The meeting regarding the Joint Chunin Exams had ended.
But the hidden struggle between the villages had only just begun.
After the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, announced the end of the meeting and the representatives left the reception room one after another, each of them carried different thoughts beneath calm expressions.
The Third Raikage's provocation against Sunagakure had been resolved by Ebizō lowering his stance, but that very response had also confirmed something for him.
Sunagakure was weak.
Before this, the Third Raikage only knew that Sunagakure had suffered a crushing defeat at Konoha's hands in the Land of Rain. The Third Kazekage had died in battle, and the village had lost a large number of shinobi.
However, he had not known the exact scale of their losses.
He had not known how much strength Sunagakure still had left.
Now, after testing Ebizō directly, the Third Raikage had his answer.
Sunagakure was in real trouble.
Its bones were already showing beneath the skin.
And once a beast confirmed that its prey was wounded, it would not care about rules, honor, or morality.
It would simply lunge forward and tear off a mouthful of flesh to strengthen itself.
As for the reason to start a war?
That did not matter to Kumogakure.
Nor did it matter to the Raikage.
If they needed a reason, they could make one.
Watching Ebizō's back gradually disappear down the corridor, a trace of greed flashed through the Third Raikage's eyes.
The Raikage had his own plans.
And naturally, the Kage and representatives of the other villages had theirs as well.
Through the Third Raikage's attitude, Ebizō had clearly sensed the crisis.
He understood Kumogakure's ambition and hard-line style better than most.
Although he had managed to defuse the Raikage's provocation during the meeting, Ebizō knew very well that if Kumogakure truly set its sights on the Land of Wind, bowing his head once would not be enough to solve anything.
For the safety of his country, and to buy Sunagakure enough time to recover, he needed to find a true ally as quickly as possible.
Logically speaking, Sunagakure had already signed an armistice, a compensation treaty, and an alliance agreement with Konoha.
If they needed help, Konoha should have been the most suitable choice.
But Ebizō thought differently.
Sunagakure had only just lost to Konoha. They had only just signed a humiliating treaty.
If they asked Konoha for help now, then Sunagakure would truly begin sliding toward becoming Konoha's subordinate.
A vassal.
A lesser partner.
For one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, that was not something Ebizō or Chiyo could accept lightly.
Compared to Konoha, Sunagakure was more willing to form an alliance with the Land of Earth, which stood in a more equal position.
Iwagakure had not suffered serious losses during the Second Shinobi World War. Its strength was still intact.
And the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was one of the few true monsters in the current shinobi world, a man who possessed the Kekkei Tōta, Dust Release.
If Sunagakure could form an alliance with Iwagakure, then the threat to the Land of Wind would be greatly reduced.
More importantly, Sunagakure would be able to preserve a relatively equal position within that alliance.
Because of this, Ebizō planned to find a suitable opportunity to secretly meet with Ōnoki and convey Sunagakure's intention to form an alliance.
As for whether Ōnoki would harbor the same thoughts toward the Land of Wind as the Raikage…
Ebizō was not too worried.
Because he still had one final card in his hand.
If Ōnoki also wanted to take advantage of the Land of Wind and carve into Sunagakure's territory, then Ebizō would simply choose the most ruthless option.
He would completely surrender to Konoha.
If you refuse to let Sunagakure live with dignity, then Sunagakure will sell itself to your greatest enemy.
The pride of a great nation?
The ambition to compete for supremacy?
Fine.
Throw it away.
If they had to bow their heads no matter what, then why bow to Kumogakure or Iwagakure?
Wouldn't it be far more comfortable to attach themselves to Konoha, where the new God of Shinobi, Kizaru, stood at the helm?
Before coming to Konoha, Ebizō had already discussed possible responses with his sister Chiyo, who had only recently taken over as Kazekage.
Because of that, he was not panicked.
And Ebizō was not the only one who remained calm.
As the greatest winner of the Second Shinobi World War, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was also quite composed.
Kumogakure's ambition toward Sunagakure was something Hiruzen was glad to see.
In fact, it was something he wanted to quietly encourage.
