"He actually did this?!"
When Onoki learned that the Daimyo's envoy had not returned directly to the Daimyo's court, but instead taken a detour to secretly negotiate peace with the Konoha Ninja Forces in Herb Country, even Onoki, this seasoned veteran who had seen it all, couldn't help but feel shocked, his eyes flashing with disbelief.
"That's correct."
An Iwagakure Jonin who came to report also looked furious, nodding forcefully as he spoke, "And that envoy openly appeared among the Konoha ninja, loudly proclaiming to everyone along the way that he brought peace back from Konoha!"
"Can noble power games really be played like this?"
Still reeling from the shock, Onoki muttered to himself, "Is this guy the only one playing it this way, or are all the courtiers—and even the Daimyo—playing it like this?"
Forget about whether those unauthorized talks would lead to anything real. Forget whether they were even allowed. Just the sight of a nation suddenly surrendering—while the ninja villages prepared for war—was like a shockwave to the psyche. Even someone as experienced as Onoki found it shocking, with lingering aftershocks impossible to shake off!
"Tsuchikage-sama..."
After hearing this news, the Iwagakure Jonins hurried over en masse, though they merely gathered around whispering amongst themselves without daring to interrupt Onoki, who remained deep in thought and stunned silence.
All the Jonins of Iwagakure felt the same—that this was simply unbelievable.
Though they were unruly and unyielding, refusing to bow to the Daimyo's courtiers, seeing only their one and only sun—the Tsuchikage—and always shouting about going up to the capital to teach the nobles a lesson, setting those facts aside... weren't they still loyal ninja of Iwagakure?
Even stepping back a thousand paces, the Iwagakure ninja had frequently gone against their consciences to help the regional noble lords quell the Rice Riots, doing countless dirty and exhausting tasks behind the scenes. After everything they'd done? And still, not a word of thanks from the Daimyo or those stuck-up courtiers!
"Why have you all come here?"
Regaining his composure, Onoki gazed at the group of Jonins huddled together whispering, clearly displeased. "Who exactly leaked this intelligence?"
The Jonins immediately stood stiffly with hands clasped, heads bowed in silence.
They were masters at looking respectful and saying nothing at all.
"So now our village's intelligence system has become just like Konoha's—completely unable to keep any secrets?"
Onoki knew perfectly well why these Jonins had gathered here, but this was precisely what troubled him most.
The behavior of the Daimyo's envoy, Niimi Kanbee, was something that could either be made into a major issue or kept under control.
If they could suppress the matter and minimize its impact, it might merely be regarded as an act of insubordination against the Daimyo's orders—an isolated incident best ended by executing the responsible party.
But if things continued escalating, it could lead to division and detachment among Iwagakure's middle and lower ranks of ninja.
This was precisely what troubled Onoki most.
"Tsuchikage-sama," one of them finally spoke up, voice heavy with emotion. "Please lead us to the capital (literally 'ascending to the imperial city') and confront the Daimyo!"
An Iwagakure Jonin gathered his courage and suggested, "Whether it's the envoy acting on their own or the Daimyo secretly endorsing it, we can't just let this matter slide!"
"That's right! The news about the Daimyo's envoy secretly negotiating peace has already spread like wildfire. If we don't provide an explanation, it might affect the fighting spirit of our Ninja Forces!"
"Exactly! We must have the Daimyo order the execution of those traitors who colluded with Konoha as a warning to others!"
"Not enough! Most importantly, we must blood cleanse those surrender-minded factions at the Daimyo's court immediately!"
The Jonin of Iwagakure were quickly stirred up, each demanding harsher actions than the last, seemingly eager for chaos in the Land of Earth.
"Silence!"
Onoki roared in anger, his voice silencing all the Jonin instantly.
"Immediately send someone to find out everything about that traitor and the secret agreement he made with Konoha!"
Onoki ordered, "Also, control your subordinates carefully during this period. Don't allow them to travel outside — neither heading south to provoke conflicts with Konoha nor moving our Ninja Forces to the Daimyo's court without authorization!"
"But wasn't it said that Konoha wants peace, equality, and mutual benefits?"
One Iwagakure Jonin muttered.
"What kind of equality? From where?! You think we should peacefully coexist equally with Konoha within the borders of the Land of Earth?"
