"Enough, it's just a small quarrel. No need to make it so serious."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, brushing past the matter, then once again looked around at the others and said solemnly:
"Back to the main topic. About the proposal I just made — what are your thoughts?"
Thoughts?
Hyūga Hideki was nearly choking on rage, but he still didn't dare let out so much as a fart.
The example was sitting right there. What thoughts could they possibly have? What thoughts dared they have?
But war was not child's play. War meant death.
If shinobi were pulled from the clans, then the ones dying on the battlefield would be their relatives, their friends, their brothers, sisters, lovers…
The meeting chamber fell into a perfect silence. It was so quiet that everyone could hear their own breathing, even the quickened beat of their hearts.
Finally, a jōnin of civilian birth broke the silence, stating that he was willing to follow Lord Third's orders.
"This matter also bears fault on us of the Hyūga clan."
Hiashi Hyūga at last opened his mouth, his voice steady and heavy: "On behalf of the members of the Hyūga clan, I declare our willingness to obey Lord Third's command."
At his side, Hideki opened his mouth — but in the end, no words came out.
That meant the authority to mobilize Hyūga shinobi was being handed over entirely to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Excellent!" Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction, his tone full of praise. "The Hyūga clan truly lives up to its name as a noble clan of Konoha, with hearts set on the village's safety!"
At the words noble clan of Konoha, Fugaku Uchiha's face twitched.
No matter how poor his political instincts, he could hear clearly that this was a pointed reminder directed at the Uchiha. He could only follow the Hyūga's lead and agree.
Among the crowd, Nara Shikaku let out a sigh in his heart. Together with Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza beside him, he spoke respectfully: "The Ino–Shika–Chō will do the same."
With the Hyūga clan and the Ino–Shika–Chō having pledged themselves, the other clans, no matter how unwilling deep down, could only pretend to be eager and pledge their loyalty as well — some even rushing to outdo one another.
"…"
Hyūga Kumokawa watched this shift from arrogance to submission unfold before him.
His mood was strangely calm, even carrying a faint urge to laugh.
Did that make him some kind of loyal dog of Konoha?
No, of course not.
Misfortune comes from being trapped in this base and filthy world, harassed by its baseness, until even one's own words and deeds must become base in turn.
The reason Kumokawa had agreed to be Hiruzen's spearhead was not out of some noble self-sacrificing belief for Konoha's sake.
It was because he saw clearly that the clans of today were no longer the untouchable powers they had been at Konoha's founding.
This was also why Kumokawa admired Tobirama Senju even more than Hashirama Senju.
Tobirama's brilliance lay not only in his ability to invent jutsu, but in his political wisdom and strategic vision that surpassed his elder brother.
Whether it was establishing the ninja academy and the chūnin exams to cultivate talent among commoners; or taking the lead in making his own jutsu public, leaving no room for other clans to complain about stolen techniques; or creating both the Anbu and the Konoha Police Force, thereby greatly centralizing power in the Hokage's hands—
Or even guiding the Senju clan to abandon the "Senju" name and honor, and intermarry with commoners.
That one move improved the average potential of civilian-born shinobi at the root level, turning the Senju clan into nourishment that enriched the soil to feed the great tree of Konoha.
Tobirama had truly transcended the perspective of clan, leading by example.
His reforms and ideology had shaped the entire Senju clan and, by extension, the present Konoha — far beyond the seemingly grand but in truth arrogant and extreme path of Uchiha Itachi.
Even without Itachi's so-called "massacre for the greater good," the Uchiha clan never had the ability to overthrow the Hokage's faction.
Tobirama had already cut down the clans until they were half-dead; unless the Uchiha joined forces with all the other clans at once, they stood no chance.
But would they? Could they?
The answer: no, and no.
Because the Uchiha could not bend. And the other clans were no fools.
If the Uchiha had been able to bow and feign loyalty, they wouldn't have been forced step by step into near rebellion.
Even if Fugaku Uchiha did humble himself to beg the other clans, the moment he left their chambers, those clan heads would report to Hiruzen right away, eager to prove their loyalty before someone else pinned them as accomplices.
For clans were not of one mind; within them existed "pro-Hokage factions."
Kumokawa even believed Tobirama had chosen Hiruzen as Hokage over Danzō not simply because Hiruzen had spoken first about being willing to sacrifice himself for comrades.
It was because the Sarutobi were close allies with the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka.
Only with Hiruzen as Hokage could the great clans of Konoha be divided. His background made him more suited for the seat.
Danzō still thought it was just a moment's hesitation that had cost him the Hokage's hat.
Heh. He had lost to Hiruzen, and he had truly lost without complaint.
"Very well."
