“Yes, I take my leave.” William Baker accepted the order straightforwardly and left. Although the head of the Anbu was also a figure of real power, in Konoha, he still didn’t count as high-level; forcing his way in would only make him cannon fodder.

Chapter 3: Confusion Always Follows Transmigration

“Send the Hokage’s assistant to me, I have something to ask him.” After a long while, Samuel Harris spoke to the person outside the door, and the Anbu at the entrance responded and left.

Not long after, Edward Clark arrived. It had to be said, although the two were the same age and had been close friends for many years, standing together, they were simply incomparable. In terms of appearance, Samuel Harris had regular features and a natural air of authority. As for Edward Clark? The right half of his face was wrapped round and round with bandages, mostly disfigured, and the scar on his chin… was actually kind of cute. As for temperament, Samuel Harris had served as Hokage for nearly twenty years, leading Konoha back to the top of the ninja world during the Second Great Ninja War. The flourishing Samuel Harris exuded dominance with every gesture, fully displaying the bearing of a legendary ninja. Meanwhile, Edward hid in the shadows all day, scheming against this and that; after so long, even his pores seemed to emit the aura of a conspirator—he just didn’t look like a good person.

As Samuel Harris’s friend and the Hokage’s assistant, Edward Clark sat down across from Samuel Harris without any courtesy. Samuel Harris was unfazed, staring intently at Edward’s single eye. The two simply stared at each other in silence, neither speaking.

“Harris, why did you call me here?”

In such a staring contest, having only one eye was a disadvantage, since your opponent had twice as many as you. Soon, Edward couldn’t stand the pressure radiating from Samuel Harris and broke the oppressive silence.

Samuel Harris and Edward Clark were both friends and rivals. Back in the day, they competed for the position of Third Hokage, but Edward lost due to a moment of hesitation. Time had passed, and now both were big shots in Konoha, but their statuses were worlds apart. One was the much-admired Third Hokage, beloved by villagers and ninjas alike; the other was the shadowy “Darkness of the Shinobi,” ruthless and feared by all. Edward had regretted his choice countless times, believing that if he had become Hokage, he would have done far better than Samuel Harris. On the other hand, Samuel Harris deeply respected Edward’s years of silent dedication in the shadows for Konoha, but was also alarmed by Edward’s willingness to use any means to achieve his goals, and had always suppressed him, refusing to let him gain more power. So, their relationship was no longer as pure as it once was; every meeting was a contest and a compromise.

“Root has been very active in the Land of Water. What are you up to? As Hokage, why am I completely in the dark?”

“Oh? So you already know! It’s just some minor matters, nothing important. If the Hokage needs to know, I’ll handle it officially.” Edward was startled—truly a fated rival, his grip on Konoha was like an iron barrel; as soon as he made a move, he was discovered.

“This is no trivial matter. The war is already nearing its end. I don’t want Konoha to return to the battlefield from the negotiating table because of some unnecessary reason.”

“Konoha needs more excellent nourishment.”

“Drawing nourishment from other countries?”

“Yes, nourishment that Konoha doesn’t have. In this ninja world war, I’ve discovered many shortcomings in Konoha, and all of these can be remedied.”

“What kind of nourishment?”

“Kekkei Genkai!” Edward glared with his single eye, staring at Samuel Harris as he spat out these four words, like a clap of thunder.

“Are you insane? Do you not understand what would happen if other countries’ Kekkei Genkai appeared in Konoha? Don’t tell me you don’t know! Are you trying to drag Konoha’s hard-won peace back into the quagmire of war?”

Samuel Harris’s eyes widened in fury. He never expected Edward to be so reckless. Never mind whether Edward’s plan could succeed—even if it did, the consequences would be unimaginable. Ninjas with Kekkei Genkai might not be as powerful as tailed beasts or nuclear warheads, but they were still each village’s unique top-tier fighting force. If, one day, the Uchiha or Hyuga bloodlines ended up in other villages, Konoha would surely resort to endless assassinations, even war. Likewise, other villages would never tolerate Konoha stealing their bloodlines. The other four nations had coveted the Land of Fire’s resources and wealth for ages; if war broke out, Konoha would be beset on all sides.

“Harris, you’re exaggerating. You and I both know that war can’t break out so easily. The Second Great Ninja War is about to end; it’s impossible for it to start again. Next comes a period of recovery for all nations—this is the best time. If my plan succeeds, when the next war breaks out, Konoha will leave the other villages far behind. At that time, we’ll sweep through the four great ninja villages and restore the glory of the First Hokage’s era.” Edward showed no sign of remorse, instead painting a grand vision for Samuel Harris.

“Stop your actions. I order you as Hokage.” Seeing Edward’s stubbornness, Samuel Harris was furious, nearly flipping the table.

“This concerns Konoha’s rise—I won’t stop.” Edward was also angry, standing up and saying, “If we miss this window, there won’t be another chance. Besides, only war can make Konoha stronger.”