No matter how much disbelief, anger, or frustration Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others felt, the reality was clear.
Their plan had failed.
They had incited a war by provoking both Iwagakure and Kumogakure to attack Konohagakure, hoping the chaos would eliminate the Uchiha clan—specifically, Byakuya.
But instead of destroying him, they had only elevated his reputation and strengthened the Uchiha clan's hold over the village.
Their failure couldn't be more humiliating.
"Although it's hard to accept…" Utatane Koharu said quietly, her brows furrowed. "But it's true."
She unrolled a scroll and placed it solemnly before the others.
"This is the most recent intelligence report from within the village."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took it with trembling hands and scanned it. The more he read, the darker his expression grew.
"…Wood Release?" Hiruzen's voice cracked with disbelief. "How can Uchiha Byakuya use Wood Release? This… this is the bloodline of Hashirama Senju! Unless—has he also transplanted Hashirama's cells?"
Koharu passed another document across the table. "According to our informants, the Uchiha uncovered an ancient stone tablet… It states the Senju and Uchiha clans once shared a common origin, descending from the Sage of Six Paths."
"That's absurd!" Danzo snapped, slamming his palm on the table. "That's just a convenient lie to justify his power. This is clearly the result of biological grafting! He must have integrated Hashirama's DNA. I've studied both—Sharingan and Wood Release are fundamentally opposite forces. They cannot coexist naturally."
If what the report suggested was true, then years—decades—of Danzo's research had been wrong.
His experiments with Hashirama's cells. The countless subjects. The integration failures. All that bloodshed… wasted?
No. He refused to believe it.
"This is all a ruse by Byakuya!" Danzo growled. "He's manipulating ancient legends to disguise his experiments. We can't be fooled by this propaganda."
"I agree," Hiruzen said, forcing steadiness into his voice. "He's trying to rewrite history. If the Senju and Uchiha were truly one lineage, then everything Tobirama entrusted to me—his beliefs, his strategy—everything would be meaningless."
He couldn't accept that.
He wouldn't accept it.
If what Byakuya claimed was true… then his long campaign against the Uchiha wasn't righteous. It would make him not a protector of the village—but a persecutor.
And he would never admit to that.
"What now?" Koharu asked grimly. "Byakuya and the Uchiha now control Konoha. Our foothold in the Land of Grass isn't enough to launch a counterattack."
There was a long silence. Then, Danzo unsealed a small scroll and unrolled it slowly.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "What is this…?"
"Impure World Reincarnation," Danzo said coldly.
"What?!" Koharu and Menyan recoiled.
"That technique desecrates the dead!" Koharu exclaimed. "You'd raise corpses and force them to fight?! Even Tobirama himself stopped using it!"
"Yes. But desperate times require forbidden answers," Danzo said. "This version isn't complete—but give me time. I will perfect it. With this jutsu, we can resurrect the strongest shinobi from the past. Even the First Hokage himself."
"We'd have an immortal army…" Menyan whispered.
"And the means to reclaim Konoha," Danzo added. "We've exhausted conventional tactics. The era of diplomacy is over. It's time we turned the dead into our soldiers."
Hiruzen closed his eyes, as though weighing the gravity of his decision.
If they did this, they would cross a line even Orochimaru had been condemned for.
But if they didn't… they would fade into obscurity. Their dream of regaining power would die with them.
"…Do it," Hiruzen finally said. "Begin immediate development. We'll use Impure World Reincarnation… and take back the village—no matter the cost."
Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's unexpected support, Shimura Danzō allowed a rare smile to cross his face.
"Even so, dealing with Uchiha Byakuya is beyond our capabilities alone," Danzō said coldly. "We need allies—strong ones."
He turned to face the former Hokage directly.
"Contact Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure. It's time to convene a Five Kage Summit."
"…"
Hiruzen was silent for a moment, deep in thought. Despite all his misgivings, he could not deny the truth in Danzō's words.
"I still don't understand how Byakuya awakened Wood Release," he muttered. "But regardless of its origin, his power is undeniable. One village alone cannot stand against him."
He sighed.
"Very well. Begin negotiations through our envoys. I will authorize the summit."
Meanwhile, in Kumogakure…
The death of the Third Raikage had shaken the entire village. He had fallen in battle—reportedly after a fierce confrontation with Uchiha Byakuya. The loss created unrest, but his son A, a fearsome shinobi in his own right, had quickly taken up the mantle of the Fourth Raikage, restoring a measure of stability.
In a rugged training field just outside the Raikage's compound, A stood beneath stormy clouds, his body crackling with blue-white lightning.
"Liger Bomb… No—still not good enough. I need more speed!"
Supervised by Dodai, the Raikage's trusted aide, the Fourth Raikage practiced his Lightning Release: Double Lariat and his Hell Stab, perfecting his father's signature techniques.
Lightning surged across his frame, enhancing his already titanic strength. He launched forward at blinding speed and smashed into a massive boulder, shattering it to dust with a deafening boom.
Panting slightly, the Raikage turned to Dodai, a look of fire in his eyes.
"Dodai! I've finally mastered the Liger Bomb and the Hell Stab. Tell me—am I ready to kill Byakuya?!"
Dodai's expression darkened. He knew the rage that fueled his Raikage, but he also knew the harsh reality.
"Lord Raikage... your progress is impressive. You've grown stronger—stronger than ever before," Dodai said slowly. "But against Uchiha Byakuya—the man who defeated the Third Raikage—there is still a gap."
A's face contorted with frustration. The memory of his father's fall haunted him. Byakuya had humiliated not only his family but the pride of the entire village.
"Damn it…!" the Raikage roared, slamming his fist into the ground with a thunderous crack. "How long must I wait to avenge my father?!"
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