Only by pushing Sunagakure into danger could Konoha step forward as its rescuer.
And only then would Konoha gain more say in its future alliance with Sunagakure.
Hiruzen, who was in an excellent mood, slowly exhaled a mouthful of smoke and became the last person to leave the reception room.
As he recalled the foreign student system Kizaru had mentioned after returning to the village with the two children from the Land of Rain, Hiruzen felt that perhaps Sunagakure could serve as the first real test.
Thinking of this, Hiruzen suddenly felt impatient to discuss his strategy for Sunagakure with Kizaru.
After arranging for an ANBU shinobi to go to the Ninja Academy and inform Kizaru, Hiruzen returned to the Hokage's Office and waited for his disciple to arrive.
Not long after, the office door opened.
"Sarutobi-sensei, it's lunch break now."
Kizaru walked in with his usual slow tone, complaining the moment he entered.
"There is something important I need your opinion on," Hiruzen said, sitting behind his desk with a kind smile.
Kizaru walked directly to the desk, pulled out a chair, and sat down without any restraint. He crossed his legs and lazily waited for his teacher to continue.
"Before today's meeting began, the Third Raikage provoked Ebizō of Sunagakure."
"Kumogakure wants to move against Sunagakure to recover the losses from their defeat, huh?"
Hiruzen had only said one sentence, but Kizaru had already guessed the Third Raikage's intention.
A trace of admiration appeared in Hiruzen's eyes. He nodded and continued, "That's right. I want to use this opportunity to pull Sunagakure completely into Konoha's camp."
Kizaru looked at him for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Ooh… how scary. Sarutobi-sensei, you're pretty ruthless, aren't you?"
Hiruzen's old face darkened slightly.
Could this child not speak properly for once?
This was not ruthlessness.
This was wisdom.
"The foreign student system you mentioned last time," Hiruzen said, ignoring Kizaru's teasing, "I think we can try using Sunagakure as the first pilot."
Kizaru looked at his teacher with slight surprise.
He had not expected Hiruzen, who usually leaned toward a more moderate approach, to show such rare ambition and decisiveness.
Originally, Kizaru had planned to test the foreign student system with Yahiko and Amegakure first.
Yet now, his teacher was taking an even bigger step, preparing to use Sunagakure, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, as the testing ground.
"As expected of the Professor, Sarutobi-sensei."
Because of Kizaru's existence, the Second Shinobi World War had ended much faster than in the original course of history. Hiruzen had not personally led Konoha into prolonged battles against several great nations, so his reputation had not developed in quite the same way.
Even so, the title of "Professor" still suited him far too well.
Hearing that title from his favorite and most prideful disciple, Hiruzen could not stop himself from smiling.
The wrinkles on his face deepened as his expression became filled with satisfaction.
This child truly knew how to speak when he wanted to.
As expected of his disciple.
"You praise me too much, Kizaru," Hiruzen said humbly, though the smile on his face betrayed him.
"No, no. I think it suits you very well, Sarutobi-sensei."
Seeing his teacher so pleased, Kizaru naturally continued to flatter him.
Hiruzen raised a hand and lightly waved it, suppressing his smile.
"Don't say that kind of thing outside. I do not deserve such exaggerated praise."
Kizaru looked at him.
Understood.
He wanted it spread outside.
As someone who understood human nature far too well, Kizaru immediately grasped what his teacher actually meant.
"Really troublesome… My mouth has never been very reliable, you know."
Hearing Kizaru's answer, Hiruzen shook his head with a helpless expression, as if saying there was nothing he could do about him.
Then his expression turned serious again.
"Kizaru, what do you think about using Sunagakure to test the international student program?"
"I think we should pay attention to Ōnoki first."
"Ōnoki…"
After being reminded by Kizaru, Hiruzen thought about the name for a moment, then immediately understood.
"You're right. We must be careful of Sunagakure forming an alliance with Iwagakure."
"It's best to leave that kind of troublesome work to my ojisan."
As Konoha's strongest expert at causing trouble from the shadows, Danzō was undoubtedly the most suitable person for such divisive work.
Hiruzen nodded in agreement.
