Right now, inside Konoha's Convalescent Hospital.
A certain individual—Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage—was lying in bed, eating fruit while flipping through a [kinjutsu scroll].
Beside him, Asuma Sarutobi sat peeling more fruit, his face filled with worry.
"Asuma, still no news about Kurenai Yuhi?" Sarutobi asked.
How could he *not* feel his son's concern? He was a father, after all.
Ever since Kurenai went missing during the last great war...
Asuma had been gloomy and unmotivated.
Clearly, he was mourning the loss of his childhood friend.
"No..."
"Based on the battle reports from Iwagakure, she must've died by now..."
Asuma sighed helplessly, looking deeply disheartened.
If Kurenai had been captured by Iwagakure,
he would've already arranged her release through back channels.
Yet even now, her name hadn't appeared on Iwagakure's prisoner list.
It was likely she had already perished...
Sarutobi sighed again.
Even as Hokage, he couldn't reverse death.
Kurenai had been such a fine kunoichi—
and quite talented too. He had personally guided her genjutsu training.
To think she'd die within Iwagakure... truly a pity!
Still, war is war.
There will always be casualties.
Looking at it another way, not everything was bleak—he still had his grandson, Konohamaru.
There was no rush to push Asuma into marriage.
After a few years, once time softened this wound, he could find Asuma another good girl.
"Asuma, you should accept this."
"It was partly my fault for pushing forward with the war..."
Asuma shook his head, clenching his fists as he replied:
"It's not your fault, Father. You were only protecting the village."
"If we had lost that war and let Iwagakure march into Konoha, there would've been far more deaths!"
"Their sacrifices were worth it!"
Clearly, Asuma himself supported the war.
But...
He just hadn't gotten over losing his childhood friend yet.
Sarutobi gently patted Asuma's shoulder again in comfort.
Then he urged him to go home first, rest, and clear his mind.
As for Sarutobi himself,
aside from his permanently disabled left hand,
his injuries were mostly healed.
The reason he remained in the hospital was simply convenience—to operate in the shadows and control things from afar.
Not unlike what had happened during the Fourth Hokage's rise to power.
...
"Hiss—"
As soon as Asuma left, another figure wearing an Anbu mask slipped into the room and stood beside Sarutobi.
"That kunoichi's sacrifice really hit Asuma hard..."
Sarutobi Shin'nosuke murmured inwardly.
Even as the eldest brother, he knew better than to try offering words of comfort about love matters.
"It's okay. Time will heal everything."
"Believe me, he'll pull through eventually."
Sarutobi waved his hand casually in response.
Having lived through multiple Great Ninja World Wars, he deeply understood the pain of separation and loss.
But compared to these minor issues—
A shocking incident occurred within the Hyūga Clan over half a month ago, leaving Sarutobi utterly overwhelmed.
In just one night, hundreds of ninja from the Hyūga Branch House collectively defected.
This was completely unheard of in Konoha's entire history!
Cough… cough…
Except for the previous defection of the Uchiha Clan…
"How is the current situation with the Hyūga Clan?" Sarutobi asked.
"It's very bad."
"The Main House has recalled all remaining Branch House ninja to the clan estate, placing them all under house arrest. We can no longer utilize the Byakugan for village perimeter monitoring."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "They locked down every remaining Branch member? What for?"
Sarutobi Shin'nosuke: "Rumors say that those defecting Branch members have discovered a way to remove the Caged Bird Cursed Seal!"
"To stabilize morale and prevent further desertions, the Hyūga Main House placed all remaining Branch members under house arrest…"
"If anyone attempts to leave secretly, the cursed seal will immediately activate, killing the Branch member outright!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi reeled in shock.
"A method to remove the Caged Bird Seal? How could that be possible?"
The Hyūga Clan's Caged Bird Cursed Seal wasn't simple at all; even Lord Second Tobirama couldn't crack it back then.
How could there possibly be a way to break it now?
It must be some kind of ploy meant to incite unrest.
