After the selection tournament, the qualified candidates had one week of rest and preparation time before the main tournament. During this week, not only were the candidates preparing for the main tournament, but the higher-ups behind them were also plotting behind the scenes for the village's interests.
The Third Raikage of Kumogakure, upon learning about the events of the second round of the exam from his son and Blue B, immediately seized the opportunity. Without any hesitation or concealment, he directly approached the Third Tsuchikage Onoki.
The purpose of the Third Raikage's meeting with Tsuchikage Onoki was straightforward: he wanted to join forces with Iwagakure to raid the Land of Wind.
Due to geographical factors, Kumogakure in the northeast of the continent was far from the Land of Wind in the southwest, with the Land of Fire and several other small countries in between.
Considering the inconvenient geographical position, the Third Raikage, aiming at the Land of Wind, planned to personally lead a team by sea to surprise them along the coastline.
This plan had higher secrecy and could potentially yield greater gains by raiding the prosperous coastal cities of the Land of Wind.
However, upon learning about the events of the second round of the exam, the Third Raikage conceived a bolder idea: to join forces with Iwagakure for a full-scale invasion of the Land of Wind.
With this new plan in mind, the Third Raikage did not hesitate to approach Onoki directly, making his intentions clear. This move was also intended to show Hidden Sand's Ebizo that they were serious about their intentions.
Feeling anxious about the situation, Ebizo, in order to protect the village's interests to the fullest extent, reluctantly approached the Third Hokage Hiruzen.
Similarly, to exert pressure in the opposite direction, Ebizo's move was highly visible, as he directly visited Hiruzen.
It was as if to tell others, "If you push us too far, we will ally with Konoha and become vassals."
Seeing Ebizo's behavior, which he interpreted as a change of heart, Hiruzen, in order to protect the interests of the village to the greatest extent, reluctantly approached the Third Hokage Hiruzen.
In this meeting, Hiruzen also took the opportunity to propose the idea of Kizaru's student exchange program.
Of course, to ensure that Ebizo and Sunagakure could accept this program, Hiruzen packaged the student exchange program as a free support initiative to assist Sunagakure in educational reform and help them cultivate new talents.
Regarding this proposal, Hiruzen was unsure of the specific thoughts and attitudes of Ebizo. But during and after the meeting, Ebizo showed a pleasant expression, indicating a happy exchange between the two parties.
Ebizo's behavior undoubtedly brought pressure to the Third Tsuchikage and the Third Raikage.
The power struggle among the four major ninja villages affected the hearts of the shinobi and the village leaders. But for Kizaru, there wasn't much to be concerned about.
Every night, his uncle would come to him for a chat, informing him of the day's events and sharing his analysis.
Strangely enough, Kizaru noticed that his uncle's attitude toward him had become more favorable and affectionate recently.
Previously, Danzo would occasionally criticize Kizaru's manners and attitude, but recently, he hadn't criticized him at all.
Instead, upon seeing Kizaru's carefree demeanor, Danzo would smile mysteriously and occasionally express concern, telling him not to overwork himself.
Kizaru suspected that Danzo's change in attitude toward him was probably due to their conversation before the Chunin Exam.
Kizaru wasn't sure what Danzo had misunderstood from their conversation, but with Danzo being less nagging, Kizaru felt much more at ease in his daily life.
In addition to Danzo's "reformation," Kizaru received even better news.
Orochimaru, with his advanced research, successfully transplanted a weakened version of Hashirama's cells into a living Uchiha subject.
The subject was a middle-aged Uchiha who willingly participated in the experiment after persuasion from the clan leader and elders.
Having reached middle age and exhausted his potential, this Uchiha underwent the transplantation without any adverse reactions. Instead, after a few days, his Mangekyo Sharingan evolved into a three-tomoe Sharingan.
This result of the experiment excited not only Orochimaru but also the Uchiha clan.
The evolution of the Sharingan! For the Uchiha, this was the greatest and most important thing!
If Orochimaru's improved weakened version of Hashirama's cells could indeed enhance the Sharingan of the Uchiha, then wouldn't every member of the Uchiha clan be able to awaken the three-tomoe Sharingan?
Thinking of this, after a brief discussion among the clan leader and several elders, the Uchiha clan quickly reached a unanimous decision to fully support the research on Hashirama's cells.
This time, it wasn't for the sake of the future Hokage heir Shikamaru Sarutobi, but for the overall interests of the clan.