"I'll have Danzō keep a close eye on Ebizō and Ōnoki."
A short while later.
Inside the Shimura clan estate.
"Kizaru," Danzō asked in a low voice, "if you wanted Konoha to unify the entire shinobi world, what would you do?"
Sitting inside Danzō's study, Kizaru lazily tilted his head.
"Conquer the weak first, then subdue the strong. As for those caught in the middle, once the overall situation is decided, they'll naturally fall under control."
Danzō's eye widened slightly.
For a moment, even he was shocked by Kizaru's answer.
Good.
Too good.
This was not just casual talk.
This was a strategy that could decide the fate of nations.
"When you become Hokage in the future," Danzō asked directly, "would you be willing to unify the shinobi world?"
This was the first time Danzō had asked Kizaru so bluntly about his political ideals.
Clearly, Hiruzen's strategy toward Sunagakure and the foreign student system proposed by Kizaru had stirred something inside him.
Although Danzō and Hiruzen's political views were fundamentally different, Danzō supported the policy toward Sunagakure.
Hiruzen wanted to transform and tame Sunagakure, turning it into a dependent ally of Konoha and maintaining the current situation of Konoha standing above multiple powers.
Danzō saw something else.
He saw that draining Sunagakure would strengthen Konoha, weaken the combined power of the other great villages, and reduce the obstacles to future unification.
Their starting points were different.
The results they desired were different.
But on this matter, the two had reached the same conclusion.
That was why, after speaking with Hiruzen, Danzō had hurried back to the clan estate and summoned Kizaru.
"It depends on the situation."
Kizaru looked at Danzō with a faint smile, but did not give him a direct answer.
Danzō fell silent.
Depends on the situation?
He had prepared responses for both support and rejection.
He had not expected Kizaru to give such an answer.
"What do you mean?" Danzō asked, frowning slightly.
"From a military point of view, Konoha does have the conditions for it," Kizaru said slowly. "But in other areas, Konoha's accumulation is far from enough."
"What areas?"
Danzō was a shinobi.
More than that, he was a shinobi leader who specialized in handling the village's darkest work.
Because of that, his perspective had certain limitations.
"We can conquer land," Kizaru said. "But the people living on that land need to be settled. They need to be governed. Order needs to be maintained."
He looked at Danzō with a lazy smile.
"Do you think the shinobi in the village can do all that, ojisan?"
"Governance can be left to the daimyo and nobles…"
Danzō had just opened his mouth when he stopped.
Under Kizaru's gaze, he realized the flaw in his own words.
The current balance of the shinobi world was precisely what the daimyo and nobles wanted to see.
They did not want that balance broken.
And they certainly would not allow it to be broken easily.
Ever since Senju Hashirama created the shinobi village system, part of the daimyo's authority had been divided.
The structure of a country had changed from one ruler to two centers of power.
The daimyo controlled administration and finance.
The Kage controlled military power.
In order to protect their own positions, the daimyo and nobles, who were at an absolute disadvantage in military strength, could only use two methods to restrain the shinobi villages and the Kage.
The first was money, logistics, and influence over the people.
The daimyo and nobles claimed noble bloodlines, sacred ancestry, and a natural right to rule.
Generation after generation, ordinary civilians outside the direct management of shinobi villages were taught to be loyal to the daimyo and their local lords.
Those countless civilians, along with the resources they produced, became the daimyo's greatest tool for restraining the Kage and the shinobi villages.
The second method was even simpler.
The daimyo, fully aware that they were inferior in military strength, absolutely did not want the shinobi forces to unify or form lasting alliances.
Before the shinobi village system was established, daimyo and nobles hired different clans to fight each other, constantly deepening hatred between shinobi.
After the establishment of the villages, what they wanted to see was no different.
They wanted the shinobi villages to become hostile because of interests and grudges.
They wanted them to fight.
They wanted war to remain possible.
Because only then would the shinobi villages, bound to their countries and pressured by foreign enemies, hesitate to turn their blades toward the daimyo and nobles.
If a shinobi village rebelled, the daimyo did not need enough strength to defeat that village directly.
