Not just Konoha's people—everyone knew what those masked ninja represented.
The village's most secretive, possibly most powerful force.
The Anbu.
But why…?
"Lord Hokage?" Nara Shikaku, a senior advisor, couldn't help but glance at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Anbu answered directly to the Hokage.
Hiruzen's face darkened. He rose, his voice booming across the arena. "What are you doing? Stand down!"
Though aged, his command rolled like thunder, making foreign ninja flinch. Konoha's old Hokage was far from the frail figure of rumors.
Yet, despite the Hokage's order, the masked ninja didn't budge.
Instead, they drew their blades in unison.
A wave of gasps swept the crowd. In such a setting, drawing weapons against a village's Kage was tantamount to declaring war.
But Konoha and Sunagakure were allies.
"Lord Hokage," Rasa said, his expression grim, "what is the meaning of this?"
Though he'd come to Konoha with probing intentions, he hadn't expected Konoha to turn blades on him first. He even suspected this was a ploy by Hiruzen to test his can-opening secrets.
Hiruzen's face grew darker still. He recognized these ninja as Root operatives. He hadn't anticipated they'd defy his orders. Danzo… was crossing a dangerous line.
"Apprehend them," Hiruzen commanded. With war against the Akatsuki looming, he couldn't afford to fracture ties with an ally.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Several figures leaped onto the arena, charging the Root ninja.
But the Root operatives stood motionless, not even raising a hand.
"Hold!" a voice rang out.
The ninja following Hiruzen's orders paused, glancing over.
Three elderly figures approached.
Danzo Shimura, Mito Menma, Koharu Utatane.
Konoha's high-ranking advisors.
One alone might not have halted them, but all three together? Even these ninja hesitated.
Whispers rippled through the stands.
"It's Lord Mito, Lady Koharu, and Lord Danzo!"
"What's going on?"
"All three advisors at once?"
"Something's wrong…"
Kakashi and Might Guy, tasked with maintaining order, exchanged wary glances, sensing trouble.
Rasa's gaze locked onto Danzo.
His Membership Badge alerted him: this man was a can opener!
"Danzo!" Hiruzen's form flickered, appearing in the arena. He glared at Danzo, then at Menma and Koharu. "What are you planning?"
"Hiruzen…" Koharu's aged eyes met his, shaking her head. "You've disappointed us deeply."
"What are you talking about?" Hiruzen's brows furrowed, his piercing gaze settling on Danzo.
Instinct told him Danzo was behind this.
"Let me explain," Danzo stepped forward, meeting Hiruzen's stare unflinchingly, his voice resounding. "Hiruzen, as Hokage, your contributions to Konoha are undeniable. But you've concealed critical intelligence from the village. Worse, facing a crisis that could destroy us, your softness has left us vulnerable!"
The arena erupted.
Konoha ninja stood, shouting in confusion, while outsiders grew tense, sensing a storm.
A coup's shadow loomed.
High-ranking Konoha figures openly criticized their Hokage.
This spelled chaos.
"A crisis that could destroy Konoha?" Hiruzen frowned, puzzled.
He could guess the "intelligence" Danzo meant—Shen Mo and the cans. As Hokage, he'd withheld that knowledge for good reason, a choice the village would accept.
But a village-destroying crisis? Born of his softness?
Hiruzen glanced at Rasa's darkening face, a sinking feeling taking hold.
"Hmph!" Danzo's cold snort echoed to every ear. "I have irrefutable evidence: Sunagakure, allied with Konoha's traitor—your former student, Orochimaru—has hatched the Konoha Crush Plan. They intend to exploit the Chūnin Exams to annihilate our village!"
His words brought a fleeting silence.
Then, a tidal wave of uproar.
"Sunagakure plotted this?!"
"We're allies!"
"Orochimaru—that traitor experimenting on villagers!"
"Are you Sand ninja declaring war?!"
Konoha's ninja bristled, weapons drawn. Sunagakure's ninja, silent but alert, edged closer to their Kazekage.
They had planned such a scheme.
But Rasa's latest order was clear: The plan is canceled.
They hadn't expected it to be exposed now.
"Lord Kazekage," Hiruzen stared at Rasa, voice hoarse with disbelief. "Is this true? Were you truly plotting war against Konoha, allied with Orochimaru?"
If true, it was an unforgivable failure on his part.
He'd even planned to collaborate with Sunagakure against the Akatsuki—had he invited wolves into the fold?
Rasa remained silent, his face unreadable, shifting between storm and calm.
He didn't know if Konoha had evidence or if Hiruzen was playacting to seize the moral high ground for war.
Because if Konoha had uncovered their original plan, they should also know he'd canceled it.
"Hiruzen, I've warned you," Danzo declared, his tone righteous. "Sunagakure—especially the Fourth Kazekage—is no trustworthy ally. Who doesn't know his brutality, repeatedly attempting to kill his own son? Yet you ignored my counsel and sought to partner with such a heartless, despicable man!"