"Hmph!" Kushina glared at Kazuki in dissatisfaction.

He wouldn't even speak up for her. Were they still her best friends?

However, seeing that Mito also wouldn't allow her to refuse, she didn't say much, only cautioning Kazuki, "Kazuki, when you go to the Land of Water, you must teach those Kirigakure ninjas a good lesson. Those guys are detestable!"

Kushina still held a grudge against Kirigakure. If she could, she wanted to personally seek revenge in Kirigakure, but she probably wouldn't be able to leave Konoha.

"I'll do my best. Don't worry, Kushina."

As if remembering something, Kazuki said to Kushina, "Oh, right, when I go there, I'll see if anyone took the Uzumaki clan. If possible, I'll break into Kirigakure and rescue them for you."

"Ah? You're going to break into Kirigakure?" Kushina immediately became anxious.

"Kazuki, don't take risks. If something happened to them, it happened. If you can rescue them, then do so, but if you can't, then just let it be."

Kushina did have feelings for the Uzumaki clan, but that was only a bloodline connection. Her direct relatives had all died in front of her during that war.

If it came down to it, Mito, Tsunade, and Nawaki were her closest blood relatives at the moment.

This point was actually somewhat similar to Kazuki. Kazuki didn't have much emotion for the Uchiha clan. Of course, if he could save the Uchiha clan, he wouldn't mind lending a hand.

Only when he became the Uchiha clan head would this force be considered his own. He needed a Uchiha who would work for him, not a Uchiha who would constantly drag him down from behind.

In Kazuki's current situation, it wasn't about him being proud of Uchiha, but about making Uchiha proud of him.

He was working hard in the front, but those guys did nothing and just wanted to reap the benefits. How could it be that easy?

However, Kushina's words left Mito speechless.

Some things, even if you know them, shouldn't be said aloud. Of course, Mito wouldn't be dissatisfied because of it.

In her opinion, it was the best news that Kushina could move on.

"By the way, Rinka, can you leave Konoha?" Kazuki then asked Rinka.

"I can. They can't control me." Rinka naturally understood what Kazuki meant.

As a member of the Hyuga clan, Rinka couldn't just leave Konoha whenever she wanted. The Hyuga clan valued the Byakugan greatly. The last time, the Hyuga clan almost went to the Hokage Office to demand an explanation.

This time, they were going to the Land of Water. Who knew what attitude the Hyuga clan would have?

Of course, this couldn't change Rinka's determination to get stronger.

She didn't want to end up like other Hyuga clan members, being bred like livestock.

The main family certainly had a high status, but that wasn't the life she wanted, and besides, her own strength wasn't bad, was it?

"Good!"

Hearing Rinka's words, Kazuki said no more.

He simply waved his hand, signaling them to prepare and then follow him to the Land of Water for the mission.

As for Tatsuya, others would naturally be informed.

Fortunately, there was everything in this small courtyard, including everyone's clothes and food, so there was no need to go back to their homes to pack.

…

On the other side, Hiruzen had summoned the clan heads of Konoha's various clans and the high-ranking officials from various Konoha departments to the meeting room in the Hokage office.

When Hiruzen entered the meeting room with Koharu and Homura, the atmosphere immediately became quiet.

Although most people didn't yet know about Kirigakure declaring war on Konoha, they knew that something big must have happened, otherwise Hiruzen wouldn't have called so many of them.

Fortunately, Hiruzen didn't make them wait long. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NoᴠᴇFɪre.nᴇt

After sitting down, he spoke directly, "Just recently, Kirigakure declared war on Konoha."

"What?"

"Bastards! How dare they do that? Do they really think Konoha is easy to bully?"

"Fight! We must teach Kirigakure a good lesson."

For a time, the meeting room was abuzz with discussion. Although the village was still at war with Sunagakure, this was based on the fact that Konoha hadn't taken it seriously yet.

Konoha's disdain for Sunagakure was well-founded. They were nothing more than a bunch of weaklings. Konoha hadn't even gotten serious yet and could already fight Sunagakure to a standstill. What did they have to fight Konoha?

But now Kirigakure had come. Did they really think Konoha was easy to bully?

"Cough cough!" Hiruzen let out a light cough.

"Since Kirigakure has declared war, Konoha naturally cannot ignore it."

After speaking, Hiruzen scanned everyone present and said, "Konoha belongs to all Konoha people. I hope everyone here shows their commitment, rather than being greedy."

"What's the big deal? My Uchiha clan is willing to send two hundred Uchiha ninjas to the battlefield."

The Uchiha clan head was just looking for an opportunity to boost Fugaku's achievements.

Fugaku's strength and talent might genuinely not compare to Kazuki's, but he was the Uchiha clan head, and the resources in his hands were incomparable to Kazuki's.

He didn't believe that Kazuki alone could achieve more than half of the Uchiha clan combined.

Could it be that Kazuki was already comparable to Madara?

"Very good."

Hiruzen knew what the Uchiha clan head was thinking, but he didn't object.

They would never know how strong Kazuki truly was.

If Kazuki really wanted to gain prestige, he only needed to make a splash on the battlefield.

At his current level of strength, he could obtain the power many people dreamed of.

In fact, if it weren't for the First Hokage, Madara could have acted recklessly based on his strength.

"The Hyuga clan will send 200 ninjas."

Since the Uchiha clan had made their stance, the Hyuga clan, which competed with Uchiha for the title of the top clan, naturally dared not fall behind.

"The Mitokado clan will send 100 ninjas."

"The Utatane Clan will send 100 ninjas."

"Ino–Shika–Chō will send 500 ninjas."

"The Sarutobi clan will send 300 ninjas."