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"Hmmm! Something serious has indeed happened.."
"The Two-Tails Jinchūriki from the Cloud Village has broken through our border and is now lurking along the Fire Country's border!"
"What? They've even deployed their Jinchūriki?"
The expressions of everyone in the room shifted dramatically.
They had initially assumed that the Cloud Village, upon learning the news, might limit their response to some verbal protests or create minor skirmishes at the border to pressure Konoha. It was a common tactic to gain leverage at the negotiation table or perhaps to pursue other interests, like the Byakugan.
But to send the Two-Tails Jinchūriki... This was beyond anything they had expected.
"Furthermore, the intelligence indicates that this Two-Tails Jinchūriki is exceptionally skilled—she's already mastered the full power of the Two-Tails!"
Before Koharu and Homura could fully process this alarming news, the Third Hokage delivered yet another blow.
"Is that true?"
Even Danzo, who had been quietly considering a war with the Cloud Village, couldn't maintain his composure.
A Jinchūriki who can control a tailed beast's power is not an opponent to be taken lightly.
"According to our sources... this new Two-Tails Jinchūriki is just a sixteen-year-old girl. How could she have mastered the tailed beast's power so quickly?"
"Cloud Village's recent Jinchūriki are truly exceptional. One after another, they've grown more formidable, mastering tailed beast powers at such a young age. It's not something we can afford to underestimate."
"The intelligence... It came from Shinnosuke," the Third Hokage explained, his voice heavy with grief as he closed his eyes in pain.
The room fell into an uneasy silence as those present exchanged glances. The news hit even harder, knowing that the Third Hokage's daughter-in-law had recently become pregnant. The timing couldn't be more tragic.
"No matter what, we can't allow Shinnosuke's fate to befall anyone else."
"I'll send someone to intercept the Cloud Ninja's Two-Tails Jinchūriki. Danzo, I want you to investigate whether the Cloud has discovered a method to help their Jinchūriki control tailed beast power more effectively."
As the Hokage, he had witnessed countless tragedies, and it didn't take long for him to regain his composure and begin issuing orders. His voice was steady as he directed Danzo to uncover the secrets behind the Cloud's unusually strong Jinchūriki.
After Danzo departed, Koharu turned to the Third Hokage with a question lingering in her eyes. "Hiruzen, are you planning to send Kushina?"
A Jinchūriki capable of wielding tailed beast power isn't something that just anyone can handle. With limited options, Koharu's thoughts immediately went to Uzumaki Kushina.
However, this approach would turn the situation into a direct confrontation between the two villages. If the conflict escalates beyond control, the consequences could be disastrous.
"No, Kushina's identity is too sensitive," the Third Hokage replied, his tone firm. "I won't send her to the battlefield unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Then who?" Koharu began to ask but was cut off.
"Uchiha Toshiro!" The Third Hokage didn't hesitate, directly naming Toshiro.
"No! He already gained significant attention during the Nine-Tails Incident. If he stands out again, it will be difficult for us to keep him in check," Koharu objected, her voice resolute.
"Koharu, I've looked into Uchiha Toshiro. He doesn't seem to be driven by ambition," the Third Hokage began, his tone measured. "Besides, sending him against the two-tailed jinchūriki would serve as a good test to uncover his secrets."
"We need a clear understanding of Toshiro's true strength; otherwise, we're operating in the dark," he continued, his gaze thoughtful. "Although he displayed some of his abilities during the Nine-Tails incident, much of the credit belonged to his giant summoning beast. His true capabilities remain somewhat elusive, like trying to see through a fog. Not knowing his full strength leaves me uneasy."
…
"Sandaime-sama, what do you need from me this time?" Toshiro asked, his tone lacking warmth or respect. He still harbored resentment towards the old man who had recently deceived him. If not for certain considerations, he might have been tempted to eliminate him altogether.
"Toshiro, I sought you out because there's a mission that only you can handle," the Third Hokage replied, forcing a smile despite the pain of his recent loss.