They only needed enough means to ensure that they, or at least one or two of their direct heirs, could escape.
As long as they escaped the sphere of influence of the rebellious village, they could seek help from daimyo of other countries, spend money to hire other shinobi villages, and destroy the rebellious village in their own country.
Because of this, if Danzō wanted to unify the shinobi world, his enemies would not only be outside Konoha.
They would also exist within the very structure of the country itself.
"So, reunification is a very troublesome thing, ojisan."
Kizaru looked at Danzō with a smile.
Seeing that Danzō remained silent for a long time, his expression shifting again and again, Kizaru knew that he had understood.
Danzō nodded seriously.
For the first time, admiration for his nephew rose in his heart without reservation.
Kizaru had eyes that could see through the essence of the world.
Whether in strength or intellect, he stood at the very top of the current shinobi world.
If Kizaru was willing, perhaps Konoha truly could complete the great task of unifying the shinobi world in his hands.
Unfortunately…
This child lacked ambition.
He lacked desire.
What method could be used to guide him?
To awaken his ambition?
"Kizaru," Danzō asked while staring at him, "what is your ideal?"
"Ooh? Haven't I said it before, ojisan?"
Kizaru's smile became even lazier.
"I want a stable life with high authority, low responsibility, plenty of money, and a proper nine-to-five schedule."
Hearing the familiar answer, Danzō's expression stiffened slightly.
"Do you not want to create a great achievement no one has ever accomplished, like the First Hokage?"
Danzō was unwilling to give up and tried to guide him further.
"No. Too troublesome."
Kizaru shook his head with a smile, ruthlessly crushing Danzō's attempt to stir his blood.
Danzō sighed inwardly.
He lowered his head slightly, his visible eye narrowing.
Was there truly no way to realize his lifelong ideal?
No.
As long as Kizaru helped him, that ideal could definitely become reality.
People's ideals and desires could change.
Kizaru was still young.
There was still time.
Back then, Danzō had missed the position of Hokage because of a single moment of hesitation.
This time, he would not miss his chance again.
Even if it meant sacrificing his life, he had to ignite Kizaru's ambition.
Kizaru rose from his seat and looked down at Danzō's thoughtful expression.
He could already guess that his ojisan was probably thinking about something extreme again.
"Non, ojisan…"
Kizaru's tone became meaningful.
"Some things depend on what you do, not what you say."
Danzō suddenly raised his head.
Looking at Kizaru's smiling face, he began trying to decipher the deeper meaning behind his words.
"Store grain widely, build high walls, and become king slowly."
Kizaru walked past Danzō with a smile.
"If you really want Konoha to unify the shinobi world, then remember those words, dear ojisan."
After leaving those words behind, Kizaru walked out of the study.
Danzō stood frozen in place.
Then, slowly, his eye widened.
His heart pounded heavily.
At that moment, he understood.
No.
He believed he understood everything.
Kizaru did have the ambition to unify the shinobi world.
His current lazy attitude was only a disguise.
It was meant to prevent certain people from becoming wary of him too early.
Brilliant.
Truly brilliant.
Thinking back on Kizaru's past behavior, the things he had actually done, Hiruzen's trust in him, the village elders' attitude, and the admiration many shinobi already held toward him, Danzō felt everything connect inside his mind.
As expected of a genius never before seen in the Shimura clan.
As expected of his own nephew.
Kizaru's methods were far too beautiful.
He used laziness and a lack of ambition to hide his true intentions.
He was enduring humiliation for the sake of a greater burden.
Thinking back to his usual dissatisfaction with Kizaru's behavior, and how often he had lectured him because of it, Danzō suddenly felt regret.
Kizaru…
My good nephew.
It was I who was foolish.
It was I who failed to see through your disguise.
It was I who failed to understand your true thoughts.
You must have suffered in silence.
Filled with regret and self-blame, Danzō kept staring in the direction Kizaru had left.
Then, slowly, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
For the sake of his nephew's ideals and future path, he had to continue playing this role properly.
He would become the darkness beneath Kizaru's light.
And one day, Kizaru would surely lead Konoha to the peak of the shinobi world.
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