Sarutobi Hiruzen
In the square outside the Hokage Building, Konoha ninjas gathered.
There were genin, chunin, jounin, civilian ninja, clan ninjas, and ANBU operatives, numbering close to a thousand.
No one whispered, and the air was thick with silence.
The enemy, poised to attack, loomed over their hearts like an immense boulder. Though the weight was not suffocating, it was still heavy, as the gravity of the situation settled upon them.
A thousand ninjas was not many. Konoha's main forces were stretched thin across various fronts, leaving the village dangerously under-manned.
It was one against four. The Great Ninja War had dragged on for years, and it was normal for their forces to be overextended. Even sending reinforcements from the borders was no longer an option, as the villages were embroiled in mutual animosities, preventing them from cooperating. If not for the infighting among the Four Great Shinobi Nations, Konoha would likely have already fallen.
Dressed in his Hokage hat and robe, Sarutobi Hiruzen—though in his fifties, an age where most ninja might start to slow down—stepped onto the edge of the Hokage building's top floor. His presence immediately commanded the attention of all the ninjas below, and they turned their gazes upward.
In the world of Naruto, a man in his fifties was far from old, especially for someone like Hiruzen, whose chakra-nourished body allowed him to remain in his prime. In the original series, however, Hiruzen had already begun to show signs of aging, his strength having waned in comparison to his earlier years.
Sarutobi took a deep breath. He removed his Hokage hat, bowed deeply, and addressed the gathering of ninjas.
The sight of the Hokage bowing like this caused a ripple through the ranks. A few, like Uchiha Gen, remained unaffected, but most were shaken by the uncharacteristic humility of their leader.
"Due to my error in judgment, Kumogakure and Sunagakure have infiltrated the heart of the Land of Fire, threatening Konoha like never before. I cannot escape responsibility for this."
He paused, his voice steady. "I understand that words alone cannot make up for what has happened. Therefore, after the war ends, I will step down as Hokage, and I will let a new generation guide Konoha forward."
"I am willing to sacrifice my life, but I ask of you—please protect our home, and never let our ancestors' sacrifices be in vain!"
Sarutobi's words, imbued with chakra, carried across the square, resonating in every heart. Once more, he bowed deeply, remaining still for a long moment.
The murmurs of discontent that had previously been buried in the hearts of the gathered ninjas slowly began to fade. The way Hiruzen had humbly offered himself for the failures of Konoha spoke volumes.
Ninjas, who were trained to follow orders and complete missions, were not quick to rebel. They understood that a leader's humility, even if forced, was still preferable to none at all.
Uchiha Gen, however, remained quietly dissatisfied, though it had lessened. He despised the notion of "righteousness after the fact," wondering what Hiruzen had been doing all along to allow this situation to unfold. Still, he begrudgingly acknowledged that at least Sarutobi was making an effort to make things right.
"Swear to defend Konoha to the death!" someone suddenly shouted.
The words spread like wildfire.
"Swear to defend Konoha to the death!"
"Swear to defend Konoha to the death!"
"Swear to protect Konoha to the death!"
And then more and more voices joined in, until the entire square thundered with the unified cry. The ninjas' faces flushed with fervor, their blood surged, and excitement filled the air.
Uchiha Gen, determined not to stand out, joined in the chant, shouting with feigned enthusiasm.
"Swear to protect Konoha to the death?" he thought to himself. He felt no such connection to the village. His own life was the most important thing to him. Although Konoha might ultimately prevail, in the face of such dire circumstances, it was wise to stay cautious and hold back.
When the noise began to settle, Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his voice again. "All ninjas, follow Shinnosuke to the southeast of Konoha. Set up defenses and prepare to meet the enemy. I will join you shortly after I change into my battle gear."
Shinnosuke, or Sarutobi Shinnosuke, was the head of Konoha's ANBU, and his wife was the deputy head.
"Understood!" came the synchronized response.
In a blur of motion, the ninjas began leaping through the air, rushing toward the southeast, their speeds varying. Their movements were fluid, like creatures of the forest, the landscape of cliffs and dense forests no obstacle for their trained bodies.
After crossing Platycodon Castle, a historic site to the northeast of Konoha, the group arrived at Mount Platycodon, just outside the village. Here, four ANBU operatives appeared before Sarutobi, who had since donned his battle attire.
The leader of the ANBU team, wearing a white animal mask and a white cloak, knelt. "Lord Hokage, Kumogakure and Sunagakure are less than forty miles away."
"Impossible! How could they have advanced so quickly?" Sarutobi exclaimed, his face hardening in concern.
"Damn it!" he muttered under his breath. "Immediately issue orders for the jounin and special jounin to prepare for battle. Set up a defense line and slow down the enemy's approach."
"Send another squad to delay them further, but remember—do not fight to the death. If retreat is necessary, retreat."
"Understood!" The ANBU vanished in an instant, leaving only the ANBU Minister and his deputy by Sarutobi's side.
Standing on the mountain and looking at the vast forest stretching out before him, Hiruzen's mind raced. Though worried, his resolve solidified.
There was no time left for complicated plans. The enemy had arrived too quickly, and preparations had to be rushed. But no matter what the cost, Konoha would not fall under his watch.
With the ANBU dispersing without hesitation, word of the situation spread quickly to all Konoha ninjas.
Under the coordination of the jounin and special jounin, defenses were rapidly set up in the southeast region, centered on Mount Kikyo. Barriers and traps were laid out from south to northeast, ensuring that every angle was covered.
The war had been dragging on for a long time, but the remaining ninjas, battle-hardened through years of conflict, moved with calm efficiency. They knew how to act under pressure, and despite the tension, they did not panic.
In the Uchiha clan's designated defense area, as ninjas rushed off to their positions, Uchiha Yashiro called out to Uchiha Gen.
"Gen, stay behind for a moment."
Gen looked at his captain with measured indifference. "Do you have orders, Captain Yashiro?"
"Follow me," Yashiro said sternly. "During the battle, do not stray too far from me."
Understanding quickly, Gen realized Yashiro intended to protect him during the fight.
Ah, the privilege of a "genius."
While this sounded good, Gen knew that in war, opportunities to collect souls were precious. All that mattered was victory, and his enemies were to be harvested without hesitation.
"Thank you, Captain Yashiro, but I do not need special care."
"Uchiha are born for battle," Gen declared confidently. "We never fear war. I'll survive!"
Yashiro nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. "That's the spirit. You've got the right mindset."
"Very well, you're in charge of your squad now," he added, his voice softer.
Gen hesitated, his expression clouding slightly. "Captain, I haven't quite gotten over the last mission. If my teammates…"
The mention of his previous squad's death, which triggered his awakening of the second magatama, cast a shadow over him. His words faltered.
Yashiro, understanding the pain Gen carried, spoke after a pause. "You've awakened the second magatama of the Sharingan. After recovering from your injuries, you've learned new jutsu. You're among the top chunin now."
He gave a thoughtful look before continuing, "However, acting alone is risky. A small team might overwhelm you, especially without enough experience."
Gen, his eyes filled with determination, responded, "I've considered that."
"If I face a genin team, I'll strike hard and fast, splitting them up and picking them off one by one. If I encounter jounin or a jounin-led team, I'll retreat immediately. No hesitation."
Yashiro smiled approvingly. "Good. I'm confident you'll do well."
"Go. Stay safe," he added.
"Understood," Gen responded, bowing slightly before moving off.
The battlefield was waiting, and he had his own "hunting ground" to attend to.