Those words made Shikamaru, who was staying nearby trying not to make a sound, tremble. He accidentally knocked over a water glass, which shattered on the ground into glass shards.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
The usually calm and clever Shikamaru looked very much like a typical seven-year-old child at this moment.
Shikaku stopped Shikamaru from trying to squat down and pick up the glass shards. Looking at the broken glass on the ground, it was as worthless as Konoha would be after a village-wide massacre.
He took a breath, his expression becoming incredibly solemn as he stared into Hiromi's eyes. "Are you serious?"
Hiromi smiled slightly. "As long as they grasp the opportunity I give them."
Immediately after, he stood up. It looked as though he was about to leave. This made Shikaku understand Hiromi even less.
However, after this period of time, he knew Hiromi's temperament. He was said to be irritable, but he was actually quite patient. He was an extreme person.
Either a friend or an enemy.
Right now, he should be considered Hiromi's friend.
Therefore, he asked directly, "What was your purpose in coming today?"
Hiromi smiled slightly. "To let you understand me."
"To let me understand you?" Shikaku's thoughts raced, but he still couldn't grasp the underlying answer.
Hiromi continued, "In the village, only you can see the future, so I want to see your choice."
After saying that, he left. Shikaku remained standing there blankly, like a statue, staring in the direction Hiromi had left.
After a long time, he sighed, letting out a somewhat bitter, self-deprecating laugh.
"So you are actually this merciful..."
—
After Hiromi left Shikaku's home, he returned to the Uchiha Clan Compound. As usual, he returned to his solitary home. Except there were twelve Uchiha Clan Members around.
They were monitoring Hiromi's house in an inner square of four and an outer octagon of eight.
Meanwhile, Fugaku sat nearby drinking tea, chatting with Shisui who had just arrived.
It could be said that this was the most heavily guarded place in the Uchiha Clan Compound.
Even if Nine-Tails went on a rampage, it would be brought under control the moment it appeared.
He gave a slight nod to Fugaku and Shisui as a greeting, and under the reverent gazes of the clan members, he walked inside.
Upon entering, he saw a cautious Baki, a worried Temari with pursed lips, Kankuro leaning against the wall in silence, and Gaara lying on the bed taking an afternoon nap.
As soon as Hiromi walked in, Gaara opened his eyes.
"How did you sleep?"
Gaara's gaze was still fierce, but compared to their first meeting, it was much gentler.
"Not bad."
He hadn't slept for a long time and had forgotten what sleeping felt like. This feeling of letting out a breath of relief was something he liked a little.
Hiromi smiled slightly, then turned to look at Baki and the other two.
The Uchiha Clan Members who noticed immediately came in. "You three, please step out."
Baki's face looked terrible.
Kankuro lowered his head with a grim expression.
Only Temari looked at Gaara with concern. She opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing, walking out with her head down.
Soon, only Hiromi and Gaara were left in the room.
"Do something for me " Hiromi said.
"And if I say no?"
If it were anyone else, Gaara would definitely say no. No matter how strong the opponent was, he had no goal for living. Death was nothing major to him. Rather, it was a form of release.
"Then I'll just have to control you and turn you into a weapon for the Uchiha." Hiromi said.
Gaara nodded slightly, indicating he understood. Then, he asked expressionlessly, "What is it?"
"When the time comes, you just need to release Shukaku. As for the specifics, I will talk to Shukaku."
Gaara didn't nod, he lowered his head in thought, his eyes flickering with a slight internal conflict.
Hiromi could see his hesitation and said, "The ones being killed aren't people from Sunagakure."
Immediately, the conflict vanished from Gaara's eyes, as if he hadn't hesitated at all just now.
"Fine."
—
At the entrance of Konoha.
Dozens of Jonin stood there, the atmosphere oppressive. Standing at the very front of the Jonin was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen.
This posture of waiting respectfully caused many villagers to watch from a distance, chattering away.
"Even Hokage-sama came out to wait."
"It's a bit embarrassing."
"Hokage-sama is doing this for our sake."
"Exactly."
"Sunagakure is putting on such grand airs."
"Who told the Uchiha to do such a thing?"
"Now the Uchiha won't even come to welcome Sunagakure."
"If you ask me, the Uchiha should be exterminated."
Some villagers listened, their lips twitching slightly.
Yes, the Uchiha triggered the war. But Konoha and Sunagakure are enemies, is there a problem with capturing the enemy's Jinchuriki?
There's no problem at all.
On the contrary, it was Hiruzen standing at the village gate waiting for Sunagakure that made them feel something was wrong.
Everyone is from the same village, you're letting people from another village come in to deal with the Uchiha? What are you thinking?
Although they knew the Hokage was doing it for peace and for their own good, which was why he was being so submissive...
This kind of peace was too humiliating.