Chapter 148: Hope Konoha Can Make the Sacrifice!

The next day.

Due to the signing of the ceasefire agreement, Konoha and Cloud Village achieved peace, temporarily eliminating external threats.

Therefore, the Chunin Exam, which was originally planned to be cancelled, was resumed.

For three days.

As the Genin participant sent by the Uchiha clan, Izumi lived up to expectations, overcoming all obstacles and successfully advancing to the finals.

At the Chunin Exam venue.

The audience was packed, the atmosphere was heated, and thousands of people witnessed the final match.

For the two Genin fighting on the field, this was a tough battle.

In the end.

Thud.

The dark-skinned, tall Cloud ninja fell to his knees due to exhaustion of chakra, and could only admit defeat unwillingly.

The champion was born, it was Uchiha Izumi.

In the audience, there was an immediate uproar of cheers that reached the sky.

As the host, defeating the formidable opponent, the Raikage, and keeping this championship on home soil was undoubtedly an inspiring event for Konoha at the moment.

Therefore.

No matter how unpopular the Uchiha clan was in the village, Izumi, who defended Konoha's honor with blood and sweat on the field, deserved such cheers.

"Heh...heh."

In the field, Izumi, holding her kunai and panting, the three tomoe in her eyes gradually faded, revealing a relieved smile.

She looked towards the sidelines, where Itachi stood up from the front row of the audience and smiled at her.

In addition to Itachi, there were also the Uchiha clan members like Fugaku, Mikoto, and others who had come to the scene today to cheer her on.

It was because of everyone's encouragement that Izumi bravely fought to the end.

At the top of the stands, there was a plaque that read "The Best in the World."

Below the plaque were the Third Raikage and the Third Hokage, dressed in robes and wearing Kage hats.

When the competition results were settled, the Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief, his constantly furrowed brows finally relaxed, and a sincere smile appeared on his old face.

It was good to win.

Seeing Cloud Village lose the final match, the Fourth Raikage didn't show any unpleasant expression, but laughed heartily, praising magnanimously:

"What a perfect Chunin Exam, the splendid performances of the Genin have given the audience a feast for the eyes. Especially Uchiha Izumi, who activated the three tomoe Sharingan at the age of eleven and defeated all the Genin of Cloud Village, she is a rare genius."

"Hehe, Raikage, you flatter us."

The Third Hokage stroked his beard.

The Fourth Raikage's eyes flashed, and he continued:

"I heard that the first place in Konoha's Chunin Exam last year was also a genius from the Uchiha clan, named Itachi. Tsk tsk, the Uchiha clan is famous in the ninja world, no wonder even Pain, who claims to be a god, didn't dare to invade and had to obediently sign a peace agreement with Konoha. Having the Uchiha clan, Konoha is truly enviable."

His remarks were full of praise for the Uchiha.

Upon hearing this, the Third Hokage frowned slightly, then responded with a smile:

"Raikage, you are misinformed. The one who represented Konoha in the negotiations with Rain Village was my disciple Jiraiya, who single-handedly entered Rain Village and persuaded Pain with his strength."

The implication was that the peace agreement had nothing to do with the Uchiha.

To this, the Fourth Raikage neither agreed nor disagreed.

He seemed particularly interested in the Uchiha clan and quickly brought them up again to the Third Hokage, saying:

"Before the Warring States period, the Uchiha were a powerful clan in the Land of Lightning, and only later moved south to the Land of Fire, where they established Konoha with the Senju."

The Third Hokage nodded.

Being knowledgeable, he naturally understood the history of the Uchiha clan.

A hundred years ago.

The Uchiha clan was once hired by the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning to help suppress rebellions and eliminate opposition. Their most famous deed was exiling the Chinoike Clan to the Hell Valley of the Land of Hot Water.

They were notorious.

Thinking of this, the Third Hokage couldn't help but sigh in his heart:

Ah, why couldn't the Uchiha clan stay in Cloud Village, why did they have to come and cause trouble in Konoha?

However.

Why did the Raikage suddenly bring this up? What did he want to say?

Just as the Third Hokage was guessing, the Fourth Raikage, after a long preamble, finally showed his hand.

"I heard that the Uchiha clan is not doing well in Konoha and has been pushed to the edge of the village. So..."

The Raikage stood up from his seat, his eyes staring intently at the Third Hokage, "If one day the Uchiha want to return home and decide to leave Konoha to return to Cloud Village, I hope that at that time, Konoha can make the sacrifice!"

"!" The Third Hokage was taken aback.

He knew that the Raikage had visited the Uchiha clan yesterday. Was this what they had been discussing privately?

Coming back to his senses.

The Third Hokage's face became serious, and he immediately retorted righteously: "There's no such thing!

The Uchiha clan owns a large amount of land and industry in Konoha, and the number of Jonin in the clan is the highest in the village. Moreover, Dan holds the position of Hokage's assistant and is deeply trusted by me.

I don't know where you heard these rumors, Raikage, but I firmly believe that the Uchiha and the village are united."

The Fourth Raikage just laughed: "It seems I was overthinking."

After saying that, he bid farewell to the Third Hokage and turned to leave.

Watching the retreating figure of the Raikage, the Third Hokage's face gradually darkened, as if covered with a layer of frost.

He stood up without saying a word, left the venue, and headed towards the Hokage building.

