The layout of the plan had been clear to him for weeks now.Through the delicate web of spies he had planted in other ninja villages, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already confirmed the details.
A clan—no matter how formidable—could never stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a hidden village.Not in strength.Not in mentality.
The Uzumaki Clan's fate had been sealed the very day they declined Konoha's invitation to join the village. From that moment onward, the end was simply a matter of time.
"Send back a reply," Sarutobi said, his voice calm, almost casual. "We can only send a small support team."
He lit his pipe as he spoke, the tiny flicker of fire casting a brief glow on his face.
Yet, despite the nonchalant tone, his mood had turned heavy. The words had left his mouth, but the weight lingered in his chest. In an effort to shake it off, he decided to start working again.
It was then he noticed—The ANBU in front of him hadn't moved.
"Why are you still standing here?" Sarutobi's voice carried confusion more than irritation.
"Lord Hokage-sama… what reply?" the ANBU asked, his own tone tinged with the same puzzlement.
"Obviously, the Uzumaki Clan," Sarutobi replied, striking his pipe twice against the table to clear the ash.
The two men stared at one another.A minute of silence stretched unbearably between them.
Finally, Sarutobi's voice lowered, hesitant."…The Uzumaki Village didn't send any letter for help?"
The ANBU's response was immediate. "No. Nothing of the sort has been received."
Sarutobi's brows furrowed.They should already know about the attack. There was no way news hadn't reached them. So why…?
Something was wrong.
"Alright. You can go," he ordered, his tone clipped now. "And send a message to Danzō. Tell him to come here."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
The ANBU vanished in a whisper of displaced air, leaving Sarutobi alone with his thoughts.
His pipe sat forgotten in his hand as the questions turned over in his mind.What had happened?Why was there no word from the Uzumaki?
The door burst open before he could think further.
A tall, somewhat handsome man stepped in—middle-aged, brown hair, dressed in a pristine white kimono.
"I was just coming to discuss the matter of the Uzumaki Clan with you, Sarutobi."
"Danzō," Sarutobi sighed, "how many times have I told you to knock before entering?"
Only a cold "Hmph" came in reply.
Danzō Shimura—one of the most despised figures in the entire shinobi world. In a series like Naruto, where even villains often eclipsed the hero in popularity, that was an achievement in itself.
And yet, the man before Sarutobi was missing his iconic, one-eyed look.
"Do you know what happened to the Uzumaki Village? Why there's no request for help yet?" Sarutobi asked without wasting time.
Danzō's expression grew serious."I don't know. They should already be aware of the attack… but they don't seem to be in any hurry. It's not that we don't want to send spies there, but it's incredibly difficult. When everyone is a living scaner, there's no point in wasting resources."
He crossed his arms, his tone still cool. "Right now, we have no idea what's going on. Maybe the other villages blocked their messages. Or… maybe the Uzumaki have some way of dealing with the threat themselves."
"How could that be?" Sarutobi leaned forward. "Three major villages with their three Kage are acting. How could the Uzumaki stop that?"
"It's not impossible," Danzō countered. "They're a thousand-year-old clan, known especially for their sealing techniques. They might have developed an incredible barrier that can hold off the assault. Should we go to Mito-sama?"
Even Danzō's tone carried uncertainty now.
Sarutobi felt the same.After all, they had already spoken to Mito Uzumaki before deciding not to aid the clan—though in truth, it was more an act of informing her than consulting her. To go back to her now would be… humiliating.
But still… if she knew of a powerful sealing technique unknown to him, he had to ask. Otherwise, the Uzumaki's behavior made no sense at all.
What worried him most was the possibility that, driven by desperation, the Uzumaki Clan might surrender to the enemy. That would be a disaster.
It wasn't that Konoha refused to help out of unwillingness—They simply lacked the ability.
It had been twenty years since the First Great Ninja War, and every village had already recovered its strength, preparing for conflict once more. This assault wasn't entirely aimed at the Uzumaki; Konoha was also a target.
The Uzumaki were strong—But not so strong that they could warrant a coalition of three villages, each led by their own Kage.
This was, without a doubt, a straightforward trap.One with no apparent drawbacks.
The close alliance between the Uzumaki and Konoha was common knowledge. That meant there was a ninety percent chance Konoha would come to their aid.
And once that happened, the enemy's ten-thousand-strong coalition would force Konoha into an all-out battle.
Even if Konoha somehow won, they would suffer devastating losses—crippling the village for years to come.
Yes… that was the enemy's plan all along.To force Konoha to fight head-on… and bleed them dry.