On the other side, Momoka was on her way to find the third Hokage, her expression filled with excitement. The weight of accumulated pressure and anxiety had vanished, leaving her feeling relaxed. Unconsciously, a smile appeared on her face, a sight that hadn't been seen in a long time.
Ever since Mito, the pillar of the Senju Clan, began to show signs of decline.
Momoka, the chief steward of the clan, had been deeply anxious. The potential fall of Mito meant that the Senju Clan would lose its invisibility cloak in the ninja world.
In the world of ninjas, strength ultimately reigns supreme. Without shadow-level powerhouses to guard it, the clan would inevitably attract the covetous eyes of others. Moreover, with the clan's dwindling numbers, including the loss of Tobirama and other senior members, the Senju Clan would face a steep decline after Mito's passing.
Even though Momoka held the esteemed title of Hokage consultant, she knew her own strength was no longer at its peak. Her shoulders alone couldn't bear the weight of reviving the entire Clan.
While she considered asking Tsunade to take on the responsibility of revitalizing the Senju Clan, Tsunade had consistently shown great resistance to the idea of becoming the Patriarch. Momoka had discussed it with Tsunade once before, but it ended in disagreement.
Momoka cherished Tsunade like a daughter and wanted her to find happiness, even if it meant not forcing her into a position she didn't desire. But without Tsunade as Hokage, how could the Senju Clan be revived? Momoka didn't see herself as a viable option for leading the clan.
As for Nawaki, she felt he had the ambition but lacked the talent and experience necessary to lead the clan. She hoped that Nawaki's hard work would lead to some achievements in the future, but he was still too young, and the decline of the Senju Clan seemed inevitable.
Regarding Kirito, Momoka had never seriously considered him for a leadership role in the clan. While she saw potential in him and regarded him almost like her own child, she knew others in the clan wouldn't easily accept him as a leader. Even though Kirito was Mito-sama's disciple, he wasn't a true Senju by blood. Momoka believed the affairs of the Senju Clan should be resolved within the clan itself.
However, after witnessing Kirito's Sage Mode, Momoka's perception of him began to shift. It was unrealistic to expect such a peerless genius to conform to her previous expectations. Kirito's potential far surpassed that of Tsunade and Nawaki. She realized he would inevitably rise to great heights, perhaps even surpassing them in time.
"Mito-sama, your foresight was truly remarkable. Senju Clan made an early investment, and it will undoubtedly reap unimaginable rewards in the future," Momoka thought, admiring Mito's wisdom.
The problem that had been weighing heavily on Momoka's heart remained unresolved, and she was unaware that Mito-sama, with her keen insight, had already found a solution.
In Konoha's Hokage Building and Hokage Office, an urgent high-level meeting convened swiftly as Momoka activated her authority as Hokage consultant.
As Momoka explained the reason for the urgent gathering, Hiruzen, Mitokado, and Koharu all displayed shocked expressions. They never expected Momoka, who harbored a strong disdain for the Uchiha clan, to advocate on their behalf.
"Am I hearing you correctly, Momoka ? Are you suggesting that the Uchiha clan should participate in the Kyuubi inheritance operation?" Mitokado's stared at Momoka with suspicion.
Is he under a genjutsu?
If they weren't in the Hokage's office, he would have thought the Momoka before him was an imposter. The woman he knew was staunchly against any favoritism towards the Uchiha clan.
"Yes, indeed. Virtually all powerful ninja clans have dispatched their elites for the Nine-Tails Inheritance Operation. As one of Konoha's prominent clans, the Uchiha clan should also contribute their elite ninjas," Momoka responded with conviction.
"I think you've lost your mind. How could we allow members of the Uchiha clan to participate in the Nine-Tails inheritance operation? Have you forgotten about the Kaleidoscope Sharingan? We can't afford to give the Uchiha clan an opportunity to regain control of the Nine-Tails," Koharu retorted angrily.
The Uchiha clan was a cause for vigilance, as her teacher, the Nidaime Hokage, once warned her. She held firmly to this belief, especially knowing the conditions for activating the Kaleidoscope Sharingan, which she believed posed a significant threat.
"Indeed. Even the slightest possibility is too great a risk. The Nine-Tails matter is of paramount importance, and there's no room for error," Mitokado agreed without hesitation.
"Momoka, you must provide compelling reasons to justify your stance. What you've said so far isn't convincing," the Sandaime added, his expression serious as he fixed his gaze on Momoka.
"Lord hokage, you must be aware of the recent developments reported on the action of iwagakure and Kumogakure. Shortly after their actions commenced, I received intelligence from our network. Both these villages are amassing ninjas on a large scale. What do you think could be their sudden motive?" Momoka's response carried more weight, having the benefit of recent intelligence.
