As the oppressive aura of the two dark figures lifted, a collective sigh of relief passed through the streets of Konoha. But for the village's powerful ninja clans and its ruling council, the brief respite brought no comfort. They understood that everything they had just witnessed—the gruesome gifts, the destruction of the Hokage Rock—was merely an appetizer.
In three days, the true, terrifying power of the divine being Tsukihiko would descend upon them. This was no longer a village matter. A being with the strength to crush the entire Shinobi World by himself was now in motion. Whatever he chose to do, no one would be able to stop him, and the coming days would surely plunge the Five Great Nations into an unprecedented storm of violence.
…
Soon after, within the Hokage Building, four figures gathered around the large conference table in the Hokage's office. It was the village's leadership council: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzo, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado. They had once been united in their goals, but now, with their futures on the line, fractures were beginning to show. As the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi was the one feeling the most pressure.
"We all shared in the spoils of our decisions for years," Hiruzen began, his voice laced with a cold fury. "Now… it's time for all of us to share the cost."
The moment he had seen his eldest son's severed head, something inside him had shattered. All that remained was a burning hatred for Tsukihiko and his Twelve Divine Moons. He feared their power, of course. He knew better than anyone that if Tsukihiko truly wanted to take control of Konoha, no one in the Land of Fire, let alone the Shinobi World, would have the courage or ability to object.
But Hiruzen had been Hokage for most of his life. He had held the power of life and death, controlling every aspect of the village from the shadows. To suddenly lose everything he had built was a fate he could not accept. It was a thought more unbearable than death itself.
"That may be," Shimura Danzo said, his voice a low rasp, "but even if every clan in Konoha united, we would still be no match for Tsukihiko. You know this, Sarutobi. As our Hokage, you must consider what is best for the village. Sometimes, at critical moments, a leader must be prepared to make a sacrifice."
Koharu and Homura immediately sided with Danzo.
"He's right, Hiruzen," Koharu said coolly. "You are the Hokage. It is your clan that holds the most power in Konoha. While our families have benefited over the years, it is nothing compared to what the Sarutobi clan has gained."
"More importantly," Homura added, "Tsukihiko has made it clear that you are his target. This is a storm that you have drawn to our village."
Their words were carefully chosen, but the meaning was unmistakable. They were cutting him loose.
Crack!
Hiruzen slammed his fist on the table, the heavy wood splitting and shattering under the force of the blow. His face was a twisted mask of rage. "Heh. Don't be fools. We did this together. Do you truly believe Tsukihiko is only targeting me? Three days from now, when he descends on this village, none of you will escape his judgment."
His voice dropped to a low, chilling growl. "And one of those two figures from before… I recognized him. There was a familiar feeling about him. I believe it was the man who was said to have committed suicide… the White Fang of Konoha, Hatake Sakumo."
What!?
The revelation sent a shockwave through the room. The faces of Danzo, Koharu, and Homura went pale. Hatake Sakumo was dead. But they also knew that with a being as powerful as Tsukihiko, the impossible became possible. If he possessed a unique method of resurrection, then the return of the White Fang was entirely plausible.
"That is why he killed my son," Hiruzen seethed, the words dripping with venom. "This is a debt that I will remember." He conveniently ignored the fact that he had allowed his son, Shinnosuke, to orchestrate Sakumo's downfall in the first place. Now, faced with retaliation, he felt nothing but a thirst for vengeance—a perfect display of his extreme double standard.
"As of now, we must strengthen Konoha's defenses," Danzo said, breaking the tense silence. "The former Sannin—Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade—must be recalled to the village at once. Furthermore, we need to open communications with the other Great Ninja Villages. Tsukihiko is a threat to us all. He is a common enemy."
When a single person possessed the power to crush everything, everyone else became an ant in their eyes. The only way for the ants to survive was to unite.
"It sounds simple, but it won't be easy," Hiruzen said, waving his hand dismissively. "Begin immediately."
…
Danzo and the other two elders flickered out of the room. The moment they were gone, another figure appeared, kneeling before the Hokage's desk. It was an Anbu operative.
"Reporting, Lord Third," the ninja said, his voice flat and emotionless. He held up a cloth-wrapped bundle. "Your son… Sarutobi Asuma… has been killed."
The Anbu unfurled the cloth, revealing Asuma's severed head. "The assassin was Kakashi Hatake. According to our intelligence, he cut a path through the Sarutobi clan compound before disappearing from the village."
Pfft!
The words struck Hiruzen like a physical blow. Another mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips, and the last of his strength left him. He collapsed into his chair, a broken man who had lost both his sons and his entire legacy in the span of a single night.
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