"When did this happen?"
Senju Hashirama's brows knit, his face uncharacteristically serious.
Such things were common in the Warring States era. Clans performing missions would inevitably clash; once blood was shed, frictions flared, and if mishandled, a clan war could erupt.
The logic is the same now—only the actors have changed from clans to villages.
If this isn't handled well, it could turn into a war between shinobi villages. Hatreds and bloodshed that had stilled would surge back, unending, and they would repeat the mistakes of their forebears.
Hashirama would never allow that. Konoha was at peace now. The immediate post–Warring States years were the most peaceful—survivors of that chaos were finally tasting rare tranquility. No one should shatter it.
"A week ago. The members who took the mission only returned to Konoha yesterday."
Senju Tobirama answered as he looked at his brother.
"First, settle the families of the fallen chūnin. Then send people to negotiate with the Hidden Cloud. Find out the cause, get the truth clear, and only then discuss compensation. Don't escalate it."
Hashirama pondered, then spoke slowly, setting the tone: handle it quietly, keep the impact contained. Konoha could pay extra to compensate the chūnin's family. Outwardly, in talks with the Cloud, they must remain restrained and resolve it peacefully.
Konoha had to preserve both substance and face, but also consider the other side's attitude and avoid needless misunderstanding—produce a plan that let both Konoha and the Cloud walk away with dignity.
And the details—that was for Tobirama to work out.
"Understood, Brother."
Tobirama nodded. It was what he'd been thinking as well. Peace was hard-won; there was no need to trigger a large-scale armed clash over a routine mission incident—especially for a single chūnin. The priority now was internal development. Since his brother felt the same, he would handle it accordingly.
"However, Akatsuki Village lost two chūnin in this same incident. Konoha's side is easy to settle, but Akatsuki's…"
Tobirama raised the sticking point. The brothers could set Konoha's stance, but not Akatsuki's. To resolve this perfectly, they had to coordinate with Akatsuki in advance.
"That's simple."
"Uchiha Makoto is of the Uchiha clan. Go speak to Madara about this, and have the Uchiha pass Konoha's attitude to Akatsuki."
"Me? Go to Madara?"
Tobirama's eyes went wide. He felt his brother was toying with him. Even if Madara was unlikely to strike him now, Tobirama wouldn't gamble it. No matter what, he would never be alone with Madara in one room.
"Tobirama, you're the same as ever—no trust in Madara. I'll mention it when I go have dinner with him later."
Hashirama sighed helplessly. Since his brother wouldn't, he'd bring it up when he went to eat with Madara.
"Dinner? With Madara again? And what about me? What about me?"
Uzumaki Mito had been listening. Her attention locked onto that one word—dinner. You blockhead, Hashirama—do you not care whether I've eaten?
"Mito, why are you staring at me?"
Even Tobirama had sensed the resentment in her gaze, but Hashirama still hadn't realized what he'd done wrong.
"Brother, Sister-in-law hasn't eaten either. Why don't you two go have dinner together first?"
Tobirama helpfully tossed his brother a lifeline. He wouldn't let their home be ruined by his big brother's obliviousness. As a younger brother, he could not sit by.
"Mito, you haven't eaten either?"
"Mhm."
Hashirama looked enlightened. Mito felt a touch of solace—he wasn't completely hopeless. Even if prompted by Tobirama, he'd at least thought of her.
"Then that's perfect."
"Since you didn't make dinner, and by the time it's ready Madara should be finishing his, we can go together and—"
The spark of hope in Mito was doused in cold water.
"Hashirama, you blockheaded fool!"
"Go freeload at Madara's with me? Do we not have a home of our own?"
"And another thing!"
"If I go with you to find Madara, what am I there for—your third wheel?"
"You'll never figure it out, will you!"
Mito seethed inside, but her clan upbringing kept her composed. Coolly, she said, "No. I'm not hungry. I still have part of the paperwork Tobirama gave me to process."
Tobirama bowed his head, pained. He'd hinted this much and his brother still didn't get it. If he didn't know Hashirama so well, he'd think it was deliberate. Madara, just you wait—add another mark to our ledger. This one's for Sister-in-law.
"Oh. That's a pity."
"Madara's cooking is delicious despite that frosty face. I hear he even studied it specially."
Hashirama's regret only made Mito more displeased. Tobirama lowered his head further, half-afraid Mito would erupt, string Hashirama up with adamantine chains and beat him bloody—splattering Tobirama in the process. If she ever did, he'd cheer her on from the side.
"Mito won't go—what about you, Tobirama?"
Hashirama, already on the subject, extended the same invitation to his brother—hoping, too, to ease the rift between Tobirama and Madara.
"I'm not going. You go by yourself."
Tobirama's face was nearly on the desk. He refused on the spot. He'd rather starve to death outside than eat one bite of Madara's food.
