**Chapter 164: Greed Stirs the Heart**

"Good, very good!" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the intelligence report in front of him, a smile appearing on his aging face.

Ever since the Uchiha clan became independent and founded Fire Hidden Village, Hiruzen had rarely smiled. 

Moreover, because of Fire Hidden Village, both Cloud Village and Stone Village had given up their plans to attack the Leaf Village.

With this thought, Hiruzen became more and more sullen. 

Uchiha Itsuki! 

Uchiha Itsuki! 

Uchiha Itsuki! 

If only it were possible, Hiruzen Sarutobi would go back in time. 

He wanted to strangle Uchiha Itsuki with his own hands! 

How had he not realized back then that Itsuki was a curse in the making?

Was it possible that he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, lacked the foresight that Danzo had? 

Impossible! 

Even his teacher acknowledged him. 

He was the best. 

Danzo? Just a small fry!

Danzo's feud with Uchiha Itsuki was personal.

But he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, always acted for the greater good! 

At that time, it wasn't appropriate to eliminate Uchiha Itsuki. 

Yes! That was it! 

He couldn't let personal grudges affect the bigger picture. 

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, and then…

"Bang!"

He kicked the table in front of him with great force.

To hell with the "bigger picture."

Uchiha Itsuki—if I ever get the chance, I'll scatter your ashes to the winds.

However, Hiruzen's kick had been a little too forceful, and he pulled something… painful.

"Hissss!"

He sucked in a sharp breath, trying to ease the pain.

"Hokage-sama!"

An ANBU member entered and, seeing Hiruzen's expression, frowned. "Father, did you hurt yourself again?"

"Get out!"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke sighed, "Father, you need to control your temper. It's been two years, and that injury of yours still hasn't healed. Even the medical-nin are at their wit's end."

He was utterly exasperated.

After the surgery, Hiruzen Sarutobi had lost one of his testicles.

As a result, he was easily provoked and frequently lashed out in anger, often reinjuring himself in the process.

The wound, barely healed, would be torn open again.

Two years. Two years, and the wound still hadn't fully healed. Can you believe it?

Sarutobi Shinnosuke thought, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it either.

Unbelievable!

"Medical-nin!"

He shouted.

Immediately, the medical-nin stationed in the Hokage Building rushed in. Without needing any words, they spread Hiruzen's legs and reached toward the affected area.

Of course, their hands glowed with healing chakra.

After three minutes, Hiruzen twitched slightly.

The medical-nin packed up their supplies and left.

Routine, at this point.

Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long sigh. "You don't understand. I did it on purpose."

"You sure have some… unique hobbies," Sarutobi Shinnosuke muttered.

"Hmph!" Hiruzen snorted coldly. "It's to remind myself of the humiliation Uchiha Itsuki inflicted on me."

"...You're something else."

"Is everyone gathered?" Hiruzen asked.

"They're ready."

"Let's go!"

Hiruzen led Shinnosuke into the conference room in the office building.

Dozens of people were already waiting.

"Everyone," Hiruzen started, getting straight to the point, "We're mobilizing against Fire Hidden Village."

No one seemed surprised.

Everyone had their own sources of information. 

The fact that Fire Hidden Village had made a move against the Daimyo wasn't exactly a secret.

To fight a ninja, only a ninja would suffice. 

The Daimyo would surely ask for their help.

And they couldn't avoid deploying troops.

Shikaku Nara frowned. "Can't we resolve this through negotiations?"

Hiruzen replied indifferently, "Shikaku has a good suggestion. Why don't you go? I'm sure Uchiha would love to see you."

When the Uchiha defected, the Third Hokage had sent Shikaku to pursue them.

Shikaku hadn't even come close to catching a single one.

The Third Hokage still held a grudge about that.

Shikaku remained calm. "I don't object to protecting the Daimyo and the nobles. I'm just reminding you, Hokage-sama, that Stone Village and Cloud Village are watching us closely. Are you sure they won't interfere while we're fighting Fire Hidden Village?"

"And!" 

"Don't forget, Hokage-sama, Uchiha Itsuki is a Flying Thunder God user. Can you deal with that technique?"

"Also, that woman last time—she dropped millions of explosive tags on us. Do you think that was all she had? What if she does it again? What's our plan then?"

As Shikaku spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face grew darker and darker.

Damn it! 

How hadn't he realized the Flying Thunder God was so powerful when Minato was still around? 

If Minato had Itsuki's skillset, I might've unified the entire ninja world with just one push.

Then I would've become the third legendary ninja, alongside Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.

Hiruzen took a deep breath and said coldly, "That's why, this time, we're going all out. We'll break through Fire Hidden Village as quickly as possible."

"All out!?"

"Yes!"

Hiruzen said icily, "The Leaf will gather ten thousand ninja to flatten Fire Hidden Village. I don't believe Uchiha Itsuki can escape."

"Are you insane?"

Shikaku stood up, furious. "Ten thousand ninja? If the Leaf loses that many, do you think Cloud and Stone will just stand by and do nothing?"

Hiruzen stared coldly at him. "Which is why we need the perfect timing."

As he spoke, Shikaku's eyes widened in shock.

"This… This…"

"It's too risky!" 

Shikaku breathed heavily. "If word gets out, the Leaf will be doomed."

"Then don't let it get out!"

Hiruzen felt a sharp pain below, his face growing even colder. He spoke in a chilling tone. "Everyone here is a pillar of the Leaf. I trust you all. And I know you won't let me down."

Everyone exchanged glances, remaining silent.

"What about the Daimyo?"

"Send five thousand ninja to Fire Hidden Village and force Uchiha Itsuki back! If he doesn't return, we'll take down the village."

Hiruzen made the decision without hesitation.

Everyone was stunned once again.

Not because Hiruzen's plan was bad—in fact, it was quite sound.

But!

Was this really Hiruzen Sarutobi? 

Even Danzo looked at him in shock.

When did my old friend become so decisive? 

To make such a firm decision so quickly?

Something's off! 

Could it be that losing a testicle has sent him back to his prime from thirty years ago? 

I lost one too—why didn't it happen to me?

Or perhaps, Hiruzen lost more than just one?

…

Dragon's Treasure City!

This was a large city in the Land of Fire, rich in resources and heavily populated.

At this moment, Itsuki had already taken control of it.

The usual procedure followed: all the nobles were hanged, and their wealth and resources were taken for Itsuki's own use.

"Mokage-sama!"

Hayate Gekkō approached Itsuki and whispered, "Other ninja and nations have learned about our actions against the Land of Fire. They've sent spies into this city. Everything we've done here..."

The enemy had quite a few spies.

Some were even skilled in secret techniques.

Everything the Fire Hidden Village ninjas had done was essentially under the enemy's watchful eye.

And the amount of wealth they had accumulated...

Greed stirs the heart!

"Don't worry. Let them watch. Let them spread the news across the entire ninja world!"

But Itsuki only smiled and waved his hand. "That's exactly what I want."

"Huh?"

Hayate Gekkō was puzzled.

What does he mean by that?

(Chapter End)