"Clan Head! If all else fails, we might as well rebel. Konoha's strength is currently depleted anyway, and this is our Uchiha clan's chance!"

"As for the seat of the Hokage, it's about time our Uchiha clan took a turn sitting in it!!"

"Impossible!"

"Konoha is currently in a turbulent period. If we Uchiha start a revolt, wouldn't that push Konoha into the abyss?!"

"Then why is Konoha able to push our Uchiha women into the abyss with a clear conscience?!"

Almost everyone believed that once Uchiha Mikoto was sent to the Land of Whirlpools, she would definitely not meet a good end!

The bloodline of his Uchiha clan had not been coveted by others for just a day or two.

The Land of Whirlpools specifically demanded Uchiha clan members, and female ones at that.

"Their ulterior motives are clear to everyone!"

Once Uchiha Mikoto was sent over, her fate would definitely be extremely miserable, and Uchiha's Sharingan might even leak out!

This matter must absolutely not be allowed!

Uchiha Fugaku sat in the main seat, his eyes slightly closed.

The verbal clashes between the war faction and the conservative faction constantly echoed in his ears.

These two factions within the Uchiha were formed when the Second Hokage, Tobirama, took office and continuously suppressed the Uchiha.

They had been arguing for quite a few years now, but in the end, neither side could convince the other.

Fortunately, the previous Clan Head, his father, was a member of the conservative faction and could still suppress the war faction.

Now that his father had sacrificed himself for Konoha, he had taken office as Clan Head.

Influenced by his father, he was also a qualified conservative.

Well, at least until today.

Now, his father had died a martyr, and Hiruzen Sarutobi still wanted him to send away his future wife.

This kept a breath of anger suppressed in Uchiha Fugaku's heart, finally forcing him to lean towards the war faction.

"Enough!"

Uchiha Fugaku stopped their argument, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan turning to look in the direction of the person involved.

"Third Elder, what are your thoughts?"

Towards the Third Elder, he was still very respectful.

Because he was Uchiha Mikoto's grandfather.

The Third Elder was expressionless, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan revealing not a shred of emotion.

He turned his head to ask the person beside him, saying, "Mikoto, what are your thoughts? Tell everyone about them."

Of course, the Third Elder did not want Mikoto to go to the Land of Whirlpools.

But he also did not want to see Konoha decline like this, nor did he want to see a conflict break out between the Uchiha and Konoha.

He was a loyal conservative.

As a former subordinate of Clan Head Uchiha Madara back then, who had witnessed the birth of Konoha together with him,

he had very deep feelings for Konoha.

With Konoha on one side and his granddaughter on the other, he was also in a very difficult position.

Uchiha Mikoto's eyes flickered slightly, and an inexplicable sense of desolation welled up in her heart.

From the moment her grandfather asked her, she understood that in her grandfather's heart, Konoha was more important than her.

She also understood that her grandfather actually already had an answer in his heart.

As for Uchiha Fugaku, she hadn't held any hope either.

If he were truly that resolute, they wouldn't be holding a meeting to discuss it here.

Instead, he would have proactively rejected the Hokage's request during the daytime.

But he didn't.

From this moment on, Uchiha Mikoto's heart was already dead.

She closed her eyes and fell silent for a moment.

The Land of Whirlpools...

It seemed to be Kushina's hometown...

She wondered if it was the same as what the teachers at the Ninja Academy had described.

Was Kushina living well over there?

At this moment, Uchiha Mikoto finally made up her mind, her gaze resolute as she said, "I'll go!"

"What!"

"Why!"

"Mikoto..."

Uchiha Mikoto's decision shocked many people, eliciting gasps of disbelief.

In their eyes, the Land of Whirlpools was no different from Hell to Uchiha Mikoto!

How dared Uchiha Mikoto enter Hell alone?

The Third Elder's gaze was complex, and he had completely not expected Mikoto to be so resolute.

A sense of guilt welled up in his heart.

Earlier when Uchiha Fugaku proposed marriage, he did not reject it on Mikoto's behalf.

This time, when Konoha wanted to send Mikoto to the Land of Whirlpools, he still didn't reject it for her.

As a grandfather, he really wasn't qualified at all!

Uchiha Fugaku's gaze was dazed, as if he hadn't expected Uchiha Mikoto's answer to be this.

Reject it!

As long as you reject it, I can go to war with Konoha for your sake!

Why won't you reject it!

Uchiha Fugaku opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Uchiha Mikoto's gaze, he gave up.

Uchiha Mikoto took everyone's expressions into her eyes.

Yet her inner thoughts did not waver by even a fraction.

Staying in the Uchiha anyway would just mean marrying Uchiha Fugaku.

Whether it was the Uchiha or the Land of Whirlpools,

she had no ability to determine her own destiny.

Rather than that, she might as well use her meager life to trade for a moment of peace between the Uchiha and Konoha,

and it could also be considered...

repaying her grandfather's upbringing.

After this matter, she would no longer have any relation with the Uchiha or Konoha.

The next day.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto before him with a gratified expression.

"Good, good, good! The Uchiha truly are the pillars of Konoha!"

He patted Uchiha Fugaku's shoulder and promised,

"Rest assured, the Uchiha's contributions have always been kept in my heart. Once Konoha gets through this period, we definitely won't mistreat the Uchiha!"

Uchiha Fugaku was expressionless, unswayed by Hiruzen Sarutobi's empty promises.

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "Um, Fugaku, step aside for a moment. I have some things to entrust to Mikoto."

Uchiha Fugaku gave him a deep look, then left the Hokage's Office.

After Uchiha Fugaku left, Hiruzen Sarutobi said solemnly, "Mikoto, although Konoha has no choice but to send you to the Land of Whirlpools this time! Rest assured, there will come a day when Konoha will welcome you back home!"

"Therefore, even in the Land of Whirlpools, never forget your identity as a Konoha Shinobi!"

"This time it is an S-rank long-term mission!"

"We in Konoha have always wanted to plant a spy into the Land of Whirlpools, but we've never had the opportunity."

"This demand from the Land of Whirlpools presents the absolute best opportunity!"

"While in the Land of Whirlpools, do your best to ensure your own safety while probing out the secrets of the Land of Whirlpools, and find a way to transmit them back to Konoha!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly welled up with tears and said, "Konoha will always remember your contributions to Konoha!"

Uchiha Mikoto was dumbfounded, finally witnessing firsthand the hypocritical face of Hiruzen Sarutobi that Kushina had spoken of.

She could never have imagined that their Konoha's Hokage-sama would actually be this kind of person?!