasing them now would only show weakness.
Shisui, catching the mood, nodded slowly. "We're not here to bow down or scrape by," he stated firmly. "Konoha has always stood strong, and we'll continue to do so. We'll prepare our defenses and make sure everyone knows we're not to be trifled with."
Danzo was conflicted, his little mind racing even under Shisui's brainwashing. Shisui had ordered him to obey, protect the Uchiha and the village above all else, but Danzo twisted this command in his own way. He figured that by sacrificing Horyu, he could protect more Uchiha in the long run—a twisted logic, but typical of Danzo's manipulative thinking. Horyu had to acknowledge, albeit grudgingly, Danzo's shrewdness in finding such a loophole even under mind control.
"Hokage-sama," Danzo began, addressing Shisui with a tone that mixed reluctance with a feigned sense of duty, "Who will lead our forces on the Cloud front? You and the Third are needed here, and Jiraiya must prevent the smaller villages from interfering. We also can't ignore Orochimaru and his gathering of rogue ninjas. We can't afford to send Jiraiya to the front lines."
Shisui listened, his expression unreadable. The room was tense, every leader aware of the critical choices facing them. Danzo's point, while strategically sound, was laced with his own agendas. Shisui knew this, yet the situation required a pragmatic approach.
Shisui eyed Danzo carefully, aware of his intentions to send Horyu to the Cloud front. Horyu had just returned as a Jonin from his intense three-year training, still young and relatively inexperienced in large-scale warfare. Yet, Shisui couldn't help but reflect on the burdens they had placed on young shoulders in the past. He himself was ready to die for the village when he was merely 14, and Itachi had been burdened with the clan's dark choices at the age of 12. Many shinobi started their battle careers in their early teens.
His gaze shifted to Horyu. Initially, Shisui had pinned his hopes on Sasuke to lead the next generation of the Uchiha, but since the Chunin Exams three years ago, Horyu had continued to surprise him. He had grown strong, reliable, and unexpectedly powerful. Shisui admired this young Uchiha for his resilience and strength.
"Hokage-sama," Danzo pressed, his voice carrying a hint of urgency, "we must decide. Who will lead our forces against the Cloud?"
Shisui stood from his seat, his decision clear. "Itachi will handle the Sand front. Danzo-san, you will take the Mist. Hyuga Hiashi-san and Hizashi-san will take on Stone. Jiraiya-sama stays here to keep an eye on Orochimaru and his movements."
He paused, his eyes settling on Horyu. "And Horyu," Shisui continued, "you will lead our forces against the Cloud."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of his decision hanging in the air. Horyu, for his part, did not show any reaction. He simply nodded, accepting the responsibility with a quiet determination.
Danzo frowned, not entirely pleased but recognizing the tactical reasoning. "Horyu is young, but he is capable," he admitted grudgingly. "We should ensure he has experienced commanders by his side."
Shisui agreed, "Indeed. I'll assign a few of our best Jonin to support him."
As the meeting adjourned, Horyu stayed back to discuss the specifics with Shisui. "I understand the weight of this task, Hokage-sama," Horyu said, his voice even. "I won't let the village down."
Shisui clapped him on the shoulder, a gesture of camaraderie and trust. "I know you won't. You've proven yourself time and again, Horyu."
On his way back home, Horyu pondered his next move. Being chosen to lead the Cloud Front was a surprise, even for him. There were certainly more experienced shinobi in the village who could have taken on the role, at least according to what he had shown to the village, but Shisui had chosen him. Horyu didn't mind the extra responsibility; he knew that after the war, his standing in the village would rise to the level he had been aiming for. Then, the real game would begin.
As he arrived home, he pulled up the notification from the system that he hadn't checked earlier due to the urgency of dealing with Hanabi's near-kidnapping and the subsequent council meeting.
[System Notification: Hidden Quest Completed: "Prevent the Kidnapping of the Hyuga Heiress". You have thwarted a major plot against Konoha, showcasing your dedication and strategic prowess. Reward: +2000 XP, +200 SP, Jutsu Absorption Stone: (Absorbs a single use of any jutsu directed at the user and can store it for later use.)]
Looking at the reward from his system, Horyu couldn't help but whistle softly. 'Not too shabby,' he thought, already plotting the best use for the Jutsu Absorption Stone.
The next morning, a knock on his door jolted him from his thoughts. Opening it, he found an Anbu messenger, a summons to the Hokage's office in his hand. Quickly heading over, Horyu entered the room to find some familiar faces. First was Kurenai, his sensei, along with Asuma, Neji, Fū Yamanaka, and Torune Aburame.
"Hokage-sama, Sensei," Horyu greeted, giving a nod to the others. His eyes lingered a moment longer on Fū and Torune, his expression turning into a frown.
"Come, Horyu, sit down," Shisui invited, gesturing to a seat next to Kurenai.
Horyu took his seat and waited for Shisui to continue. "In the Cloud Front, you will take the lead, but these five Jonin will support you," Shisui explained.
Horyu didn't hold back his concerns. "I don't want those two," he said bluntly, nodding towards Fū and Torune.
Shisui looked taken aback, while Fū and Torune clenched their fists, barely concealing their irritation.
"Any reason?" Shisui asked, his voice even.
Horyu nodded firmly. "They are ROOT agents, loyal to Danzo. I believe they were sent to complicate things for me and potentially strike a deal with Cloud behind my back."
The room tensed. Fū and Torune struggled to maintain their composed facades, their minds racing. 'How did he know?' they thought simultaneously.
Shisui, observing the slight shifts in their expressions, made a swift decision. "Everyone out. Horyu, stay."
As the room cleared, leaving Shisui and Horyu alone, Shisui sighed deeply, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You have a keen eye, Horyu. It's both a gift and a curse, isn't it?"
Horyu's expression remained neutral. "It's necessary, Hokage-sama. If we're to trust those who accompany me, I need to be sure of their loyalty. Danzo's schemes are not unknown to us."
Shisui nodded, acknowledging the point. "You're right. I'll reassign Fū and Torune. You should have a team you can trust without reservation."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Horyu said, his tone respectful yet firm.
Shisui looked at him thoughtfully. "You're taking on a big responsibility, leading the Cloud Front. Are you prepared?"
Horyu met his gaze squarely. "I am. This mission is critical not just for me but for Konoha. I won't let personal doubts hinder our objectives."
Shisui smiled slightly, impressed by his resolve. "Good. I'll have Asuma, Kurenai, Neji and two others from my personal guard join you instead. They are experienced and have proven their loyalty."
"That sounds suitable," Horyu agreed, standing up as the meeting concluded. "I'll prepare immediately."
Before Horyu left the office, he hesitated, a question lingering at the tip of his tongue. Shisui noticed the pause, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Say it, Horyu. What's on your mind?"
Taking a deep breath, Horyu addressed his concern. "Hokage-sama, I want to study the Flying Thunder God Jutsu."
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