This time, Ren didn't suffer from insomnia; he slept soundly until the next day.
However, it was still dimly lit, and looking at the somewhat deserted Konoha Camp, Ren immediately felt a bit bored.
"It seems I woke up too early. There's no one around right now. But if I go back to sleep, I'll just become muddle-headed."
Ren muttered to himself with his head down, not noticing a figure rushing towards him until the sound of running footsteps reached him, bringing him back to his senses.
"Uh…"
Ren was slightly surprised but quickly reacted, raising his hand and shouting,
"Might Guy!"
Might Guy, who was focused on his run, suddenly heard someone call his name. He immediately noticed Ren standing by the tent, waving at him, and his eyes lit up.
"Ren! Are you up this early to train too? As expected of my lifelong rival!"
"You could say that. Want to run a couple of laps together?"
Ren raised an eyebrow slightly, saying with a smile. Anyway, he was free, and exercising his body wasn't a bad idea.
To be honest, he hadn't really trained much since the war began, but his physical fitness hadn't declined. After all, every day he was either fighting or on his way to fight, and his combat experience was growing rapidly.
Now, Ren was confident he could take on three versions of himself from before the war.
"This is youth! Then let's run ten laps around the Konoha Camp first!"
Watching Might Guy run off, Ren could only smile helplessly, then quickly followed. As for ten laps, don't be ridiculous; Ren planned to bail after two.
…
At the same time, Konoha Village.
Hokage Conference Room.
Three figures were seated there, none speaking first, just quietly waiting in their positions for the arrival of the most crucial person.
"Creak!"
As the wooden door was pushed open, everyone's gaze focused on the entrance. Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing a Hokage robe, entered with a pipe, nodding and smiling at them.
"Everyone came quite early. It seems I'm late."
"Hiruzen, since you're here, let's begin."
Danzo, leaning back in his chair, was the first to open his eyes. His hands were clasped on the table, and his gaze calmly swept over them.
"Alright, let's begin. You all know the situation, so let's hear your respective opinions."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat down at the head of the table, his gaze moving back and forth between the three, speaking in a calm tone.
"Then I'll go first."
Utatane Koharu spoke first, picking up a document from the table in front of her and pushing it to the center, saying,
"Ansan of the Anbu, who was undercover in Hidden Mist Village, and Uesugi shinchi from the intelligence point have returned to Konoha. According to their intelligence, Hoshimi Ren infiltrated Hidden Mist Village and collaborated with them to steal the Three-Tails. What are your thoughts on this matter?"
Homura Mitokado took over, pushing up his glasses before speaking in a deep voice,
"According to shina and the other's statements, Hoshimi Ren brought a token to seek their help, and in the Hidden Mist frontline, only Minato Namikaze has such a thing. Hiruzen, aren't you going to give us an explanation?"
Looking at the two who were speaking in concert, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face showed no emotion, nor did he speak. Instead, he turned to look at Danzo beside him.
"What's your opinion, Danzo?"
Danzo, who had been sitting calmly in his chair, watching the show, didn't expect it to be his turn so soon. But he quickly reacted, and after a moment of silence, he looked up at the others.
"Minato Namikaze and Hoshimi Ren acted without authorization, stealing the Hidden Mist Tailed Beast. The impact is severe. As for how to punish them, that's up to you."
Hmm?
Looking at Danzo, who had closed his eyes again, appearing as if it didn't concern him, the three were momentarily surprised.
It was well known that in every Elder Council meeting, Danzo was the one who expressed the most opinions, although most were rejected. But this kind of reticence was a first.
"Alright, then I'll speak."
Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his pipe, speaking calmly.
"Although the two violated regulations, we successfully acquired a Tailed Beast, which significantly strengthened the Village's power. And at this time, the extent of help an additional Jinchuriki provides us doesn't need me to elaborate, does it?"
Utatane Koharu glanced at the silent Homura Mitokado beside her and the meditating Danzo opposite her, and immediately became anxious.
After all, she was the one who initiated this meeting, and its purpose was to hold the Third Hokage accountable. She had expected Danzo to align with them, but he was unusually quiet today.
It seemed she would have to speak up herself.
"Hiruzen, they acted privately and stole a Tailed Beast. Although intelligence suggests Hidden Mist currently doesn't know it was their doing, such a thing can't be kept secret for long. What will we do when the relationship between Hidden Mist Village and Konoha further deteriorates, and how will we handle the subsequent severe consequences?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, sat up straight, and looked directly at his companion of several decades. His expression became serious.
"Koharu, I hope you understand that we are currently in a period of war. Whether things worsen or not is no longer important; they will not stop the war if we return the Tailed Beast.
As for the consequences you mentioned, they only apply during peacetime. Compared to those, what we need more now is a power that can protect the Village."
Utatane Koharu fell silent, while Homura Mitokado had not uttered a word since his initial statement. Danzo was even stranger; he should have been the main force to challenge Hiruzen Sarutobi, but he had been completely disengaged throughout the meeting today.
The atmosphere in the conference room gradually became somewhat strange.
After a long pause, Danzo was the first to stand up, looking at the others and saying softly,
"I have matters at Root, so I'll be leaving first."
Watching Danzo's retreating figure, Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the other two, then stood up as well, saying to the silent pair,
"If there's nothing else, then I'll be leaving too. I still have quite a lot to do these days."
Then he slowly walked out, leaving the remaining two sitting silently in their chairs.
"Lord Danzo."
Seeing Danzo walk out of the Hokage Building, two Anbu immediately approached him, respectfully saying,
"Let's go, back to Root."
"Yes!"
On the way, Danzo looked at the Hokage Rock, which was gradually receding and shrinking, and recalled the conversation in the conference room earlier, a hint of sarcasm appearing on his face.
Regarding the incident of Hoshimi Ren and others stealing the Tailed Beast today, even Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't entirely in favor of it.
After all, in a sense, apart from him, Danzo, the other three were all doves, always trying to solve problems peacefully. Only he believed in fighting violence with violence, a true hawk.
Regarding this matter, if it hadn't been Hoshimi Ren but someone from his Root who had done it, he would have promoted that person to be his right-hand man and groomed them as a confidant.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had a point: Konoha now needed a power that could protect the Village more.
During wartime, those considerations were indeed meaningless, less valuable than a Kunai or an Exploding Tag. What's more, what about a Tailed Beast that could turn the tide at a critical moment?