Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 122: Become the Uchiha Clan of the Land of Fire!

Amid the long call, a messenger hawk swiftly sliced through the sky, heading towards Konoha. Hagoromo Gengetsu, walking down the mountain, glanced at the black dot in the sky but paid it no mind. He casually asked Sasuke beside him, "In the recent battle, Sasuke, did you not kill anyone?"

Though the scene at the Fire Temple courtyard was bloody with monks sprawled everywhere, it was clear to Hagoromo Gengetsu that the worst they suffered was injuries and unconsciousness. Sasuke had shown restraint, a stark contrast to the cold, avenger image he usually projected.

Sasuke didn't deny it. He calmly nodded, "I have no interest in cutting down the weak."

'The tone is as consistent as always,' Hagoromo Gengetsu thought with a faint smile behind his mask. In a world where minds easily turn extreme, Sasuke, who had lost his entire clan, had every reason to go to such lengths. However, he remained more rational and clear-headed than most. His obsession was solely revenge, not an extreme outburst against society or an urge to kill indiscriminately. Even when he sided with Orochimaru and went through battle after battle, the results were always the same as in the Fire Temple—leaving his opponents alive, deeming them unworthy of his attention.

The only exception was when he infiltrated the Five Kage Summit, ruthlessly killing the samurai of the Land of Iron, showing a darker, colder side that even Karin noted. But that instance had its reasons. Hagoromo Gengetsu appreciated Sasuke's temperament, skipping the topic of the Fire Temple without further inquiry.

Sasuke was slightly taken aback, expecting Hagoromo Gengetsu's question to carry a critique about his leniency. When he answered, there was no follow-up, as if it was merely a casual inquiry. 'Does Hagoromo-dono agree or disagree with my actions?' Sasuke wasn't one to keep questions bottled up. Just as he was about to ask directly, Hagoromo Gengetsu suddenly stopped.

Sasuke, surprised, quickly sensed something. He turned his gaze towards the forest on their left. 

Clapping sounds rang out, crisp and clear. "Impressive, Uchiha! To detect us so easily," came a voice from the forest. A moment later, two men and two women appeared, stepping out into view. "Who are you?" Sasuke asked coldly, noticing Hagoromo Gengetsu's indifference after a brief glance at the newcomers. 

The leader warmly introduced himself, "I am Houma of the Twelve Guardian Ninja. These three are my subordinates: Fubuki, Fudo, and Fukuen." Houma, formerly one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja who protected the Fire Daimyo, had once clashed with Asuma's faction. After faking his death, he had been secretly honing his secret techniques, waiting for the right moment.

Upon hearing about the attack on the Fire Temple and how the formidable Chiriku was effortlessly defeated by suspected Uchiha, Houma, though not fully prepared, couldn't pass up this opportunity. He decided not to rob the corpses of the Twelve Guardian Ninja buried at the Fire Temple, opting instead to find Sasuke and his companion.

Despite Houma's warm demeanor, Sasuke responded coldly, "The Twelve Guardian Ninja? Never heard of them." Houma's smile froze. He took great pride in his position, even though the Fire Daimyo, a timid figure, had since disbanded the Twelve Guardian Ninja. Houma's loyalty remained unchanged, and being dismissed by an Uchiha irked him. However, there were more important matters at hand.

Glancing at the masked man who had defeated Chiriku, Houma took a deep breath and resumed his warm smile. "It doesn't matter if you don't know us. Just know that we serve the Daimyo of the Land of Fire," he said. "So, what's your point?" Sasuke asked coolly, uninterested in the Daimyo and more curious about their intentions.

Although he knew that the Uchiha clan had a reputation for being proud and difficult, Houma hadn't expected such arrogance even after their clan's downfall. Not dwelling on it, he got straight to the point: "The Uchiha clan, as one of Konoha's founders, no longer exists, largely due to Konoha's neglect and inaction. Besides, could Uchiha Itachi alone have annihilated the entire clan? That night, did Konoha really not notice anything? I suspect they either stood by or actively participated, allowing the illustrious Uchiha clan to be wiped out in a single night. As Uchiha, you should realize that Konoha is as much your enemy as anyone else!"

Noticing a change in Sasuke's previously cold expression, Houma continued, "As a representative of the Fire Daimyo, I sincerely invite you both to join us in a plan to destroy Konoha. The Land of Fire doesn't need two rulers. The Hokage should be eliminated, and Konoha's power should be under the Daimyo's control. With the Daimyo's full support, the Uchiha clan can be rebuilt."

"Well, what do you think?" Houma asked, shifting his gaze to the masked man, the true target of his recruitment. Despite extensive preparation, Houma lacked confidence in his plan to destroy Konoha. Recruiting this powerful Uchiha could greatly increase their chances. He felt hopeful as the masked man finally turned to him.

Houma was eager, believing that even if he had no proof, the masked Uchiha must have suspected Konoha's involvement in the clan's massacre. That's why he sought them out first, knowing they shared a common enemy in Konoha. With the Fire Daimyo's support as a bargaining chip, what reason did they have not to join forces?