Hiruzen Sarutobi first picked up his teacup, took a sip, and moistened his throat.

At the same time, he pondered how to bring up the matter with Uchiha Fugaku.

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's hesitant appearance, Uchiha Fugaku instantly knew in his heart that it was nothing good!

A sudden wave of stifled anger rose in his heart.

Good things never find them, but bad things bring them to mind, right?

After finishing his brewing thoughts, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, "Fugaku, Konoha has now reached a time of crisis. Only your Uchiha clan can save Konoha!"

Coming right out of the gate with such a heavy accusation?

Uchiha Fugaku immediately lowered his body and said, "No, no, it still requires everyone in Konoha to work together. We of Uchiha have merely contributed an insignificant amount of power."

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly grabbed Uchiha Fugaku's hand, revealing genuine emotion as he said, "No, this time only your Uchiha clan can save Konoha!"

Uchiha Fugaku furrowed his brow, secretly thinking it was ominous.

But he also knew that this matter could not be avoided. Therefore, he said, "Hokage-sama, if there is anything you need, just say it. As long as Uchiha can do it, we will spare no effort."

"Good, good, good!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said good three times in a row, then said with grief, "This time, it might be necessary to sacrifice Uchiha Mikoto of your clan."

Uchiha Fugaku was stunned on the spot.

"Mi...koto!?"

Chapter 78 Uchiha Fugaku: Dad just died, and now you're sending away his wife?

"Mi...koto!?"

Uchiha Fugaku's brain was somewhat dazed.

Saving Konoha...

What does it have to do with his fiancée!

He was already preparing to get engaged to Mikoto, just waiting to get married after becoming an adult!

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a heavy expression and said, "Fugaku, you must understand Konoha!"

"Konoha has just suffered heavy blows and is currently at a critical moment of reconstruction. We cannot afford any more accidents!"

Uchiha Fugaku: "..."

He understands Konoha, but who will understand him?!

Who will understand Uchiha!

The last time Konoha was invaded, their Uchiha sacrificed their Clan Head.

This time, his fiancée has to be sacrificed again!

Konoha is simply going too far in bullying Uchiha!

Uchiha Fugaku took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart, and asked in as calm a tone as possible:

"Then Hokage-sama, what is the reason this time that has plunged Konoha into crisis once again?"

Although he knew that today Kato Dan was sent back with life or death unknown.

And he knew that Kato Dan was escorting the compensation to the Land of Whirlpools.

However, such a simple mission could still run into problems?

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt awkward for a moment.

At the end of the day, this matter was still his problem. If he hadn't sent Kato Dan to investigate Tsunade's situation using Spirit Transformation Technique, he wouldn't have been caught by the Land of Whirlpools.

Clearly it was a mistake he committed, yet in the end, Uchiha was made to foot the bill.

Even his old face couldn't hold on anymore, so he decisively distorted the facts.

Anyway, no second person knew about the mission assigned to Kato Dan, so whatever he made up would become the truth.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins, and he said through gritted teeth in anger:

"It's all because the Land of Whirlpools is insatiable! They actually said that Konoha's compensation lacked sincerity! Even Jonin Kato Dan was beaten up by them!"

"Furthermore, they specifically named Uchiha Mikoto to be sent to the Land of Whirlpools!"

"This is simply utterly hateful!!"

As he spoke, tears welled up in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes as he said, "I also wanted to forcefully retort, but you know Konoha's situation. Konoha cannot withstand the Land of Whirlpools coming at us again!"

Uchiha Fugaku's eyes showed no fluctuation; he only believed ten percent of Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.

Beaten Kato Dan?

Then why did Kato Dan have not a single injury other than being unconscious?

Besides, Kato Dan had quite a reputation among the Jonin.

Spirit Transformation Technique was something that left a deep impression on everyone who had seen it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi specifically sent him to the Land of Whirlpools; Uchiha Fugaku simply didn't believe that Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't made him stir up trouble in the Land of Whirlpools!

Furthermore, if it was truly an unprovoked assault by the Land of Whirlpools, why did everyone else executing the mission return safely besides Kato Dan?!

In short, Hiruzen Sarutobi's words... are untrustworthy!

This old fellow can really act!

Uchiha Fugaku gave a deep look at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who seemed to have fallen into deep sorrow, then closed his eyes and said in a deep voice:

"Hokage-sama, my Uchiha has not done anything to wrong Konoha, right? There's no need to keep targeting us Uchiha like this."

Hiruzen Sarutobi glared and said angrily, "What kind of talk is that? Do you think I am willing to sacrifice Uchiha?"

Uchiha Fugaku did not speak, his meaning self-evident.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed heavily, "I also know how difficult it is for Uchiha, but the Land of Whirlpools specifically named Uchiha Mikoto. What other choice do I have?"

"If I had a daughter, I would definitely go to the Land of Whirlpools in place of Uchiha Mikoto!"

Uchiha Fugaku snorted coldly in his heart.

You don't have a daughter, but you have a wife.

Hiruzen Sarutobi appealed to his emotions and reason, persuading him:

"If we do not send Uchiha Mikoto to the Land of Whirlpools as demanded, Konoha will inevitably fall into crisis once again, and by then none of you Uchiha will be able to survive alone!"

Uchiha Fugaku fell silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Hokage-sama, Mikoto is my fiancée!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned for a moment.

He actually wasn't aware that Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Fugaku had this relationship.

This...

Asking someone to send their wife to another man is indeed...

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Engaged?"

Uchiha Fugaku fell silent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a sigh of relief and consoled him, "If you aren't engaged yet, then it doesn't count. Fugaku, don't put psychological pressure on yourself!"

This Uchiha Mikoto, he was determined to send her away!

He patted Uchiha Fugaku on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Fugaku, I understand the pain in your heart, but for the sake of Konoha, and for Uchiha, it's just sacrificing a fiancée!"

"You are now the Clan Head of Uchiha as well. If you won't consider Konoha, you must at least consider Uchiha!"

Uchiha Fugaku's face turned livid, his fists clenched tightly. Then he closed his eyes, suddenly deflated, and said in a deep voice, "I will consider it carefully, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen Sarutobi patted his shoulder with satisfaction, and then left the Uchiha clan grounds.

The look of grief on his face had long since vanished.

Uchiha clan Grounds, Clan Head Residence.

Uchiha Fugaku closed his eyes, his entire being sinking into silence.

It was unknown what he was thinking.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, and his scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun frantically, faintly showing signs of linking together.

"Pass down the notice, a clan meeting will be held at Naka Shrine tonight!"

In the dead of night.

Firelight suddenly lit up at Naka Shrine within the Uchiha clan grounds.

Inside Naka Shrine, pairs of Three-Tomoe Sharingan sat in rows.

Everyone was filled with righteous indignation.

"Konoha goes too far in bullying us Uchiha!!"

"Ever since the founding of Konoha, our Uchiha hasn't had even a single Hokage position. Why is it that whenever Konoha is in trouble, they think of Uchiha?!"

"Clan Head! This matter must absolutely not be agreed to! Why should a woman of Uchiha be used to pacify Konoha!"

"Old dog Sarutobi!!"】}