"What's going on?"
Uchiha Yuan frowned slightly as he stepped out of his tent. At the entrance stood a Konoha shinobi whom he recognized instantly—one of Sarutobi Shinnosuke's personal guards.
"Lord Yuan," the man said breathlessly, "Lady Yuri has been gravely injured. She needs immediate treatment!"
Yuan's expression darkened. Lady Yuri—Sarutobi Shinnosuke's wife, Sarutobi Yuri.
"How did she get injured?" His tone turned sharp. "You were her guards. How could you let this happen? Have you forgotten your duty to Lord Shinnosuke?"
The guard bowed his head, trembling. "Because of Lord Shinnosuke's death, Lady Yuri was overcome with grief. When the Cloud shinobi launched another assault, she… she charged straight into their ranks."
Before Yuan could respond, Yakushi Nonō emerged from the tent. Without a word, the two of them vanished together in a flicker of movement.
At the front of the camp, tension filled the air. A ring of Konoha shinobi surrounded a medical tent, their faces grim.
Nearby, Yamanaka Mokuno was speaking urgently with several squad leaders, gathering the latest reports. When he spotted Yuan approaching, he hurried over.
"Lord Yuan, the situation's bad. The Cloud forces have already pushed deep into the Land of Hot Water. The one leading them now is their Eight-Tails Jinchūriki—Killer B."
"The Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki?" Yuan narrowed his eyes. "Even so, Lord Jiraiya should be able to hold him off. How did Cloud manage to break through three defensive lines so quickly?"
A voice came from behind him—grim and heavy. "Because Iwagakure withdrew."
Moonlight Ryūka stepped forward, his face dark.
"Iwagakure?" Yuan's eyes flickered, connecting the pieces instantly. Still, he looked back to Mokuno for confirmation.
Mokuno nodded solemnly. "Reports say Cloud's delegation has already reached Iwagakure. The two sides negotiated a ceasefire, and part of the Cloud forces have been redirected here to reinforce the Land of Hot Water."
That confirmed Yuan's suspicions. "I see. Then what about us and Iwagakure? Has the village reached any truce?"
Mokuno shook his head, frustration showing on his face. "Konoha has sent multiple envoys to Iwagakure, but the Third Tsuchikage has refused every offer. So far, though, there haven't been any new large-scale clashes."
Yuan nodded slowly. "So they're watching—waiting to see how this war between us and the Cloud ends before making their move."
"Exactly," Mokuno agreed, his tone heavy. "That's what worries me most."
Yuan looked at him. "What is it?"
"I'm afraid Cloud will use this ceasefire to recall their Two-Tails Jinchūriki from the Iwa front and pair her with the Eight-Tails."
Yuan's expression hardened. "That's… very possible. And now that their forces have swelled, has the village sent any reinforcements?"
Ryūka answered, "Yes. I just came from the intelligence office. The village has dispatched three additional platoons under the command of Lady Tsunade. They should arrive within the next two days."
Mokuno frowned deeply. "Why not send Lord Orochimaru? If one of the Legendary Sannin were stationed here, even both Cloud Jinchūriki together wouldn't stand a chance."
Ryūka nodded in frustration. "Exactly! The Sand has already surrendered, and the Mist front is under control. Our side's the only one still fighting Cloud's main force. Why wouldn't the village send Orochimaru?"
Yuan's voice was calm, almost detached. "Perhaps… because if Lord Orochimaru were to crush the Cloud forces and claim victory, his fame and influence would make it impossible for the village to stop him from becoming the next Hokage."
Silence fell over them. Mokuno and Ryūka exchanged uneasy looks. As cynical as the words sounded, the logic behind them was hard to deny.
Ryūka shook his head, unwilling to accept it. "That can't be right. The village wouldn't risk more lives just for politics."
Mokuno grimaced. "I'd like to believe that too… but maybe Lord Orochimaru has been assigned some other critical mission we just don't know about."
"Maybe," Yuan said, though his tone was clearly skeptical.
Ryūka exhaled and tried to shift the subject. "With Captain Shinnosuke gone, who do you think will become the Fifth Hokage now?"
Mokuno thought for a moment. "Hard to say. Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Haiichi—any of them could be candidates. But if our earlier theory holds true—that the Hokage must belong to the so-called Hokage lineage—then aside from the Sannin, there's no one left."
Yuan smiled faintly. "Not necessarily, Mokuno. You're forgetting one more possibility."
Mokuno blinked. "What possibility?"
Yuan's smile turned sharp, almost mocking. "That the retired Third Hokage returns to office."
Both men froze, stunned.
After a long pause, Mokuno burst out laughing. "That's impossible—absolutely impossible."
Ryūka laughed as well. "Lord Yuan, your guess is absurd. If that actually happened, it would be… it would be—"
"Shameless," Yuan finished for him.
Neither of the other two dared agree aloud, but their faces said enough.
Yuan gave a dry chuckle. "If it does happen, then yes—the Third and his council are utterly shameless. As you said earlier, Mokuno, there are plenty of qualified shinobi in the village—Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Haiichi, Mitokado Zixiao… all capable and respected enough to be Hokage."
Both men nodded solemnly, silently agreeing.
But that's the truth, Yuan thought to himself. Sarutobi Hiruzen and his clique were that shameless. Too afraid of losing power, he returned as Hokage rather than let an outsider claim the title.
Maybe that's why his son, Asuma, left the village and joined the Guardian Twelve—to escape the rot festering within.
Ever since White Fang's death and Minato's rise, the dissatisfaction within Konoha had been building. Hiruzen's "retirement" was a temporary retreat, not a surrender of power—and his eventual return had only deepened those cracks.
As Yuan pondered, a shout cut through his thoughts.
"Lady Tsunade has arrived!"
The camp stirred.
Outside, the wind carried the faint scent of alcohol and antiseptic—a strange omen of the storm to come.
Some people die… but they're never truly gone.
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