Konoha. The Hokage Tower.
Night had fallen deep, yet the Hokage's office remained brightly lit.
Draped in the Hokage's ceremonial robes, Sarutobi Hiruzen showed the weight of age in his expression. His gaze slowly lifted from the intelligence scroll spread across his desk.
He took a deep pull from his pipe, letting the bitter smoke swirl in his mouth—
But it did nothing to dispel the gloom in his heart.
According to the latest reports—
Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning.
Iwagakure of the Land of Earth.
Sunagakure of the Land of Wind.
All had mobilized their forces.
In silent understanding, the Five Great Nations had stationed their troops along the buffer zones surrounding the Land of Fire.
None of them wanted to be the first to bear the full force of Konoha's retaliation.
At the same time, they all shared another intent—
To absorb smaller nations' ninja villages and use them as expendable cannon fodder.
Sunagakure eyed the routes through the Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers.
Iwagakure pressed against the borders of the Land of Grass and the Land of Waterfall.
Kumogakure aimed directly at the Land of Hot Water.
Small squads had already begun infiltrating the Land of Fire, hunting down Konoha shinobi.
These minor clashes could erupt into full-scale war at any moment.
Across multiple fronts, Konoha's defenses were stretched thin, forced into reactive measures.
Even rogue ninja from smaller nations had begun exploiting the chaos, raiding within the Land of Fire.
With such vast territory—
Many regions could only be left to suffer under enemy incursions.
And beyond all that—
Kirigakure, lurking overseas, could strike across the sea at any time.
"We cannot afford to sit and wait."
"The will of Konoha must not end with me."
A cold glint flashed in Hiruzen's eyes.
He inhaled deeply—
Two streams of smoke poured from his nostrils, spreading thickly through the room.
At that moment, the office door creaked open.
"Cough—cough…"
Mitokado Homura stepped in first, immediately frowning as the smoke hit him.
Behind him, Utatane Koharu glanced at the haze surrounding her old friend, sighed softly, and walked to the window.
With a firm push, she opened it.
The night breeze rushed in—
Carrying the damp scent of Konoha's forests, mingled with faint traces of warmth from the distant marketplace.
The stale smoke was quickly swept away, replaced by the fresh scent of earth and dew.
Hiruzen's fogged mind cleared slightly.
"Hiruzen, there's no need to be overly anxious."
Homura took a seat, his tone deliberately light.
"Konoha is known as the strongest hidden village. That foundation isn't so easily shaken."
"We've weathered two great wars already."
Koharu sat down as well, her voice calm and analytical.
"He's right."
"Kumo, Iwa, Suna—they've never truly trusted one another."
"They're united only by profit."
"If they find Konoha too difficult to crack… we can push things further."
"They'll begin to distrust each other, fight among themselves, and compete for gains."
"Konoha may very well emerge as the ultimate beneficiary."
Her reasoning was clear and structured.
Hiruzen's tightly drawn expression eased slightly.
But then—
Koharu seemed to recall something. She glanced around, frowning.
"By the way… at a time like this—where is Danzo?"
Before her words fully settled—
A cold, mocking chuckle came from the doorway.
"'Push things further,' huh? Sounds nice."
Shimura Danzo stepped in from the shadows.
"In the end, you just want me and Root to handle all the dirty work you don't want to be seen doing."
He stopped beneath the light.
His aged face, carved with deep lines, carried a chilling, oppressive darkness.
The kind of man who, at a glance, inspired distrust.
"Good tasks never come my way," he continued coldly.
"But anything dangerous or disgraceful… always ends up on my plate."
"Enough, Danzo."
Hiruzen set down his pipe, waving a hand impatiently to cut him off.
Ever since the jōnin council—after his private meeting with the Uchiha clan head—
Danzo had worn this grim, uncooperative attitude.
It was exhausting.
Now, with enemies on all sides, Konoha needed strength more than ever.
The Uchiha's power was indispensable.
Yet Danzo clung stubbornly to his extreme views.
His distrust of the Uchiha was written plainly across his face—
Along with a desire to eradicate them entirely.
Such rigidity, such disregard for the bigger picture—
Left Hiruzen feeling a deep sense of helplessness.
He had no energy left to argue.
"Danzo, sit."
Koharu stepped in, smoothing the tension as she often did.
Danzo took the empty seat, his expression dark.
He closed his eyes, clearly unwilling to speak further.
Hiruzen glanced at him once, then moved on.
There was no time to waste.
"The conflict between the Five Great Villages… is ultimately a struggle for benefit."
"And inevitably, it involves the nations behind them."
Homura spoke immediately after.
"I suggest we initiate diplomatic measures at once."
"I will personally travel to the Fire Capital and request an audience with the Daimyō."
His tone was firm, his reasoning precise.
"There are two objectives."
"First, to report the border crisis and request emergency funding to sustain a prolonged war."
"Second—and more importantly—to ask the Daimyō to use his influence to issue formal diplomatic pressure toward the other great nations."
"To condemn unjust aggression… and push for restraint."
"To create even the smallest chance for peaceful resolution."
"The Daimyō would not wish for further losses within the Land of Fire."
Danzo, eyes half-closed, cast a sideways glance at him.
To him—
Such polished diplomatic rhetoric was nothing more than an excuse.
A way to avoid the battlefield.
An attempt to replace bloodshed with words.
And as for the Daimyōs—
Were they truly innocent?
They sat behind the scenes, untouched.
Yet who could say that the steady flow of supplies to the frontlines…
Or the tacit approval of war…
Did not conceal deeper schemes?
Perhaps they were the ones fueling the conflict—
Or watching it unfold from afar.
"Hm."
Hiruzen made his decision.
"Homura, I'll leave this to you."
"Depart first thing tomorrow. Reach an agreement with the Daimyō as soon as possible."
Then he turned to Koharu.
She spoke without hesitation.
"Konoha has sufficient supplies for the early stages."
"We can deploy forces immediately."
"The real issue…"
Her gaze sharpened.
"…is leadership."
"If the commanders on each front are too weak—"
"They won't be able to withstand the pressure from the other villages."
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