"Yamada, you were at the scene the whole time. Tell us what you found!"
At the Hokage's command, the Anbu Squad Leader Yamada immediately stepped forward.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Gathering his thoughts, Yamada began his report—his tone steady and respectful.
"Hokage-sama, and all Clan Heads, based on the situation at the scene, there appears to have been only one assailant who attacked Konoha."
A murmur spread through the room.
Yamada continued, his voice calm but grave.
"Moreover, this person's strength is extremely terrifying. In a very short time, he killed a Special Jonin from the Hyuga Clan, and then easily defeated Uchiha Shisui.
Based on preliminary assessments, the attacker's strength surpasses that of an Elite Jonin."
The moment those words left his mouth, all the ninja present narrowed their eyes. The air in the Hokage's office grew heavy.
An Elite Jonin—that was a peak very few shinobi could ever reach in their lifetime. Even among the Five Great Ninja Villages, such experts were the true pillars of power.
Just one more step beyond that level, and with enough renown, such individuals could rise to the highest ranks—some even becoming Kage themselves.
So if this attacker had truly surpassed an Elite Jonin…
There was only one conclusion—he was Kage-level.
The realization rippled through the crowd. Even the proud Uchiha Clan fell silent.
They might look down on ordinary ninja, but a Kage-level expert was a different story. Even the Uchiha had to treat such a figure with respect. After all, there had been no one comparable to Uchiha Madara in their clan for decades.
The legendary Mangekyo Sharingan, once called the "Eye of God," had not appeared for years.
The strongest of the Uchiha now were only a handful of Elite Jonin with Three Tomoe Sharingan—and that was the strength they displayed publicly. The true depth of their power was known only to the clan head himself, Uchiha Fugaku.
When Yamada concluded his report, Fugaku's expression barely changed. He seemed slightly surprised, but not afraid.
Around him, however, the other clan leaders showed varied reactions. Some frowned in thought, others whispered quietly among themselves. Only the heads of smaller clans, with limited power, looked genuinely alarmed.
From his seat, Hiruzen Sarutobi observed them all—especially the Hyuga and Uchiha clans, since they were the primary victims of the attack.
He noted the Hyuga's anxious expressions, and Fugaku's calm indifference. With that, Hiruzen already understood more than anyone else in the room.
Sighing softly, the Third Hokage straightened his back and spoke with authority.
"No matter how powerful the assailant may be, since he dared to attack Konoha, he must be prepared to die by our hands! The Will of Fire that sustains our village will never be extinguished by a mere thug!"
The room fell silent again.
As expected of Konoha's top leader and politician, Hiruzen first stirred the hearts of everyone present, reigniting their pride and confidence. Then, in the next breath, he returned to practical matters.
"However," he continued, his tone steady, "we are still at war. It's best not to let this news spread. If word of a Kage-level enemy leaks out, it could seriously affect morale on the front lines. I'll assign the Anbu to take full responsibility for tracking the assailant. The rest of you—return to your duties."
With that, and seeing no objections, Hiruzen prepared to leave.
Uchiha Fugaku watched the Hokage's departing back, his expression unreadable. After a brief hesitation, he gave up on the idea of sending Uchiha forces to hunt the culprit. Instead, he quietly took the unconscious Uchiha Shisui and returned to the Uchiha compound at the village's center.
The Hyuga Clan left soon after, equally silent.
After hearing that the assailant might be a Kage-level fighter, Hyuga Hiashi and the others wisely abandoned any thought of revenge.
Who in their right mind would dare to provoke a Kage-level enemy?
It had been generations since the Hyuga produced a shinobi of that caliber. If they acted recklessly and provoked such an opponent, it would be far too late for regrets.
True, if the Hyuga went all out, they could probably field one or two Kage-level combatants—but that represented the accumulated power of a thousand years. How could they risk such an invaluable foundation over a single loss?
After all, the victim was from a branch family. To the Hyuga main house, that wasn't an unbearable loss.
And besides, Yuto—though of the main family—wasn't dead yet. So, technically, the clan hadn't suffered irreparable damage.
Far better to side with Hokage-sama, echo his decisions, and act as Konoha's loyal supporters. That way, they could strengthen the Hokage's trust and preserve their own forces for the long term.
Such prudence was the reason the Hyuga had remained one of the strongest clans in Konoha for centuries.
Most members of the main family shared this pragmatic view. Only Hiashi himself remained uneasy.
"I just hope Yuto is safe," he murmured under his breath. "If something happens to him, I can't imagine what Elder Huoshu might do. Yuto is the only heir of his line…"
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned his old friend once again—Shimura Danzo.
The door opened with a creak, and Danzo entered with an expression of irritation.
"Hiruzen, why did you call me? Don't you know I'm very busy lately?"
"Busy?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "Busy with what? I haven't sent your Root Division to the front lines, so what could you possibly be busy with?"
He eyed his friend suspiciously. "Danzo, what have you been plotting behind my back this time? I'm warning you—don't go too far. I am the Hokage!"
Hiruzen's voice carried that mix of reprimand and authority he often used with Danzo. He knew full well that his friend frequently worked in the shadows, making "small moves" without permission—but generally, he let it slide. After all, they had cooperated for decades, and he trusted Danzo to some extent.
Still, he never missed an opportunity to remind Danzo who held the final authority. And, if he was honest, he derived a certain private satisfaction every time he said the words "I am the Hokage."
Especially when Danzo's expression soured in frustration—it was a small pleasure that could brighten Hiruzen's entire day.
But today felt different.
Danzo didn't show his usual irritation. He didn't even respond—just frowned slightly and acted as if he hadn't heard a word.
That subtle defiance left Hiruzen oddly unsettled, though he didn't show it.
What he didn't know, however, was that Danzo's strange calm came from anticipation.
Recently, he had been secretly working with Orochimaru—the infamous prodigy of the Sannin. After learning that Orochimaru had made a major breakthrough in the Hashirama cell fusion experiments, Danzo saw an opportunity.
If he could harness that power—the very cells of the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi—then he would no longer have to bow before Hiruzen, or anyone else.
To obtain this strength, Danzo had already paid a heavy price. He had allowed Orochimaru unrestricted access to the Scroll of Seals, a forbidden document containing many of Konoha's most dangerous techniques.
Wasn't that document supposed to be accessible only to the Hokage?
Perhaps. But this was Danzo Shimura, the man known as the Darkness of the Ninja World—and Hiruzen's oldest ally. What harm was there in sharing a little power between friends?
Still, Danzo couldn't deny the cost. That scroll contained countless forbidden techniques—an invaluable treasure. By giving Orochimaru access, he had lost a powerful bargaining chip.
He frowned slightly at the thought. What will I use to satisfy that greedy snake next time?
But then he smirked. It wouldn't matter for long.
Once he succeeded—once he mastered the power of the First Hokage's cells with Orochimaru's help—everything would change.
He would possess strength rivaling that of a god.
The Hokage's seat… Orochimaru's respect… even the dream of unifying the entire ninja world—everything would be within reach.
So let Hiruzen enjoy his power and his pride for now.
Let him stand on his pedestal and talk down to Danzo a little longer.
Because soon—very soon—Danzo would make him regret every smug word.
To be continued
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