The clan heads of Konoha and a few civilian ninja representatives gathered inside a secure briefing room within the Hokage building. Positioned at the exact center of the innermost wall was a long oak desk with six seats. Occupying them were Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Uchiha Kagami, and Akimichi Torifu, with Hiruzen sitting dead center.
Roughly fifty people filled the hall. From the prestigious Senju, Uchiha, and Hyūga down to the smaller Hatake clan, every representative sat in their assigned seats, facing Hiruzen and his inner circle.
"Everyone, thank you for gathering on such short notice," Hiruzen began, his voice carrying clearly across the room. "There are a few urgent matters that require our immediate attention, and I wish to resolve them decisively."
"What are they, Hiruzen-san?" Hyūga Hayate, the representative of the Hyūga clan, asked bluntly with indifferent expressio.
Danzō narrowed his eyes at the former Hyūga patriarch, noting the subtle lack of deference coming from several other clan representatives in the room. Konoha had silently accepted Hiruzen's sudden ascension, but that was largely because the Senju clan and Uzumaki Mito backed him. He still lacked the explicit, formal approval of the village's major clans.
Hiruzen's demeanor did not falter. He simply offered an amiable smile, exuding a confident, magnetic aura as he addressed the crowd.
"There are three matters that require our focus. First, please look over the armistice agreements that Nidaime-sama signed with Suna and Kiri."
Hiruzen waited calmly as copies of the treaties were distributed among the clan representatives.
"We have signed a twenty-year ceasefire with Kirigakure. However, as you all know, Kiri is geographically isolated, and our ally, Uzushiogakure, stands directly between them and our eastern shoreline. Thanks to our timely assistance, Uzushiogakure successfully repelled Kiri's invasion with relative ease. Due to the distance, it is impractical for us to launch a direct counter-offensive against Kiri while we remain vulnerable to other nations. Therefore, a twenty-year armistice is the most strategic choice. In exchange, Uzushiogakure is compensating us with twenty million ryō and will dispatch an emissary next year to train our barrier and sealing teams in advanced fūinjutsu."
A murmur of surprise rippled through the audience.
Hiruzen silently monitored the shifting attitudes of the clan heads before making his next declaration.
"The Uzumaki emissary will strictly provide guidance to Konoha's Barrier and Sealing Divisions. I intend to expand the quota for both divisions by one hundred shinobi each to bolster our security. If any clan wishes to contribute their kin to these roles, please consult with Hokage Council Advisor Mitokado Homura."
"Hokage Council Advisor?" Hyuga Hayate muttered, raising an eyebrow in silent questioning.
"As Nidaime-sama's disciples and personal guards, we have long handled the administrative duties of this village," Hiruzen explained smoothly. "I have officially formed the Hokage Council. Its members—Uchiha Kagami, Akimichi Torifu, Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura—will assist me in governing Konoha."
The clan and civilian representatives whispered among themselves, processing the sudden institutional change before ultimately nodding in acceptance. Since Kenichi, the head of the Senju clan, and Uzumaki Mito remained seated in silence without refuting the claim, no one dared to openly challenge Hiruzen's authority just yet.
Satisfied, Hiruzen pressed forward with the agenda.
"Regarding our armistice with Suna, Konoha has secured control over seventy percent of all mission commissions within the Land of Rivers for the next fifteen years. Furthermore, Suna has signed a twenty-year non-aggression pact. Are there any objections or questions regarding this treaty?"
"…None from us," Nara Shikamaru, the former head of the Nara clan, commented thoughtfully. The current clan head, Nara Shikasuke, was still stationed in the Land of Grass with six thousand troops to monitor Iwa's movements. "While we aren't receiving a direct cash payout, securing seventy percent of the Land of Rivers' economy for fifteen years is highly lucrative compensation."
With the Nara clan's renowned analytical minds endorsing the deal, any lingering doubts vanished. The room nodded in unanimous agreement.