"The two-tailed jinchūriki from the Hidden Cloud has breached our border defenses and is roaming freely within the Land of Fire. I need you to intercept her."
The Hokage added, "You won't be alone. To support you, I'm sending a large contingent of the Anbu to assist in the mission."
As expected, nothing good comes from this guy...
Toshiro had already sensed trouble from the Third Hokage's expression.
"I'll go," he said, his voice steady. "But I have conditions. I want access to Konoha's sealing techniques—especially the secret arts of the Uzumaki clan. I want it all."
He wasn't going to take on such a dangerous mission without something worthwhile in return. The frozen look on the Third Hokage's face didn't faze him in the slightest.
Bang!
The sound of a palm slamming against wood echoed through the room as Koharu, her temper flaring, shot to her feet and pointed accusingly at Toshiro.
"Uchiha Toshiro! How dare you make demands on a village mission? Are you even a Konoha ninja anymore?" she snapped.
Overcome with anger, Koharu stood up abruptly, her face red as she pointed accusingly at Toshiro.
"Konoha ninja?"
Toshiro tilted his head slightly, his gaze meeting hers with a calm, unwavering expression. It was as if the demand he had just made to the Third Hokage for the Uzumaki clan's secret techniques was as trivial as asking for a basic C-rank ninjutsu.
"If the esteemed Elder Koharu feels so strongly about it... well then, here, you can have this back," he said with a cold detachment.
Toshiro slowly untied the Konoha forehead protector from his arm and casually tossed it into Koharu's hands.
"You..."
This time, Koharu was genuinely nervous, clutching the forehead protector of Toshiro with one hand while pointing at him with the other. She was trembling so much that she couldn't even speak.
"What? Doesn't Konoha allow ninjas to retire?"
Toshiro observed Koharu's expression with a hint of amusement.
The ninja profession never appealed to him. Every day was filled with missions, killing, or getting involved in some kind of conspiracy—none of which suited his nature. He had no desire to continue; if someone else wanted to take on the role, they were welcome to take it.
"Ahem!"
"Toshiro, don't be so hasty!"
"Being a ninja is proof that you protect the village and its people. You shouldn't speak about it so lightly and dismissively! And your forehead protector is a symbol of the trust your comrades place in you, so you should value it!"
Noticing that Koharu was struggling to maintain composure, the Third Hokage coughed and stepped in to ease the tension.
He hadn't expected Toshiro to show such disdain for the ninja profession, or to discard the Konoha forehead protector so easily.
"Protect everyone?"
"Would the Third Hokage protect those who usually treat him like a plague?"
"Oh, so the Third Hokage trusts me, an Uchiha? What a surprise!"
Toshiro's face was full of mockery as he looked at the Hokage, who had taken his forehead protector.
The old man's words sounded nice, but he was constantly playing little games behind the scenes.
Trust? That kind of nonsense might fool naive kids like Shisui and Itachi, but not him.
"Toshiro, you jest! We're all leaves of the village, comrades on the battlefield—how could we not trust you?"
"Those misunderstandings in the village arise because the civilians don't truly understand the Uchiha."
"Whether it's the First Hokage, the Second, or myself, we all rely on the Uchiha—they are the backbone of the village!"
"Toshiro, you must believe that neither I, the Konoha leadership, the various clans, nor the ordinary ninjas and civilians hold any ill will toward the Uchiha!"
The Third Hokage took the forehead protector from Koharu and handed it back to Toshiro, trying to maintain a semblance of calm with a somewhat strained explanation.
'Believe that? Not a chance!'
Toshiro knew these were just empty words meant to placate him. But with the Hokage invoking the First and Second Hokage, the Konoha clans, and even the ordinary ninja and civilians, he felt compelled to hold his tongue.
Otherwise, he might have no choice but to kill the Third Hokage on the spot.
"In any case, without the Uzumaki secret sealing techniques, I won't go after the Two-Tails Jinchūriki!"
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