Yamanaka Haichi suddenly realized.
It really was like that. He had been worrying for nothing.
After all, with someone like Nara Shikaku around, why should he waste energy on this kind of thing?
He let out a sigh, then spoke in a low voice.
"This is good. But if I had to guess, once the Hokage cools down, he'll definitely summon you to ask for solutions. After all, today's incident made too big of a scene. Hokage-sama's reputation is already in tatters — he won't accept this quietly."
Shikaku nodded.
He had already anticipated this.
And indeed, before their conversation had even finished, someone arrived.
"Jounin Shikaku, the Hokage summons you."
"Understood."
The messenger was ANBU.
With a nod from Shikaku, the man bowed and departed.
"Haichi, I have to go." Shikaku's voice was serious. "Remember — no unnecessary moves. Do everything you can to serve Hokage-sama's needs. If you run into Uchiha clansmen, focus on them with all your strength. Trust the Uchiha. Trust that they'll take care of our people."
Yes.
For the Ino–Shika–Chō alliance, if they wanted to maintain their position on Hiruzen's side — especially now that suspicion was already falling on them — then they had to be more loyal than anyone.
That loyalty was their only remaining value.
If they failed even in that, they would be discarded immediately.
And once they lost their usefulness... their fate would be miserable indeed.
Haichi nodded firmly.
"Don't worry, Shikaku. You can rest assured. The survival strategy of the Ino–Shika–Chō has always been the same: we don't need anyone's trust, nor do we join anyone's inner circle. Our sole purpose is self-preservation."
Shikaku smiled.
Exactly.
Haichi was right.
The Ino–Shika–Chō alliance had been forged for one reason alone: survival.
If not for the tight bond between the three clans — and the brains of the Nara — they never would have made it this far.
Without that, they might not even match the Aburame.
That was reality.
They lacked the bloodline limits of the Hyuga or Uchiha, and they didn't have Hiruzen's luck of being Tobirama's student.
For the Ino–Shika–Chō to surpass the Aburame, Inuzuka, and others and reach their current standing... it hadn't been easy.
"Good. In that case, I can leave with peace of mind."
With that, Shikaku turned and left.
Haichi, too, went back to his duties with the ANBU.
In the Hokage's Office.
Shikaku entered, bowed respectfully, and immediately began reporting the situation in his clan.
His performance was impeccable.
At least on the surface, Hiruzen Sarutobi could see nothing amiss.
But Shikaku himself was clear: Hiruzen would never truly believe him.
Still, as Shikaku had thought earlier, Hiruzen had no real choice left.
"Shikaku, enough. Even if I can't trust anyone else, I will always trust the loyalty of the Ino–Shika–Chō. Let's not waste words — let's talk business."
"About this morning — we'll classify it as an enemy raid. Announce it to the entire shinobi world immediately."
"And one more, the most critical matter. I want you to go on a secret mission to Hidden Cloud Village. Do your best to broker a peace with the Raikage."
"I... am tired. This war has bled us too much. All the villages need time to recover. We can't keep fighting."
"In fact, this time, even if Konoha has to give up the victor's spoils, so be it."
"I don't trust anyone else to handle this. Only you, Shikaku. You won't disappoint me, will you?"
Hiruzen's tone was heavy, weary.
Yes.
At this point, he had no one left to rely on.
Even if he suspected the Ino–Shika–Chō, he had to pretend otherwise.
There was no alternative.
He needed them.
Had Uchiha Kai not risen so swiftly... had Koharu, Homura, and Danzō still been his core allies... had the incident with Minato never happened...
Then of course, things would be different.
No matter what the Ino–Shika–Chō did, even without evidence, Hiruzen would have crushed them without hesitation.
But circumstances forced his hand.
All he wanted now was to end the war quickly and hand the Hokage position to Minato.
Once Minato inherited the mess that was Konoha, Hiruzen could fade into the shadows again, free of distractions, able to slowly reweave his fractured power base.
As for Minato truly holding power? Impossible.
Even if Koharu, Homura, and Danzō had broken up with Hiruzen, they would never listen to Minato either.
With ANBU and Root outside his control, and the Ino–Shika–Chō too pragmatic to be swayed, not to mention the Hyuga and Uchiha...
Minato would inherit nothing but chaos.
So Hiruzen had no fear.
In fact, he looked forward to putting Minato in the chair — only then could he calmly gather his strength and prepare to make his moves again.
Shikaku's expression remained calm.
He had guessed much of this even before entering, so nothing surprised him.
He merely frowned slightly, then spoke.
"Hokage-sama... persuading Hidden Stone Village will be difficult. The Third Raikage, A, is far too aggressive. And this war has cost Iwa almost nothing. Unless we're prepared to pay a heavy price, it will be hard to satisfy their appetite."
Yes.
As commander-class shinobi, Shikaku knew the political and military realities better than anyone.
Convincing the Third Raikage would be nearly impossible.
The man was pure muscle-headed stubbornness. No matter how clever Shikaku was, there was no way around that.
Hiruzen frowned.
He hadn't expected Shikaku to reject the task outright.
True, Shikaku's reasoning was sound. But Hiruzen wasn't satisfied.
And the reason was simple.
Even knowing the Ino–Shika–Chō were suspect, he still wanted to rely on them — because he needed results.
If Shikaku couldn't deliver, then what use was he?
Hiruzen's gaze shifted subtly, his eyes beginning to harden.
On the other side, Shikaku noticed instantly.
Of course he did — he wasn't a fool.
But he didn't panic.
He didn't even need to think. He simply smiled and said:
"Of course, Hokage-sama, don't be anxious. I do have a method."
"But it will require your cooperation."
"And for it to succeed... you'll also need to persuade Lord Danzō."
"..."
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