A murderous atmosphere spread across the border.
Ninjas from the Wind, Earth, and Water countries-who usually ignored one another-had formed an alliance, spreading tension across Konoha's borders.
Everyone inside Konoha watched for changes in the situation with barely hidden panic. One wrong move might reduce them to cannon fodder in someone else's war. The disappearance of the "Three Heroes of the Senju" and the naming of Sarutobi Hiruzen as the new Hokage signaled the end of the Senju era-with it came the rise of unpredictable chaos.
Just as it seemed war would break out across the entire ninja world, everything shifted. Instead of pressing toward Konoha, the coalition redirected its full force toward the Land of Lightning.
When this emergency report reached Konoha's highest leaders, the sudden change left everyone stunned.
"What's...going on?" Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at the papers in his hand and spoke without even thinking. The unease in his tone chipped away at what little confidence remained around the room.
Despite formal respect shown on the surface, many leaders around him couldn't help their private judgments.
Without Akira Senju or Tobirama in power, how long could Konoha hold under someone like Hiruzen?
Once that idea took root, it wouldn't be dislodged easily. Every glance toward Sarutobi now carried doubt-silent accusations weighing down the room.
While some simply stayed neutral-like many from clans without interest or potential to rise to Hokage status-others began measuring consequences and choices. The Nara clan, represented by its head, caught the shift in atmosphere and stepped in swiftly.
"Hokage-sama"-
His tone offered both support and subtle correction-anchoring Hiruzen back into his role while re-directing everyone else with political grace.
"They may believe we're using the 'strategy of confusion'-letting them think we've deployed new leadership or are hiding our true strength."
"The strategy of confusion...?" Hiruzen furrowed his brow, confused at first-but the moment passed quickly.
He understood. "You're saying-they think Lord Akira is alive?"
"Probably."
Nara's tone was clear and confident now. "From their perspective, Konoha hasn't acted at any point as though Lord Akira is truly gone. If anything, our behavior looks staged-like part of one of his plans."
"-Oh?"
Conversations froze as attention shifted fully back to him. Seeing he had their full ear, the Nara leader pressed forward with calm precision.
"Think about our recent provocations-the ones that only stopped after the Five Kage Summit began. It looks like we've collected reparations...and backed off right after."
Another realization spread across the room.
"So what you're saying is-we look like opportunists...?" someone asked slowly.
"Exactly," the Nara leader said with no shame. "And who does that sound like if not Lord Akira?"
They hesitated only briefly-then nodded in agreement.
"Yes...that's exactly how he would've handled it."
Everyone leaned into this idea now-all caution about mocking the dead pushed aside.
"If that's true..." Hiruzen looked toward Nara now, not hiding how much he relied on him, "what should we do?"
With everyone focused on him again, Nara lifted his hand and pointed upward.
"Didn't Lord Akira already give us the answer?"
"Hint...?"
Confusion returned tenfold until Nara clarified bluntly:
"He left us nothing-because there's nothing for us to do."
Uchiha Chen was the first to catch on. As Akira's loudest supporter-even self-declared bootlicker-he connected everything at once.
"I see...
As long as we keep acting normally-responding where needed and doing what Konoha always does-they'll assume Lord Akira is here somewhere...watching."
Hiruzen processed that slowly. "We don't have to do anything...?"
His tone made it clear he wasn't used to this kind of luck-but then he grinned faintly, excitement flickering behind his usual careful expression.
"So...should we keep provoking them?"
Faces turned again-immediately sinking into visible disappointment with his lack of tact. Nara moved fast to stop him from digging deeper.
"We shouldn't."
His tone finally turned firm. "I'm guessing the Thunder Country leaked info about Lord Akira-from which they profited heavily through liquidated damages. Given their economy, they couldn't afford losses without some recovery plan in place."
"Other countries might not know if Lord Akira is dead-but they're too scared to gamble on it being true."
Another nodded across from him:
"The Land of Lightning lost its powerhouses-the Second Raikage, and those two brothers, Kinkaku and Ginkaku."
"Exactly. No matter what's really happening in Konoha-the world just sees opportunity in The Lightning Country's weakness."
Laughter followed after that idea settled fully in everyone's minds-and not polite laughter either-it was low and vindictive about how things lined up for their enemies across the sea.
"So..."
Nara leaned forward again, driving one final point home for maximum effect in front of Hiruzen-
"The war won't end until they've squeezed every benefit they want from The Land of Lightning. If we step in too early-it won't scare them off-it'll tell them Lord Akira really is gone...and give them reason to unite against us instead."
"I'm afraid there's even worse than that."
Uchiha Chen folded his arms as attention swung his way one last time. He wore calm confidence but didn't soften his tone even slightly.
"If we intervene, and they begin suspecting that Lord Akira isn't here-that might restart everything we just finished ending."
He didn't bother hiding who he worshipped-or warning what it would cost to dishonor that legacy again.
Other clan heads nodded slowly. They promised aloud to keep their people restrained-for now.
Chen said nothing else-but allowed himself one rare smile just before wiping it away quickly when others looked up again.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up finally-his face tightened with nerves under command-but he forced himself to speak anyway.
"If that's agreed-then we proceed as discussed. We don't provoke anyone...but we respond with full force when provoked. And above everything else..."
He glanced at each head present before finishing-
"The status and whereabouts of Lord Akira are now top-secret information to the entire village."
"Yes!"
Their voices answered in practiced unison-closing out that room for now.
...…
Across distant hills and thick forests-
White Zetsu began to spread his poison again.
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