Meanwhile, as they proceeded through the dimly lit corridors of the underground complex, multiple shinobi emerged from the shadows, kneeling swiftly before them over time.
Each one delivered their reports with precision, their movements fluid and silent, like phantoms in the low morning light.
Without pause, the trio—Hiruzen, Danzo, and Orochimaru—acknowledged each report with subtle nods or brief words, seamlessly directing orders as they advanced deeper into the chambers.
They maneuvered with purpose, coordinating the final details of the mission, speaking in low voices among themselves and to key operatives stationed along the way.
Each interaction felt sharp and deliberate, leaving no room for error. They were giving specific instructions for every shinobi they encountered, and each task was assigned with a sense of urgency.
For this mission, Orochimaru's remaining personal forces, still stationed within the village, were mobilized under his command, along with Danzo's Root and Hiruzen's troops.
This time, Hiruzen would oversee the deployment of the Sarutobi clan shinobi directly, as their patriarch alongside the coordination of this entire operation, while his son, Shinsuke Sarutobi, the current Anbu commander, would manage the Anbu operatives more directly.
"It's progressing even better than we imagined—no one has noticed a thing. Not even the Hyuga clan, from what we can tell. Let's see if it stays that way until the moment of action...", Hiruzen said quietly, his voice filled with cautious optimism.
"We've been planning this for months, after all. No one outside of our circle knows, not even the ordinary shinobi stationed here for village defense.",
"And that's largely thanks to Orochimaru's snake messaging system. The way it operates makes it much harder to detect with the Byakugan.",
Danzo gave a sharp nod, satisfied with the secrecy. To prevent any premature leaks or compromising the element of surprise, they had decided to rely exclusively on their more exclusive forces.
"Let's see how many regular shinobi will join us against the Hyuga, if any at all, after hearing your flimsy justifications for this attack...", Orochimaru remarked with a sly grin.
"Judging by how much respect Minato commands now—more than you, despite you being the Hokage—I doubt many will risk their necks for your cause. There was no point in informing them. It would've leaked to the wrong ears before we could even get moving."
Danzo gave a curt nod, not amused by Orochimaru's sarcasm but too focused to react, "We don't need sheer numbers anyway, Orochimaru. This mission depends on precision, not force. And with most of their faction stationed away on the frontlines, our elite squads will be enough."
Hiruzen chimed in, his voice carrying a sharp edge, "Yes, most of the Hyuga and Uchiha firepower is out of the village. Only the Hyuga's Main Branch remains, and while they are stronger than the Side Branch, they're not nearly as numerous.",
"As for the Uchiha, most of those left are low-tier members—useful for policing but not much else. Their leader here is that old relic Setsuna, and he's hardly a threat. Most of their smaller affiliated clans are also gone",
Hiruzen's tone darkened as he mentioned two other names, "The biggest obstacles will be Sakumo Hatake and the Hyuga Patriarch. Those two are far more troublesome."
Even though they had deliberately chosen to strike when their other true elites—like Fugaku Uchiha, Kiyomi Uchiha, and Hikari Hyuga—were away, Hiruzen couldn't shake the pressure weighing on him.
He still vividly recalled the fear that gripped him when Hirayoshi Hyuga unleashed that mysterious, secret power during the pre-war meeting. And now, Hirayoshi was still in the village.
Then there was Sakumo, a figure many had somewhat forgotten already due to the more active shine of many others during this war, assuming his strength had withered with time.
But Hiruzen knew better. It wasn't that Sakumo had grown weaker; it was simply that he hadn't drawn his blade in a long time. His power remained dormant, waiting for the right moment to emerge.
'Why else would I have empowered Danzo and Orochimaru so much if not for the fear of those two?', Hiruzen thought bitterly.
He knew they couldn't afford any missteps with opponents like Hirayoshi and Sakumo still lurking in the village.
The reason they successfully previously convinced Hikari, Fugaku, and their forces to remain stationed between the Sunagakure and Kirigakure fronts near the Land of Fire's borders, even after their victories, was on the surface, to ensure that neither Sunagakure nor Kirigakure went back on their peace treaties.
However, the true motive was a subtle, unspoken agreement between Hiruzen, Minato, and the leaders of their faction.
If Hikari, Fugaku, and their forces were to return to the village after securing peace, the balance of power inside Konoha itself would shift dramatically.
The Hokage's faction, with much of its strength still deployed on the Iwagakure and Kumogakure fronts, would be left vulnerable.
The possibility that these returned forces might seize control of the village while the majority of their forces were scattered on distant battlefields was a real concern.
Thus, Fugaku, Hikari, and the bulk of their forces were quietly pressured to stay outside the village.
It was a precaution disguised as a strategy—to ensure the stability of the village by keeping those factions at bay.
