Chapter 114
"Yo-sha! Everyone’s here!"
Tsunade sat at the head of the long meeting table inside the central command tent. To her left sat Mitokado Homura, and to her right, the ever-stern Mito Menma. Around the table, the senior officers of Konoha’s wartime command were already seated as night fell.
As she spoke, Tsunade’s eyes flicked briefly toward Saitama, who stood silently behind Uchiha Amaki and Uchiha Mori. Her expression was unreadable—but Saitama noticed the glance. He feigned ignorance, fixing his gaze instead on the oddly-shaped crease on Uchiha Mori’s forehead protector, a result of sleeping too often in awkward positions.
"We’ve been planning this operation for days now. Tonight, we finalize everything," Tsunade declared, rapping the table with her knuckles. "If there are any last-minute concerns, now’s the time."
"Ahem," Hyuga Shin raised his hand.
"Yes, Hyuga?" Mito Menma adjusted his glasses and gestured for him to speak.
"I have no concerns about Hyuga serving as reconnaissance. That’s our specialty. But... why has the Uchiha clan been designated as part of the medical support team?" He glanced toward Uchiha Amaki with a frown. "Their combat prowess is well-known. Isn’t this a waste of resources?"
"Tch." Uchiha Amaki scoffed, turning to Uchiha Mori. "This was Tsunade-sama’s decision. Why glare at me?"
Menma nodded, thoughtful. He was well aware of the political undercurrents. The Third Hokage had long sought to limit the Uchiha clan’s influence, especially after whispers about their ambitions regarding the Hokage position.
Placing Uchiha in support roles was just another method of restriction—keeping them visible but sidelined from glory.
Still, the logic felt strained even to Menma. After a pause, he offered a compromise: "Then let’s swap Uchiha with the Third Assault Unit. Have them take point in the counteroffensive. Objections?"