"Can it be confirmed that it was us?"
Hiruzen gestured for the two of them not to be anxious.
"The Kumogakure side hasn't mentioned any evidence, but their attitude is extremely tough and resolute. They're insisting that we are highly suspect…" Koharu replied swiftly, handing Kumogakure's denunciation to the Hokage.
"The major nations and hidden villages are all waiting for our response!"
Hiruzen examined it carefully.
After a moment, he gave a cold smile.
"Sensei, shall I discuss this with you another day? There are still some matters I need to report to you," Orochimaru said as he stood up, nodding to the two advisers.
"No need to leave. You can look as well," Hiruzen said, waving his hand broadly. He put the smoking pipe to his mouth and unhurriedly began packing tobacco.
"Then I'll follow your lead, sensei," Orochimaru replied with a knowing smile.
Moments later, an impatient knock sounded at the door.
As Hiruzen's word "Enter" had just fallen, Danzō strode in with long steps. "Hiruzen, we must prepare for a full-scale war—mobilize all the shinobi!"
Seeing him arrive, Orochimaru quite naturally handed the documents to Danzō with one hand.
Danzō frowned. Faced with this rival, his instinct was to suppress him a bit.
This was a high-level meeting of Konoha!
But with Hiruzen present at the side, Danzō let it go.
He wasn't an idiot—he could naturally tell that Hiruzen was backing Orochimaru to compete with him…
Danzō still couldn't work up any anger in his heart.
Because Hiruzen had already made things clear to him ahead of time.
It was a guarantee that he had the "qualification"—not a final decision that he would be the next Hokage.
And on ordinary days, Hiruzen would also, intentionally or unintentionally, teach him how to be a Hokage; it wasn't taking sides…
Fairness had power.
Even for Danzō, that was the case.
"Orochimaru, did your side leave traces?" Danzō asked with a stern face. "There is absolutely no way there's a problem on the ANBU side—I've checked repeatedly!"
This wasn't deliberate targeting; when intelligence leaked, they had to find the source and hold someone accountable.
Orochimaru gave a cold snort. "There's no way my side has a problem either. Also, you should address him as the Third Hokage—not call sensei by his name!"
The smell of gunpowder between the two of them flared up instantly.
Locked in a head-on standoff—neither willing to give ground.
"Since you both say there's no problem, then I think there's no problem." Hiruzen rapped the table lightly, signaling the two of them to calm down, and said flatly, "Everyone, don't fall into a mental trap—don't let the enemy bluff you into feeling guilty…"
Orochimaru and Danzō each gave a cold snort as they considered Hiruzen's words.
Homura thought for a moment, then spoke. "Third Hokage, you mean Kumogakure is bluffing us?"
"There's a very high probability."
"Did you see it? They didn't say the Eight-Tails jinchūriki is dead, and although their wording looks furious and crude, if you set aside the exterior and look at the core, it's just pressure."
Hiruzen disdainfully exhaled a mouthful of smoke.
"Put yourself in their shoes. Kumogakure has currently lost the Eight-Tails jinchūriki, the village has taken a severe blow, and they can't find a concrete target…"
"What would they do then—lie low? Obviously not."
"Hiding would only make their enemies—and those potential enemies—think they're weak!"
"So instead, they have to act tough."
"They need to announce to the entire shinobi world that their village is still powerful, that the Eight-Tails jinchūriki can still be deployed at any time…"
"And Konoha has always been famous in the shinobi world as a pacifist—in other words, a so-called 'soft persimmon.' If we back down, then their objective is achieved."
"They might even be able to squeeze some compensation out of us."
The room fell silent as everyone considered what Hiruzen had said.
Koharu and Homura both felt their faces grow a little warm.
On the one hand, it was because their earlier display of impatience and rashness didn't fit the image of advisers.
On the other hand, during the previous shinobi war, the two of them had been the dovish faction that strongly advocated minimizing compensation and ending the war as soon as possible.
"One time is one time; another time is another…"
"Past decisions were also made with reference to the circumstances at the time—you don't need to dwell on it," Hiruzen said, waving his hand.
"And don't think about starting a war at the drop of a hat either. Our core advantages are technology and talent, and those both require time to accumulate value."
Blind toughness wasn't a good thing either.
As for so-called doves and hawks, they were merely different angles from which to view an issue—it wasn't a matter of one being better than the other.
Danzō kept a dark expression, but still spoke up in agreement.
"I agree with the Hokage's view!"
That was a pointed reminder directed at him…
Danzō felt a trace of regret. In truth, he hadn't intended to start a war immediately either—he had only wanted to describe the situation as more severe, then shift the blame onto Orochimaru…
"Sensei, I believe your analysis is correct." Orochimaru looked at his smoking sensei with an appreciative gaze.