"Very well. I will then address the final two topics together," Hiruzen said, as his tone turned more solemn. "First, how Konoha should respond to the civil war sparked by the Kin-Gin Kyodai's rebellion in Kumo. We formed an alliance with Kumo, but it cost the lives of both the Second Raikage and Tobirama-sama. Should we intervene or should we stay out of their internal conflict?"
Silence stretched over the room.
"And finally," Hiruzen continued, "our latest Anbu reconnaissance indicates that Iwagakure has mobilized three thousand troops and invaded Takigakure. What are your thoughts on this matter?"
The room instantly erupted into low, urgent debates before individual voices began to cut through the noise.
"I say we strike both Iwa and Kumo! We must avenge Nidaime-sama!"
"We have already suffered too many casualties. We should stay out of it and recuperate."
"And just let Iwa claim three Tailed Beasts? Ridiculous!"
"Kumo's betrayal cannot go unpunished!"
"And let Iwa have three Tailed Beasts? Impossible!"
"Kumo's betrayal cannot be ignored!"
"It was Kinkaku and Ginkaku who betrayed us, not the official Kumo government—"
"What difference does it make! We must teach them a lesson!"
Seeing the room grow increasingly volatile, Hiruzen raised a hand, cutting off the arguments.
"Ahem! We are here to strategize and find the best path to ensure Konoha's survival. I hope you all can remember that."
"…Hokage-sama," Murakumo Kurama, the newly appointed head of the Kurama clan, spoke up carefully. "You must already have a plan in mind. What is your assessment?"
Hiruzen's eyes softened with a profound grief. "In this war, Konoha has fought on four separate fronts. We have suffered over thirteen thousand casualties. To break that down: 2,983 are dead, 4,260 have sustained career-ending, fatal injuries, and roughly 6,200 require months or years of intensive medical care to recover their full strength. And, as we all know, we lost Nidaime-sama. Our active force of twenty-six thousand shinobi has been cut in half."
A suffocating solemnity draped over the assembly.
"Now is not the time to escalate conflicts with other Great Nations," Hiruzen declared, his voice ringing with certainty. "It is time for Konoha to rest, to heal, and to allow the young buds to grow into vibrant green leaves. Therefore, we will leave Kumo's civil war to Kumo. However, we cannot allow Iwa to freely tip the balance of power by devouring the Seven-Tails. We can not have peace, without victory. We will march north and intercept Iwa in the Land of Waterfalls."
"And who will lead this campaign?" Nara Shikamaru asked, as his sharp eyes locked onto the young Hokage.
"Homura and I have faced Mū's forces before," Hiruzen countered without a second of hesitation while standing up with vigor. "I will personally lead the vanguard and put an end to their ambitions."
A sharp intake of breath echoed through the room. The representatives immediately fell back into frantic whispering.
From the center desk, Hiruzen and his council carefully mapped the reactions of the room. The political lines of the new era were being drawn in real-time. Their core support was clear: the Sarutobi, Shimura, Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans were certain. The Senju clan technically supported them, but Kenichi and Mito's passive silence made their long-term position hard to read. The Hyūga clan openly harbored a cold skepticism toward the young leadership.
Meanwhile, mid-sized factions like the Aburame, Inuzuka, Kurama, and Fūma remained completely neutral, waiting to see which way the wind blew. The smaller clans, like the Hatake and Izuno, along with the civilian representatives, offered a fragile, halfhearted support—their loyalty ultimately tied to whatever the Senju clan decided to do. The shadow of Hashirama and Tobirama still governed the hearts of the common people.
But what drew Hiruzen's attention most was the silence of the Uchiha clan. Kagami's assurance before the meeting marginally lift the weight off his shoulder, thinking that the Uchiha will at least show up to the meeting. However, he did not expect them to neither cheer nor oppose his decisions but simply sit in their seats like ghosts in the firelight.
As the meeting drew to a close, the Third Hokage officially finalized the new departmental assignments and structural positions of the village, issuing the final commands for the army to march toward Takigakure at first light.
If you want peace, then win the war.