Upon hearing Momoka's words, both Koharu and Mitokado expressions shifted, turning their attention to the Sandaime.
The sudden actions of iwagakure and Kumogakure, coinciding with the initiation of the Nine-Tails Inheritance operation on their end, hinted at a connection. It was clear to them that there was more at play than mere coincidence.
"It's true. Iwa and kumo significant ninja mobilizations are likely targeted at Konoha," the Sandaime acknowledged, his expression grim.
Upon hearing the Sandaime's affirmation, both Koharu and Mitokado expressions darkened further. The likelihood that iwagakure and Kumogakure posed a threat to Konoha became all too real.
"You've all heard it. Iwagakure and Kumogakure may be preparing to attack while we're preoccupied with fighting Sunagakure and making final preparations for the Nine-Tails Inheritance operation. Most of our forces are concentrated on the wind border, leaving our borders thinly defended. Our main base is focused on preparing for the Nine-Tails Inheritance operation, and we can't afford to divert too many resources. If iwagakure and Kumogakure do indeed launch an assault, we'll be at a severe disadvantage. However, there's still one resource in Konoha that remains untapped—the Uchiha clan, who were excluded from the Kyuubi inheritance operation," Momoka stated with a sly smile.
The Sandaime had already considered the idea, but he knew proposing it himself would be met with rejection. He had abandoned the notion of involving the Uchiha clan due to this.
However, Momoka's unexpected support for the idea provided a new perspective. With the Uchiha clan's support at the border, the pressure could be alleviated significantly.
"No, Sandaime, you must consider this carefully. Should the Uchiha clan sustain significant casualties, the Kaleidoscope Sharingan may emerge. Is that a risk you're willing to take?" Koharu interjected vehemently.
"Momoka's proposal may seem beneficial, but the dangers posed by the Kaleidoscope Sharingan are too great. If multiple instances were to emerge, the Uchiha clan could become uncontrollable. It's best to keep them within Konoha," Mitokado added tactfully.
The threat posed by the Kaleidoscope Sharingan was undeniable, even for theSandaime, who was at the height of his power. He heard their objections and felt his resolve waver.
"Seems like they're all afraid of the power of the Kaleidoscope Sharingan," Momoka remarked inwardly, observing the expressions of the Sandaime and the others.
Subsequently, she began to lay out the arguments Kirito had used to persuade her. She detailed the current demographics of the Uchiha clan, the number of Jonin and Chunin, their internal dissension towards Konoha, and the potential consequences of their rebellion.
Her words struck a chord with the other three, eliciting a profound realization.
As the discussion unfolded, the Sandaime's resolve began to waver, and the objections voiced by Koharu and Mitokado lost their vigor.
Eventually, koharu's, who had been staunchly opposing for the sake of opposition, fell silent, unable to offer a rebuttal in the face of Momoka's sobering revelation.
The silence of Mitokado and the Sandaime spoke volumes. They were not fools; they understood that Konoha's stability in recent years was largely attributed to Mito, a formidable ninja who effectively kept the Uchiha clan in check.
A significant factor preventing the Uchiha clan from following Uchiha Madara in the past was their assessment of his inability to defeat Konoha, guarded as it was by the legendary first Hokage
Madara Uchiha ultimately failed, and the Uchiha clan's allegiance typically gravitated towards those who demonstrated greater strength, as was inherent to their nature.
With both Senju hashirama and tobirama having passed away, the last remaining powerhouse in the Senju Clan capable of containing the Uchiha Clan was nearing the end of her days.
The looming question lingered: once Mito was gone, would the Uchiha clan continue to abide peacefully? Were they truly content with the status quo?
The unspoken concern hung heavy in the room, casting a shadow over the deliberations.
"Momoka, what does Kirito think of the Uchiha clan?"
The third generation was silent for a while, and suddenly asked a question that surprised the three Hokage consultants.
"He hopes that the Uchiha clan can integrate into Konoha in the future."
Momoka looked at the Sandaime in surprise, and then replied with a serious expression.
"Really, he is such a good boy. Well~, I have decided to let the Uchiha clan participate in this Nine-Tails inheritance operation."
The Sandaime smiled when he heard Momoka's answer, and finally made a decision.
"Hiruzen, she is crazy, are you crazy too, how can you make such an outrageous decision?" After turning to him, Koharu said in shock.
She couldn't understand what the Sandaime was thinking. Suddenly allowing the Uchiha clan to participate in the Kyuubi inheritance operation based on Kirito's influence seemed nonsensical to her.