"Very well."
Hashirama left the office with deep regret, then happily set off toward the Uchiha compound.
After he left, the air grew painfully awkward. To ease it, Tobirama said, "Sister-in-law, you've been wronged these days. You know I've always been firmly on your side. Brother's just bewitched by Madara. He'll come around someday."
"…Sigh."
Mito let out a long breath, said nothing more, and left hugging a stack of files.
…
Night fell quietly.
"By order of the Light Shadow, Akatsuki Village formally declares: the Hidden Cloud of the Land of Lightning carried out a terrorist attack on a joint Akatsuki–Konoha shinobi squad, causing three deaths, a grave violation of the ninja world's humanitarian principles and a severe threat to Akatsuki's peace and security…"
"In order to inject a strong dose of vitality into the future and peace of the ninja world, the Light Shadow issues this stern warning: the Hidden Cloud must bear full responsibility. The relevant parties must pay compensation—thirty million ryō for each of the deceased, five million for the injured—and the culprits must be delivered to Akatsuki for trial. The Raikage must personally come to mourn before the dead and admit his guilt…"
"Akatsuki reserves every means in pursuit of justice and peace. The Hidden Cloud is urged to act swiftly… do not say you were not forewarned!"
Akatsuki moved fast.
Before Konoha even acted, they broadcast the notice across the ninja world using every resource at hand.
Though Uchiha Makoto had told Akatsuki's leadership he intended to use this pretext to wage war on the Hidden Cloud, attacking without declaration would not stand—nor win Konoha's support. First, seize the moral high ground with a public statement and immediate compensation terms.
Only, the terms were draconian: sky-high payouts—thirty million for each dead chūnin family, five million for the injured. With that on the table, of course everyone would "be injured."
On top of that, every Hidden Cloud member involved was to be hauled to Akatsuki for public sentencing and execution, and the Raikage had to come to Akatsuki to repent before the fallen chūnin. That punched the Cloud in the face twice and stomped on them for good measure.
Akatsuki had laid out a path to resolve the incident—and Makoto very much wanted it resolved. Whether those muscle-bound, dark-skinned brutes of the Cloud would bow their heads was another matter.
If they wouldn't—well, don't blame him.
At the same time, Makoto hammered the righteousness and necessity of Akatsuki's stance, penning several short essays and pouring funds into his media to spread them. The matter was now common knowledge in Akatsuki; Konoha would hear soon; the world would, too.
"Rise of the Shinobi Village and the Dignity of Shinobi!"
"The Wolf-Warrior Spirit and Its Importance to a Village!"
The pieces were packed with incendiary language—perfect for stirring the rank and file.
Why do people join a village? To have the village shield them at critical moments—no quibbling over right or wrong, only over sides. Even if they die, the village will avenge them.
Most shinobi could put themselves in the fallen chūnin's place. Jōnin are few; most are chūnin, even genin. For many, shinobi work isn't some lofty "way," nor "world peace," but a helpless profession—a man's stubborn path to earn more for his family through blood and grit. If he falls, his family may fall with him. A clan might hold them up; without one, they're left to fate.
These chūnin and genin—the vast majority—could easily imagine dying pointless deaths in some mission skirmish.
But now, they were lucky.
The great Light Shadow stepped forth and cast a ray into their lives—embodying their deepest wish, and doing it with domineering resolve. He gave no face even to another great village, proving with action that Akatsuki was the strongest shield at their backs.
Oppose a leader so loyal and righteous?
What kind of person are you?
Unseen, Makoto's prestige in Akatsuki surged again. System chimes in his ear kept ringing, and he couldn't help but sigh: no wonder Modi the Old Immortal loved this trick—the effect was real. Pity he only had the mouth; he couldn't win a war…
Cohesion and authority—check. But he still needed one thing: hatred for the Hidden Cloud. So he thoughtfully held a grand memorial for the fallen chūnin, drawing almost the entire village to attend.
Seeing the families weeping, everyone present wore grief—and hatred for the Cloud spiked. If the Cloud didn't accept every condition, then full war it would be.
"Damn those Cloud animals!"
"They think Akatsuki is a soft persimmon? We must demand justice!"
"What? They won't pay what the Light Shadow asked?"
"Then what's left to say—declare war!"
Even some who'd opposed war in the high council began to change their minds. Others simply felt the Light Shadow was terrifying. Akatsuki had been twisted into a single rope by his hands—his will was Akatsuki's will. Who dared oppose him? Their end would be miserable.
After putting everything in place, Makoto smiled, satisfied. Next was mobilization. The wartime supply chain he'd sunk fortunes into could be stress-tested against the Cloud; the exploding tag factory's stockpiles finally had a battlefield.
"Hidden Cloud, what will your answer be?"
"And Konoha—how will you handle this?"
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