After finishing his speech upstairs, Makoto had the Konoha's higher-ups come in to discuss the village's reconstruction plan.
At his words, the leader of the Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka Clans, Nara Shikaku, who had also served as the village's chief strategist for many years, the village's Jonin representative, Hatake Kakashi, and the current head of Konoha's largest clan, Hyuga Hiashi, among others, gathered in the conference room.
At a look from Makoto, Chika, who served as prime minister of Nishikawa Nation in the real world, and his trusted aide Yu also entered.
When everyone had assembled in the conference room, Shikaku and the others looked curiously at Chika and Yu, who were the same age as Makoto. It was the first time they had seen these people.
"Don't worry, they're my trusted aides."
Makoto waved his hand.
Hearing the words 'trusted aides', Kakashi and the others' mouths twitched slightly. They didn't know how to even begin to criticize.
'Weren't they all just twelve or thirteen-year-old kids? What trusted aides?'
But remembering Makoto's earlier performance of tearing apart Itachi with his bare hands, they felt it wasn't that strange.
Makoto plopped himself down in the main seat that belonged to Hiruzen, crossed his legs, and asked, "No one has any objections to Tsunade taking over as the Fifth Hokage, right?"
On this question, of course the natives like Kakashi and Shikaku had no objections, as they had all received kindness from Tsunade.
However, when this topic came up, Yu was still somewhat dissatisfied.
"Senpai, why don't you take the position yourself?"
Makoto's answer was brief and direct: "I don't want to serve those difficult citizens of Konoha."
Hearing these four words, Kakashi and the others' expressions changed immediately.
They thought, 'Wasn't Makoto changing his tune too quickly?'
'Just a moment ago on the rooftop he had said 'as long as he could serve Konoha, he would do anything', and now they were 'difficult citizens'?'
Shikaku's mouth twitched.
The expressions of the other clan heads also became subtle.
Kakashi couldn't help but sigh, 'Makoto truly was the Third Hokage's disciple… he had mastered the orthodox style of 'one thing in public, another in private' completely.
He scratched his face and tentatively spoke: "Makoto, don't you think 'difficult citizens' is a bit harsh?"
Makoto laughed directly upon hearing this.
"Oh? I didn't expect such words to come from you, whose father died at the mouths of difficult citizens."
His tone was very calm, but every word was like a knife.
Kakashi's smile froze.
To be honest, if Makoto had experienced the things Kakashi had, he would have definitely killed all the villagers who had gossiped back then.
Hearing this, Kakashi was immediately rendered speechless by the retort.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Shikaku quickly changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, the three children of the Kazekage who participated in the Chunin Exams now seem to be captured by Makoto-kun, right? Should we return them to Sunagakure?"
This topic immediately sparked discussion among everyone.
After all, although Sunagakure had also participated in the [Konoha Crush Plan], the truth had now been revealed. The masterminds of this incident were Orochimaru and Danzo; Sunagakure was just dragged into it.
Considering the alliance between the two sides, Shikaku felt that the children of the Kazekage… Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, could be sent back in order to repair the relationship between the two countries.
The others also expressed agreement.
Hiashi nodded: "Sunagakure was used, after all. If handled improperly, we might push an ally into becoming an enemy."
Another clan head added: "The Third Hokage always valued the alliance with Sunagakure while he was alive."
Seeing these people nodding, Chika, who served as prime minister of a country in the real world, couldn't help but furrow her brow. She thought to herself, 'Are these people sick?'
Although Chika was traveling to the Naruto World for the first time, she had often heard Utaha and the others talk about this world, so she already knew the Naruto World quite well.
'The enemy had attacked your home, and you still wouldn't make them pay a price?'
She used to think the people of the One Piece World had something wrong with their heads. Now it seemed, the people of this Ninja World weren't too bright either.
In contrast to the silent Chika, Yu spoke much more simply and directly.
"An accomplice isn't a criminal anymore?"
His voice was very cold, his gaze sweeping over every person present who had nodded.
"The enemy has attacked your doorstep, killed your villagers, destroyed your village, and you're still thinking about being allies with them?"
Yu's face was full of mockery.
"Is there something wrong with your brains?"
Shikaku, Hiashi, and the others were completely taken aback.
They thought, 'This kid who appeared out of nowhere was quite bold. In one breath, he had verbally torn into us, the village's higher-ups.'
But strangely, they couldn't find a single word to refute him.
Makoto raised his hand, signaling Yu to be quiet.
"Keep them locked up for now. Wait for Sunagakure to send someone to negotiate the price."
Iruka then spoke, his voice laced with a hint of concern: "Makoto-kun, wouldn't doing this affect the alliance between our two countries?"
That's right, Iruka had also come to the meeting.
Originally, Hiruzen had held the three positions of Hokage, Head of Konoha's Education Department, and Principal of the Ninja Academy simultaneously.
Now that Hiruzen was gone, Makoto had immediately promoted Iruka as the Academy's principal.
Hearing this, Yu's right arm instantly transformed into a gun barrel, pressed against Iruka's throat.
"Are you a spy?"
"Didn't you see what the people from Sunagakure did to Senpai's village? And you're still talking about friendship?"
Kakashi, Hiashi, and the others were shocked. They hadn't seen Yu's movement at all. And seeing his hand turn into a gun barrel, they couldn't help but exclaim inwardly: 'What kind of Ninjutsu is this?'
Iruka, with the cold, hard gun barrel against his throat, broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead, startled by the sudden change.
Makoto immediately stopped him: "Ishigami, stand down."
Although Yu was very reluctant, he immediately carried out Makoto's order.
"Tch."
He withdrew the gun barrel, stepped back, and gave Iruka a cold glare.
Makoto personally apologized to Iruka: "Sorry, Iruka-sensei. Ishigami has a bit of a temper. Please don't hold it against him."
Makoto held considerable goodwill towards Iruka, after all, he was one of the few normal people in the Naruto World.
Iruka rubbed his throat, still sore from the gun barrel, and sheepishly said it was nothing.
Just as everyone was about to move on to the next topic, they suddenly heard a commotion outside the door, the voices of many people.
Kakashi's expression changed, as he recognized his students' voices.
Soon, the door to the conference room was rudely slammed open.
Everyone turned to look. The first one to rush in was Sasuke, covered in bandages and quite badly injured.
Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and the other Konoha rookies were following behind, looking panicked.
Sasuke's gaze was fixed intensely on Makoto.
"Do you know about the Uchiha and about Itachi?"
Sakura kept apologizing to Kakashi, Makoto, and the others: "I'm sorry! I tried my best to stop Sasuke, but he insisted..."
Naruto stood behind Sasuke, wanting to speak but hesitating. Those blue eyes were filled with worry.
Hearing Sasuke's question, Kakashi, Nara Shikaku, and the others couldn't help but cast curious glances at Makoto.
Because they were also very puzzled.
Why did Makoto possess the Sharingan?
And judging from the earlier battle between Makoto and Itachi and that masked man, he also seemed to know some inside information that they were unaware of.
Kakashi was especially concerned about this.
The Sharingan hidden by his forehead protector seemed to ache faintly at that moment.
Seeing the burning gaze of Sasuke, Makoto thought for a moment and nodded.
"Alright, I'll tell you."
Hearing Makoto agree, Sasuke calmed down slightly.
Sakura asked cautiously: "Um... should we step out?"
Makoto thought for a moment and said, "No need, everyone sit down."
He gestured for Team 7's three little ones to sit.