Inside Konoha's Hokage Tower, the war council chamber was packed.
Because Shimura Danzō had unilaterally allowed thousands of Cloud shinobi into the Land of Fire, war was now unavoidable. There was no room left for quiet negotiations or political posturing.
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane had expanded the meeting. Department heads, clan leaders, and senior jōnin were all summoned.
Homura sat at the head of the table, outlining the situation.
"Responsibility can be assigned later. The immediate priority is neutralizing the Cloud forces that have entered Fire Country."
He continued calmly.
"It has been confirmed that last night's internal chaos was orchestrated by the Kumogakure delegation. They used the distraction to rescue the Eight-Tails jinchūriki and fled the village. Uchiha Jin has already led the Konoha Police Force in pursuit. The outcome remains unknown."
"As for the two thousand Cloud shinobi who crossed the border—intelligence confirms they are led by the Fourth Raikage, A."
The room stirred.
Homura continued.
"We responded immediately. Jiraiya reorganized the border garrisons near the Land of Fields and the Land of Hot Water to sever their retreat."
"Five hundred shinobi have been redeployed from the Taki front."
"Two hours after Jin left the village, we dispatched one thousand shinobi under Hyuga Hiashi."
"An hour and a half ago, another two thousand left under Orochimaru."
He raised his voice.
"In this battle, we hold advantage in timing, terrain, and unity."
"Konoha will prevail."
"Konoha will prevail!"
The chamber echoed in response.
Homura nodded in satisfaction.
"Now we must determine our stance after this victory. Kumogakure will not accept defeat quietly. Do we expand the war—or contain it?"
Before anyone else could answer—
A sharp snort cut through the air.
Danzō.
"There is nothing to deliberate," he said coldly. "We press the advantage."
"Once we eliminate these two thousand, Kumogakure will be crippled. If we capture the Raikage, they will be leaderless."
"This is an opportunity to break them permanently."
He leaned forward.
"The Land of Lightning is rich in mineral resources. Why should we let such spoils slip away?"
The speech was fiery.
The response was lukewarm.
Konoha, shaped for years under Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaned moderate. The Third Shinobi War had only just ended after nearly a decade of bloodshed.
Peace was not an abstract ideal—
It was exhaustion.
Moreover, many in the room understood something Danzō ignored.
Even if they won decisively, who would benefit?
After the last war, pensions and compensation had been delayed. Rewards had been stingy. The lesson was not forgotten.
Homura spoke evenly.
"Calm yourself, Danzō. Destroying an invading force is one matter. Crippling an entire great village is another. The other three will not stand idle."
He didn't need to say more.
Most of the room agreed.
Danzō's eye hardened.
"Exaggeration. Kirigakure is consumed by internal strife. Sunagakure is weakened by repeated defeats."
"And Iwagakure?" His lip curled. "If Ōnoki is wise, we offer him a share. If not, we settle old debts."
Koharu frowned.
"Danzō, we also suffered heavily in the Third War. We require time to recover."
"And that weakness," Danzō snapped, "is the result of endless compromise."
"If we had fully exploited our victory, we could have strengthened ourselves through conquest. War fuels growth."
Koharu countered immediately.
"Your approach is extreme."
Homura added,
"A cornered dog bites. Push the great nations into desperation, and the cost may outweigh any gain."
Danzō's voice lowered.
"And the reward may outweigh the risk."
"Given time, Konoha will not merely be the strongest."
"It will be the only great village."
The room grew tense.
The three advisors clashed openly.
In past years, such arguments ended predictably.
Hiruzen would calmly state—
"Danzō, I am the Hokage."
And that would be the end.
Danzō would leave with a quiet—
"You will regret this, Hiruzen."
But now—
There was no Hokage seated at the head of the table.
And Hiruzen himself had yet to return.
The familiar scene was gone.
Times had changed.
Just as tension thickened—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Heavy knocks echoed through the chamber.
The argument halted instantly.
All eyes turned toward the door.
"Enter," Homura ordered.
An ANBU shinobi stepped inside.
"My lords, an Uchiha shinobi has arrived outside."
"He claims to be the disciple of Minato Namikaze."
"He reports urgent military intelligence."
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