"Hmph! Since he's Tobirama's disciple, let me properly test his strength!"
Uchiha Madara's eyes glimmered with a sinister light. For the first time in a long while, there was a faint spark of interest in his tone — he wanted to know how much of Senju Tobirama's power Hiruzen Sarutobi had truly inherited.
"Black Zetsu."
"I understand, Lord Madara. I've already confirmed the Fourth Mizukage's exact location."
Black Zetsu lowered his head respectfully. He had anticipated Madara's thoughts long before the words were spoken.
"Hmm. Not bad."
Madara nodded, evidently satisfied. His aged body was no longer suitable for open combat — wasting precious life force would be foolish. But to control someone with genjutsu… that was child's play for him.
And so, the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi — the man currently marching against Konoha — became Uchiha Madara's new puppet.
---
Days later, on the Land of Fire's border, Hiruzen Sarutobi personally led over a thousand Konoha Ninja, with the Uchiha Clan at the forefront, into the Mist battlefield.
"Heh! So the old geezer's finally showing up!"
Aoyama Ryuyun chuckled from his seat when the report reached him.
Didn't the man always try to avoid the battlefield? Let's see what happens now.
He was genuinely curious to see how much of a 'Ninja Hero' the long-retired Hokage still was after decades of sitting behind a desk.
---
Just as Aoyama Ryuyun was leaning lazily in his office chair, Nara Shikaku entered, accompanied by several Konoha Ninja unfamiliar to Ryuyun.
"These Ninja are…?" Aoyama Ryuyun asked, brow raised.
"We are Jōnin of the Sarutobi Clan," one of them declared coldly, his posture arrogant — as if being born of the Hokage's bloodline alone demanded respect.
"Oh?"
Aoyama Ryuyun's lips curled faintly. "No wonder — I thought I smelled a beast from afar."
"You—!"
They understood immediately. His words were no metaphor — he was calling them animals.
Their hands twitched toward their weapons, but the moment Aoyama Ryuyun's indifferent eyes swept across them, their fury turned to fear.
"If you've got something to say, then say it. If not, get out."
His tone was impatient, dismissive — as if addressing mere insects.
He had personally killed both Shinnosuke and Asuma Sarutobi. There was no reason to show courtesy to the rest of their clan.
The Sarutobi Jōnin trembled with rage. Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi had become Hokage, no one had dared to speak to members of their clan this way. But faced with Aoyama Ryuyun's overwhelming presence, they didn't dare to utter another word.
"Cough, cough— We are here to mobilize troops by order of Hokage-sama!" one of them finally said stiffly, trying to regain his composure.
"Mobilize troops?"
Aoyama Ryuyun's expression didn't change, but Nara Shikaku beside him frowned deeply.
If this was merely another spat between Ryuyun and the Sarutobi Clan, Shikaku would have ignored it.
But this was wartime — and if mobilizing troops was involved, it could change the entire strategic balance.
"What exactly do you mean by 'mobilize'?" Shikaku asked cautiously.
The Sarutobi Jōnin glanced at him, assuming the Ino–Shika–Chō clans were loyal to the Hokage faction. Their tone softened slightly.
"The Hidden Mist Village has launched an attack. Hokage-sama is personally leading forces to the frontlines and has ordered us to mobilize troops from the other battlefronts!"
"The war hasn't even started yet, and you already need reinforcements?"
Shikaku's expression hardened. That wasn't mobilization — it was begging for backup.
If the situation had deteriorated after battle, reinforcements made sense. But before the first clash? That was pure cowardice.
"Is there a problem?" one of them asked, frowning as if nothing was wrong.
Shikaku could only sigh inwardly.
'They've truly become that shameless, huh?'
Helpless, he turned to look at Aoyama Ryuyun.
---
Aoyama Ryuyun coughed lightly, straightened his back, and spoke with a calm, commanding tone.
"The enemies here are the warriors of Kumogakure — fierce and formidable. Pulling troops now would jeopardize this entire front. Reinforcement is impossible. However—" he paused briefly, his tone almost mocking, "—you may tell Hokage-sama not to worry. Within one year at most, this battlefield will be stabilized. At that time, I will personally send reinforcements."
The conference room fell deathly silent.
Nara Shikaku pressed a hand to his forehead, speechless.
A year? By then, the Mist will have burned half of Konoha to ashes.
The Sarutobi Jōnin were equally stunned.
"One… year?" one of them repeated, incredulous.
In a year, even if your side stabilizes, the Hidden Mist will have already finished their war. What use would reinforcements be then?
Moreover, another Jōnin stepped forward with barely contained irritation.
"I heard the Kumogakure front has already stabilized, hasn't it? You severed the Third Raikage's arm and captured the Two-Tails Jinchūriki. How could you possibly still be in crisis?"
Aoyama Ryuyun only shrugged, his expression utterly indifferent.
"The battlefield changes quickly. Anything is possible."
"You—!"
They could barely hold back their anger, but still, they didn't dare act rashly.
Aoyama Ryuyun lazily waved a hand, his tone dripping with disdain.
"I believe in Hokage-sama's power — the legendary Hiruzen Sarutobi should have no trouble defeating the Hidden Mist. Now, all of you, get out. You're an eyesore."
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