Onoki became even angrier, "This is national humiliation, don't be fooled by those nobles' wordplay!"
"Tsuchikage-sama, then how should we respond?"
Another Iwagakure Jonin spoke louder, "Without countermeasures, never mind what village ninjas would think, but those fat, ignorant aristocrats will surely take advantage relentlessly!"
"I will personally go to the capital to meet His Highness. All of you stay put at your posts! No one is allowed to leave their positions without authorization!"
Onoki said coldly, "Anyone violating these orders will be executed on sight as a rogue ninja!"
"Yes sir!"
The Jonin of Iwagakure responded sharply before promptly disappearing using Body Flicker techniques.
Truth be told, most Iwagakure ninja couldn't care less about the details of the agreement between the Daimyo's envoy and Konoha — or what it really meant.
What truly enraged them was that the Daimyo's envoy had bypassed the loyal Iwagakure ninja who were risking their lives confronting Konoha. This was the real betrayal in their eyes.
After all, the so-called 'one-village-one-nation' system had been built on mutual benefit between hidden villages and daimyos' nations. Though there had always been an unspoken power struggle — with hidden villages seeking dominance over daimyos, while daimyos tried to keep the villages under control — they maintained a balanced state of peaceful coexistence on the surface.
The envoy's independent peace talks undoubtedly threatened the very foundation of this fragile balance, challenging the bottom line of the established order, thereby provoking strong resentment among Iwagakure's ninja.
"The Anbu must control the narrative within our forces recently!"
Onoki muttered to himself.
Immediately, a figure emerged beside him, kneeling on one knee and respectfully accepting orders.
"What a mess this world has become."
Onoki sighed deeply. Then he stamped his foot and launched himself into the air, using his Light and Heavy Rock Technique to float towards the Daimyo's court.
"This is an act of betrayal against the village!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of Konoha, was furious upon learning that Hyuga Soushu had directly contacted the Daimyo's envoy from the Land of Earth and even made promises without permission. Ignoring the presence of Anbu ninja, he smashed his cherished pipe against the floor, sending shards flying!
Meanwhile, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, pushed open the door to the Hokage Office just in time to witness their old friend's rare public outburst.
"You Anbu can withdraw for now."
Homura, relatively more composed and experienced, waved his hand dismissively toward the tense and anxious Anbu ninjas.
Although it wasn't quite proper for an advisor elder to directly issue orders to the Anbu, Protocol could wait—this wasn't the time for formalities. After bowing respectfully to the still-furious Third Hokage with hands on hips and confirming his superior had no objection, the Anbu disappeared with a relieved Body Flicker technique.
"Hiruzen, haven't incidents like this happened before?"
Koharu gently closed the office door behind her and softly spoke, "Whether it was Hatake Sakumo or Soushu, weren't their previous actions far worse than this incident?"
"There's no point in getting angry—it only harms your own health."
Homura quickly added, "The immediate concern is what our village should do next!"
"The order to restrain the Ninja Force from further combat was already issued by the village. Soushu merely seized the opportunity and went along with circumstances—it's unnecessary to dwell on this matter."
Koharu continued, echoing Homura's sentiments.
"What's gotten into you two today?"
Though his anger had not fully subsided, the Third Hokage felt deep suspicion, "Why have you suddenly started defending them?"
"We're simply stating the facts."
Homura and Koharu exchanged glances before speaking together, "At this point, either we face civil war or we sever control entirely; otherwise, there are no good options left for the village!"
"If we continue maintaining this situation, it will only become increasingly disadvantageous for us!"
"So that means...?"
The Third Hokage furrowed his brows as he opened a drawer and took out a new pipe, beginning to pack it with tobacco.
This very action helped calm the two advisor elders somewhat.
From their experience with Hiruzen, if he had calmed down enough to refill his pipe, that meant he was regaining control of his emotions.
"A two-tier governance system for the Hidden Leaf!"
Homura solemnly declared, "We must separate the shinobi remaining in the village from the overseas ninja forces while pushing the ninja clans out as much as possible!"
"One Hidden Leaf Village operating under two systems—one system granting maximum autonomy to overseas ninja forces while reducing the village's support for them accordingly!" Koharu immediately followed up with an additional explanation.
