Chapter 153: The Shockwave Intensifies
Silence returned to the Hokage's office as Tsunade's commanding roar faded. The assembled Jōnin stared at her, the initial shock hardening into a cold, sobering dread. The reality of Kumogakure's fall was now an undeniable weight in the room.
A senior Jōnin, a man with scars tracing back to the Third Great War, stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Our apologies, Hokage-sama. We do not doubt the intelligence. It is simply... the scale of it is incomprehensible. To think a village as powerful as Kumogakure could be brought so low..."
"I understand your shock," Tsunade replied, her voice lower but no less intense. "But shock is a luxury we cannot afford. The question now is not *if* it happened, but *how*, and what it means for us."
"Who could have done this?" another Jōnin voiced the question on everyone's mind. "Was it an alliance of other great villages? Did Iwagakure and Sunagakure move together?"
"Impossible," countered a tactical specialist. "The diplomatic and logistical effort required for such a coordinated strike would have left traces. Our intelligence network would have detected mass troop movements. Kumogakure's defenses are—*were*—among the strongest in the world. No single village, not even Konoha at its peak, could have achieved this so decisively."
A grim theory was proposed. "Then... has a new power emerged? An organization capable of challenging the Five Great Villages? Is this the end of the balance we've maintained since the last war?"
Tsunade let the theories hang in the air for a moment before delivering the final, most personal blow. "Your guesses are wrong. This was not the work of a village, nor a vast army." She paused, ensuring every eye was on her. "The entity that destroyed Kumogakure is a small team, known only as 'The Eagle.' Intelligence suggests their number is no more than four. But the force that razed the village... was primarily one man. The leader of this team is Konoha's own S-Class rogue ninja... Uchiha Ren."
The name landed like a physical blow. A wave of disbelief, even more potent than the initial news, swept through the room.
"Uchiha Ren? That boy? The last Uchiha survivor? It can't be!"
"He's just a genin! How could he possibly...?"
"Nothing is impossible!" Tsunade slammed her fist on the desk, the wood groaning in protest. "His motive appears to be the tailed beasts. He infiltrated Kumogakure to capture their Two-Tails Jinchuriki. He was discovered, and the Raikage led a force to apprehend him. They failed. They provoked a monster, and the entire village paid the price. Uchiha Ren is now the single most dangerous individual in the shinobi world."
She took a deep breath, her next words leaving no room for argument. "This is my decree: All previous pursuit orders against Uchiha Ren are hereby canceled. Effective immediately, if any Konoha shinobi encounters Uchiha Ren or his team on a mission, they are under strict orders to avoid conflict at all costs. You are authorized to abandon your mission immediately without penalty. Your survival is the only priority."
A murmur of protest rose. "Hokage-sama! This is... capitulation! It will make Konoha appear weak! We cannot show fear!"
"This is not about pride!" Tsunade's voice thundered, her gaze sweeping over them with the ferocity of a leader protecting her pack. "This is about survival! Ren holds a deep-seated grudge against Konoha. Engaging him is a death sentence. I will not sacrifice the lives of Konoha's shinobi for the sake of appearances! This order is final. You are dismissed."
Though discontent simmered on some faces, none dared challenge the Fifth Hokage's direct command. With bowed heads and heavy hearts, the Jōnin filed out of the office, the weight of the new world order settling on their shoulders.
When the room was empty, Tsunade turned to stare out the window once more, her reflection grim in the glass. "Uchiha Ren..." she whispered to her own image. "Whatever hatred burns in your heart... if you dare bring it to Konoha's gates, I will be waiting."
***
**The Land of Earth, Iwagakure**
A similar scene was unfolding in the Tsuchikage's office, though the atmosphere was distinctly different. The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, floated slightly above his chair, his small frame belying his immense authority. He had just issued an identical decree to his commanders.
"Tch. Old man, you're really that scared of this Uchiha Ren?" The voice, dripping with youthful defiance, came from Kurotsuchi, his granddaughter. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips. "He made the Raikage look like a fool? So what?"
"Foolish girl!" Ōnoki barked, turning to face her. His usual grumpy demeanor was replaced by a grave seriousness that made the room feel colder. "Do not mistake caution for fear! I have lived long enough to see what the Uchiha are capable of. Underestimating them is a mistake you only make once."
Kurotsuchi's smirk faded slightly under her grandfather's intense stare. "Huh. So he's about my age, right? I'd like to see how 'powerful' he really is."
"That is exactly what you will NOT do!" Ōnoki's voice cut through her bravado. He drifted closer to her, his eyes locked on hers. "Listen to me, Kurotsuchi. This is not a game. If you ever encounter Uchiha Ren, you will disengage and retreat immediately. That is an order. Do you understand?"
Seeing the uncharacteristic fear in the old man's eyes, Kurotsuchi finally nodded, her playful attitude vanishing. "...Understood."
Ōnoki turned to his son, the steadfast黄土 (Loess), who had been standing quietly. "You think we are being too passive, don't you?"
"It is... a significant shift in policy, Father," Loess admitted.
Ōnoki let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Patience. Ren's actions have shattered the balance. The 'A' in Kumogakure is not a man who accepts defeat. He will be planning his vengeance even from his sickbed. And with the Eagle team targeting tailed beasts..." He stroked his chin, his mind racing through decades of political maneuvering. "Mark my words. We will soon receive an invitation from the Raikage. And Konoha, Suna, and Kiri... they will all be thinking the same thing. The game has changed, but the great villages are still the major players. For now, we watch and we wait."
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