Still, given Hiashi Hyuga's experience, he shouldn't fall for such nonsense so easily... right?
Could it really be possible?
"Divert some Anbu personnel to investigate discreetly."
"Find out whether this rumor holds any truth."
"At the same time, increase surveillance on the Hyūga residence."
"As one of the village's most prestigious clans, and as one of our core pillars—"
"No more desertions will be tolerated!"
Sarutobi ordered sternly.
First the Uchiha Clan betrayed us—and now the Hyūga Clan as well?
If things keep going like this, soon all the great clans in Konoha will vanish!
That cannot be allowed to happen!
"Yes, sir!"
Sarutobi Shin'nosuke accepted the command.
"Oh. Previously you mentioned the attackers targeting the Hyūga Main House were Kumo ninja—who confirmed this yet?"
"We've basically verified it already!"
"Spies from Root who've infiltrated Kumogakure have confirmed that Kumo recently acquired a new Byakugan and is currently searching for a suitable transplant recipient…"
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi exploded in rage:
"So it was indeed those beasts from Cloud!"
"Damn it! Four years ago, those monsters forced Hizashi Hyūga to his death."
"And now, they still haven't abandoned their dirty schemes."
"They're taking advantage while we're weakened after fighting Iwagakure…"
"What despicable animals!"
Sarutobi ranted furiously.
He wanted nothing more than to storm into Kumogakure and make them suffer for this!
"Hokage-sama, please calm down!"
"Even if it was Cloud behind this… the village simply cannot withstand another war!"
Sarutobi Shin'nosuke quickly tried to soothe him.
"…Sigh…"
"I understand. Don't worry."
"I know my limits."
"This debt will be recorded first. Later, we'll make Kumogakure pay us back!"
Sarutobi took a deep breath, suppressing his anger.
He naturally understood this wasn't the time to act — they had just come out of a war with Iwagakure.
Though Konoha hadn't suffered major losses, they were practically drained dry.
They barely pulled through this mess — only thanks to Iwagakure's reparations, Jiraiya's cash, and support from the Daimyo's court.
They were in no condition to fight Kumogakure now.
Kumogakure must've figured this out exactly.
That was why they dared to launch a sudden attack on the Hyūga Clan?
...
"How long until the village's great barrier gets repaired?"
"About half a month, give or take."
"Get them moving faster!"
"And step up security — we can't let any other Hidden Villages get another shot at us!"
"All right, you may go attend to your duties now."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, giving instructions once again.
"As you command!"
Shin'nosuke Sarutobi accepted the order, preparing to leave.
However, just at that moment,
Bang!
The rehabilitation ward's large door suddenly burst open.
A figure rushed in urgently.
Startled, Shin'nosuke immediately went into a defensive stance, thinking an enemy had broken in.
But when he looked closely, he realized it was actually Lord Jiraiya himself — the Provisional Hokage.
"Jiraiya, can't you even knock before barging in?"
Sarutobi frowned, scolding him with clear displeasure.
Yet right now, Jiraiya had absolutely no time for etiquette.
He shouted at once:
"Huge news! The Akatsuki organization is going to attack Konoha!"
"Akatsuki? What Akatsuki?"
"That rogue ninja mercenary organization that's been growing increasingly infamous in the Ninja World's underground trading market!"
"Oh! *That* group, huh?"
Sarutobi recalled vaguely — he had occasionally seen related intelligence reports while handling paperwork earlier.
Still, he didn't truly understand much about them.
After all, as Hokage, there were too many administrative tasks to handle.
Who had time to thoroughly investigate every single mercenary group across the world?
"Just some mercenary outfit — why such panic?"
Jiraiya: "Their leader possesses the Rinnegan! The very God's Eyes wielded by the Sage of Six Paths, who is revered as the [founder of modern ninjutsu]!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: Speechless with shock!!!
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "How could this be?! Jiraiya, where did you get this information? Is it reliable?"
Jiraiya: "Orochimaru passed this information to me. Plus, I myself once witnessed those eyes firsthand!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: ...
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