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After assuring Fugaku that he wasn't there to seize power, the Third Hokage decisively led a group of men into the battlefield.
It was better than having Fugaku constantly on guard, afraid he would cause trouble.
Fugaku hadn't received any notification.
When someone reported the Third Hokage's arrival, Fugaku thought they were joking.
When he saw the Third Hokage's figure, he was dumbfounded.
The Third Hokage?
He racked his brains, but couldn't understand why the Third Hokage had come to the battlefield. And he hadn't received any notice from the village. Kazuki wouldn't do that to him.
Fortunately, the Third Hokage proactively stated he wasn't here to seize power, but for Iwagakure and Ōnoki.
Fugaku was half-convinced.
Knowing Fugaku wouldn't easily believe him, the Third Hokage said nothing more. He simply requested to take some men into the battlefield.
This relieved Fugaku, lessened his wariness, and he immediately sent word back to the village to ask.
Kazuki wasn't one to hurt his subordinates. He immediately reassured Fugaku, telling him the Third Hokage was just going after Iwagakure and Ōnoki. Give him some men, and then don't worry about it.
As for seizing power, it wasn't going to happen. Just focus on managing the camp.
Reassured, Fugaku finally relaxed.
He'd been worried about the Third Hokage coming to camp, causing trouble, and holding him back.
But wasn't the Third Hokage coming to the battlefield, going after Iwagakure and Ōnoki, risking becoming the second Third Raikage?
Don't be fooled by Ōnoki's small stature. He had immense courage.
Otherwise, how could he, while at war with Konoha, dispatch a large force to grind down the Third Raikage?
Someone else might not dare, but Ōnoki, given the chance, wouldn't hesitate.
If you gave him an opportunity, he would take it.
Besides, killing the Third Hokage was much easier than killing the Third Raikage.
To kill the Third Raikage, you had to wear him down with sheer numbers. But the Third Hokage...
To put it bluntly, once he fell into a trap, he was dead.
Forget it. Why think about it? It's none of my business. Since the Third Hokage dares to go to the battlefield, if something happens, it's not Uchiha Fugaku's fault.
Fugaku suspected Kazuki wanted the Third Hokage to die on the battlefield.
But he could only mutter such thoughts to himself. He couldn't say them aloud.
Otherwise, it would bring him trouble, and even the Uchiha would suffer.
"Give this scroll to the Intelligence Division. Have them send it out as soon as possible."
"Okay."
Izumi, wearing heels, took the scroll and trotted away.
Watching her retreating figure, Kazuki tilt his head. "Wearing shoes like that – doesn't she twist her ankle?"
"...."
Don't ask me. I don't know.
Shikaku, sitting nearby miserably helping with accounts, had a huge headache.
He'd been dragged to the Hokage's office early in the morning to help with calculations.
Slacking off was impossible.
You'd better work too.
"Lord Advisor, the scroll just sent – was it to Kumogakure?"
Shikaku didn't want to discuss women's footwear. It was pointless. So he changed the subject.
Scrolls needing Izumi, the Advisor's secretary, to personally deliver to the Intelligence Division weren't ordinary.
Shikaku easily guessed its destination.
"Yes." Kazuki didn't hide it. Opening a document, he nodded without looking up.
"It's for the Fourth Raikage. As allies, we should remind him to step it up. Look at Konoha – even the Third Hokage is personally on the battlefield. How can Kumogakure slack off?"
"...."
Kumogakure has been relentlessly attacking on the Land of Waterfalls battlefield. If anyone's slacking, it's us.
But Shikaku couldn't say that.
He could only silently thought to himself.
"Lord Advisor, I think there's something we need to take seriously."
Suddenly, Shikaku's tone shifted, becoming serious.
"Hmm?"
Kazuki looked up, glanced at his solemn face, and asked amusedly.
"What's so important that YOU being so serious? Worried about the Third Hokage-sama getting hurt on the battlefield?"
"Cough!"
Shikaku, who had just created a serious atmosphere, nearly choked on his own saliva. Completely deflated, he couldn't help but stand up, put his hands on the desk, and shout.
"Lord Advisor, please be serious! What I'm talking about isn't Lord Third. It's a village problem!!"
"Alright, alright. I'll be serious."
For some reason, the more serious Shikaku acted, the more Kazuki wanted to laugh.
One remark, and he's deflated. I don't want to laugh, but you're making me.
"....."
If you weren't the Hokage's Advisor, if I couldn't beat you, I'd want to smack you with a chair.
Black lines on his forehead, Shikaku clenched his fists, struggling to suppress the urge to curse.
"Fine. Go ahead. I won't laugh."
Suppressing his laughter, Kazuki tried to keep a straight face and reminded Shikaku to speak quickly.
Shikaku sighed in relief and said seriously.
"Lord Advisor, have you been in contact with Lady Hokage lately?"
"Tsunade?" Kazuki was taken aback. He rubbed his chin.
"No. She seems upset about me sending Naruto there, bothering her all day. So she hasn't contacted me. Even Shizune's contact is cut off. Probably Tsunade's doing. She's probably left the Land of Iron with Shizune and Naruto."
"Don't you see a problem?"
"Problem? What problem?"
Kazuki frowned slightly. Seeing Kazuki still clueless despite all the hints, Shikaku couldn't hold back.
"Lord Advisor, do you think it's right for the Hokage to be running around like this? Even if it's for healing."
"Alright."
Kazuki stopped pretending. He put down his document, spread his hands, and said helplessly.
"Have some new rumors been popping up lately?"
"Yes." Shikaku also frowned.
"With Lady Hokage away from the village for so long, many people have expressed dissatisfaction. Some even suspect she's been killed."
Were people being led?
No. If someone was deliberately doing this, Shikaku would have dealt with it immediately, not come to Kazuki.