No one in the shinobi world expected the Great Toad Sage to intervene.
Not Ren.
Not Black Zetsu.
But considering the ties between the Three Great Sage Lands and Konoha, the Great Toad Sage had a "reason" to move. And as one of the Sage of Six Paths' old followers… even if he disrupted the natural order, the Sage of Six Paths could—at worst—turn a blind eye.
Konoha — After the Coup
After the complete wipeout of Konoha's leadership—Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, and the rest—
the major clans formed a temporary coalition to keep the village from collapsing.
The Uchiha, Hyūga, Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Aburame… they all joined hands and took over public order.
As for the old ANBU and Root?
Most of them had "betrayed" Hiruzen and Danzō long ago—if not openly, then in where their true loyalty lay.
Under Ren's direction, a new ANBU was rebuilt.
Konoha's Police Force was also restructured—expanded to absorb shinobi from every clan, and even capable civilians—so it wouldn't remain a single-clan symbol anymore.
And to bury Hiruzen's remaining "prestige" for good…
the major clans mass-printed a propaganda document titled:
"The Third Hokage's Ten Sins."
It flooded the village.
Alongside it came new policies and decrees—fast, sharp, and uncompromising.
For the moment…
Konoha was stabilized.
But everyone knew the truth:
This stability was temporary.
Kirigakure, Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure were already mobilizing.
They weren't here to negotiate.
They were here to carve Konoha up while it was bleeding.
If Konoha failed to hold…
the worst-case outcome was simple:
The Leaf would be divided—and erased from the map.
Konoha Turns Cold
The streets emptied.
Merchants.
Bounty hunters.
Minor nobles.
And huge numbers of civilians—
they fled overnight, trying to escape before the gates became a battlefield.
The clans didn't stop them.
Ren's stance was blunt:
If you run the moment Konoha bleeds, then don't come crying later.
When an avalanche hits, no snowflake is innocent.
If they wanted to leave—
fine.
Get out. Don't look back.
Guy and Kakashi
On a quiet street, fresh from Ichiraku—
Might Guy folded his arms, uncharacteristically serious.
"Kakashi."
"This is the worst crisis Konoha's ever faced."
"It looks like the four great villages are actually going to unite and strike together."
Kakashi slowed.
Then his voice hardened.
"War."
"I live and die with Konoha."
Guy grinned and raised his thumb in his usual pose—like he was trying to light the air on fire.
"That's what I wanted to hear!"
"Youth grows in battle."
"This time… I'm going to go all out."
His fist clenched.
Four great villages?
If they pushed him hard enough…
he'd trade his life for theirs.
The Clan Summit
In the Uchiha clan's highest-level conference room—
Ren.
Fugaku.
Hiashi Hyūga.
Shikaku Nara.
Chōza Akimichi.
Inoichi Yamanaka.
Shibi Aburame.
The air was heavy enough to crush breath.
No one spoke for a long time.
Finally, Shikaku broke the silence.
"Kirigakure is led by Yagura's faction—reports say even the former Mizukage, Yagura, the Three-Tails jinchūriki, is involved."
"Mei Terumī is with them as well—Kirigakure's public face."
"Sunagakure: the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, personally."
"Iwagakure: the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, personally."
"Kumogakure: the Fourth Raikage, A… and the Eight-Tails jinchūriki, Killer B—personally."
Chōza's expression darkened.
"That's… insane."
"They're not holding anything back."
Inoichi took a slow sip of tea, eyes cold.
"This isn't 'pressure.'"
"They've decided Konoha is meat."
Hiashi slammed the table and stood up, veins tight with fury.
"Bastards."
"All they know is kicking people while they're down."
Fugaku exhaled hard.
"We can't fight four fronts."
"We hold Konoha and force them to come here."
The clan heads nodded.
Even at full strength, Konoha couldn't sustain a four-front war.
And now Konoha had just lost its entire top layer of leadership—plus a chunk of elite forces.
Shikaku let out a bitter laugh.
"So we fight."
Chōza's eyes sharpened.
"And even if we lose—"
"We make them bleed for it."
Then—
Ren finally raised his head.
His voice was flat, almost calm.
"I killed Konoha's leadership."
"So I'm not surprised they're trying to take advantage."
He looked around the room once—
and smiled.
"This time… I'll show you what it means…"
"…to wield the power to destroy the world."
He stood.
Turned.
And walked out of the conference room without another word.
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