Upon hearing Mitarashi Shishio's words, a glint of sharpness flashed in Kai's lazy demeanor:
"A Konoha high-level meeting, huh. I didn't expect that I would be considered part of Konoha's upper echelon now. Uchiha, Hyuga, it's time to settle the scores."
Seeing Kai's expression, Mitarashi Shishio felt a bit helpless, hoping things wouldn't get out of hand.
Hokage's Meeting Room.
At this moment, all the ninja of Konoha ranked Jonin and above had gathered here. The large Hokage meeting room seemed a bit crowded, with most ninjas standing and only a few sitting at the central meeting table.
Besides the Third Hokage, Danzo, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Sarutobi Shin'nosuke, Mitarashi Shishio, and Minato Namikaze, only the Hokage's advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, along with the heads of Konoha's top clans, Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuga, were qualified to sit at this table.
This was the entire structure of Konoha's leadership!
There were twelve chairs at the meeting table, but only eleven were occupied, indicating one person had yet to arrive.
"Hmph, where is Mitarashi Kai? How dare he not show up yet? Does he think he can do as he pleases just because he has Kage-level strength? Hiruzen, I think we should revoke Mitarashi Kai's right to attend this meeting!"
Having waited for a long time without seeing Kai, Koharu Utatane was clearly very annoyed.
The Third Hokage looked at his old partner, well aware of the irreconcilable conflict between Koharu and Kai, and said with a bit of helplessness, "Koharu, be patient, let's wait a bit longer."
"Hiruzen, must we all wait for a mere kid?" Koharu Utatane pressed the Third Hokage, showing no intention of backing down.
Before the Third Hokage could respond, the door to the Hokage meeting room was kicked open, and Kai's voice came through:
"Old hag, so what if I made you wait?"
"Who are you calling an old hag?" Koharu Utatane glared at Kai, looking as if she wanted to eat him alive.
Kai shrugged, "Whoever answered, that's who."
"Mitarashi Kai, don't you know that every Jonin in the village is waiting for you? The war just ended, and every Jonin has many tasks. Do you know how much of their time you're wasting?"
Koharu Utatane knew she couldn't out-argue Kai, so she tried to use the greater good to pressure him.
Kai was indifferent, looking at Koharu Utatane with a playful expression, "Really? So what if I am wasting their time?"
"You!"
Koharu Utatane was clearly not expecting such a response from Kai and was momentarily at a loss for words.
"What about me? Old hag, why don't you ask every ninja standing here if they mind me wasting their time? Anyone who feels that way can step forward," Kai said calmly.
Hearing Kai's words, Koharu Utatane instinctively looked at the ninjas standing nearby, and to her surprise, not a single Jonin stepped forward.
From the battlefield of the Land of Rivers to the battlefield of the Land of Lightning, and finally to the battlefield of the Land of Water, Kai had participated in three-quarters of the Third Ninja War. Many of the Jonin present had fought alongside him, and some had even been saved by him. How could they not stand by him?
The remaining Jonin, such as those from the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, were intimidated by Kai's overwhelming killing intent and lacked the courage to step forward.
Seeing that none of the Jonin present stood up, Koharu Utatane's face turned pale with anger.
Witnessing Kai's high prestige among the Jonin, the Third Hokage's expression was complex, with a mix of relief, amazement, and wariness, finally turning into a sense of resignation as he said:
"Alright, Koharu, Kai, sit down. The meeting is about to begin."
"Hmph!" Ignoring Kai, Koharu Utatane sat down.
Kai also plopped down in the remaining chair, next to Mitarashi Shishio and Minato Namikaze.
Seeing everyone seated, the Third Hokage slowly began, "The Third Ninja War has essentially come to an end, and Konoha has once again emerged victorious."
At this point, the Third Hokage smiled and continued, "Let's discuss the matters related to the post-war arrangements."
"Old man, I think..."
Although the war had ended and Konoha had won, there were still many trivial matters, such as the distribution of post-war benefits. The meeting lasted the entire afternoon before gradually coming to a close.
"Well, does anyone have anything else to say? If not, the meeting is adjourned," the Third Hokage said, looking around.
Only then did Kai speak slowly, "Third Hokage, I would like to confirm how we are going to handle the incidents involving the Uchiha and Hyuga clans on the battlefield of the Land of Water?"
The Third Hokage frowned slightly and said, "Kai, let's discuss this matter later."
Kai showed no intention of backing down, his murderous intent undisguised, "If the Third Hokage feels it's inappropriate to handle it, then I'll take care of it myself."
"How dare you! Our Uchiha affairs are none of your business!" A Uchiha clan ninja stood up, pointing at Kai and shouting angrily.
A cold glint flashed in Kai's eyes, "Oh, I remember you. I saw you on the battlefield of the Land of Water. I didn't expect you to have the nerve to stand up. In that case... go die."
Strong Fist: Lava Mountain Collapse!
Without any hesitation, the next moment, the Uchiha ninja who spoke was killed on the spot.
The entire room fell silent. No one expected Kai to directly kill a fellow village ninja in front of so many people, which was a crime second only to treason!
Fugaku Uchiha stood up abruptly, glaring at Kai, "Mitarashi Kai, what are you doing, killing a member of our Uchiha clan here? Are you trying to defect?"
"Defect? That's right, I'm killing traitorous ninjas for Konoha. Your Uchiha clan should thank me," Kai said, glancing at Fugaku Uchiha.
"Ridiculous! How could our Uchiha clansmen be traitors?" Fugaku Uchiha's face turned ashen.
"Really? The Uchiha and Hyuga clans deployed to the battlefield of the Land of Water retreated without orders. According to the ninja code, they are all traitors!" Kai said coldly.
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