Inside the Hokage's office.
After two consecutive, grueling multi-hour meetings, Konoha's sleeping dragon, Nara Shikaku, looked visibly exhausted.
He gently set the intelligence scroll from the meeting onto the desk and tapped his temple with a knuckle.
"Iwagakure's proposal is clear: they want to form an alliance with Konoha to attack the Hidden Cloud and split the mineral-rich lands in the northern Lightning Country."
As he listened, Hiruzen Sarutobi skimmed through the same scroll. His pipe paused at his lips, then released a thin stream of white smoke.
Just as expected... That old fox Onoki is still as ambitious as ever.
Despite his village's lack of young talent, he was still trying to take advantage of the chaos.
No doubt he'd seen Konoha's overwhelming success in the recent conflict, and with Sunagakure now firmly aligned with Konoha, Iwagakure had turned its attention toward the Hidden Cloud.
Sarutobi made his decision after only a moment's thought.
"Reject the proposal. From the time of the First Hokage, Konoha has always stood for justice. We have never been a village that seizes the land of others."
That old fool Onoki must be senile, Sarutobi thought. He was already warned through our intelligence channels that both of Iwagakure's jinchūriki were being targeted.
Then again, Onoki had once been one of the Akatsuki's benefactors. He probably treated Konoha's warnings like empty air.
Now that the Two-Tails, Yugito Nii, had been taken, the Four and Five-Tails wouldn't be far behind.
Even if Konoha accepted the alliance, Onoki would likely back out the moment something went wrong on his end possibly even turn around and claim, "Konoha's ambition knows no bounds! Iwagakure is also a victim!"
Hiruzen knew Onoki's reputation all too well. They were both Third Kage, after all.
Even in the original story, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Sarutobi's reincarnated self had offered a detailed explanation comparing Onoki's Particle Style to the Truth-Seeking Balls.
"Onoki talks tough, but he's timid and indecisive," Sarutobi said. "Instead of scheming for expansion, he should be grooming a successor. In my view, it's high time he chose the next Tsuchikage."
Shikaku nodded in agreement. Konoha had always been the most powerful of the Five Great Nations, with the largest population and the most resources. As long as it remained stable, the gap between it and the other four would continue to widen inevitably and irreversibly.
At present, Konoha held ten key resource mines. The other villages had only one to five each. It was clear who would dominate the long game.
Launching a war was the wrong move. A slow and steady cultural victory was the way forward.
Shikaku subtly relaxed. This was the answer he had expected.
"I agree. Lord Hokage truly is a righteous shadow."
Sarutobi chuckled, replying that Shikaku was a true Konoha strategist he embodied the Will of Fire.
Shikaku had predicted this outcome before even stepping into the Hokage's office. But he waited until Hiruzen had spoken before voicing his support. If he had spoken first and suggested rejecting Iwagakure's offer, it might have seemed like he was overstepping like another Danzo.
Now it was time to turn to the more enigmatic matter of Kirigakure.
Shikaku recorded the Hokage's decision, unrolled a new scroll, and continued in a calm voice:
"The turmoil within Kirigakure has come to an end. Although a new Mizukage has yet to be appointed, the village is currently governed by the Elder, Master Genji."
"They've reached out to us after sensing the instability in the shinobi world. First, they wish to reestablish diplomatic relations with Konoha."
"Second, they've requested the extradition of the missing-nin Kisame Hoshigaki, along with the Samehada sword. They've even offered a considerable price."
No way. Kisame was valuable. If Obito could persuade him, surely Konoha could too.
And that blade... Samehada was a weapon with loyalty, almost as if it too carried the Will of Fire.
Sarutobi thought for a moment, then said decisively, "We'll proceed with reestablishing diplomacy immediately. As for Kisame Hoshigaki I see in him a fire yet unlit. His soul carries the potential for the Will of Fire."
Shikaku was momentarily caught off guard. Was there information I don't know?
But he didn't ask further. He simply replied, "Understood."
With that settled, they turned to the finer details of both matters.
Once those were arranged, Sarutobi tapped his pipe against the edge of the desk and said, "Very well. Inform the others summon Mei Terumi."
"Shikaku, go see off the Iwa delegation."
Shikaku accepted the orders and left. Sarutobi then instructed ANBU Agent A to summon Kakashi to the Hokage's office after he completed his current mission. A new task awaited him.
...
Kakashi arrived at the Hokage Building.
As he reached the door, a striking woman wearing a Hidden Mist forehead protector stepped out of the Hokage's office.
Their eyes met briefly before drifting apart.
Kiri? Kakashi thought.
Wow, Konoha really does have a lot of handsome men, Mei thought with amusement.
They passed each other without another word.
When Kakashi pushed open the office door, Sarutobi was idly tapping his pipe against a report listing names for the upcoming Shinobi Academy event.
"You're here?" Sarutobi didn't even look up. "You just ran into our guest from the Mist, didn't you?"
"Uh…" Kakashi's dead-fish eyes blinked slowly. "Didn't notice."
Classic Kakashi, Sarutobi thought. Loves his smut novels, not so much the women around him.
"That was Mei Terumi of Kirigakure. She'll probably be the next Mizukage."
"Hmm…" Kakashi didn't seem very interested.
"Keep an eye on her, Kakashi. Who knows you might be the next Hokage someday."
Kakashi didn't sound particularly enthused. "With the Legendary Sannin still around, if you plan to retire, wouldn't one of them be a safer choice?"
Life's strange like that what you long for often ends up in someone else's hands. Isn't that right, Danzo?
Sarutobi reined in his wandering thoughts and got to the real matter.
"The Shinobi Academy tournament is about to begin. I want you to conduct a comprehensive assessment of all the students. Treat it as a makeup for the Chūnin Exams that Orochimaru disrupted."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that something Lord Orochimaru and Lady Tsunade were supposed to handle?"
"You have all five elemental natures. Since the founding of the village, there've only been two kids as talented as you. Orochimaru and Tsunade may be strong, but they're specialists."
Sarutobi praised him without hesitation. "Kakashi, ever since the Fourth, I've placed my hopes in you."
Truth be told, Orochimaru was a well-rounded talent beyond just his snake techniques, but his research took priority. As for Tsunade well, her fighting style was either too soft or way too overkill for test supervision.
Kakashi asked, "How should I conduct the tests?"
"Up to you. You could even duel each student one-on-one."
That sounds exhausting. A dozen hyperactive kids and some of them were jinchūriki, like the One-Tail and the Nine-Tails.
What if I lose? That'd be humiliating.
Kakashi grimaced and immediately tried to back out.
"If you're worried, you could ban the use of summoning beasts."
What kind of logic is that? The great Kakashi who cut down the Raikage, afraid of kids?
Kakashi quickly offered an excuse. "After that fight with the Raikage, I'm still recovering. How about letting Guy do it? He's one of the Five Generals of Konoha, after all."
Sarutobi narrowed his eyes. "Besides, with Sasuke and Itachi's situation as it is, you're the only one who can guide Sasuke in using the Sharingan."
Kakashi fell silent.
Seeing the discussion had run its course, Sarutobi added one last thing.
"I see great potential in Mei Terumi. I believe she, too, carries the Will of Fire. Get to know her a bit better."
Kakashi blinked. Wait, was that directed at me?
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