The Uchiha clan was an extreme clan, with extreme love and a fanatical pursuit of power.
Precisely because of this, upon learning the news that Hashirama's cells might induce the evolution of the Sharingan, the clan leader and elders of the Uchiha clan were so excited.
If it weren't for the overwhelming strength of the Hokage line in the village, coupled with the suppression from the clan leader and a few elders who saw hope for the future, the militant faction of the Uchiha clan might have already shouted slogans to seize Hashirama's cells.
This was also what Hiruzen, who received the progress report from Orochimaru, worried about.
Upon receiving the report, Hiruzen called together Danzo, Orochimaru, and Kizaru.
"Hashirama's cells may enhance the Sharingan of the Uchiha. What are your thoughts on this?" Setting aside the report materials, Hiruzen, smoking his pipe, asked the three individuals in front of him.
"Control the Uchiha shinobi participating in the experiment and increase surveillance of the Uchiha clan." After some thought, Danzo directly stated his opinion.
Not entirely satisfied with Danzo's proposed method, Hiruzen looked at Kizaru and Orochimaru.
With a smile on his face, Orochimaru said nothing, but looked directly at Kizaru beside him.
The longer Orochimaru spends time with Kizaru, the more Orochimaru appreciates and admires Kizaru's political skills.
In Orochimaru's view, Kizaru is more suitable to be a Hokage than his teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Being stared at by everyone present, Kizaru showed a troubled smile. He touched the back of his head and slowly opened his mouth.
"It's really troublesome!" Kizaru complained out of habit, and expressed his opinion with a smile, "Isn't this a good thing?"
"Good thing?"
Danzo frowned when he heard his nephew's words. In his opinion, if the already powerful Uchiha clan is strengthened by Hashirama cells, it will definitely become a serious problem for the village in the future!
Although he was not as hostile to the Uchiha clan as Danzo, Hiruzen was equally puzzled by Kizaru's evaluation.
The Uchiha clan is inherently unruly and extremely difficult to manage. If their strength is increased again, the already restless Uchiha clan will become even more ambitious.
"Kizaru, tell me what you think." Looking directly at Kizaru, Hiruzen asked calmly.
"If Orochimaru-senpai's improved Hashirama cells can really promote the evolution of the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, then the Hashirama cells will become chains made of candy, which will allow the village to better tame the Uchiha."
"You mean to let the village use the improved Hashirama cells to drive the Uchiha clan to serve."
"Yes."
After listening to Kizaru's words, Hiruzen did not make a direct evaluation, but began to think seriously.
"But doing this will enhance the strength of Uchiha. If one day they have undue ambitions, it will endanger the rule of the village." Danzo, who inherited Tobirama's ideas and has always been wary of Uchiha, said with a worried tone.
"Isn't the Uchiha clan also a member of the village? As they become stronger, doesn't it mean that the village becomes stronger." Looking at Danzo, Kizaru said.
"What if they want to rebel after they grow in strength?" Danzo said straightforwardly instead of making subtle expressions.
"Danzo!" Looking at Danzo with a frown, Hiruzen stopped his friend.
"Hiruzen, will you..."
"Oh! Uchiha has become stronger, let them make better contributions to the village!" After laughing, Kizaru came up with a solution.
"AFter making great achievements..." After pondering these four words, Hiruzen gradually understood his disciple's thoughts.
"Behind making great achievements, isn't it bloodshed and sacrifice?"
Thinking of this, Hiruzen completely understood why Kizaru said this was a good thing.
As long as the village can control the ratio of Uchiha's contribution to Hashirama's cells, the individual strength of the Uchiha clan will indeed increase, but the number can be controlled.
At the same time, the village can also gain more benefits through the tasks and wars performed by the Uchiha clan, thereby supporting civilian ninjas and small and medium-sized ninja clans.
In this way, the Uchiha get what they want, but their strength will not expand too much.
And the village can also gain their favor and loyalty by supporting and training civilian ninjas and small and medium-sized ninja clans, and enhance the power of the Hokage lineage.
Having figured it out, Hiruzen looked at Kizaru with full admiration in his eyes.
Reason and sacrifice when necessary are also necessary political qualities for a shadow of a village, and Kizaru possesses this.
As the shadow of a village, it is necessary to make calm judgments based on the overall situation and sacrifice something when necessary.