The door to the private room in Konoha's Guest Reception Hall slid shut, muting the distant noise of the village. A dark-skinned man tugged the wide-brimmed merchant's hat from his head tossed it onto a low table with a grunt of annoyance. The face he revealed was broad and stern, framed by a pair of meticulously groomed, mustaches.
It was the Fourth Raikage, A.
He'd very publicly snubbed the Third Hokage's invitation. But some things required a more… hands-on approach. Under the cover of the massive crowds drawn by the Chunin Exams, slipping into Konoha disguised as a merchant had been almost too easy. The village's security had been lax, focused on the spectacle, not on a simple trading party from a neutral country.
"The security checkpoints have tripled," the Raikage rumbled, his voice like grinding stone. He turned to his right-hand man. "What's the word, C?"
The man known as C was everything his Kage was not—fair-skinned, blond, and possessed of a calm, analytical demeanor. An elite Jonin, his skills were as sharp as his mind.
"It's the boy," C replied without hesitation. "Hayashi Yuto. He was found dead this morning. The whole village is on lockdown. They're turning over every rock looking for the killer."
A's thick eyebrows shot up. "Dead? You're kidding me." He'd seen the kid just yesterday, standing on that podium, so full of… well, life. A had to give him credit; it took guts to announce your fetish to the entire shinobi world. A bizarre, off-putting kind of guts, but guts nonetheless.
"Pfft. Good riddance," a voice scoffed from the corner. Yugito Nii leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. "Just a creep who got what was coming to him." As far as she was concerned, any man who would proudly declare his fetish to the public deserved whatever misfortune came his way.
"The timing is inconvenient, regardless of his… proclivities," C said, stroking his chin. "If they keep this up, our presence won't stay secret for long."
A snort came from near the door. Killer B, who had been unusually quiet, suddenly sprang to life, arms waving. "Exposed? Nothing to fear, yo! Time to throw down, let's get loud, yo! Konoha vs. us, who's more proud? Yeah!"
The Raikage didn't even flinch. He was long past being fazed by his brother's antics. "The fool's not wrong," A said, a grim smile touching his lips. "I didn't come here to hide. But let's not be careless. C, signal Darui. Tell him to move the plan forward."
"Understood," C said with a sharp nod, slipping silently out of the room.
---
The mood in the Grand Arena was a stark contrast to the day before. The air was thick with impatience and confusion instead of excitement. The stands, though full, buzzed with annoyed murmurs, not cheers.
Standing in the center of the arena, the Third Hokage felt the weight of thousands of irritated glares. He cleared his throat, the amplification seal carrying his weary voice to every corner. "On behalf of Konoha, I offer my deepest apologies. Recent events have necessitated increased security measures. It is for the safety of everyone here."
His words did little to calm the crowd.
"What events?"
"My uncle's been waiting in line for two hours!"
"They arrested the baker down the street!For what?!"
The grumbling was turning into roars. Homura and Koharu, flanking Hiruzen, shifted uncomfortably. This was a public relations nightmare.
The commotion at the competitor's entrance tunnel drowned out the crowd for a moment. There was a shout of protest from an ANBU guard, followed by a crash and a very familiar and very angry voice.
"Get out of my way!"
All heads turned as Tsunade, her face a thundercloud, stormed into the arena, dragging a pale and determined Uzuki Yugao behind her. She completely ignored the Hokage and his advisors, shoving Yugao toward the podium.
"Go on," Tsunade commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Read it. To all of them."
Hiruzen's brow furrowed in confusion. "Tsunade? What is the meaning of this?"
"Read what?" Homura asked, his voice tight.
Koharu just stared, her eyes narrow with suspicion.
Yugao's hands trembled slightly as she opened the letter. She took a deep, shaky breath, her voice initially quiet before finding its strength, amplified for the entire stadium to hear.
[*Miss Yugao, by the time you read this, I do not know if I will still be among the living…*]
The coliseum fell silent, every word hanging in the air.
[*a dark force intent on subverting the shinobi world has long been hidden within Konoha. Even the Umbrella Corporation is merely its puppet…*]
Hiruzen's blood ran cold. A puppet? His mind raced. Danzo? Has his ambition truly sunk to this level?
[*…The Super Soldier Serum… an army of super shinobi… waiting for their moment to strike.*]
A wave of whispers swept through the crowd.
"Super shinobi?"
"What is he talking about?"
"An army? Here?"
[*…Its essence is not an enhancement… but a destruction and recombination of their chakra! They are transformed into entirely different beings!*]
The whispers turned into gasps of horror.
[*…I beg you, Miss Yugao! You must stop that man!*]
Yugao's voice cracked with emotion as she read the final, devastating line.
[*Konoha Elder, Homura Mitokado!*]
For a heartbeat, there was silence.
Then, Homura's hand flew to his goatee, his fingers jerking so violently he yanked out a few hairs. His face was a perfect mask of stunned, utter horror. "Wha—?"
The shing of steel was deafening. Yugao's sword was in her hand, its point unerringly aimed at Homura's heart. Her grief had been forged into a cold, sharp rage. "What do you have to say for yourself, Homura?" she spat, his title forgotten.
"Me?!" Homura's voice was a strangled squeak. His mind was spinning, his world upended. "This is… this is insanity! A frame-up! A malicious lie!"
"This is… difficult to believe," Koharu said slowly, her voice cautious. Yet, even as she spoke, her feet carried her several paces away from her longtime colleague, putting a very clear, distance between them.
"It's his handwriting!" Yugao insisted, her voice trembling not with uncertainty, but with fury. "I'd know it anywhere!"
Hiruzen held up a placating hand, his mind reeling. "Yugao, please. Handwriting can be forged. This story… it has holes." He was trying to be the voice of reason, but his own foundation was shaking.
"Yes! It's Forged!" Homura latched onto the lifeline, his voice rising to a panicked shout. He pointed a trembling finger at nothing and everything. "It's a conspiracy! It has to be Orochimaru! Or Danzo! They're behind this!"
High in the audience stands, tucked within the shadows of the crowd, a certain snake Sannin's eyebrow gave a violent, involuntary twitch. Orochimaru, who had been enjoying the unfolding chaos with detached amusement, now felt a profound and overwhelming sense of what the actual hell?
This was… not part of the plan.
_____
_______
Show your support with Power Stones guys!
For every 30 Power Stones I'll drop 1 Bonus Chapter as Thank-You
Every 30 Power Stones =1 Bonus Chapter
[email protected]/Raven_scroll (30+ Advance Chapters)