Along the way.

The Third Hokage was deep in thought.

To be honest, if the Uchiha really wanted to leave Konoha, the Third Hokage wouldn't stop them.

Because from the beginning, the Uchiha were the biggest ticking time bomb in Konoha.

From the First Hokage's era with Uchiha Madara, to the Second Hokage's era with the Police Force, and then to the Third Hokage's era with Obito and Shisui, this clan always produced troublesome individuals who threatened Konoha's peace and tranquility.

The root cause is that the Uchiha do not recognize the Will of Fire.

In the Third Hokage's view.

If Konoha were to lose the Uchiha, the village's strength would definitely decline in the short term, but in the long run, it would definitely be more beneficial for Konoha's stability and development.

However, after the Uchiha split from Konoha, if they went out to establish their own village, that would be one thing, at most they would become another Uzumaki clan.

But if the Uchiha, as the Fourth Raikage said, joined Cloud Village, it would undoubtedly add wings to the tiger that is Cloud Village.

At that time, if Cloud Village launched a war and joined forces with the Uchiha to invade Konoha—

The consequences would be unimaginable.

For this reason, the Third Hokage sternly refuted the Raikage, hoping to dispel his thoughts.

The question is, what to do next?

Should he continue to win over the Uchiha, keep them in Konoha, and prevent them from siding with Cloud Village?

But for the Third Hokage, he had already given the Uchiha all the benefits he could in terms of land, money, and power. If he were to increase his stake, it seemed that all that was left was...

The position of Hokage.

And this was the line the Third Hokage would not cross.

Only the Hokage could not be an Uchiha, otherwise Konoha would exist in name only.

Just as the Third Hokage was indecisive.

Danzo appeared.

"Hiruzen, the worst-case scenario has occurred. The Uchiha have joined forces with Cloud Village and are about to overthrow Konoha. We must strike first this time, or it will be too late!"

As soon as Danzo started speaking, he urged the Third Hokage to take action against the Uchiha.

The Third Hokage shook his head:

"Danzo, you're exaggerating again. As far as I know, the Raikage just wants to win over the Uchiha to join Cloud Village. The situation is not as serious as you think."

"Hmph."

Danzo immediately sneered, saying solemnly, "I have obtained evidence of the Uchiha's collusion with the enemy."

"What evidence?" the Third Hokage asked.

"You should know that there's a woman named Samui around Uchiha Dan. That woman's true identity is a Cloud ninja. For the past three years, she has been passing information between the Uchiha and Cloud Village, acting as a go-between!"

Dan was not well-known before.

So, no one paid attention to him, let alone investigated Samui, who was with him.

But now, Dan has become a target, and his "lover" Samui naturally couldn't escape the attention of those with ulterior motives.

In fact.

Danzo only suspected that Samui might be from Cloud Village, and didn't have any actual evidence.

But suspicion was enough.

"What?!"

The Third Hokage was indeed surprised when he heard this news.

Seeing the Third Hokage wavering, Danzo seized the opportunity to continue his analysis:

"The Raikage's visit to participate in the Chunin Exam this time is clearly just a cover. The real purpose is to collude with the Uchiha and plan to overthrow Konoha.

No matter what he told you, it's all just to deceive you, the Hokage.

According to my deduction, as soon as the Raikage returns to Cloud Village, he will gather his forces and invade Konoha from the south! By then, with the Uchiha and Cloud Village working together from within and without, Konoha will be in an irreparable situation!"

The Third Hokage was more and more alarmed as he listened.

"Hiruzen, I suggest—

As soon as the people from Cloud Village leave, immediately send someone to arrest Samui, hand her over to the Intelligence Division for interrogation, and then announce to the whole village the evidence of the

Uchiha's collusion with the enemy!

As long as we mobilize the power of the entire village to eradicate the Uchiha clan, Cloud Village, without their inside help, will not dare to wage war against Konoha again.

Hiruzen, this is our last chance, we must not let Konoha fall into the hands of the Uchiha and Cloud Village!"

Danzo became more and more excited as he spoke, urging the Third Hokage to make a decision and not hesitate any longer.

After listening to Danzo's impassioned words.

The Third Hokage took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, his face more serious than ever before.

He lowered his head, pondered for a long while, and finally spoke slowly: "Alright, let's do as you say, first arrest Samui. However, I will personally go to the Intelligence Division to observe the interrogation process, to confirm whether the Uchiha clan is indeed colluding with Cloud Village. After that, we will decide on the next course of action."

After dismissing Danzo. the Third Hokage called in Team Six of the Anbu.

Kakashi and Tenzo entered the office, knelt on one knee, and saluted, "Hokage-sama."

"Kakashi, how's your condition?"

The Third Hokage asked with concern, learning that Kakashi was fine, just that he would have to be a one-eyed man for a while until a suitable eye for transplantation was found.

Afterwards.

The Third Hokage's eyes became very serious, and he said to the two in front of him:

"I have a task for you, this concerns... the survival of Konoha."

Kakashi and Tenzo were shocked when they heard this.

Arresting Samui, this mission was both difficult and risky, and had to be handled with extreme caution, because if they alarmed Uchiha Shisui, given his personality, he would surely cause a huge commotion.

Therefore, the Third Hokage entrusted this task to his most trusted subordinates.

He believed that Kakashi could complete the mission.