When Danzo arrived, he realized he wasn't the last to arrive.
Before impatience set in among the others, Orochimaru appeared slowly, hands tucked into his sleeves, strolling leisurely.
"Haha, looks like everyone's quite early," Orochimaru remarked calmly, showing no hint of being late.
His cold and eerie demeanor, paired with his distinctive light golden vertical pupils, sent shivers down the spines of those present, despite his relatively gentle tone.
Though some were displeased, they could only snort coldly due to his status as the Third Hokage's former disciple.
"Please, take a seat, Orochimaru."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone held a hint of dissatisfaction as he looked at Orochimaru with a tinge of embarrassment.
"Of course, sensei."
Orochimaru feigned ignorance and leaned against the wall in a corner.
With everyone assembled, Sarutobi Hiruzen cleared his throat lightly.
All eyes turned to the Hokage, recognizing that it was time for their leader to address them. Sarutobi Hiruzen clasped his hands under his nose, resting his elbows on the table, and swept his commanding gaze over each person.
Without beating around the bush, he spoke in a low voice, "Everyone, war is imminent!"
War?!
Some among them had experienced the previous conflict firsthand.
Upon hearing the word again, their expression showed surprise, though they managed to maintain his composure.
On the other hand, younger individuals like Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza—who had recently assumed clan leadership and hadn't experienced the last war—displayed clear panic.
Sarutobi Hiruzen observed their reactions in silence, noting that this generation's Ino-Shika-Cho trio was still immature and in need of further training.
The office fell silent for a long while until Shikaku Nara broke it. He cut to the chase with three consecutive questions: "Excuse me, Lord Hokage. Which ninja villages are involved in the war? Is this information accurate? What's the cause of the conflict?"
"Our intelligence confirms its authenticity," replied Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Currently, the targets of the war are confirmed to be the Hidden Mist Village and potentially Iwagakure Village. The status of the Sand Village and the Hidden Cloud Village remains unknown."
He paused briefly before continuing, "As for the reason, that's not something you need to know right now. Regardless, it's not something that can be resolved through diplomacy."
"Is there no room for negotiation, even with compensation?" Danzo's hoarse voice, muffled under a black robe, carried a subtle, sharp edge.
Everyone present was astute enough to sense that something was amiss and turned surprised looks towards Danzo.
Caught off guard by their scrutiny, Danzo faltered. He tugged at the corner of his mouth and deliberately lowered his voice, saying, "Ahem, I was practicing ninjutsu earlier and accidentally strained my voice a bit. Please disregard that detail. Let's focus on the issue at hand."
The explanation seemed somewhat contrived, but thankfully, no one pressed further, merely finding it peculiar.
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head with a sigh, weariness etched on his face. Leaning back in his chair, he frowned and spoke with a hint of frustration, "Negotiation... It's unlikely. Let's discuss how we can preemptively deal with the Hidden Mist Village instead."
"Why not? Explain it clearly to me, Hiruzen!" Danzo, an old friend, furrowed his brow, unknowingly adding a touch of insistence to his voice.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyebrows twitched as he fixed a strange gaze on Danzo, sensing something off about his old friend today.
Aware of his slip in composure, Danzo coughed to mask it, saying, "What I mean is, if we can resolve this peacefully, let's avoid starting a war. You know as well as I do that Konoha isn't in a state for war right now, especially with Tsunade gone, Jiraiya out of the village, and the White Fang having taken his own life. Our high-level combat strength is severely lacking!"
At that moment, Orochimaru, who had been silent until now, turned to Danzo with a curious expression.
"Heh, a warmonger who usually advocates for war is now advising against it. How intriguing. But I'm more curious about your ninjutsu skills."
"What's that got to do with you? I'm only thinking about the village!"
Danzo's fragile frame trembled, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. How could he have forgotten about Orochimaru! Acting for the village's sake was merely a facade.
The truth was, if war broke out, as the leader of Root, he would inevitably be sent to the front lines, and that posed a huge problem!
Deceiving others was easy, but deceiving Orochimaru, who had years of collaboration with him and knew human anatomy intimately, was another matter. Any slight change wouldn't escape Orochimaru's keen eyes.
If discovered, Danzo would be consumed by shame and fury, preferring death to facing such an outcome.
"Don't be so formal, Danzo," Orochimaru's pale golden eyes gleamed with intense curiosity. "I'm just intrigued by the kind of ninjutsu that can alter a person, from their gait and voice to their bones."
"I told you, it's none of your concern."
Danzo felt overwhelming guilt, yet maintained a stern expression. "Let's focus on what matters most," he said coldly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, agreeing with the logic. But before he could speak, Orochimaru interrupted.
Orochimaru, who had been casually leaning against the wall, suddenly straightened up. His hands emerged from his sleeves, his light golden eyes fixed on Danzo.
In a cold, indifferent tone, he said, "No, I simply need to confirm whether the person beneath this black robe is still 'Danzo'!"
His words immediately raised everyone's alertness.
"As far as I know, Danzo has been missing for a week."
Orochimaru's gaze turned icy. "No one has seen him this past week. The 'Danzo' who appears now differs in physique, gait, speech pattern, voice, and even bone structure. It's natural to question whether you are truly Danzo or... a spy lurking among us."
"You're spouting nonsense! You're defaming me, Orochimaru!"
Danzo was furious, almost losing control. Through gritted teeth, he declared, "I am Danzo. I have no need to prove myself to you!"
His outburst only fueled further suspicion among those present.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, his eyes betraying doubt. "Danzo, Orochimaru's words hold weight. Given the importance of our current discussion to Konoha's safety, please remove your robe and let us see."
"Hiruzen."
Danzo was seething with rage, resenting this master and disciple duo.
"If you won't comply, should I do it for you?" Orochimaru smiled faintly, stepping forward.
"W-wait!"
Danzo's voice trembled with fear. He abandoned his disguise, a weak and trembling voice escaping him.
"That sound?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, his anger immediate. "How dare you! How dare you disguise yourself before me? Show me your true form!"
Despite his age, the Hokage remained swift as ever.
Sarutobi Hiruzen truly lived up to his reputation as a Professor of Ninjutsu. His Body Flicker Technique outpaced anyone's reaction.
In an instant, he darted from behind his desk, swiftly raised his hand like an eagle's talon, seized Danzo's black robe, and yanked it upwards abruptly. "Let's see who dares impersonate Danzo and deceive me in Konoha Village!"
"No--!"
Danzo's shrill cry nearly shattered glass.
He wanted to react, but it was too late. All he could do was watch as the black robe was lifted.
The black robe slowly descended.
What met everyone's gaze was a woman about 1.6 meters tall, radiating delicate charm.
Though her age was evident, her features were distinct: eyes and brows clear as autumn water, exuding a mature allure. Her ample bosom resembled twin peaks, her slender waist and shapely legs accentuating her superb figure.
Her fair, tender skin appeared as delicate as a baby's.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen, accustomed to beauty, couldn't help but pause for a moment, marveling at her captivating presence.
Truly remarkable!
Snap!
Faintly, the sound of breaking glass echoed.
Oh, it was Danzo. His pride shattered like glass!
For a moment, Danzo felt such despair he could almost end it all.
********
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