Chapter 54 – The Gathering Storm
The Third Hokage sat in his office, the smoke from his pipe curling lazily upward, but the weight on his shoulders was heavier than ever. In front of him, a thick scroll lay open—the latest intelligence Jiraiya had personally brought back.
Report: Sand shinobi sighted moving through the Land of Rivers. Numbers increasing. Scouts suggest large-scale troop movement. Objective: possible border violation with the Land of Fire.
Hiruzen's eyes hardened. Around him, the council of Konoha gathered—Homura and Koharu at his side, Danzō seated in shadow, and the heads of the great clans—Hyūga Hiashi's father, Uchiha Fugaku's father, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, Aburame, and the Nara patriarch. Even Sakumo's absence was felt, the ghost of the White Fang still lingering heavy in the room.
"The Sand is preparing for war," Homura stated grimly. "There is no other explanation. They wouldn't move this many shinobi otherwise."
"Agreed," said Koharu. "Their economy has weakened, their land is poor. The Fire Country's fertile borders are an obvious target."
But Danzō leaned forward, his single visible eye sharp. "The question is not if they strike. The question is what happens when they do. If Sunagakure makes the first move, Iwagakure and Kumogakure will not sit idle. They will see opportunity in our distraction. We risk war on three fronts."
The words dropped like stones into the silence.
Shikaku's father rubbed his chin. "If Suna attacks through the Land of Rivers, they cut close to the Fire border. That stretches our patrols thin. We'll need to station troops from three divisions—north, west, and river crossings—or we risk an infiltration right into Fire soil."
Hiashi's father spoke, calm but firm. "The Hyūga can provide Byakugan scouts. Our eyes will make sure no enemy slips unseen. But even so, if we spread too thin, we'll leave Konoha's heart undefended."
"And the Uchiha police force?" Hiruzen's gaze turned to the stern Uchiha patriarch.
"We will secure the capital and inner borders," came the clipped reply. "If the enemy believes they can infiltrate our heartland, they will find themselves mistaken."
Danzō's voice cut again, colder. "This is precisely why we must prepare for preemptive strikes. Waiting will only allow our enemies to coordinate. If we cripple Sunagakure's advance before it reaches our soil, we send a message to Iwa and Kumo alike."
A murmur swept through the room—half in agreement, half in protest.
Hiruzen exhaled smoke, silencing them. "We cannot act recklessly. A preemptive strike could be seen as aggression. The Daimyō will not accept it. Our duty is to protect the Land of Fire, not to plunge the entire continent into chaos."
Shibi Aburame finally spoke, voice low but steady. "Regardless, we must accept that the winds of war are rising. The disappearance of Sunagakure's Kazekage has destabilized their village. They will lash out. And if they march through the Land of Rivers, conflict will be inevitable."
The Hokage's pipe burned low. His eyes swept across every face—council, clan, and commander. "Then it is decided. We prepare. Patrols will be doubled at the western border. Hyūga eyes on every river crossing. Uchiha will secure the capital. The Ino–Shika–Chō will form the strategy corps. And I want every squad leader ready to mobilize at a moment's notice."
For a long moment, silence hung. Then Hiruzen added, almost to himself but loud enough for all to hear:
"The storm is coming. Sunagakure has cast the first stone. What matters now… is whether we stand united when the fire spreads."
---The heavy mood lingered even after the Hokage's decree. But war would not wait for endless words.
Hiruzen raised his voice, steady and commanding:
"Effective immediately, I am authorizing the first deployment of Konoha shinobi to the western frontier."
A murmur swept through the council, but he continued firmly.
"Jiraiya."
The white-haired Sannin straightened from where he leaned against the wall. "I'm listening, old man."
"You will lead the first reconnaissance division. Take a small but skilled squad—stealth and survival experts. Your objective is to shadow Sunagakure's movements, confirm their numbers, and delay any attempt to cross the River Country border. You are not to engage unless necessary. I want eyes and information, not a battle."
Jiraiya gave a small nod, but his usual grin was absent. "Got it. The Toad Sage knows how to keep his head low when it counts."
"Hyūga division," Hiruzen said, turning his gaze toward the clan head, "your eyes will support Jiraiya's mission. Send two of your best to act as scouts. Their Byakugan will be invaluable."
"Consider it done," Hiashi's father answered.
"The Ino–Shika–Chō will form the secondary line," Hiruzen continued. "You will coordinate strategies and fallback points along the border. If Suna pushes through, they must be slowed before reaching Fire soil."
The three clan leaders exchanged nods. "You can count on us."
"And the Uchiha," Danzō interjected, his tone almost sharp, "should not waste their strength patrolling empty streets. They are warriors, not guardsmen. They should be at the frontlines."
The Uchiha patriarch's eyes narrowed. "Our role is clear. We will protect the capital. If the enemy bypasses your scouts and enters our heart, the Uchiha will ensure they do not leave alive."
Tension flickered in the air, but Hiruzen's voice cut through it like a blade.
"Enough. Every role is vital. This deployment will not be questioned."
He stamped the Hokage seal upon the scroll before him, the sound echoing in the chamber like a gavel.
"By order of the Third Hokage: reconnaissance and patrol units are to move west by nightfall. The Land of Fire will not be caught unprepared."
The clan heads and council members bowed their heads in solemn agreement. The meeting dissolved, but the gravity of the decision weighed on every shoulder.
As Jiraiya exited the office, he pulled his cloak tighter, muttering under his breath:
"So it begins… The war the old man dreaded."
The sound of hurried footsteps, messengers rushing through corridors, and the beating of war drums marked the beginning of Konoha's preparations. Shinobi gathered, squads formed, weapons sharpened. From the youngest genin to the most seasoned jōnin, every soul could feel it—
the storm was no longer just approaching.
It had already arrived.
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