["This is my fault." Hyūga Hiashi explained the situation.]
[The clan heads exchanged glances.]
["Fight."]
["There's nothing to discuss."]
["Otherwise, we'll just wait for those Kumogakure thieves to twist the truth and extort us!"]
[Inuzuka Tsume slammed her palm on the table.]
[She scanned the room, her face fierce.]
["Konoha has suffered losses recently, but it's just Kumogakure—are we really afraid of them?!"]
[The two advisors covered their faces, remaining silent.]
[Even Danzō was unusually quiet.]
[This matter could be large or small.]
[Moreover, based on their understanding of Sarutobi Hiruzen, he had already prepared a nauseating countermeasure.]
[The jinchūriki matter had just settled down—they didn't feel like bringing it up again.]
[Besides, the Kumogakure envoy was under ANBU surveillance. And yet this still happened—huh.]
[Danzō sneered inwardly. If Sarutobi Hiruzen mishandled this, he would once again have a reason to challenge the Hokage seat.]
Fourth Raikage: "Your internal infighting is impressive."
Fourth Raikage: "If I'd known, our demands back then should've been even harsher—hahaha!"
At that moment, hearing the Fourth Raikage's voice, many on Konoha's side grew angry—
But quickly deflated like punctured balloons.
Because… he was speaking the truth.
Stifling. Absolutely stifling.
Following a Hokage like this—there was no hope of ever rising.
Uchiha Madara: "Hashirama, please keep forcing that smile."
Senju Hashirama: "Hahahaha~"
Senju Hashirama: "I'm already dead."
—Oh!—
Senju Tobirama's eye twitched violently.
What kind of karmic sin was this?!
These people actually forced even his big brother to make excuses!
If Tobirama said it aloud, Uchiha Izuna would absolutely reply without hesitation:
'Of course—no virtue, no competence~!'
["Calm down, Tsume. Nothing has been confirmed yet," Yamanaka Inoichi said.]
["Even so, everyone should prepare for war," Nara Shikaku said, taking a deep breath. He knew something would happen—but not like this.]
[At this moment, no one mentioned why Sarutobi Hiruzen had failed to keep proper watch over the Kumogakure envoy.]
[Hyūga Hiashi sat in his seat, his expression dark.]
[For the Hyūga, this truly was an unprovoked calamity.]
["Hmph."]
["It's just Kumogakure. If we stand united, driving them back won't be difficult."]
["The real problem is the attitude of the other three great villages."]
[Uchiha Fugaku spoke calmly, arms crossed.]
[After that, the clan heads expressed their stances one by one.]
[Fight! Of course they would fight!]
[Would they bow their heads instead?]
[If they did, wouldn't every village think they could pull this stunt on Konoha in the future?]
[Sarutobi Hiruzen sat at the head seat, smoking silently.]
[Finally, everyone's gaze fell on him.]
["This matter will be paused for now."]
["I've already sent a hawk to explain the situation. We should receive Kumogakure's reply in a few days."]
["Until things are confirmed, do not spread this."]
["I'll have ANBU advise civilians to reduce unnecessary outings. If anything happens, they can be evacuated to shelters immediately."]
[Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly stood up.]
["Dismissed."]
[After speaking, he gave no chance for further questions.]
[One hand behind his back, the other holding his pipe, he left.]
[The clan heads watched his back, mouths opening slightly—yet no one spoke.]
[Hyūga Hiashi stood and walked toward the exit.]
[He had to prepare for the worst.]
[The other clan heads followed suit and left one after another.]
[In the end, only Danzō and the two advisors remained in the room.]
["Danzō, what do you think?"]
["I'll watch the show," Danzō replied, standing up without looking back.]
[The two advisors exchanged glances, both seeing hesitation in each other's eyes.]
[Clearly, they also didn't want to wade into this muddy water and lose their own influence.]
[The snow fell heavier and heavier. Konoha remained calm for several days.]
—Screee!—
[One day, a clear, piercing cry rang out above Konoha.]
[An ANBU shinobi who had been waiting called to the circling hawk.]
[After receiving it, he removed the letter from its leg, handed it to another ANBU, then led the hawk away to feed.]
[The ANBU who received the letter rushed toward the Hokage Tower.]
[Meanwhile, at the Land of Fire's border, an uninvited guest arrived.]
[The Fourth Raikage personally came to the front line.]
[Soon, a squad appeared behind him.]
[At its head was the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki—Killer B.]
[They did not cross into Konoha territory, instead waiting calmly.]
[With such a large presence, Konoha would definitely respond.]
Fourth Raikage: "Tch~!"
Fourth Raikage: "What a pity. Konoha's Yellow Flash—if you were still alive, we wouldn't dare show up so openly."
Fourth Raikage: "Or maybe we'd sneak around instead."
Minato did not reply.
He planned to lay low for a while.
Earlier, he had only spoken one sentence—
intending to ease things with Kushina.
Who would've thought…
A slip of the tongue would ignite that living powder keg again.
Oh—and it seemed he'd also provoked the Second Hokage.
Inside the sealing space, Minato sat atop the Yin half of the Nine-Tails' head, scratching his head in confusion.
"Kurama… did I say something wrong?"
"I don't know," the Yin Nine-Tails replied lazily, not even bothering to open its eyes.
[Back in Konoha.]
[After reading Kumogakure's reply, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked helpless.]
['This can't be allowed to continue.']
['This war absolutely must not break out, otherwise…']
[As he was thinking, the Hokage Office doors were pushed open by a Sarutobi clan shinobi, his face panicked.]
["Clan Head!"]
["A Kumogakure vanguard force has appeared at the border!"]
["Led by the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki!"]
["They've sent word—if you don't provide a satisfactory answer, they'll launch an attack in three days!"]
[Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes widened as he slammed the desk.]
[Unacceptable!!!]
[After a long while, Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand weakly. "You may leave."]
[Seated at the Hokage's desk, he massaged his temples, his head throbbing.]
[This was bad. Very bad.]
[Even if the Kumogakure envoy had been strictly guarded, he likely would've committed suicide in the guesthouse.]
[That way, no one would need to take the blame.]
[But—having experienced the same scheme once before—]
[Sarutobi Hiruzen grew overconfident and allowed the situation to play out, hoping to discern Kumogakure's true intentions.]
[The result was the envoy's death—and the Hyūga suffering an unprovoked disaster.]
[For Kumogakure, the outcome was the same: death. How he died didn't matter. They only needed a pretext to extort Konoha.]
[If they could obtain secrets of the Byakugan, even better.]
[In the end, things went even more smoothly than expected.]
[They had been preparing to send an inquiry regarding the envoy—only for Konoha to hand them the opportunity.]
[As for Konoha—]
[How could the clan heads not know this was essentially an ANBU failure?]
[And ANBU failure equaled Sarutobi Hiruzen's failure.]
["Come with me to the Hyūga compound," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, taking a deep breath.]
[He had already made his decision.]
[With several ANBU, he left the Hokage Tower and headed toward the Hyūga clan grounds.]
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/senpaistudios1