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Certain intelligence was classified and could not be discussed in front of outsiders, such as the fact that the faction intervening in the Hidden Grass Village's civil war was Akatsuki.
Upon learning of Akatsuki's involvement, Tsunade immediately summoned a group of elite Jonin, including Hatake Kakashi, Asuma Sarutobi, and Jiraiya, who also attended the meeting.
The envoy from the Hidden Grass Village quickly recounted the situation.
The Hidden Grass Village had always been a place of chaotic factions, but for the sake of mutual benefit, these factions maintained a delicate "understanding" with one another. Even when conflicts arose, they were relatively restrained.
On the surface, a respected leader was elected to maintain this fragile balance, preventing outright chaos.
If the leader had been merely a figurehead, a mascot of sorts, peace might have prevailed, as no one wanted to openly break the truce.
Everyone was driven by profit, and harmony bred wealth.
However, this leader, despite his advanced age, was filled with passion and sought to root out the corrupt elements undermining the village.
In the short term, others might tolerate or ignore his actions. But over time, his moves sparked dissatisfaction among certain factions, and someone took advantage of the situation to eliminate him.
The identity of the leader wasn't crucial, nor was his assassination. What mattered was who had killed him.
The leader had served as a "tablecloth," concealing the unsavory dealings of those beneath it. When the "tablecloth" was lifted, those hiding underneath faced three critical questions: Who had pulled it off? Why had they done so? And who would be the next "tablecloth"?
Some wanted to find the one responsible for exposing the truth, but soon after the suggestion was made, the person who proposed it was found dead at the village entrance.
The faction represented by the deceased was, unsurprisingly, furious and declared war on the other factions.
Thus, the Hidden Grass Village descended into full-blown chaos.
At this critical moment, one faction allied itself with Akatsuki, instantly tipping the scales of victory in their favor. Simultaneously, other external forces intervened, further complicating the situation in the Hidden Grass Village.
The envoy represented the faction loyal to the original leader. After the leader's death, his group had been in grave danger and had temporarily fled to safer grounds. However, upon learning of the current turmoil in the Hidden Grass Village, the envoy was heartbroken. While en route back to the village, he was entrusted by one of the factions to seek aid from the Hidden Leaf Village.
"The faction you represent is the Hidden Grass Village's Anbu?" Tsunade inquired.
The head of the Anbu was the one who had suggested investigating the leader's killer, only to have his head displayed at the village entrance the following morning.
"No, I don't represent anyone. I speak only for myself," the ninja replied.
"I understand. Please rest for now; we need to discuss this," Tsunade said, gesturing for Shizune to escort the envoy out.
"This involves Akatsuki… Their movements are too bold," Jiraiya remarked.
"Our problem is how to handle this," Tsunade nodded.
"This is an internal matter of the Hidden Grass Village and has nothing to do with the Leaf. If we intervene rashly, we'll invite criticism. The Hidden Sand Village, Hidden Rock Village, and Hidden Cloud Village are all watching us closely… The Third Great Ninja War was sparked by the disappearance of the Kazekage. Who knows what could ignite the next one?" Koharu Utatane was the first to speak.
Among those present, she, Homura Mitokado, and Hiruzen Sarutobi were the most senior, and since Homura often aligned with her views, Koharu spoke with confidence and authority.
Fugaku Uchiha rested his chin on his hand, rolling his eyes, wondering why he was even at this meeting. Kakashi sat with his head down, fidgeting with his fingers, wanting to speak but knowing no one would likely listen. Sarutobi sat in the back, staring at his father, Hiruzen Sarutobi, pondering how he would handle the situation if he were in a leadership position.
"Koharu is right, but the Hidden Grass Village is unique. For one, we have a good relationship with them, so morally and logically, we shouldn't ignore this situation. Secondly, their location is too close to the Hidden Leaf Village. If something goes wrong, it could easily affect us. Moreover, if refugees flood in, we'll be in a difficult position," Hiruzen offered an alternative perspective.
Koharu's mouth twitched slightly as she glanced at Homura, unable to hold back. "What if the other ninja villages use our intervention in the Hidden Grass Village as an excuse to target us? Besides, every ninja in the Hidden Leaf is precious. Sacrificing them for this would be a loss not worth making."
Tsunade's gaze swept over the faces of the advisors.
Ultimately, the decision rested with her, but with power came responsibility. A single misstep could bring significant risks to the Hidden Leaf Village, just as it had for Hiruzen.
Her top priority during her tenure was easing tensions with the Uchiha clan, so she had to tread carefully.
"Jiraiya, what's your take?" Tsunade decided to hear more opinions.
"If this were just a civil war in the Hidden Grass Village, I'd agree with Elder Koharu. The Hidden Leaf needs time to recover. But with Akatsuki's involvement, it's a different story. Here's something you may not know: Orochimaru and Danzo are dead, killed by Akatsuki," Jiraiya said with a heavy sigh.
"Impossible!" Koharu slammed the table, glaring at Jiraiya. "We know their strength better than anyone. How could a ninja organization kill them?"
"It's true. Orochimaru's body has been delivered to the bounty exchange. There's no body for Danzo, but Akatsuki members claimed he's dead and even tried to claim the bounty, though they were refused," Jiraiya said, glancing at Koharu. Seeing her pale face but no interruption, he continued, "When it comes to Akatsuki, no amount of caution is too much."
"But drawing the attention of the other ninja villages isn't ideal either. The ninja war ended not long ago; we can't afford another large-scale conflict between the villages," Homura countered.
Tsunade scanned the room, noting the silence of nearly everyone present, which sparked some frustration. Her gaze then landed on Shikaku Nara, and an idea struck her.
While the Nara clan wasn't the most powerful, they were among the most influential on the battlefield. Their strategic insight and ability to read the tides of war often determined the outcome of a conflict.
"Shikaku, what's your opinion?" Tsunade asked.
Shikaku stood quickly, took a deep breath, and said, "There's actually a way to handle this."
"Let's hear it," Tsunade said with interest, as the others turned their attention to Shikaku.
"Everyone's concerned about the other ninja villages' suspicions toward the Leaf. So, why not involve them? The Hidden Leaf is close to the Hidden Grass Village, and for our own safety, we must act. I suggest we first establish a medical outpost at the border to care for injured refugees, preventing them from flooding into the Leaf's heartland. Second, dispatch a small ninja team focused on reconnaissance to assess the situation. When the other ninja villages send their own teams, we can share our intelligence with them. That way, it'll be the major ninja villages addressing the Hidden Grass Village's crisis together, rather than the focus being solely on the Leaf."
Jiraiya rubbed his chin.
He had been racking his brain on how to draw the ninja villages' attention to Akatsuki, and Shikaku's plan seemed like a viable solution.
He glanced at Koharu, who looked ready to object, and quickly interjected, "I think this is a good plan. It reassures the Hidden Grass Village while considering the feelings of the other ninja villages."
"Let's go with it," Tsunade said, eager to finalize the decision before the advisors could raise further objections.