A person's reputation was like the shadow cast by a great tree.
Kizaru had yet to arrive in person. All he had done was ask Uchiha Fugaku to deliver a single message, yet that alone had suppressed a conflict that could have ignited another war.
The atmosphere remained tense, but most of the Sunagakure shinobi had been intimidated by Kizaru's reputation and gradually regained their composure.
Everyone present understood that there would be no battle tonight.
Uchiha Fugaku, who had merely come to deliver the message, finally allowed himself to relax.
Being surrounded and stared down by so many Sunagakure shinobi had placed considerable pressure on Fugaku. He was still only in his early twenties, and even he had felt uneasy while issuing such a forceful warning.
However, after witnessing the effect Kizaru's name alone had on them, Fugaku's confidence surged.
In the open grounds beneath the base walls, Danzō looked first at the approaching Uchiha Fugaku, then at the Sunagakure shinobi who had voluntarily withdrawn.
His eyes narrowed with satisfaction.
My nephew's influence grows greater by the day. He is destined for extraordinary things.
While Danzō was pleased, Chiyo, who had observed everything from inside one of the base buildings, felt far more conflicted.
She was relieved that she had made the correct choice, yet at the same time, she grieved for her village.
Perhaps Sunagakure had already become a village that existed in name alone after the battle in the Land of Rain and the deaths of so many of its elite shinobi.
Its foundations had been shattered. Its future had been severed, and the pride that had once sustained its people had scattered with the wind.
The tide could no longer be reversed.
It was time for her to consider the future of her family.
Her husband had been one of Sunagakure's founders. Her son and daughter-in-law had both sacrificed their lives for the village. Chiyo herself had devoted countless years to Sunagakure's development.
Her family had already given the village more than enough.
Now, for the possibility of resurrecting her son and daughter-in-law—and to secure a better future for Sasori—it was time for her to make a decision.
As those thoughts settled in her mind, Chiyo's gaze became firm.
The final trace of doubt and hesitation buried within her heart disappeared.
"Shimura Kizaru… Damn you! Damn you! You accursed bastard!"
Far from the base, beside a deserted sand dune, Elder Iwatani watched as the chaos he had worked so hard to create was brought under control in an instant.
His face twisted with rage, and his teeth ground together.
No.
It could not end like this.
Absolutely not.
Iwatani knew that tonight was his best and perhaps only opportunity. Driven by desperation and unwilling to accept defeat, he decided to gamble everything.
"Kaneki, Iwaji. Go to Konoha's base and launch a surprise attack at once!"
The three trusted subordinates standing behind him did not immediately obey.
Hesitation appeared on their faces.
"Elder… are you certain this is wise?"
Iwatani turned toward them.
His bloodshot eyes carried the murderous glare of a cornered beast.
"Are you planning to betray me?"
"I understand!"
Kaneki, who had voiced the question, hurriedly lowered his head in submission.
Seeing his subordinate bow, Iwatani's savage expression eased slightly.
"Go."
His voice was cold and devoid of emotion.
"Yes!"
Kaneki and Iwaji answered in unison.
The two exchanged a brief glance, silently communicating with one another.
The moment Iwatani turned his attention back toward Konoha's base, they moved.
Kaneki drew a kunai and drove it into Iwatani's back, aiming directly for his heart.
At the same time, Iwaji pulled out his own kunai and attacked the third subordinate beside him.
The blade pierced through Iwatani's back.
Already old and completely unprepared for an attack from behind, Elder Iwatani released a strangled groan of pain.
Kaneki twisted the kunai.
Blood poured from Iwatani's mouth as he struggled to turn his head.
Disbelief filled his eyes.
Never had he imagined that a trusted subordinate who had followed him for more than ten years would stab him in the back at the most critical moment.
"You…"
He opened his mouth, but the rest of his words never came.
Kaneki twisted the kunai once more and drove it deeper.
Elder Iwatani collapsed onto the sand, his eyes still wide open.
"Kaneki! Iwaji! You traitors!"
The remaining shinobi, Takishi, cursed in shock as he defended himself against Iwaji's attack.
"Traitors?"
A voice suddenly came from nearby.
"Iwatani was the one who betrayed Sunagakure."
Under the pale moonlight, Chiyo's younger brother, Ebizō—the head of Sunagakure's intelligence division—slowly approached them.
"For the sake of his personal hatred, Iwatani conspired with another village and attempted to provoke a war between Sunagakure and Konoha. Had he succeeded, the entire village would have been dragged into ruin."
The moment Ebizō appeared, Kaneki and Iwaji abandoned their attack on their former companion.
Using the Body Flicker Technique, the two appeared beside Ebizō.
"Lord Ebizō."
