Konoha Village.
Today, the Hokage's office was especially lively. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, sat at the head of the room. To his left and right were his advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, along with Shimura Danzō, the self-proclaimed protector of Konoha from the shadows.
Standing nearby were Nara Shikaku, the Jonin commander and long-time strategist, and the masked leader of the ANBU.
"Hiruzen, I've received reliable intelligence that the rogue ninja from the Land of Water will pass through the Land of Rivers on their way to the Land of Rain," Danzō said, his voice heavy with urgency.
"We must eliminate this group of renegades!" Danzō continued, always the most aggressive voice in the room.
"Indeed. This group comprises one-third of Kirigakure's forces and includes members of the Hōzuki clan. Eliminating them would greatly benefit Konoha," Homura said, pushing his glasses up as he spoke.
"Even if they refuse to join Konoha, we must destroy them. We cannot allow them to reach the Land of Rain," Koharu added. Although she left her sentence unfinished, everyone understood her meaning. If these rogue ninja established themselves in the Land of Rain, they could become a future threat to the Land of Fire.
For the major nations, smaller nations were nothing more than buffers. Allowing them to grow stronger was unacceptable.
Shikaku and the ANBU leader remained silent. The fact that they were standing rather than seated made their position in the power hierarchy clear—they were not part of Konoha's true core leadership. Instead, they served as a façade, a way for Hiruzen to maintain the appearance of inclusivity.
In reality, everyone knew that after decades of Hiruzen's rule, his authority was deeply entrenched. In earlier years, representatives of the major clans could participate in such meetings and voice their opinions. However, since the Uchiha clan's annihilation and the Hyūga clan's retreat into seclusion, the clans' political power had been fully absorbed by the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen's rule was at its peak.
He took a slow drag from his pipe, his eyes scanning the room. Seeing this, the others fell silent, understanding that the Hokage was weighing the situation.
What was Sarutobi Hiruzen considering?
Was he pondering the morality of this action?
No.
He was calculating the risks and rewards, as well as the chances of success.
To Konoha, he was a benevolent leader—wielding immense power without resorting to tyranny. While Konoha faced various challenges, none of them stemmed from his personal greed. Internally, his leadership was respected.
But externally, mercy and compassion had no place in a village's foreign policy. In this era, every other village was an enemy or a potential threat.
"How many shinobi would we need to intercept these Kirigakure rogues?" Hiruzen asked.
"Five thousand, at least. That includes a hundred Jonin and at least ten Elite Jonin," Shikaku replied.
The room grew tense. Such a large mobilization was akin to a full-scale war.
"That many?" Koharu frowned.
"Yes. The opposing force comprises two thousand ninja, including a significant number of elite Kirigakure shinobi and members of the Hōzuki clan. To minimize our casualties, we must deploy at least double their numbers," Shikaku explained.
Hiruzen nodded, realizing that his initial estimate had been too conservative. This was not a typical skirmish—it was a calculated strike for a swift and decisive victory.
"No! My intelligence indicates that there's a near-Kage-level figure accompanying them. I will assign some of my men from Root to assist," Danzō interjected, his bandaged eye fixed on Hiruzen.
"And Hiruzen... I hope you'll lead this operation yourself to ensure its success."
The room erupted in protest.
"That's out of the question! A village's Kage cannot leave so easily!" Koharu objected.
"What if something happens to you?" Homura added.
"Enough!" Danzō slammed his cane against the floor with a sharp clack, silencing them. Ignoring their objections, he turned back to Hiruzen, his gaze unyielding.
"Danzō-sama, are you certain there's a near-Kage-level individual among the rogues?" Shikaku asked, his tone skeptical.
"Of course," Danzō replied tersely, unwilling to divulge the source of his information. The truth was awkward—it came from the mysterious figure who had assisted in the Uchiha clan's massacre. That man, Tobi, had explicitly warned him about the high-level threats within the rogue faction.
But Danzō doubted Tobi's claims. Three Kage-level shinobi among the rogues? Ridiculous. Even Konoha has only one—Hiruzen.
Still, Danzō didn't dismiss the possibility of near-Kage-level fighters. He had initially intended to handle the mission himself but decided it would be more efficient to send Hiruzen instead. After all, a decisive victory would crush any resistance.
Yet Danzō underestimated Hiruzen's cautious nature. For all his wisdom, the Third Hokage was not one to act rashly.
Hiruzen's hesitation wasn't due to fear but a concern for Konoha's long-term security. If they failed to annihilate the enemy, they risked creating a powerful adversary.
Before Danzō could push further, there was a sharp knock on the office door.
"Come in," Hiruzen called.
An intelligence officer entered, carrying a freshly translated report. He handed it to the Hokage, who scanned it quickly.
"Nani?" Hiruzen's pipe paused midair.
"What is it, Hiruzen?" Homura asked.
"Suna has also received intelligence about the rogue ninja passing through the Land of Rivers. They've proposed a joint operation to hunt them down," Hiruzen replied.
"Excellent!" Danzō shot to his feet. With Sunagakure's support, their chances of success had significantly improved.
"I'll begin preparing Root and the Shimura clan's forces immediately."
"Shikaku, inform the clans. Each must send their finest," Hiruzen ordered.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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