Naruto: Fooling the Ninja World, I'm Hailed as a Savior

"Third Hokage."

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was deep in thought, Akimichi Doto, who had mostly recovered, asked hoarsely, "Is war coming?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts were interrupted. Hearing Akimichi Doto's question, he couldn't help but sigh. "Yes," he replied. "At least, for now, that's how it is."

"We… cough cough! Cough!"

Akimichi Doto immediately felt a heaviness in his chest. He opened his mouth to say something but started coughing violently, staining the white bedsheet with flecks of blood.

"Doto-senpai, don't speak!"

Hyuga Kawa quickly stood up, taking out a tissue to wipe the saliva and blood from his mouth, then helped him lie back down by his arm.

Immediately after, Hyuga Kawa looked at the silent Hiruzen Sarutobi, a hint of anger appearing on his face.

He said, "Third Hokage, the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Stone are pushing their luck again and again. We can't hesitate any longer!"

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, then let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "You're still young, you don't understand what war means…"

"No, I do."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words were interrupted before he could finish. He subconsciously looked up, meeting a pair of pure eyes filled with resolve and determination. "No one wants to face cruel war. My mother and father both died on the battlefield." The two met each other's gaze. Hyuga Kawa said solemnly, "But we have retreated again and again, and we have nowhere left to retreat!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes paused slightly. He slowly said, "Why…"

"Because behind us is Konoha, our families and friends!" Hyuga Kawa said, enunciating each word. "Third Hokage, please give the order. Even if it's just me, I am willing to stand on the front lines."

"They want war, so we'll give them war!"

At these words, the entire hospital room fell into a deathly silence. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Akimichi Doto all looked at Hyuga Kawa, their gazes slightly stunned, a strange stirring rising within their previously shrinking hearts.

They could hardly believe that these words came from the mouth of a fifteen-year-old boy. These adults and old folks seemed to be less than a child.

"…Kawa."

After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have made a decision. His slightly luminous eyes met Hyuga Kawa's. He said seriously, "These words, would you dare to say them to others again?"

"Yes," Hyuga Kawa nodded without hesitation.

Koharu Utatane, who was beside them, seemed to realize something and couldn't help but say, "Hiruzen, you're not thinking of…"

"Yes," Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "I'm going to take this child to the jōnin meeting."

"Third Hokage, how can that be!"

Hearing this, Akimichi Doto's expression changed slightly, and he blurted out instinctively.

As a member born into a ninja clan, he understood those who were also born into ninja clans all too well.

Even among the Akimichi clan, who were staunch supporters of the Hokage, there were still many who only cared about their own and their clan's interests, refusing to sacrifice their lives for Konoha as a whole.

To put it bluntly, this was the "inherent weakness" of ninja clans. The power of ninja clans was not only derived from wealth and military strength, but more importantly, from their monopoly on knowledge and culture such as ninjutsu and secret techniques.

Ninjutsu was very precious, and it was difficult for ninjas of commoner origin to acquire it. Only ninja clans could firmly grasp these resources through internal family traditions and education.

Coupled with the mutual trust and support within the ninja clans, they formed a powerful and extensive social network. This network not only helped them gain higher political status but also consolidated their social influence, forming a fragile balance with the "Kage."

But that was all.

"Doto-senpai," Hyuga Kawa said calmly, "I want to go."

Looking at Hyuga Kawa, whose expression was calm and determined, Akimichi Doto and Koharu Utatane felt a pang of emotion.

To think that the Hyuga clan, typically so hidebound, could produce a member who cast aside their clan's views.

Akimichi Doto, after all, had been a comrade of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Under his influence, his sense of belonging to Konoha already surpassed his allegiance to his family.

Koharu Utatane, under the influence of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was even more so. It was precisely for this reason that they understood what Hyuga Kawa's choice meant.

Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally knew this as well, and so his gaze towards Hyuga Kawa became even gentler. "Then let's go," he said, patting Hyuga Kawa's shoulder, then gently squeezing it with satisfaction. "Don't worry, you're not alone."

He was, after all, the Third Hokage, and had not yet reached the point of complete decay. Hyuga Kawa was right.

Since they couldn't avoid it, they couldn't hesitate any longer. He now had to act before the Hidden Cloud Village could react, first fabricating the Hidden Cloud Village as the aggressor, mobilizing the anger of the Konoha ninjas and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, and drawing a portion of ninjas from the ninja clans to form a vanguard unit.

But it was not easy to "pull teeth" from those ninja clans. Even as Hokage, he couldn't force them to send their clan members to die on the battlefield, otherwise, it would certainly alienate those clans, making them follow orders but not truly comply.

If Hyuga Kawa, a young ninja from a ninja clan, took the initiative to step forward, the situation would be different. But this also meant that Hyuga Kawa would become the "tallest tree," and it meant he would betray the Hyuga clan and even the ninja clan faction.

It meant a complete severance from the Hyuga clan, arguably even abandoning his surname and the resources the Hyuga clan had provided him.

One must remember that before Hyuga Hiashi's death, he had entrusted Hyuga Kawa to Hyuga Hiashi, and the resources Kawa could obtain from the clan in the future were far beyond what ordinary ninjas could compare to.

Therefore, this was by no means an easy decision or choice, which was why Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two were so surprised and pleased.

So, was Hyuga Kawa truly that noble and selfless?

Click.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reached out and pushed open the door to the conference room. The lights cast his shadow onto the wall, along with the shadow of the figure following behind him.

Under the conference room lights, not only were their two shadows cast, but along the walls on either side, rows of swaying human silhouettes were imprinted—some old, some young, some mediocre and simple, others ambitious.

The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi walked in, everyone present stood up in unison.

"Third Hokage."

Various voices now sounded together, their tones either anxious, profound, or questioning. Although some still didn't understand the reason for this meeting, those with intelligence channels had already made their guesses.

Therefore, this collective "Third Hokage" felt more like an oppressive force. A unanimous, unspoken pressure on Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage.