The rain-drenched night in Konoha carried a desolate chill.
The rainfall was like sticky, silvery-gray spider threads, weaving a vast net that clung to the clustered buildings.
Villagers in raincoats hurried through the streets, their footsteps quick, their demeanor heavy with the same unease that came before a storm.
The cold streetlamps lit one after another along the roads, like moons floating in the sky, forming a pale path that stretched into boundless darkness.
And at the seldom-visited outskirts of the village, beneath the ground, shadows pressed thick and heavy.
Within the Root base, several small figures were clashing inside a sealed chamber, while Shimura Danzō observed with an expressionless face.
"Lord Danzō."
A Root shinobi appeared behind him, kneeling on one knee and offering a scroll with both hands.
"This is the result that the Third Hokage and the Hyūga clan have discussed and agreed upon."
Danzō withdrew his cold gaze, turned his head, and took the scroll from the man's hand. A single glance made his brows knit tightly together.
"Sarutobi, that fellow… once again chooses compromise?" Danzō gave a cold snort, his tone dripping with ridicule.
"And the Hyūga clan is merciless indeed, coming up with such an idea — letting Hyūga Hizashi die in place of Hyūga Hiashi."
The Root shinobi kneeling at his side lowered his head slightly. Beneath the shadow of his black cloak, a trace of dissatisfaction flickered across his features.
Though many viewed Shimura Danzō as nothing more than a dark, unsightly figure unfit for the stage, in the eyes of other factions, he was the very embodiment of Konoha's "hawk faction."
And to be considered a "hawk" meant his power was no mere lone influence — he had built a faction, and many shinobi resonated with his radical ideology.
Not all who joined Root did so out of coercion.
The brighter the sun, the deeper and broader the shadows.
Beneath Konoha's light, Danzō drove the roots into the darkness, removing obstacles in secret — by any means necessary.
From a certain perspective, one could even say Danzō had a kind of "charisma."
The shinobi of Root were radical, and all shared strong dissatisfaction toward the Third Hokage's weakness.
In their eyes, if the Third truly hardened his heart — if he wielded the Forbidden Jutsu from the Scroll of Seals and mobilized all of Konoha's shinobi — no other village could stand against them.
Instead, it was always like this: Konoha fighting defensively, and even when they won wars, the victories were hollow, without meaning.
For shinobi, war never truly ended. The end of one war was nothing more than the preparation for the next.
One could say that Danzō's success in growing Root into its current strength was, in no small part, due to Sarutobi Hiruzen's indecisiveness and weakness in foreign affairs.
Many who joined Root had lost family members in wars and bore blood feuds with other villages.
This particular shinobi — with black sunglasses, a violet mark etched on his right cheek, and of the Aburame clan — was one such member of the hawk faction.
"Ryōma."
Danzō called his name, a shadowy gleam flashing in his eyes.
"I will have you inserted into this escort mission. At the border, I still have men in place. I will temporarily hand command over to you…"
He paused, narrowing his eyes, his voice dropping cold:
"If Kumogakure obediently accepts this 'settlement,' then so be it. But if they remain insatiable — then throw fuel onto the fire!"
If Kumogakure continued to press, then Sarutobi would have no choice but to deal with the flames of public opinion that Danzō would stoke within the village.
Yes, Konoha's strength had indeed waned, but that did not mean Kumogakure had any right to ride on Konoha's back.
Did they truly think that Tobirama Senju's Forbidden Jutsu were mere ornaments to be admired?
"Yes, Lord Danzō!"
Aburame Ryōma bowed his head, unable to conceal the excitement on his face.
---
Boom!!
On a towering peak in the Land of Lightning, wrapped in drifting mists, Kumogakure was roused awake by the thunder serpents that slithered across the heavens.
Storm winds howled, black clouds surged, and a massive vortex spun above the village, creating a scene of terrifying natural majesty.
It was as though some colossal beast was writhing within the vortex, its incandescent lightning illuminating the Raikage's office — where two figures stood within the thunder-lit chamber.
The Fourth Raikage, clad only in his white cloak, his muscular frame exposed, sat at his desk. Beside him stood Mabui, her silver hair and green eyes distinct against her brown skin, holding documents in her arms.
"So Sarutobi Hiruzen, that old man, actually endured it?"
The Fourth Raikage's eyes swept over the scroll, and a mocking grin stretched across his rugged, dark face. His voice was deep, booming like thunder.
"The older he gets, the more useless he becomes. If he had come back at us head-on, I might have respected him!"
As he spoke, he turned to glance at Mabui. But instead of the look he expected, he saw her frowning in contemplation.
Knowing Mabui never wore such an expression without cause, the Raikage's grin faded, his own features hardening into seriousness.
"What is it? Do you sense something else?"
Even if war had not erupted as they wished, surely their goals had been half accomplished by now.
They had not only secured a member of the Hyūga's main family, but had also sowed discord between the Hokage and the clans, and tested Konoha's feeble state.
"Lord Raikage, I only feel… it was all too smooth." Mabui's brow furrowed tighter.
"Earlier, Lord Daimyō's attitude was somewhat perfunctory. I fear perhaps Konoha caught hold of some weakness of his, which could explain why Sarutobi Hiruzen made his decision so quickly."
The ultimatum from the Land of Lightning's Daimyō had been delivered unilaterally to the Daimyō of the Land of Fire, who then passed it on to Hiruzen, the Hokage.
Thus, the Raikage and Mabui did not know that the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning had actually misunderstood their demands.
Mabui only felt that Konoha's compliance had come too easily.
Even if the Third Hokage was known to be firm internally since his return to office, he would not have been able to suppress opposition so swiftly.
This was the head of the Hyūga main family they were talking about. The Hyūga clan would never yield so lightly.
From the very beginning, Mabui had thought that the possibility of war between the two nations was far higher than Konoha ever surrendering Hyūga Hiashi.
"So… you suspect a trap?"
The Fourth Raikage gradually calmed, the same sense of unease creeping into his heart.
"Yes." Mabui nodded firmly.
"I suggest you send someone to question Lord Daimyō. If an error has occurred, it is most likely there."
The Raikage frowned. Even one as forceful as he was could only meet the Daimyō on equal terms.
He disliked being entangled with the man.
Moreover, he knew well enough — in truth, that Daimyō did not wish for war with the Land of Fire.
After all, the Third Shinobi World War had ended only recently. Surely a period of recovery and rest was expected before any new conflict.
Thus, if something had indeed gone wrong — whether it was by accident or design — it was hard to say.
But as Konoha's old rival, the Raikage knew them far too well.
If they did not strike while Konoha was weakened, then with Konoha's abundant talent and deep foundations, one day a genius might rise again — and turn the tide in a single sweep.
Furthermore, unlike the Konoha shinobi who had tasted victory in war, the people of Kumogakure had suffered heavy casualties, and their hatred toward both Konoha and Iwagakure only grew deeper.
"Mabui — you will personally go to the Daimyō's palace."
Having come to a decision, the Fourth Raikage's voice was steady, cold.
"Send Troy with a squad of ANBU to meet Konoha's delegation. If Sarutobi Hiruzen is really plotting deceit, then strike immediately!"
"Yes, Lord Raikage."
At the name "Toroi," Mabui's reply carried an exhale of relief, her vague unease finally easing.
As long as Konoha did not send one of the Sannin or another shinobi of comparable level, she was confident that no one could escape unscathed from Troy's hands.
For Toroi was no ordinary jōnin of Kumogakure — he was one who possessed a kekkei genkai: Magnet Release.