The night rain over Konoha felt especially bleak. Water fell like silver gray, damp threads that spread into a net and clung to the buildings. Villagers in raincoats hurried through the streets, their steps quick and uneasy as if bad weather was still gathering.
Cold streetlights lined the roads one after another, pale circles like moons floating in the dark. They pushed out a narrow path that seemed to lead straight into endless blackness. At the quiet edge of the village, thick shadows lay hidden beneath the ground.
Inside Root Base, several small figures fought each other in a sealed room, while Danzo Shimura watched without expression. The sounds were muted by the walls, and nothing on his face suggested interest or mercy. He stood still, observing as if it were routine.
"Danzo-sama."
A Root ninja appeared behind him, knelt on one knee, and offered a scroll with both hands. "This is the outcome discussed by Third Hokage and the Hyuga Clan."
Danzo Shimura withdrew his gaze and took the scroll, glancing over it before his brows tightened. He let out a low snort, his tone sharp with mockery. "So that Hiruzen really compromised again. And the Hyuga Clan are ruthless enough to think of letting Hizashi Hyuga die in place of Hiashi Hyuga."
The Root ninja beside him lowered his head slightly, a trace of displeasure passing across his face beneath the dark cloak. Many people saw Danzo Shimura as a shady figure who could not stand in the light, yet among other forces he was known as Konoha's true hawk faction. That title meant his power had already formed a faction, and many ninja accepted his aggressive beliefs by choice rather than being forced into Root.
Where the sun was bright, the shadows were deep and wide. Beneath Konoha's shadow, the tree of Root took root in darkness, removing obstacles to the village by any means necessary. In that sense, Danzo Shimura had a kind of pull, and the ninja of Root were radical and openly dissatisfied with the weakness of Third Hokage.
In their view, if the Third truly made up his mind and used the Forbidden Technique within the Book of Seals, along with all the village clans, no village in the Ninja World could stand against them. Instead, the village now endured hit after hit, winning wars that led to nothing. War in the Ninja World never truly ended, and each ceasefire was only preparation for the next.
That Danzo Shimura could grow Root to its current size was due in part to Hiruzen Sarutobi's hesitation and softness toward outsiders. Many who joined Root had lost family in war and carried deep hatred toward other villages. The ninja wearing black sunglasses, with a purple mark on the right side of his face and hailing from the Aburame Clan, was one of the Hawk Faction as well.
"Ryoma."
Danzo Shimura spoke his name, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "I will place you into this escort team. I still have people at the border, and I will temporarily give you command." He paused, eyes narrowing. "If Kumogakure accepts this so called explanation, then fine. But if they keep pushing, add fuel to the fire."
Since Kumogakure had pressed again and again, Hiruzen should not blame him for steering village opinion. Konoha was weaker than before, but that did not mean Kumogakure had the right to stand over its head. Did they really think Tobirama Senju's Forbidden Technique existed only for display?
"Yes, Danzo-sama!"
Aburame Clan's Ryoma kept his head lowered, unable to hide the excitement on his face.
Thunder roared.
On a towering, cloud-wrapped peak in the Land of Lightning, Kumogakure was awakened by the sound of thunder carried on the path of a white serpent across the sky. Violent winds howled as dark clouds rolled together, forming a massive vortex above the village. It looked as if some huge beast were struggling within, flashes of white lightning lighting up the office of Raikage.
Wearing only a white cloak that revealed his powerful build, Fourth Raikage sat behind his desk. Beside him stood Mabui, with green eyes, silver hair, and brown skin, holding a stack of documents. He scanned the scroll and let out a mocking laugh.
"So that old man Hiruzen Sarutobi really swallowed it?" Fourth Raikage said in a deep, rough voice. "The older he gets, the more useless he becomes. If he had pushed back hard, I might have respected him."
He turned to Mabui but did not see the reaction he expected. Instead, she frowned, clearly thinking. Seeing this, Fourth Raikage grew serious. "Is there another problem?"
They had failed to start a war, but at least half their goals should have been met. They obtained a member of the Hyuga Clan Main Family, drove a wedge between the Hokage and the clans, and tested Konoha's outward strength and inner weakness.
"Raikage-sama, it just feels too smooth," Mabui said, her brows drawn together. "Earlier, the daimyo's attitude was vague. I worry that Konoha might have seized on some mistake, which is why Hiruzen Sarutobi decided so quickly."
The ultimatum from the Land of Lightning daimyo had been delivered only to the Land of Fire daimyo, then passed on to Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Hokage. Because of this, Fourth Raikage and Mabui did not know that the Land of Lightning daimyo had misunderstood their demand. To her, it simply looked like Konoha had given in far too fast.
Even though Third Hokage had been firm internally since returning to power, he should not have been able to suppress opposition so quickly. That was the head of the Hyuga Clan Main Family, and the Hyuga Clan would not yield easily. From the start, she believed open war was more likely than Konoha handing over Hiashi Hyuga.
"So you think there is a trap?" Fourth Raikage asked, his voice calmer now.
"Yes," Mabui nodded. "I suggest sending someone to ask the daimyo directly. If something went wrong, it likely happened there."
Fourth Raikage frowned. Even with his usual toughness, he had to treat the daimyo as an equal and disliked getting entangled. He also knew that the daimyo did not truly want war with the Land of Fire, especially since the end of the Third Shinobi World War was still recent and recovery was needed.
If there was a mistake, it was hard to tell whether it was deliberate or not. Still, as Konoha's longtime rival, Fourth Raikage understood them well. If they did not strike while Konoha was weak, its talent and deep foundation might one day produce someone who could reverse everything.
Unlike the victorious Konoha Ninja or the civilians caught in the crossfire, hatred within Kumogakure had only grown stronger due to heavy losses. Thinking this through, Fourth Raikage made his decision.
"Mabui, go to the daimyo's residence yourself," he said steadily. "Have Troy lead a squad of ANBU to make contact with Konoha. If Hiruzen Sarutobi intends to play tricks, act immediately."
"Yes, Raikage-sama."
Hearing the name Troy, Mabui answered and felt her unease ease. As long as Konoha did not deploy ninja on the level of the Sannin, she believed no one would gain an advantage over him. Troy was a Kumogakure Jonin and possessed the Kekkei Genkai of Magnet Release.