The silence stretched for a beat too long, thick with the unspoken questions and protests of a dozen powerful leaders. Hana's gaze, flat and expectant, swept over them. She had not asked for their approval; she had presented them with a fait accompli.
It was Shikaku Nara who broke the stalemate, his voice a low drawl that cut through the tension. "The operational framework is sound. Lockdown, investigation, consolidation of command. The priority is stability." He didn't look at Hana directly, but his words were a tacit endorsement of her actions. He was a pragmatist, and her plan was nothing if not pragmatic. "The Nara will handle intelligence triage. We'll have a preliminary threat assessment within two hours."
This seemed to break the dam.
Hiashi Hyuga's Byakugan veins bulged slightly, not in aggression, but in intense focus as he processed the information. "The Hyuga teams are already deploying. We have detected no foreign chakra signatures of significant power within the village limits. The method of… termination… remains undetectable to our sight." The admission was grudging, a stain on the pride of the "All-Seeing" Hyuga. It also, unintentionally, supported Hana's assertion that this was an unprecedented, internal event.
Shibi Aburame gave a slight nod, the high collar of his jacket obscuring his mouth. "The kikaichu report no abnormal poisons or pathogens in the air around the administrative building. My clan concurs. The evidence suggests a simultaneous, internal failure." The word 'internal' hung in the air, heavy with implication.
Fugaku Uchiha stood straighter. "The Uchiha Police Force has secured all twelve primary and thirty-seven secondary gates. No one has entered or left since the order was given. We are maintaining order in the streets. The civilians are anxious but compliant." He delivered his report with a clipped, military efficiency, but there was a new undercurrent in his voice—not defiance, but purpose. For the first time in years, the Uchiha were not the suspects; they were the first line of defense.
Choza Akimichi spoke next, his voice a calming rumble. "The Akimichi will ensure supply lines remain open and secure. We can manage food distribution and logistics to prevent panic-buying or shortages." It was a practical, grounding offer, focusing on the stomach of the village to steady its heart.
Inoichi Yamanaka steepled his fingers. "The Yamanaka will assist the Nara with intelligence and begin discreet mental screenings of key personnel who had access to the Hokage and council. We must rule out any form of mass genjutsu or coercion, however unlikely it seems." He glanced at Hana, a subtle probe. Her expression remained unchanged, a placid lake revealing no depths.
The discussion turned to the Sannin. "Jiraiya-sama was last confirmed in the Land of Rivers," an ANBU commander, who had slipped into the room, reported. "The team may take a week to locate him. Tsunade-sama's whereabouts are… less certain. The team will begin at all known gambling dens in the central nations."
Then came the most delicate matter. The elephant in the room that Hana had so bluntly named.
"The Hokage candidate," Hiashi said, his voice cool. "The most logical interim choice, given the circumstances, would be Jiraiya-sama. His power and reputation are known worldwide. It would be a stabilizing signal."
Fugaku's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "Jiraiya has repeatedly refused the position. His… unpredictability is not what the village needs in a crisis. A leader must be present and engaged." It was a veiled argument, a testing of the waters. If not Jiraiya, then who? The unspoken question aimed at the woman behind the desk.
Hana listened to the back-and-forth, her fingers resting lightly on the surface of the Hokage's desk. She did not engage in the debate. She had started the discussion and was now letting them wear themselves out on the problem she had set before them.
Finally, she spoke again, her voice cutting through the debate like a knife. "Jiraiya and Tsunade are possibilities. Not certainties. We will await their arrival and Tsunade's examination of the bodies. Until then," her eyes finally moved, meeting each of theirs in turn, "the temporary command structure remains. Dismissed."
It was not a suggestion. They had been summoned, given their orders, and were now being sent to execute them. The meeting was over.
The clan heads filed out, a whirlwind of quiet conversation and stunned looks. Shikaku lingered for a moment, his eyes meeting Hana's. There was a deep, calculating curiosity in his gaze, but he simply nodded once and left.
Soon, the office was empty save for Hana. The Hokage hat still sat on the desk where she had placed it.
She turned her back to it and looked out over the village once more. The first part was complete. The machine was in motion. The next move would belong to others. She had simply cleared the board of the pieces that were in the way. Now, she would wait to see what new pieces arrived to play.