This—this was what a Hokage should be like in his mind…
Calm at all times.
"Kumogakure's provocation is an opportunity for our Konoha to buy time. We must see it for what it is."
"We should use this opportunity to deter the other hidden villages as well."
Hiruzen spoke in a low voice: "For a long time now, there has been a consensus in the shinobi world that Konoha is 'inclined toward peace.' Other hidden villages are unlikely to fully believe Kumogakure."
"This time, we must display sufficient toughness—make it clear that although Konoha upholds the First-sama's aspiration for peace, it is not weak, but rather hopes that the other villages will adopt a similar stance."
"If anyone dares to disrupt the peace, then Konoha—having already suffered once—will use everything at its disposal to defend its homeland, including but not limited to kinjutsu, and in accordance with Tobirama-sensei's legacy, make the enemy pay a price they will regret for the rest of their lives!"
One card of Hashirama's peace in the left hand, one card of Tobirama's forbidden techniques in the right.
To the outside villages, the credibility scores of the Senju brothers could be said to be at two extreme ends—one overwhelmingly positive, the other overwhelmingly negative…
But who said something negative had no value?
The Hokage intended to make ruthless use of it—to cash it in on his own prestige.
"Draft a statement according to my intent. The wording must be precise. Issue it to the entire shinobi world!"
"At maximum speed," Hiruzen ordered, his tone brooking no argument.
Koharu and Homura responded at once, "Understood!"
The two from the Administrative Department immediately moved into action.
"Orochimaru, continue with the matter of the project," Hiruzen said. "There's no need to put it off."
"Yes, sensei."
Orochimaru reported, "The previously modified medicine can already be produced on an initial scalable basis. The samples are ready—Nara and Akimichi put a great deal of effort into it."
Hiruzen gave a slight nod.
Once diplomatic leverage had been established through Kumogakure, negotiating matters with the Land of Fire and the Daimyō would become much easier.
"And also, that concept of yours is very good—but completing it will take time."
"Some special cases might be faster, but to reach general applicability…" Orochimaru shook his head. "It won't be easy."
This was referring to the matter of reducing the activity of Hashirama's cells.
Speaking in front of Danzō, Orochimaru deliberately kept his wording vague.
He did it on purpose…
To let this adviser know that things were being done—while having no idea what exactly was being done…
Let it gnaw at him!
"We'll proceed step by step. It's a long-term project—I understand."
"I'll prepare the materials for you."
That was what Hiruzen said, though inwardly his thoughts stirred.
Specificity alone would be enough…
Judging from the notes, the compatibility of Uchiha Izuna and Senju Tobirama was astonishingly good.
"Thank you for your understanding, sensei. I'll get back to work then!" Orochimaru shot Danzō a glance, smiled, and walked out of the office.
Danzō silently ground his back teeth.
This grudge—the Darkness of the Shinobi World—had taken it to heart.
And just as Orochimaru had anticipated, when Danzō realized that things were being carried out…
A surge of anxiety welled up from the depths of his heart.
But Orochimaru was directly liaising with Hiruzen. Forget interfering—Danzō didn't even dare to pry…
The ANBU under his command might take orders from him as department head,
but they also answered to each squad leader and deputy head!
All of them were Hiruzen's people.
If he tried to use them the way he once used Root's private forces, then just Hatake Sakumo—who had impeached him in the past—would be more than enough to make Danzō choke on it…
"Danzō, focus on internal security and village defense over the next few days."
"And also dispatch some reconnaissance squads to deploy along the borders, to prevent enemy infiltration."
Hiruzen patted him on the shoulder. "Your task is no lighter than Orochimaru's!"
Joy immediately rose in Danzō's heart.
As long as there was work to do—something visible to be done—that was good…
But then, on second thought, Danzō felt something was a bit off.
"Any credit-taking won't leave you out either…"
"Get the deployments in place. Prepare to head to the Land of Fire with me—there'll be a surprise for you then."
Once Hiruzen said this, Danzō completely stopped thinking about where that faint sense of unease had come from…
"Don't worry, Hiruzen!"
Danzō then complained, "You should really keep Orochimaru in check too. I've been calling you by name for decades—now that junior dares to question me. He's utterly lawless!"
Hiruzen nodded with a smiling, amiable expression.
He said nothing…
After all, without competition, where would the motivation to work come from?
And taking Danzō to the Land of Fire was indeed his genuine intention.
The reputation of the Darkness of the Shinobi World carried no small weight among the Daimyō and the nobility…
...
Three days later.
Konoha's response spread throughout the entire shinobi world, sending the major hidden villages into an uproar.
So strong a stance—this strong?
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