Chapter 55 Something Exciting!

"Clan leader, if we truly aim to unify the entire ninja world, we'll need a strategic base," one of the older clansmen suggested, his voice tinged with urgency. He stood up, eyes filled with ambition. "We have the strength now. Why not seize a country immediately?"

"That's right!" Another clansman jumped to his feet, emboldened by the momentum. "We've come so far, and with the power we've amassed, we can easily take control of a smaller nation. That way, we wouldn't have to waste time rebuilding from the ground up!"

The excitement in the room flared as more voices chimed in agreement. Some were eager, others more measured, but the energy was unmistakable—a collective anticipation for what lay ahead.

Kaito, seated at the head of the room, raised a hand, silencing the growing fervor. His eyes swept the room, sharp and calculating. "All of you, sit down."

The clansmen immediately complied, their eyes never leaving Kaito, who exuded an aura of quiet authority.

Once everyone had settled, Kaito's lips curled into a faint smile, his gaze lingering on the expectant faces before him. "So, you believe it's time we take a country. But tell me—what nation do you think we should conquer first?"

The question hung in the air for a moment, as if Kaito were inviting them to think beyond just power, to consider the broader implications of their actions. The silence was brief, though, as one of the more strategic-minded clansmen spoke up.

"The Land of Waterfall( Takigakure no Sato)!" His voice was filled with certainty. "They're the strongest small nation beneath the Five Great Shinobi Countries, and they house the Seven-Tails! With your Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Patriarch, controlling a tailed beast would be effortless."

Several heads nodded, faces lighting up at the prospect. "That's true," another clansman added. "With the power of a tailed beast at our disposal, combined with our own strength, taking over the rest of the nation would be a mere formality."

But just as the idea gained traction, another voice cut through the air, cautious but firm. "The Land of Waterfall may be weak," the younger man began, "but it's also surrounded by hostile forces—the Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Iron. If we start a war there, we'll be dragged into conflicts on multiple fronts. It's too dangerous."

The atmosphere shifted, the earlier excitement tempered by the hard reality of the situation. "That's true," agreed another, brow furrowed in thought. "We can't afford to be reckless."

A ripple of unease passed through the room as the conversation steered toward the risks. The ambition remained, but the tone grew more somber.

Kaito, his expression unreadable, watched the debate unfold with quiet amusement. It was a test, one they didn't realize they were undergoing.

One of the more practical clansmen spoke up, "Besides, the reason we're here on the eastern border is clear. The western territories have lost their value. We need to focus on the east." He paused, scanning the room for support, and soon the others nodded in agreement.

"In the east, we have five options: the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Waves, the Land of Whirlpools, the Land of Tea, and the Land of Rainbow. We need to choose one that will give us the most advantage."

Immediately, voices rose as suggestions flew across the room, each person eager to present their own strategy.

"The Land of Waves is a perfect target! It's a small island nation—isolated. We can build our power in secret, away from the prying eyes of the larger nations."

"No, the Land of Waves is too impoverished! It would take us decades to develop it into something worthwhile!"

"Then the Land of Whirlpools. It was once home to the Uzumaki Clan and is rich in resources. We can restore it and grow our power from there."

"But the Land of Whirlpools has been allied with Konoha for generations. Even if we conquer it, the people won't easily bend to our rule. Their loyalty to Konoha runs deep—they could turn on us the moment an opportunity arises!"

"What about the Land of Rainbow—"

"Too remote," another cut in. "And with the Land of Water nearby, we'll face opposition from the Hidden Mist Village. They won't sit idly by while we expand our influence."

As the debate grew more heated, the room descended into a cacophony of voices, each vying to outdo the other. Some spoke of strategy, others of power and conquest, but no consensus emerged. For all their ambition, the clansmen were divided, their conflicting ideas grinding the conversation to a halt.

Then, amid the noise, a single, hesitant voice broke through.

"Why not... the Land of Water?"

Uchiha Izumi, one of the youngest members of the clan, had raised her hand cautiously, her words barely above a whisper. The room fell silent at once, every pair of eyes turning toward her.

For a moment, there was disbelief—shock that someone so junior would suggest something so audacious. The Uchiha Clan was proud, but even they knew better than to think they could take on the Land of Water, with its formidable Hidden Mist Village and its ruthless army of nearly 10,000 shinobi. The idea was beyond reckless—it was madness.

Just as someone opened their mouth to correct her, another voice rang out, clear and calm. "That's right. The Land of Water is the perfect target."

All heads swiveled toward the source of the voice—Kaito himself. His words were met with stunned silence. No one could believe what they were hearing.

"P-Patriarch," one of the older clansmen stammered, his voice trembling with disbelief, "surely you're not serious?"

Kaito's smirk deepened, and his eyes gleamed with cold confidence. "Of course I'm serious. We're not here to make small moves. If we're truly committed to uniting the ninja world under our banner, why not start with a bold statement? The Land of Water will be our first conquest."

The room was thick with tension. Everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting for someone to speak, to question the audacity of the plan.

"B-but, Patriarch," Uchiha Setsuna, one of the more seasoned elders, stood up slowly, his voice steady but filled with caution. "We must be realistic. Our numbers are too small. Out of the 200 Uchiha who followed you, many are either too old or too young to fight. Only 50 of us are Jōnin-level, the rest Chūnin at best. And the Hidden Mist has had decades to build its strength. They've nearly 10,000 shinobi at their command. Taking the Land of Water... at this point, it's impossible."

There was a murmur of agreement from the others. Sestuna had spoken their fears out loud—conquering the Land of Water seemed like a suicide mission.

But Kaito remained unfazed. He leaned back in his chair, eyes scanning the room, reading the unease in every face. "Impossible, you say?"

His voice was soft, but it carried a weight that silenced the murmurs. "I don't engage in battles I'm not certain I can win. Do you honestly think I haven't considered all of this?" He stood, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. "I never do anything without a plan. So why don't you all listen to my strategy first?"

The room, thick with tension, fell silent once more. Each clansman looked at Kaito, their earlier doubts now mixed with a glimmer of hope.

Perhaps, just perhaps, their patriarch had seen a path that they hadn't.