Hiruzen's gaze swept across the assembly. The heavy weight in his chest eased, and he said with solemn confidence:
"As long as we unite, no matter if it is the Hidden Cloud or anyone else, none can defeat us."
Konoha had indeed grown weaker.
But that did not mean those who had once been beaten were suddenly strong.
And beyond that…
Hiruzen's gaze fell upon Hyūga Kumokawa. In his mind rose the image of Uchiha Shisui, master of the Body Flicker; the young Naruto, still a blank canvas.
A trace of comfort glimmered in his cloudy eyes.
Konoha still had a future.
The path ahead was bright.
Click.
The meeting soon adjourned, and the others departed one by one.
Hiruzen left Kumokawa behind — and with him, another shinobi of similar age.
Hatake Kakashi, member of the Anbu, jōnin of Konoha.
At once Kumokawa recognized that dead-fish gaze.
"Let me introduce him — this is Hatake Kakashi," Hiruzen said with a smile. "Come to think of it, you two became jōnin at nearly the same age. You're both the hope of Konoha's future."
After the jest, his face grew serious:
"Hyūga Kumokawa, I want you to join Kakashi's unit. With the army's advance, you will head to the Land of Hot Water to investigate the so-called 'Abyss,' provisionally ranked as an S-class mission. What do you think?"
The Abyss? The Land of Hot Water? An S-class mission?
Kakashi glanced sidelong at Kumokawa, thoughtful. What was this "Abyss"?
It seemed the escort mission's failure and casualties had not been due merely to a Hidden Cloud ambush.
"I accept." Kumokawa nodded without hesitation.
Even if Hiruzen hadn't raised it, he would have asked himself. Being placed in Kakashi's team was a windfall.
After all, he knew exactly who Kakashi's teammates were.
The "Tenzō" of today. The Uchiha Itachi of tomorrow.
If only for the sake of Tenzō's Wood Release cells, Kumokawa had to join Kakashi's squad.
After repeating a few instructions, Hiruzen dismissed the two.
There was still much left on his shoulders.
Yet before they left, Hiruzen clapped Kumokawa's shoulder, leaned close, and whispered with a smile:
"Before the army sets out, be sure to visit the Forbidden Jutsu Repository."
At those words, Kumokawa's eyes gleamed faintly. He knew well: this was both compensation and enticement, a way to bind him closer.
The Forbidden Jutsu Repository… the Scroll of Seals… that was treasure indeed.
Click.
Moments later, Kumokawa stepped out of the council chamber and found Hideki waiting at the door.
The wound on Hideki's face had nearly healed, but the scar of humiliation still burned inside him.
"Hyūga Kumokawa."
Seeing him emerge, Hideki's voice was cold and threatening: "You think just because Lord Third favors you, I can't do anything to you?"
Kumokawa didn't answer. He didn't even look at Hideki. He ignored those dark, venomous eyes and brushed past him.
If Hideki had dared to trigger the Caged Bird Seal the instant Kumokawa left the room, perhaps Kumokawa might have been surprised enough to respect him a little.
But now?
It was nothing more than the impotent barking of an old dog.
Hideki could only watch as Kumokawa departed, his whole body trembling, veins bulging on his forehead, powerless.
Moonlight spilled through the window, gleaming on his temples — already grey.
He truly did not dare to act.
He truly had grown old.
_____
Morning light shone into the Raikage's office in the Hidden Cloud Village. A deafening crash shattered the dawn's stillness.
Bang!!
The solid wooden desk splintered beneath a black, muscular fist. Papers scattered everywhere, the floor cracked in a spiderweb from the blow's force.
"How dare Konoha?!"
The Fourth Raikage's body crackled with lightning, his hair standing on end, his face filled with fury and shock.
Beside him, Mabui's expression was just as grave as she stared at the letter in her hand — Konoha's declaration of war.
The Fourth Shinobi World War had begun.
The news spread swiftly across the entire ninja world, sending shockwaves everywhere. Hidden and open forces alike were thrown into alarm.
Many were stunned by the speed and decisiveness of Hiruzen's response. At once, they sent scouts to the Land of Hot Water and moved their spies in Konoha to investigate.
An indecisive Hiruzen and a resolute, hardline Hiruzen were two entirely different threats.
They wanted to know: what exactly had happened between Konoha and the Hidden Cloud that drove Hiruzen to such a swift and absolute decision, and to unite the clans behind him?
____
Outside of the Cloud and Konoha, only one group knew part of the truth: Akatsuki, still hidden within the Rain Village, biding their time before seizing power.
However…
"With Hiruzen's nature, he should have hesitated, second-guessed himself. Why is he suddenly so decisive this time?"
In the dark rain of the Land of Rain, a hoarse, doubtful voice asked — then quickly grew cold and steady.
"Nagato, it seems the plan has changed. You must act at once."