Koharu was incredulous that an eight-year-old like Kirito could have such an impact on the Sandaime's judgment. In her view, Kirito's age and lack of significant contributions to Konoha made him an insignificant figure, incapable of influencing such important decisions.
While Koharu acknowledged Kirito's importance in the Kyuubi inheritance operation, she remained skeptical of his ability to sway the Sandaime's decision-making process. Despite recognizing Kirito's potential significance, she felt that his status was insufficient to serve as a credible bargaining chip.
Mitokado hamura also expressed puzzlement about the Sandaime decision. Like Koharu, he didn't believe an eight-year-old child like Kirito could hold such sway over Sandai's judgment.
"That's enough, Koharu, I'm not crazy. I know very well that if you are not Hokage, you will not understand how tense Konoha's military strength is now. Deploying ninjas from the Uchiha clan to support the border is the best choice at the moment," Sandaime's responded coldly to Koharu shock.
As Hokage, the Sandaime couldn't afford to be swayed by sentimentality. He had to consider the strategic implications of every decision. He understood the gravity of the situation and believed that deploying the Uchiha clan to support the border was the most prudent course of action.
The Sandaime had suspected that Momoka was persuaded by Kirito to act as a lobbyist. He knew about Kirito's visit to Uchiha Homura's house and was aware of loyalists within the Uchiha clan who hoped to use Kirito to facilitate their participation in the Kyuubi inheritance operation.
He recognized Senju Momoka's strong aversion to the Uchiha clan and understood that she would not easily agree to their involvement in the operation. However, if Kirito had presented her with an offer she couldn't refuse, the Sandaime knew that she would have agreed.
Sandaime was curious about the power that Kirito had alluded to, confident that it could potentially counter the threat posed by the Kaleidoscope Sharingan. He believed that this power, whatever it may be, would ultimately benefit Konoha and serve as a valuable asset for the Hokage family.
The Sandaime saw the Kyuubi inheritance operation as an opportunity for the Uchiha clan to integrate into Konoha. He hoped that their successful participation in the operation would help dispel suspicions about their allegiance and pave the way for their acceptance within the village.
Sandaime felt a sense of duty to fulfill his teacher's wishes and work towards integrating the Uchiha clan into Konoha. He was determined to seize this opportunity and ensure the clan's involvement in the Kyuubi inheritance operation.
"What about the Kaleidoscope Sharingan?" Momoka said herself. "Master Mito will be gone soon. Once the Uchiha clan once again has the power of the Kaleidoscope Sharingan, do you have the confidence to deal with it? Don't be too blindly confident," she cautioned, her tone serious.
Despite the determined stance of the three generations, Koharu remained steadfast in her concerns.
"Koharu's, have you ever really seen the Kaleidoscope Sharingan? Are you frightened without even seeing it? And in your eyes, is Konoha so vulnerable, are Konoha's juniors so untrustworthy?" Momoka retorted, her voice rising.
"Konoha has always been the cradle of genius, and the new Konoha buds are by no means weak," Momoka continued, her confidence unwavering. "Let's just talk about the three disciples taught by the three generations, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya. The three of them will definitely be the new pillars of Konoha in the future. Do you think that they can't deal with a pair of Kaleidoscope Sharingan alone in the future? Don't you have faith in their potential ?"
Momoka went on to list other notable ninjas within Konoha's ranks, emphasizing their loyalty and strength.
Koharu's face contorted with conflicting emotions, but when she felt the weight of the third generation's cold gaze, she relented, storming out angrily, her parting words laced with frustration.
"You will regret this ! "
"Im the.."
"Hiruzen, koharu's has no malicious intentions, she is just worried about Konoha, don't get me wrong," Mitokado interjected, attempting to smooth over the tension.
The Sandaime acknowledged Mitokado attempt to defuse the situation but remained visibly displeased with koharu's outburst.
As the meeting concluded, Mitokado hamura, recognizing the shifting dynamics within the leadership, departed with a sense of unease.
"We can't continue like this. If Hiruzen continues to be willful and continues to untie the shackles of the evil beast of the Uchiha clan, sooner or later he will be backlashed by the Uchiha clan," Mitokado hamura mused, troubled by the potential repercussions.
Alone with Momoka, the Sandaime shifted the conversation back to the Uchiha clan's participation in the Nine-Tails Inheritance Action, emphasizing the need to carefully consider the threat posed by the Kaleidoscope Sharingan.
"Of course, after all, there are some scum in every ninja village. We absolutely cannot let these scum have the opportunity to hurt Konoha in the future," Momoka asserted firmly, her demeanor turning cold.
When the third generations heard the words, a gratified smile appeared on his faces.
Well said, they absolutely cannot sit on the fact that these scum will have the opportunity to harm Konoha in the future.
Scum deserves to die!