Across from the Hokage, Shikaku Nara leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed, his eyes sharp. They had been discussing routine village logistics; supply routes, mission assignments, the endless administrative work that kept Konoha functioning.
"The supply routes through the eastern border have been experiencing delays," Hiruzen said. "The merchants are complaining about increased bandit activity. I want to reassign a patrol to address the issue before it escalates."
Shikaku nodded slowly. "I can adjust the rotation. We have a team returning from the northern sector next week. They can be redirected."
Before Shikaku could elaborate, a knock interrupted them. The sound was sharp, deliberate, carrying an urgency that cut through the ordinary rhythm of the office. The knock was followed by a pause, as if the visitor was waiting for acknowledgement.
One of Hiruzen's aides entered. "Hokage-sama. Sarutobi Hiroto has arrived."
Hiruzen and Shikaku exchanged a brief, knowing glance. Hiruzen ordered the aide to show Hiroto in, his voice flat, his attention shifting from routine matters to the weight of what was to come.
The aide bowed and left. A few moments later, Hiroto entered the office.
Sarutobi Hiroto was a younger physical reflection of Hiruzen, possessing similar facial features and bearing, but with a somewhat more vigorous appearance. His hair was darker, his posture straighter, his movements carrying the energy of a man who had not yet been worn down by decades of responsibility. He moved with the authority expected of a clan head, his gaze steady, his presence commanding. He was an experienced shinobi, his reputation earned through years of service, his judgment respected by those who knew him.
Hiroto addressed Hiruzen formally, his voice carrying the weight of official business. "Hokage-sama." The title was deliberate, emphasising that they were currently discussing official matters rather than family affairs. The formality was a reminder that this conversation was not between father and son, but between the Hokage and the head of the Sarutobi clan.
Hiruzen acknowledged him with a nod. "Have you spoken with Kōichi?"
Hiroto confirmed that he had. He explained that Kōichi had been recovering from the mission and was only recently well enough to provide a complete report.
"Kōichi survived. His injuries are severe. He has already indicated that he intends to retire from active shinobi service." He paused, letting the words settle. "The mission took too much from him. He lost two members of his squad. Another member is critically injured. His own hand has been permanently damaged. He no longer wants to continue operating at that level."
Shikaku's voice was flat, his question direct. His eyes narrowed slightly, his analytical mind already turning over the implications. "Why did the squad fail to complete the extraction and recover the intelligence?"
Hiroto's response was immediate. "The original mission parameters became irrelevant once the attackers were identified as members of the Akatsuki. The mission was effectively escalated by circumstances. The enemy consisted of high-level rogue shinobi. Kōichi's squad was never equipped to fight an S-rank threat. Their primary objective became survival and extraction rather than completion of the original mission." His voice was measured, his words precise.
Hiruzen's voice was calm, his gaze steady. "Which Akatsuki members were involved?"
Hiroto explained that only one attacker had been positively identified; Sasori, formerly of Sunagakure. The second Akatsuki member had been killed during the battle by Kōichi's team. "The second operative was known as Renga," Hiroto added. "Kōichi recognised him from their Chūnin Exam days. He was known as the 'Thread Demon.' His techniques were based on chakra thread manipulation."
Shikaku reacted with genuine surprise, his eyebrows rising slightly. "Kōichi's squad managed to kill one Akatsuki operative despite being overwhelmed by Sasori?" The tactical curiosity was evident in his voice. "That makes the mission's outcome even more unusual. They were outmatched, outnumbered, and facing an S-rank threat. And yet they managed to eliminate one of the pair."
Shikaku quickly moved beyond the tactical curiosity and identified the larger problem. "If Sasori escaped with Uchiyama and the Kagerō Scroll, then the Akatsuki now possesses information that could potentially have strategic value to Konoha. The Kagerō Scroll contains decades of intelligence on multiple minor nations. Its contents could expose old operations, alliances, weaknesses, and intelligence networks."
Hiruzen acknowledged that the Akatsuki had become increasingly difficult to ignore. He set down his pipe, his expression thoughtful. "They have been active for years, but their operations have become more organised, more ambitious. They are no longer simply a collection of rogue shinobi operating independently."
Shikaku added that the organisation was no longer merely a collection of rogue shinobi operating independently. "Their ability to conduct organised operations, gather intelligence, and successfully challenge Konoha shinobi makes them a developing strategic threat. They are becoming a force that cannot be dismissed as a minor nuisance."
Shikaku then raised a more immediate possibility. "Could the operation have been sponsored or directed by Iwagakure? Onoki is known to employ or make use of powerful rogue shinobi when convenient." The implication was that the Akatsuki may have been acting as proxies for another hidden village. "Onoki has always been willing to use unconventional means to achieve his objectives. Employing rogue shinobi to gather intelligence would be consistent with his methods."
Hiruzen acknowledged that the possibility could not be dismissed. However, he cautioned against assuming Onoki was responsible without evidence. "The Kagerō Scroll's contents could be valuable to numerous parties. The Akatsuki may have been pursuing their own objective rather than acting on Iwa's behalf. We need more information before we can assign blame."
He then revealed that Jiraiya had already been investigating the Akatsuki. "Jiraiya has been tracking them for some time," Hiruzen said. "He promised to find a way to deal with the organisation. His intelligence suggests that the Akatsuki is pursuing its own agenda, one that may not align with any of the major villages."
Hiroto asked whether Jiraiya intended to personally eliminate the rogue shinobi. Hiruzen immediately rejected the idea.
"While the Akatsuki is dangerous, its existence also serves a strategic purpose. The rogue shinobi organisation creates another variable in the balance between the Five Great Shinobi Villages. A group composed of powerful missing-nin can potentially keep the villages wary of one another, prevent any single village from becoming completely dominant, and create pressure that discourages direct large-scale conflict."
He paused, his gaze steady. "Jiraiya understands this distinction. He would not simply destroy the organisation without considering the consequences. The Akatsuki is a threat, but it is also a symptom of a larger problem. We cannot simply destroy it without understanding what will replace it."
Shikaku agreed with the logic but added another concern. "Destroying the Akatsuki would not necessarily eliminate the underlying problem. Their members would simply scatter, or another organisation could emerge to fill the vacuum. The shinobi world produces powerful rogue elements whenever enough individuals have the motivation and ability to operate outside village authority. The real challenge is managing the threat rather than assuming its complete destruction is immediately possible."
Hiruzen nodded, reinforcing the political complexity surrounding the Akatsuki. "We must be strategic. The Akatsuki is a threat, but it is also a tool. We cannot afford to act rashly."
After discussing the broader strategic issue, Hiruzen asked Hiroto about the condition of the surviving Konoha shinobi. The conversation naturally turned toward Satoru. Hiruzen specifically asked how the young shinobi was recovering.
Hiroto's expression became more serious. He explained that Satoru was alive but remained in intensive care. His injuries were severe enough that his future as a shinobi was uncertain. The words were measured, but their weight was evident in the set of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders.
Shikaku leaned forward, his voice carrying genuine confusion. "Satoru is extremely young. He had only recently become a Genin and was already showing exceptional promise. Why would someone so young already be facing retirement?"
Hiroto's answer was blunt. "Satoru was poisoned during the battle with Sasori." He paused, letting the words settle. "The poison is not merely an ordinary injury. It has affected his chakra network. His recovery is
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