"Are you trying to destroy Konoha?!" The Third Hokage once again showed signs of anger on his face, "What favor has that man Soushu done for your families that you would suggest something like this?"
"If things continue like this, our village won't remain a village anymore—the Third Hokage's legacy—and the ideals passed down from our teacher—will one day be overturned."
"Moreover, Hiruzen," Homura Mitokado said calmly, "Ninja Clans have never been completely united. Even within my own clan, not everyone necessarily listens to me!"
"As long as Hyuga Soushu and the influence of Ninja Clans are isolated, even if the village experiences a period of weakness, with continued rest and recovery, the village's strength will eventually return to its peak!"
Koharu Utatane spoke without hiding her intentions: "Furthermore, once we eliminate the influence of the Ninja Clans, no matter how much Sakumo tries to stir things up, he won't be able to cause any real turbulence from now on!"
"The guys from those Ninja Clans are insatiable; they would never agree to collectively relocate to border settlements."
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head but didn't immediately reject his two old friends' proposal.
In the eyes of the two advisor elders, not rejecting it outright already meant he was intrigued, just not entirely convinced yet!
"It only requires sending out the adult members of these clans. Leaving women and children behind in the village actually works out better for us—they become our hostages!"
Homura Mitokado began using his persuasive skills: "Instead of glaring at each other with hatred, wouldn't separation and pursuing separate paths be better?"
"How could they possibly agree to something like this?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi still felt the plan was a bit questionable.
"Allow the Ninja Force to engage in commerce independently and take missions outside the Land of Fire. And apart from the Herb Country, none of the profits or mission rewards from other areas need to be taxed by the village!"
Koharu Utatane quickly offered the bait they had discussed earlier: "With Hyuga Soushu's precedent of controlling the Land of Lightning's occupied territories, no member of the Ninja Clans could resist such an offer!"
"Even your own clansmen?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a long draw from his pipe and asked, "Where's Danzo? Why isn't he here? Does he agree with you too?"
"Yes!"
Homura Mitokado answered firmly: "Danzo's view is equally clear—he believes either we act decisively while we still have enough strength to launch an internal war and eliminate potential chaos, or swiftly isolate the Ninja Clans. Otherwise, the rot within these clans will ultimately erode the very foundation of the entire village!"
"If you've already made your decision, and you all share the same opinion, then why come looking for me?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his back directly and gazed out the window at the scenery of Konoha.
At that moment, the bustling commercial street of Konoha showed no signs of tension whatsoever, presenting a tranquil image of prosperity and peace.
"There's nothing quite like Konoha,"
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but sigh, then changed tone: "but my master's legacy mustn't fall into greedy hands!"
"We understand!"
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane exchanged glances and comprehended their old friend's implied meaning.
Wants it both ways—that's nothing new.
After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Hokage was always right. Even if mistakes happened, there were always subordinates ready to take the blame. He didn't need to issue explicit orders; those around him could discern his unspoken intentions and proactively comply.
And should significant errors arise, responsibility could easily shift to underlings acting arbitrarily, attempting power grabs beyond their station, thus skillfully absolving himself completely.
This was the instinct of those at the pinnacle of power—an artful way of steering events subtly and without drawing attention.
Only this time, the proposal had been an inevitable result of discussions among the three elder advisors, so Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane were unafraid to take full responsibility for it.
Besides, it wasn't bad for either the village or the ninja clans.
It wasn't exactly friendly, but at the very least it would mean minimal future contact.
"Do your best, won't you? Everything we're doing is for a better future for Konoha."
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "Let me remind you one last thing—if something feels off or hasn't been thought through properly, I'll stop it right away before it threatens to tear the village apart!"
"Everything will stay within your boundaries, Hiruzen," Homura replied firmly. "Your achievements speak for themselves. What we're doing now is simply clearing away the deadwood clinging like parasites to this mighty tree that is Konoha."
"The will of our teacher must not be altered—we're only preventing potential disaster before it happens," Koharu added. "Hiruzen, you should also give more thought to the future of the Sarutobi clan."
"I understand."
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around and gazed earnestly at his two old friends for quite some time before slowly nodding.
He couldn't help but wonder if these two old companions had gone a little off in the head—who else would even think he'd neglected his own clan?
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