I'm an Uchiha and have Tobirama's talent!

Chapter 272: 272 - One Enemy

The disappearance of Orochimaru caused an uproar in the shinobi world.

This had originally been top-secret information from Konoha, yet for some reason, it was somehow leaked to the other ninja villages. However, before these villages could even take pleasure in Konoha's misfortune, the secret research facilities they had been running were all attacked, on the very same day.

Every researcher vanished without a trace overnight, and all the ninjas guarding the facilities were killed.

In just one night, the atmosphere in the shinobi world turned eerily tense, with everyone eyeing each other in suspicion.

Unlike Konoha, the other villages were unaware of the existence of the Ōtsutsuki clan. Whenever something happened, their first assumption was naturally that it had been orchestrated by another ninja village.

And the village they suspected most of being behind it all... was Konoha.

From the intel they had, they only knew that Orochimaru had gone missing. They had heard nothing about Konoha being attacked.

A "disappearance" could be either true or fabricated, staging such an event was the simplest trick in the book.

Some even believed that Konoha had deliberately spread the news of Orochimaru's disappearance, then used the chaos as an opportunity to attack their research facilities, thereby diverting suspicion from themselves.

After all, for seven or eight research facilities to be hit in one night, many thought only Konoha had both the motive and the ability to pull it off.

Soon, voices condemning Konoha rose from every corner of the shinobi world, as if all had already concluded that Konoha was guilty.

It wasn't just the Four Great Ninja Villages and Ame, many smaller villages joined in as well, since some of them had also lost research facilities in the attacks.

They feared Konoha, yes, but if Konoha truly was behind this, it meant Konoha harbored ambitions to dominate the entire world. That was a matter of survival, and in such times, enemies naturally band together.

Moreover, Konoha's overwhelming dominance had long been established. While the other villages acted compliant on the surface, they deeply resented it. To them, this was their last chance, if they didn't unite and act now, it would soon be too late.

Inside Konoha's conference room, all of the top leaders had gathered, trying to devise a response to the current situation.

Even Shin had not foreseen that every research facility in the shinobi world would be attacked, and so no countermeasures had been prepared in advance.

But now that it had happened, it had to be dealt with.

"Let's hear it, what's our top priority right now?" Tsunade asked, frowning.

"I've already issued a statement to the other villages, explaining the situation," Shikashin said with a sigh. "But I doubt they'll believe us."

People only believe what they want to believe. Explanations were necessary in times like these, but also the most useless thing.

"Exactly. With nothing but words, who's going to believe us?" Tsunade said helplessly. "The question is, what's the likelihood that this will spark another war in the shinobi world?"

"Probably not high," Sakumo replied. "Based on intel we've gathered over the years, the other villages are very wary of Konoha and always try their best to avoid direct conflict. My guess is they'll just wave the banners, stir up the momentum, and use the situation to demand compensation."

"If it really comes to that, should we give it?" Katsuhiko asked.

"Of course not!" Tsunade rejected instantly. "If we do, it'll be as good as admitting guilt, there'd be no clearing our name after that."

"But if we don't, and it really does ignite public outrage, what if it leads to the Third Great Ninja War?" Katsuhiko pressed.

The group debated back and forth, until after ten-odd minutes they all fell silent. Then, almost in unison, they turned to look at Shin.

This guy hadn't said a single word today, that was... unusual.

"Why don't you give us your take on this?" Fukuyama probed.

"Compensation is out of the question," Shin declared firmly. "Tsunade's right, if we compensate them, we're admitting guilt. Not only will they not appreciate it, they'll resent us for it. After all, if you didn't do it, why would you pay?"

"But if we don't pay, the other villages definitely won't let it go."

"Right now, all the great villages are in an arms race. Their researchers are their lifeblood. If those researchers are taken, it's like cutting off their future."

"Corner a cat and it'll jump over a wall, let alone these ninja villages. They might really start the Third Great Ninja War. They do fear Konoha, yes, but if the Four Great Villages join forces with another four or five smaller villages, that will give them immense confidence, and create the illusion that they can win. At that point, it won't be about pride anymore, it'll be a repeat of the First Great Ninja War. In fact, they might be even more united now than they were back then, standing together against a common enemy."

"By your reasoning... isn't this problem unsolvable?" Tsunade voiced what everyone was thinking.

"Who says it's unsolvable?" Shin gave a cold smile. "We fight, don't we?"

The moment those words left his mouth, everyone drew in a sharp breath.

That would mean facing the combined forces of seven or eight villages, more united than ever before.

Konoha was strong, but could they really handle that kind of force?

Shin went on. "We may have won the Second Great Ninja War, but in the minds of many villages, we only won because of an information gap and new tactics, not because of overwhelming strength."

"These past few years, the other villages haven't dared provoke us. But why do you think they've been quietly conducting research all this time?"

"Isn't it so they can counter our tactics while developing new ones, striving to stand against us?"

"These past years, Konoha's research facilities haven't produced many groundbreaking advances. So in the eyes of the other villages, while we are indeed strong, standing in a class of our own, we're not invincible if they unite."

"In truth, this war is inevitable. I suspect all of you know that in your hearts."

"Who would willingly let someone else sit on their neck forever?"

"If Kumo were the strongest right now instead of Konoha, would we just watch as they grew more and more powerful?"

"When the First Hokage was gravely ill, the Second predicted that the First Great Ninja War was about to break out."

"So this time, it may look like all the villages suspect us of attacking their research facilities, using the outrage to demand an explanation from us, but do you really think they all genuinely believe we did it?"

"In reality, they no longer care who actually did it. What matters to them is what they can gain from this pretext."

"The truth is, the villages have long had a tacit understanding, these research facility attacks are nothing more than a spark."

"Even if their facilities hadn't been attacked, the moment they sensed any opportunity, they would still rise up together."

"In fact, right now they may be more impatient than ever before."

"Their facilities are gone, but Konoha's still stand. As for Orochimaru's disappearance, they see it as nothing more than a play we staged ourselves."

"They're bound to worry that from here on, Konoha will only grow stronger through technology. Given enough time, as our strength rises and theirs wanes, they'll completely lose any chance to challenge us and be forced into permanent submission."

"So rather than saying they're making a fuss over nothing, it's more accurate to say they see this as their one and only chance."

"If we choose to compromise and pay compensation, the other villages will take it as a sign that Konoha lacks confidence. That won't prevent war, if anything, it'll hasten its arrival."