Chapter 55: Konoha's Most Luxurious Lineup
At this moment, the conference room could only be described as a gathering of titans.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi occupied the head position. To his left and right sat Hokage Advisor Danzo Shimura and the elders Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. Then came Tsunade representing the Senju clan, followed by the clan heads of the two great houses—the Uchiha and Hyuga clans. After them sat the leaders of the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance, and the heads of the Aburame, Hatake, Inuzuka, and Kurama clans.
Figures like Orochimaru and Jiraiya, along with Kato Dan—master of the super S-rank Spirit Transformation Technique—these ace combatants of Konoha could only occupy seats at the very back.
When even the Hokage's personal disciples and the future Legendary Sannin could only sit in the rear, the sheer luxury of Konoha's current lineup became evident.
Yet this luxurious lineup would be played down to almost nothing in less than ten years.
If not for the Yellow Flash emerging in the future, even Konoha's victory in the Third Shinobi World War would have been achieved with tremendous difficulty.
"Everyone's here. Let's begin the meeting."
Once all the jonin capable of representing Konoha's leadership—who could even bypass the Hokage in special circumstances to issue A-rank missions to other shinobi—had taken their seats, Hiruzen gave Danzo Shimura a meaningful look.
Danzo immediately stood, walked to the blackboard behind Hiruzen, and pulled down a scroll-like map of the shinobi world.
Using red marker to draw two circles on the map, Danzo's next words made every jonin present change expression.
"Based on intelligence relayed by our informants and verified by ANBU, we can now confirm with one hundred percent certainty that Amegakure has gone to war with Sunagakure."
"So they're finally fighting? Did Amegakure declare war on Sunagakure, or did Sunagakure declare war on Amegakure?"
"Thank goodness Iron Country didn't break their historical neutrality agreement. Otherwise, with the samurai corps' assistance, that man from Amegakure would have grown wings."
"..."
Watching the jonin merely discussing Amegakure, Sunagakure, and Hanzo of the Salamander without any real sense of crisis, Danzo drew another circle on the map. His voice turned grave. "Beyond the Amegakure-Sunagakure conflict, our informants have also discovered that Earth Country has significantly increased military forces along their southern border."
At these words, the conference room's atmosphere instantly grew heavy.
Anyone who'd studied shinobi world maps and possessed even basic military awareness recognized the severity.
"Earth Country wants to join the war too? Are Rain Country's resources really worth coveting?"
"Deploying all their forces to the southern border—aren't they afraid Lightning Country will take advantage and attack their eastern border, invading Earth Country?"
"Perhaps Onoki is just strengthening southern border defenses to prevent Hanzo of the Salamander from suddenly changing targets?"
"..."
"Everyone..."
Hiruzen finally spoke. The conference room immediately fell silent.
Everyone respectfully turned their attention to the Third Hokage, awaiting his next words.
"Rain Country's special position needs no elaboration. Our Fire Country is separated from Wind Country by River Country, which possesses diverse terrain. This buffer zone's defensive advantages have maintained a tacit balance between us and Wind Country."
"For Earth Country to invade Fire Country, they must either cross Grass Country's plains or traverse Waterfall Country's twenty-kilometer coniferous forests. Given our relationships with Kusagakure and Takigakure, Earth Country—whose reputation has deteriorated severely in recent years—cannot possibly infiltrate Fire Country undetected."
"Only Rain Country, located at the intersection of Fire Country, Wind Country, and Earth Country, remains. That region is perpetually shrouded in rain. It lacks extensive undeveloped wilderness, waterfalls, or dense forests. It's always been the best breakthrough point."
"Previously, Hanzo of the Salamander provided a check on this region. No one wanted to face the shinobi world's most venomous salamander."
"Now Amegakure has actively broken the balance. With Hanzo occupied by Sunagakure, this breakthrough point has lost its strongest guardian. Whether for us in Konoha or for Iwagakure, this represents an excellent opportunity."
"Therefore, we cannot gamble on Onoki's mercy. We must prepare for the worst."
The jonin all showed thoughtful expressions.
Then the Hyuga clan head—an absolute loyalist to the Hokage faction—Hinata Tsubaki slowly spoke: "Hokage-sama, what are your thoughts? On behalf of the Hyuga clan, I'll follow your arrangements."
"I concur."
"I concur."
"..."
The Ino-Shika-Cho alliance and the Aburame and Inuzuka clans voiced their agreement one after another.
Then their gazes all turned in unison toward the Uchiha clan's position.
After the Senju integrated into Konoha, the Uchiha now stood as the shinobi world's premier clan—the strongest ninja family.
Their bloodline limit was even called invincible in one-on-one combat.
This clan possessed both the strength and heritage to refuse the Hokage's directives.
Precisely because of this, the Second Hokage had continuously suppressed this family. As his students, Konoha's elder council similarly viewed the Uchiha as thorns in their sides.
The Uchiha clan head desperately wanted to curse.
But the proud Uchiha couldn't do something so undignified. He could only maintain a stern expression, crossing his arms. "I concur."
Seeing even the Uchiha willing to follow arrangements, Hiruzen smiled and nodded with satisfaction. "Thank you all for your support. My plan is to prepare in advance for the worst-case scenario."
"Not just Wind Country and Earth Country—we must also treat Lightning Country, Water Country, and Rain Country as potential enemies."
"The destruction of Whirlpool Country taught us a harsh lesson. Under special circumstances, these nations might very well set aside their grudges from the First Shinobi World War."
"We must not only guard against Wind Country, Earth Country, and Rain Country's attacks, but also prepare for Lightning Country and Water Country to potentially invade at any moment."
"Therefore, we cannot deploy all our forces to the western border. We must retain some military strength and high-level combatants, ready to support the eastern and northern borders at any time."
"You clan heads, like me as Hokage, represent the nation and village's final line of defense. You may choose whether to personally lead forces to the front lines. If you remain in Konoha to defend alongside me, please submit a list of participating members for me to arrange."
"If there are no objections, this meeting is adjourned."
Hiruzen's gaze swept toward the back, calling out names: "Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Sakumo, and Danzo—you five stay behind."
With that, the various clan heads and elite jonin like Kato Dan stood and filed out.
Even the elders Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane did the same.
Before long, only six people remained in the conference room: Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura, the future Legendary Sannin, and Hatake Sakumo—who'd already earned the title White Fang of Konoha throughout the shinobi world.