They bowed respectfully.
Upon witnessing the scene, the last of Iwatani's followers completely lost the will to resist.
Takishi dropped the kunai from his hand and sank to his knees in the desert.
"Kill me."
He looked at the three men before him with despair.
However, Ebizō did not order his death.
Instead, he approached with a gentle smile and placed one hand on the Sunagakure jōnin's shoulder.
"What do Iwatani's crimes have to do with you? You were merely following the orders of an elder."
Takishi slowly raised his head.
"Our village has suffered tremendous losses," Ebizō continued calmly. "This is the most difficult period Sunagakure has ever faced. We must stand together if we are to survive this crisis."
"Lord Ebizō…"
Takishi looked at him, visibly moved.
He was still in the prime of his life.
If there was a chance to survive, then naturally, he wished to live.
"Stand up."
Ebizō spoke in a reassuring tone and extended both hands to help him to his feet.
Taking the opportunity he had been given, Takishi lowered his head in submission.
Ebizō smiled and patted him on the shoulder before turning toward Kaneki and Iwaji.
"We have uncovered the truth. Iwatani abducted two of the village's shinobi for his own selfish purposes. I have already sent people to rescue them."
He glanced at Iwatani's corpse.
"Take his body with us. We are going to Konoha's garrison base to explain this misunderstanding."
"Yes!"
All three responded in unison.
Iwaji, the tallest among them, stepped forward and lifted Iwatani's body.
Meanwhile, in Konohagakure—
Inside the Hokage's office, Kizaru leaned back in his chair with his legs crossed.
With nothing to do, he was beginning to feel sleepy.
Six or seven hours had passed since the meeting began that afternoon, yet Konoha's senior leadership remained gathered inside the office.
Rather than continuing a discussion, they were waiting for information from Sunagakure.
Most of the matters that needed to be addressed had already been settled.
The only reason they remained was the possibility that Sunagakure might suddenly launch a surprise attack against the Konoha forces stationed near the village.
No matter how weakened Sunagakure had become, it was still one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
It possessed more than enough strength to annihilate the force of over six hundred Konoha shinobi under Danzō's command.
For that reason, Sarutobi Hiruzen had refused to allow Kizaru to leave.
The moment the village received a report from Dan Katō, Kizaru could immediately be dispatched as reinforcements.
Hiruzen lifted his cup and took a sip of tea to moisten his throat.
He then lit the tobacco in his pipe and drew in a deep breath.
Already prepared for the possibility of war, the Third Hokage looked across the office at his disciple, who appeared almost completely detached from the situation.
A difficult question weighed on his mind.
If war truly broke out, should he transfer the position of Hokage to Kizaru as originally planned?
Or should he wait until the war ended before handing over the position?
This was not merely a matter of timing.
There were deeper considerations involved.
Under Hiruzen's leadership and with Kizaru's contributions, the present-day Konoha possessed abundant resources, advanced equipment, and considerable financial strength.
Hiruzen could confidently say that Konoha was now stronger than it had been at any point since the village's founding.
Even if the Third Shinobi World War truly erupted, Konoha possessed enough strength to confront several enemies at once.
Victory would not be the problem.
The true concern was how many lives that victory would cost.
A leader who guided the village to victory in a major war would receive extraordinary prestige.
That reputation would not benefit only the individual.
For decades to come, their family and supporters could continue to receive influence, respect, protection, and opportunities because of it.
That was why Hiruzen found himself hesitating.
If war broke out, should he use that final victory to bring the perfect conclusion to his career as Hokage?
Or should he hand that victory to Kizaru, allowing his successor to secure his position immediately after taking office?
As people grew older, they inevitably began thinking more about the legacy they would leave behind.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was no exception.
Who would not wish to bring their career as a shinobi to a perfect conclusion?
Even the man hailed as the Professor and revered as the God of Shinobi could not completely escape such temptation.
"Kizaru, if war breaks out, the matter of the Hokage's succession—"
"Oooh… let's wait until the fighting is over."
Kizaru looked toward Hiruzen, easily guessing what his teacher had been considering.
A relaxed smile appeared on his face.
"Consider it my final gift to you, Sarutobi-sensei."
The hand holding Hiruzen's pipe trembled slightly.
He felt relieved, yet at the same time, a faint sense of guilt rose within him.
With a disciple like Kizaru, what more could he possibly ask for in this life?
"Kizaru."
Hiruzen's expression became firm.
"The date of the succession will remain unchanged. If war truly breaks out, then you will be the one to lead the village to victory."
The moment Hiruzen spoke, everyone present turned to look at him.
None of them had expected him to make such a decisive choice.
"All right."
Kizaru maintained his usual easygoing smile as he gave his answer.
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