However, as part of the agreement, a smaller share of their members were allowed to return to maintain appearances and avoid suspicion.
But this paradoxically now opened an unexpected opportunity for Hiruzen and his block and the side of the village to truly cardinally damage this block of opposition within the village, if not permanently eliminate them to a certain extent, or at least deliver them a blow so hard that it would signal the beginning of their demise in the future.
Hiruzen suspected that Fugaku, Hikari, and their forces only agreed to the arrangement because they believed the members they left behind were safe.
With Sakumo and Hirayoshi still present to act as safeguards, and Minato's faction focused on external fronts against Iwagakure and Kumogakure and not seemingly interested in making any backhanded moves against them for now, no apparent threat was perceived.
What they couldn't have foreseen, however, was the trump card now in play—Danzo and Orochimaru's mastery of Edo Tensei.
This forbidden technique would allow Hiruzen's faction to decisively tip the scales, catching their enemies off-guard and swiftly crippling their power.
The sheer destructive potential of Edo Tensei meant that any assumptions of safety were now void.
For Hiruzen, the stars had aligned, presenting the perfect moment to strike and eliminate any threat to his position while some of the strongest members of the opposing factions were scattered far from the village.
After a few more minutes of intense final preparations, the trio exchanged brief nods, even Orochimaru appearing uncharacteristically serious.
The operation was finally set to commence. Hiruzen wasted no time and began issuing directives to the leading officers around him with measured precision.
"You will be responsible, after receiving the signal, for explaining the situation to the entire village—focus especially on the official shinobi, primarily the jonin.",
"Make sure they understand the 'crimes' of Hikari Hyuga and the justification behind our actions against the Hyuga clan this time around too. You've all been briefed on the narrative we prepared. Use it well...",
Hiruzen instructed, his tone sharp, "Emphasize the righteousness of our actions and subtly encourage them to support us. If any decide to join our efforts, bring them in as reinforcements.",
"But above all, keep the village calm. Ensure the civilians remain at peace by directing any anger or confusion toward Hikari Hyuga and his faction. Keep things subtle; the last thing we need is panic before we strike.",
He turned to another officer, "The barrier—nothing can happen to it. Review every safeguard and mechanism we discussed. No mistakes.",
He then moved swiftly to each remaining officer, giving further commands with calm precision, ensuring every detail of the operation was accounted for.
Danzo and Orochimaru stood silently in the background, observing with satisfaction as Hiruzen finalized the plan, their eyes glinting with anticipation.
The narrative they previously constructed was carefully designed to paint Hikari Hyuga as a rogue element within the village.
It would claim that Hikari unlawfully returned the two-tailed beasts he captured from Kirigakure to them, an act allegedly intended to build his or Hyuga's private influence.
They would argue that this decision was a blatant disregard for Konoha's interests, as the tailed beasts should have been officially transferred to the village's leadership instead.
Hikari's failure to consult with the Hokage or seek approval from the governing council would, at least, be considered a dangerous act of insubordination.
The narrative also included allegations of other transgressions, such as Hikari engaging in many activities to further his personal interests during his involvement with Kirigakure, violating the laws and codes that bound Konoha's shinobi.
As for the 'evidence', for public support, Danzo, through Edo Tensei, could summon the souls of some of the fallen Side Branch shinobi during Hikari's previous Kirigakure's operations, who witnessed everything there firsthand and were involved to some extent, to provide 'testimonies', shaping the narrative to support the notion of Hikari's betrayal and misconduct.
This carefully constructed story was meant to serve two purposes: justify the sudden, aggressive action against the Hyuga clan and manipulate public sentiment.
By framing Hikari as a selfish figure who endangered the village's stability for personal gain, they aimed to minimize backlash and redirect any outrage toward Hikari himself, further isolating the Hyuga.
The Hyuga clan Patriarch and the other elders were likewise implicated and accused of being complicit in Hikari's actions by failing to exercise proper oversight and control.
As a member of the Hyuga clan, Hikari was bound by their authority, making the elders indirectly responsible for his alleged misconduct.
Furthermore, their silence and passive stance were framed as tacit approval, adding another layer of guilt to the clan's leadership.
The plan hinged on the premise that they would confront the clan under the guise of conducting a formal 'investigation.'
However, it was almost certain that Hirayoshi Hyuga and the proud Main Branch elders would interpret this move as an insult and a calculated attempt to undermine their authority.
Given their unyielding nature, surrender or cooperation was highly unlikely. Their anticipated resistance provided the perfect pretext for Hiruzen, Danzo, and Orochimaru to launch a full-scale assault, crippling the Hyuga clan in both power and influence.
This maneuver was more than just an operation—it was an opportunity to permanently weaken the Hyuga's standing within the village, leaving them broken and fragmented.