Konoha Village, Hokage's Office.
"Lord Third, someone sent you a video recording..."
The sudden announcement from outside the door interrupted the meeting in the Hokage's office, instantly drawing frowns from the gathered clan heads, their faces darkening with displeasure.
Hyūga Hiashi even snorted through his nose to express his irritation.
Every prominent clan head in Konoha was present in the office for this meeting...
A discussion about how the village should approach relations with other villages in the future. Every decision made here today would shape the fate of the Shinobi World.
At such a critical moment, when the future of the Shinobi World—whether it would be peace or war—hung in the balance...
An ANBU ninja had the audacity to barge in and announce that someone had sent the Third a video tape??
Ahem...
Sensing the odd looks from everyone, the Third Hokage couldn't help but feel somewhat embarrassed. He coughed a few times to mask his discomfort before sharply reprimanding the outsider.
"I understand."
"Whatever it is, it can wait until after the meeting."
Though his tone remained calm, those present could detect a hint of anger beneath the surface.
"Alright, let's continue."
After dismissing the ANBU at the door, the Third waved his hand and smiled at the group. "Where were we?"
"Amegakure," Nara Shikaku reminded from his seat, leaning back in his chair, trying to steer the discussion back on track.
However, before anyone could speak another word, urgent knocking sounded at the door again—so frantic that one might have thought Asuma had died on a mission.
"Lord Third... Lord Third..."
"I really think you should take a look at this video..."
The ANBU outside the door was drenched in sweat, wiping his brow incessantly as he spoke.
Any mysterious recordings sent to the Hokage had to be screened by the ANBU first to ensure the Hokage wasn't walking into a trap.
When this tape had arrived, he had followed protocol meticulously.
A cup of tea, a video tape, and a leisurely day in the duty room.
But the moment he saw Team 10 collectively defacing their forehead protectors in the recording, he didn't dare watch any further. He grabbed the tape and rushed straight to the Hokage Tower to inform the Hokage, who was in the middle of a meeting.
As for why he didn't explain what had happened...
Mostly because he was afraid that on his way home after work... his back might accidentally be riddled with eighty kunai.
"I said!"
"Whatever it is, report it after the meeting!!"
The Third slammed his hand on the table so hard that the people inside the office momentarily suffered from ringing ears.
Faced with such an infuriatingly stubborn subordinate, the fact that he didn't immediately form hand seals and unleash the Five Elements: Grand Combo was a testament to his immense patience.
After his outburst, silence fell both inside and outside the office. Just as the Third sighed and sat back down, the voice outside spoke up again.
"But..."
The Third was genuinely stunned by this ANBU's persistence. His eyes widened as he stared at the office door for a full half-minute, his face darkening before he strode to the entrance and yanked the door open.
"What is your name?"
When he saw the subordinate, the Third didn't immediately punish him. Instead, maintaining his usual authoritative demeanor, he sternly asked for the man's name.Shikaku was the first to realize what the Hokage intended to do, so he spoke up to help smooth things over with a few kind words.
"Hokage-sama, there might truly be something important here."
"It wouldn't hurt to listen."
He had no choice but to intercede.
Because Shikaku had just discovered, to his immense frustration, that the dimwitted ANBU operative was from their Nara clan...
"Leave the tape."
Since Shikaku had spoken, the Third Hokage had to give him some face. "Leave the item and you may go."
When Shikaku saw the fool still standing at the door frantically wiping sweat with no intention of leaving, his face instantly darkened, turning even gloomier than the Third's.
"Nara Pao, what the hell are you standing around for!?"
"Didn't you hear what the Hokage-sama just said!?"
Though his words sounded like scolding, Shikaku was actually trying to save the foolish clansman's life.
Anyone with half a brain could see he was signaling with his eyes for the man to leave immediately.
Yet ANBU operative Nara Pao glanced up at his clan head, then cautiously studied the Hokage's expression, remaining completely silent.
When the Third questioned him, he stayed mute; when Shikaku tried to shoo him away, the fool just stood rooted to the spot, clutching that damned tape.
Kept insisting only the Hokage could view its contents.
By now, alongside his anger, the Third felt a flicker of curiosity.
"Play it right here in my office."
"Hmph! Let's see what intelligence could make an ANBU operative disregard protocol so blatantly!"
The Third said this with a smile, emphasizing the word "protocol" at the end. Everyone present knew that unless the tape contained truly vital information...
That fool was in for a world of pain.
When Nara Pao heard the Third demand immediate screening, he nearly fainted on the spot. But to prevent further escalation, he forced himself to speak.
"No! This mission is classified!"
"Only you should see it, Lord Third..."
"Enough! I don't need lessons on protocol from you!"
Already irritated, the Third snatched the tape from the operative's hands and marched toward the projector after hearing such definitive refusal.
Noticing the situation deteriorating, Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka quickly made excuses about urgent matters requiring their attention. The Third glared at them, insisting everyone stay to view this "top-secret intelligence" together.
Every clan head present was a pillar of Konoha. If he dismissed them just to watch classified material alone...
Wouldn't that clearly show he didn't trust them as allies?
Sarutobi Hiruzen would never do such a thing. He ordered everyone to remain, instructed Shikaku to start the tape, while the others took seats, adopting serious expressions for this important briefing.
Screech—
Before any images appeared, the office occupants heard the grating sound of metal scraping against metal.
Then Asuma Sarutobi's face suddenly filled the screen, followed by Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, and Akimichi Choji.
Whoosh—
Three clan heads shot up from their seats simultaneously.
Oh no!
Had something happened to their children!?Top-secret intelligence coupled with the footage of Team 10 instantly led everyone to suspect the worst—that the squad had met with misfortune...
Was this recording... the final intelligence Team 10 left for Konoha?
At this moment, the parents of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio were overwhelmed with grief, yet pride for their children soon followed.
However, reality was far from what everyone imagined. The scene shifted, and the four members of Team 10 held up scratched Konoha forehead protectors, declaring in unison to the camera:
"I, Sarutobi Asuma, defect from Konoha!"
"I, Nara Shikamaru, defect from Konoha. From this day forward, I am a shinobi of Amegakure!"
"..."
Third Hokage: ???
Ino-Shika-Chō: Huh???