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Night had settled over the Hidden Leaf Village, cloaking the world in a heavy darkness.
Most shinobi had completed their daily missions and returned to their homes to rest, spending time with loved ones or simply enjoying a moment of peace.
But within the Hokage's office, the lights still burned brightly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, sat at his desk with pen in hand, tirelessly correcting documents. Before him lay a daunting stack of papers, all awaiting his signature or review.
He was the longest-serving Hokage in the village's history. Upholding the legacy of both the First and Second Hokage, he had ushered Konoha into an era of prosperity. Known for refining and promoting the Will of Fire, Sarutobi was admired for his unwavering diligence and sense of duty.
"Third Hokage," came a sudden voice in the quiet room.
A shadow stepped out from the darkness. Bandages wrapped around his head, covering even his left eye. The single visible eye gleamed with hostility and cold ambition.
It was Danzo Shimura.
"It's time. All preparations are complete. The final decision is yours."
Sarutobi paused, the pen stilling in his hand. His brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing. He resumed writing.
Danzo stepped forward.
"A few days ago, Uchiha Fugaku summoned the core elite of the Uchiha clan to the Konoha Military Police headquarters. They discussed rebellion—an insurrection against the village. They even drafted specific plans."
"This information came directly from the ANBU. There's no doubt about its authenticity."
"Are we really going to wait until they're fully mobilized before we act? Wait until they drive us to the brink of civil war?"
Danzo's tone was calm, measured—but beneath it lay a deep, relentless urgency.
Over the years, he had come to understand Sarutobi well. The Third would never openly condone assassination, but silence could serve the same purpose. Danzo had taken action in the shadows for years—always with the unspoken approval of his old friend.
Tonight, he was here to draw out that unspoken agreement, to make it official.
"To the outside world, Konoha appears strong and stable. But in truth, we're hollowing out. The old are aging, and the young have yet to mature."
"The Fourth Hokage died in battle. Of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru has defected, while Jiraiya and Tsunade wander the world, absent from their duties."
"You and I—two relics of the past—are left to prop up this village."
"You know the strength of the Uchiha. Their cursed Sharingan gives them overwhelming advantage in combat. Fugaku himself is still in his prime, and his strength is immeasurable."
"If they rise, can we truly stop them? And even if we win, at what cost?"
"The other great villages are watching us. They'll strike the moment we show weakness. One misstep, and Konoha will fall into chaos."
Danzo stepped closer.
"It's time, Hiruzen. The village cannot afford your hesitation any longer."
Sarutobi suddenly slammed his hand down on the table.
"Enough!"
His voice was cold and firm.
Head bowed, his face was hidden in shadow. But his hands trembled slightly, betraying the storm within.
Danzo didn't flinch. His tone remained as composed as ever.
"I've already made all the arrangements," he said coolly. "When the time comes, I'll act. For the good of Konoha, no one—not even you—can stand in my way."
Crack!
The pen in Sarutobi's hand snapped in two.
He raised his head, eyes no longer kind and aged, but piercing with rare fury.
"Danzo," he said, voice low and sharp, "don't overstep your bounds."
But Danzo remained calm, the corners of his lips curling into a thin smile. A silent standoff stretched between them—old comrades now standing on opposite ends of an unseen battlefield.
Knock knock.
A hurried knock broke the silence.
Without waiting for permission, the door burst open.
It was Asuma Sarutobi, panting, his face pale with urgency. The moment he entered, Danzo vanished into the shadows without a word.
"What's going on?" the Third Hokage asked, his voice tinged with irritation. "Why are you panicking like this?"
He had hoped to groom Asuma as his successor, but the boy's lack of discipline continued to disappoint him.
Still breathless, Asuma wasted no time. "Something terrible has happened—the envoy from the Hidden Cloud Village is dead!"
"What?!" Sarutobi's eyes narrowed. "How did this happen?"
Asuma quickly recounted the events: the attempted abduction of Hinata Hyuga, the intervention by Uchiha Haru, and the killing of the envoy.
Sarutobi closed his eyes, expression darkening.
So… the envoy tried to steal the Byakugan.
That alone was a grave offense.
But the fact remained: a foreign envoy had been killed within Konoha's borders. That was an insult not just to one man, but to the entire Cloud Village.
The history between Konoha and Kumogakure had always been tense. And with the Raikage's notoriously hot-headed temperament, this could very well spiral into a full-scale war.
"We're going to the scene," the Third Hokage ordered at once.
Asuma hesitated, worried. "Is… is it really that serious?"
"Yes," Sarutobi replied coldly. "You may think the envoy got what he deserved, but you underestimate what this represents."
"The envoy is the face of a nation. Killing him is equivalent to spitting in the face of the Cloud Village itself."
Asuma frowned. "But if we had captured him alive, couldn't we have used that to pressure them for compensation?"
"You're thinking too simply," Sarutobi said sternly. "He's already dead. The situation has completely changed."
"Killing an envoy... that's an international incident. Don't be naive."
Asuma's expression turned grim.
He had considered the possibility, but hearing it confirmed by his father made the gravity of the situation fully sink in.
"It's really… that serious," he muttered.
Sarutobi looked at him meaningfully. "Whether something becomes serious doesn't always depend on the act itself."
Asuma stared at his father, clearly confused.
The Third Hokage sighed inwardly. His son was still far from ready. Not like Hatake Kakashi, a prodigy from a young age, or Might Guy, who trained harder than anyone.
But it wasn't just strength that a Hokage needed.
A Hokage had to understand people, politics, and timing. They had to balance power with diplomacy, emotions with duty.
These were qualities Asuma had yet to develop.
Still, Sarutobi hadn't given up on him.
There was time.
He patted Asuma's shoulder.
"You'll understand soon enough."
"Now come. We need to go."
Without another word, the Third Hokage disappeared with the Body Flicker Technique.
Asuma gritted his teeth and followed, his mind racing.
Tonight would change everything.
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