In the Hokage's office, the council of high-ranking officials convened to discuss the recent surge in activities from neighboring nations. Just as the meeting was drawing to a close, several ANBU agents burst in. One of them approached the Third Hokage, whispering urgently into his ear.
Hiruzen's face went pale as he absorbed the news. His fingers clenched the edge of the desk, knuckles turning white, as he processed the words.
"Is this true?" His voice came out hoarse and strained.
The ANBU agent nodded, his face concealed behind a mask. Still, the tension in his stance was enough to convey the gravity of the report.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," the agent confirmed quietly. "The Hidden Mist has fallen. The Mizukage is dead. The Water Daimyō has surrendered."
The council room fell eerily silent.
Around the table, the faces of the senior shinobi hardened. Danzo, as if expecting it, gave no sign of concern. However, Homura and Koharu exchanged tense glances. The rest of the council shifted uncomfortably.
Hiruzen slowly rose from his seat, his usual calm demeanor shattered. He moved to the window, gazing down at the village below, though his thoughts seemed far removed from the bustling streets of the Hidden Leaf.
"How could this happen?" he murmured, his voice carrying the weight of the question. "And who... is behind this?"
The ANBU agent fidgeted under the Hokage's gaze, clearly unsettled by the question.
"Speak," Hiruzen commanded, his voice sharp.
The agent hesitated before answering. "It was Lady Mito… and a brigade of the Shadow Legion."
"WHAT?!" Homura and Koharu exclaimed in unison, their voices rising in shock. "Isn't Lady Mito already dead?!"
The ANBU remained silent, clearly uncertain how to respond.
"The Shadow Legion?" Hiruzen muttered, his eyes narrowing. "So Kuro's behind the attack, then?"
Koharu shot an accusing finger at him. "I told you we need to control that boy, Hiruzen! What if he targets the village next?!"
Homura nodded in agreement.
Danzo remained silent. He already saw the two as all but dead. "I was this foolish, wasn't I?" he thought, his mind distant. "Now, looking at it from an outsider's perspective, it all seems like nonsense. I should be thankful that Lord Kuro gave me another chance."
"What about you, Danzo? You've been completely silent this whole time," Homura said, turning to him. "That's unlike you."
Danzo merely shrugged, uninterested in answering a fool.
At that moment, another ANBU rushed in, his expression grim. This time, there was no whispering to the Hokage.
"Bad news!" the ANBU announced. "All the neighboring villages have mobilized their shinobi toward the Land of Fire. They're armed and ready for war!"
The council fell into an ominous silence once again.
The silence in the room was suffocating; each council member was lost in their own thoughts, grappling with the weight of the news. Hiruzen's gaze remained fixed on the village below, his mind racing.
Finally, he turned back to the council; his face seemed to age a decade.
"We cannot afford to wait any longer," he said, his voice steady but filled with resolve. "The Land of Fire must prepare for the worst. Immediately, we begin mobilizing our forces."
Danzo, ever the strategist, was the first to speak up. "The neighboring villages are clearly acting in unison. It is very suspicious." His eyes met the Hokage's. "We must prepare for a full-scale conflict. We cannot afford to show any weakness. In the meantime, we must uncover what led to this unilateral assault."
Homura clenched his fists. "What is the true motive behind this?"
Hiruzen's expression hardened. "This is no coincidence. The moment the Hidden Mist fell, it left a power vacuum in the region. The other villages are trying to take advantage of it. But that doesn't explain why they'd move so aggressively toward the Land of Fire."
The silence that followed was thick with unspoken concern.
Danzo's voice cut through the quiet. "It doesn't matter why they attacked. What matters is that they've already committed. Our response must be swift and decisive."
Hiruzen turned to the council, his eyes steely. "We'll strengthen our defenses. Send word to the border patrols. I want every shinobi ready for action. We'll need to form alliances and bolster our forces in the coming days, but for now, we defend what is ours."
Homura shook his head, frustration clear in his voice. "And if they keep coming? The sheer number of shinobi they've gathered... we may not be able to hold them off alone."
Hiruzen met his gaze, his voice calm but unwavering. "Then we fight until the last breath."
…
Meanwhile, Kuro was relaxing in a warm bath with Kisara.
"So, what's your plan from here?" she asked.
Kuro lazily shrugged. "I'm not sure. But as long as I get to live in peace and take it easy every day, I'm good."
"Then, aren't you going to deal with this Madara or Kaguya person?" she asked.
Kuro shrugged. "Nah, not really interested. Actually, I'm kinda hoping to meet Kaguya myself. I've got a few questions for her—about the Otsutsuki and Kirama."
"Why?" Kisara asked, intrigued.
Kuro tilted his head. "No particular reason. I'm just curious about her and the Sage of Six Paths family affair."
After a while, Kuro and Kisara finally emerged from the bath, steam rising off their skin as they dried themselves with towels.
Kisara glanced at him, her tone playful. "You really don't have any plans at all, do you? You're just going to keep floating along."
Kuro smirked, brushing a lock of wet hair out of his eyes. "Why worry about plans when you can just enjoy the ride?"
Kisara rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "You're impossible, you know that?"
Kuro chuckled as he slipped into his clothes, his gaze drifting toward the window. "But sometimes, I think that's the best way to live. No stress, no strings attached."
Kisara sighed, walking over to the door. "You're lucky you can get away with that. Most people can't afford to just... not care."
Kuro paused, his expression shifting ever so slightly. "I care about the things that matter to me. But not everything has to be a battle. Sometimes, peace is enough."
Kisara looked at him for a long moment, as if weighing his words, then nodded slowly. "I guess you're right. But what happens if things don't stay peaceful?"
Kuro glanced back at her. "Then I'll deal with it. In my own way."
Just as Kuro finished speaking, Niji suddenly rose from the shadows.
"My Lord," Niji said, his voice low and respectful. "I come with both good and bad news."
"Oh?" Kuro lazily responded. "Go on."
Niji bowed his head slightly before continuing. "The good news is that Lady Mito has successfully conquered the Land of Water. The bad news is... every village and nation has mobilized their shinobi toward the Land of Fire, armed and ready for war."
Kisara couldn't help but laugh upon hearing the news. "So much for living in peace," she teased.
Kuro chuckled softly, unfazed by Kisara's remark. "Well, peace was nice while it lasted."
He leaned back, stretching with a relaxed sigh. "But I guess it's about time things got interesting. War's never really my scene, but... It's not like I have any choice in the matter now, right?"
Kisara crossed her arms, looking at him skeptically. "You're not going to sit this one out, are you?"
Kuro glanced at Niji, who stood silently in the shadows. After a moment of consideration, Kuro's smirk returned. "I suppose I'll have to join the party. But not because I want to save the world or anything. If things are going to get messy, I'd rather be in the middle of it. Who knows, I might even find something interesting in all this chaos."
Niji spoke up then, his voice neutral. "My Lord, the Land of Fire is preparing for a defense. The situation could escalate quickly."
Kuro's eyes gleamed. "Then let it escalate. It might just draw out those actors hiding behind the curtain."
Kisara raised an eyebrow. "You think someone's pulling the strings?"
Kuro nodded. "It's always the same. Whenever there's a war, there are people who profit from the shadows. I'd bet anything there's more to this than just a few villages trying to expand their borders. Especially with how well coordinated this attack is."
Niji stepped forward, his tone unwavering. "My Lord, should we begin our own investigation? If someone is behind this, it may be dangerous to remain passive."
Kuro waved his hand dismissively. "No need to rush. We let them make the first move. We'll watch from the shadows, gather more intel, and see who steps into the spotlight. Then we'll decide who's worth our time."