"Those over 50 years old, please step forward."
After Tianqi finished speaking, dozens of old men walked out.
"Those under the age of 16, please step forward."
A group of children went outside again.
"Chu-nin, step forward!"
Another group of people went out, leaving only 40 people in the same place. More than half of the 180 people had been eliminated.
Tianqi looked at the 40 people in the room and nodded. "I thought there would only be about 30 people, but I didn't expect there to be 40, including five women. It's really beyond my expectations."
"Congratulations to the 40 of you. You will be following me into battle and fighting together for the honor of the Uchiha."
Just as Tian Qi was about to speak again, the people who had been screened out next to him objected, "Clan leader, I'm not convinced! Why can't we go to the battlefield?"
The Grand Elder also stepped forward, saying, "Yes, although we in Tianqi are old, our strength is not weak. I also want to join."
“Yes, I also want to fight for the honor of the Uchiha clan. I’m not afraid to die, I can do it!” A 15-year-old boy stood up, his face full of defiance.
Hearing everyone talking at once, Tianqi got angry and said, "Enough! What are you all doing here! Who is the clan leader, you or me? This is a battlefield, not a game."
"I'm keeping you here to preserve the last embers of my martial arts faction. Although I'm confident we can win the war, the battlefield is ever-changing. If I die in battle, you'll still be here. But if you also die on the battlefield, who will avenge us? Have you thought about that?"
"This..." Everyone was speechless upon hearing Tian Qi's words. What Tian Qi said made a lot of sense, and they had no excuse to refute it.
"Hmph! Those of you going to the battlefield, get your things ready. We're leaving in ten minutes!" Tianqi said, looking at the 40 people in the middle.
"It is the clan leader." The 40 people began to organize their belongings.
"Tianqi, can you manage with just this few men? You're facing an army of tens of thousands of ninjas. If you can't handle it, bring more men," the elder said quietly, pulling Tianqi aside.
"I won't bring any more men. It's better to have quality soldiers than a lot of them. Forty men are enough. If, if I really die in battle, I will find a way to get my eyes back. You can give them to the owner who needs them. Also, take good care of Tsunade," Tianqi said with a forlorn expression.
To be honest, he was 90% confident of winning before, but now he's only 60%. He has a feeling this operation won't go too smoothly.
Hearing Tianqi's words, which were clearly his final instructions, the First Elder's eyes reddened. "Tianqi, you..."
"You don't need to be sad for me. I've already let it go. If I can't become a god in this battle, I've already thought about what my fate will be. Elder, protect the clansmen and do what I asked you to do!" Tian Qi composed himself and looked at the Elder with a serious expression.
"Tianqi..., it's the clan leader. I promise I will complete the task you entrusted to me perfectly." The Grand Elder knelt before Tianqi for the first time. From now on, Tianqi was his only faith.
"It's good that you're here. I feel at ease. I should be going now. Elder, please protect the clansmen." After saying this, Tianqi led 40 people and disappeared into the underground casino.
Tianqi disappeared, leaving only the Grand Elder kneeling in the same spot. When the others saw that Tianqi and the others had left, but the Grand Elder was still kneeling, they came over and helped him up.
"Elder, the clan leader has left, why do you seem unhappy?" a person who was about the same age as the elder asked.
"Sigh, I don't know if I'll ever see you again, Tian Qi and Zhan..." The First Elder recalled Tian Qi and Zhan's appearance when they were children.
The people next to the "Grand Elder" shook the Grand Elder, who was lost in thought.
"Oh, right! Quickly gather everyone together," the elder said to the person supporting him, as if he had just remembered something.
"What happened to the Grand Elder? Don't worry, don't worry," someone nearby comforted him.
"Go and gather everyone quickly," the elder urged the people beside him.
"Yes, yes, yes," the group replied and ran out.
Soon, the 140 people gathered again. The elder stood on a table, took out two scrolls, and said to everyone, "Clan members, the clan leader and the others are fighting on the front lines. We must not become their weakness, right?"
"right"
"right"
"right"
The crowd shouted in unison.
"Alright, I have two doses of this medicine here. Everyone come and take one. Put it in your teeth. Even if we get caught, we can bite through the poison and commit suicide. We will never become a burden to the clan leader!" the elder said solemnly.
"Never become a weakness!"
"Never become a weakness!"
After he finished speaking, everyone stepped forward to receive the medicine. When the elder saw that everyone had come forward, he opened two scrolls, and a red and a blue pill appeared before his eyes.
"Both types of pills have a protective layer on the outside, so they won't break unless you bite very hard. You can put them in your teeth with peace of mind. The red one is the deadly one; if you bite it, you will die within two minutes. The blue one is not so deadly; if you bite it, you still have a chance to be treated within a day."
“We older folks will take the red pills, and the younger ones will take the blue pills, as a way to preserve a sliver of hope for survival,” the elder said, letting out a heavy sigh.
Upon hearing the elder's words, everyone took their own pills and stuffed them into their teeth.
After everything was settled, the elder dismissed everyone. Several older Uchiha clan members approached the elder and asked, "Elder, is it really necessary to go this far? The clan leader said he was very confident of winning the war. Aren't we being too cautious? Are you overthinking things?"
"I know what you're thinking, and I hope I'm just overthinking it. If things go smoothly for them, great. If not, this is a double insurance policy for me." After saying this, the Grand Elder went straight back to his room.
"What's wrong with the Grand Elder? He seems to lack confidence."
"Maybe it's because I'm getting old, or maybe I'm thinking a bit too much. But whatever, I believe the clan leader will win."
"I also believe the clan leader will win."
The group exchanged glances and then went about their business.
In Konoha Village, Tsunade woke up from the genjutsu and realized she had been tricked. "Rebuilding houses? These liars!" She got up and rushed out towards the Elder's house.
She rushed to the elder's house and saw that the door had been kicked open. She rushed inside and searched around, only to find the house empty. She frowned and asked, "What happened? Why is there no one here? And the room is so messy. Where did they go?"
"Forget it, I'll go ask Sarutobi-sensei first. He should know what's going on." She headed towards the Hokage Building again, feeling that something was about to happen.
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