The Jonin were roused from their sleep by urgent summons, and before dawn could even break, the whole of Konoha stirred awake.
The Hyuga compound, however, was eerily silent. Homura and Koharu, escorted by a squad of Anbu, had entered the premises to manage the aftermath personally.
Roshi did not follow. He had neither the authority nor the reason to. The Hyuga grounds were sealed—only those sanctioned by the Hokage himself could enter.
He returned home, packed his gear, and was about to rally his team when the masked Anbu appeared before him.
"Hokage-sama requests your presence."
Moments later, Roshi stood once again inside the Hokage's Office. Hiruzen sat behind his desk, the ever-present pipe left unlit, while Shikaku stood beside him, arms crossed in silent thought.
"Roshi," the Third Hokage began, his tone steady but heavy, "Konoha must dispatch an envoy to Sunagakure immediately. We need to explain the situation to the Kazekage before the rumors reach him."
He glanced toward Shikaku. "Shikaku has recommended you for the task."
The Jonin Commander gave a small nod of agreement. His expression, though calm, made it clear this mission was far from simple.
After all, three Kumogakure shinobi had plunged Konoha into crisis. The fact that such an incident had unfolded under the watch of the Anbu would not only shake the confidence of Konoha's own shinobi—it would make their allies question the strength of the village itself.
This representative had to be someone sharp, composed, and capable of handling unpredictable diplomacy.
Shikaku had reviewed Roshi's record again after the emergency council. Despite his youth, Roshi's performance and insight during the crisis spoke volumes. Shikaku's mind was made up.
"I understand," Roshi said evenly. "Will Team 5 depart alone?"
"No," Hiruzen replied, his voice firm. "A Special Jonin isn't enough for a mission of this level. Another team will accompany you."
Then, after a pause, the Hokage added, "Roshi, as of now, you are officially promoted to Jonin. You will lead this diplomatic mission and hold full discretionary authority."
The decision carried weight. Roshi's loyalty, record, and strength had justified the rank. His continued status as a Special Jonin was not suppression—it was protection.
Konoha's Special Jonin system had wide variance. The strongest could rival full Jonin; the weakest were little more than elite Chunin, specialists in niche fields. The title had kept Roshi low-profile, unthreatening to factions, and safely under the radar.
But that veil was no longer needed.
Minato Namikaze, too, hadn't been promoted to Jonin so quickly—until crisis demanded it.
Suppressing the familiar sense of guilt, Hiruzen spoke the words like a man long used to bearing the weight of the village.
"Prepare to leave immediately."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Roshi bowed deeply. Jonin—it had come suddenly, but in this world, such transitions rarely came gently.
There was no time to rest, and certainly no time to sleep. A fourteen-year-old boy once again found himself working overtime for the sake of the Village.
Within the hour, the mission outline was finalized—objectives, risks, and the boundaries of his newfound "discretionary authority."
By morning, Anko and Itachi had arrived at the Hokage Building, bags slung and expressions solemn.
"We're heading to Sunagakure," Roshi said, his tone brisk. "I'll brief you on the way."
As he spoke, another squad entered the courtyard—three shinobi he recognized immediately.
"Shiranui Genma, Special Jonin."
"Namiashi Raidō, Special Jonin."
"Tatami Iwashi, Chunin," said the youngest, offering a polite nod. "Roshi, Anko—it's been a while."
The three had once served as bodyguards under the Fourth Hokage himself. Not because Minato needed protection—but because he valued them, training them at his side.
If Roshi remembered correctly, the trio could perform a modified version of the Flying Thunder God, adapted for group use.
Their inclusion was telling. This wasn't just a diplomatic mission—it was a cautious deployment. If things went south in Sunagakure, Konoha wanted the option to retreat instantly.
After brief introductions, Genma smiled faintly. "Another prodigy joins the ranks, huh? Just like Kakashi back in the day."
He adjusted the senbon between his teeth and continued, "Orders are clear—Jonin Roshi leads. Hokage-sama said we're to follow your command."
Roshi nodded once. "Then let's move."
The two squads departed together under the rising sun, heading southwest.
Back in Konoha, the village once again operated under wartime tension.
Rumors spread like wildfire—of a Kumogakure representative with hidden malice, of an attempted kidnapping within the Hyuga main house, of a loyal father who defended his daughter and exposed the enemy's plot.
To the villagers, it was a tale of vigilance and sacrifice. But beneath the surface, confusion and suspicion festered.
None of that mattered to those already on the road.
From the window of his office, Hiruzen watched the departing figures disappear beyond the treeline. Fatigue settled deep in his bones.
The door opened quietly behind him.
Danzo Shimura entered without ceremony, his presence as cold and silent as a shadow.
"Root has already begun its operation," he reported. "All grain merchants have been warned again. The blockade on the Land of Lightning remains in full effect. Deai Port has been sealed—only the offshore islands still serve as their supply routes."
He paused, eyes narrowing. "But Hiruzen… this incident doesn't align with Kumogakure's methods."
Hiruzen didn't turn. The Anbu's failure had been too severe; Root now controlled the follow-up investigation.
Danzo continued, his tone crisp and clinical. "I personally inspected the inn. No Chakra traces. No evidence of Kumogakure involvement. They lack the means for such a clean operation."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "The evidence points to one conclusion—just like when the Fourth Hokage was killed. Someone with Space–Time Ninjutsu intervened."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly, the first visible reaction since the report began.
Danzo went on. "According to the Jonin who escorted the envoy, there was an anomaly upon their arrival—Akai claimed to have been attacked but repelled the enemy. Last night, surveillance also detected a brief fluctuation in his chakra before it normalized."
"The envoy's movements were tightly restricted—they couldn't have known the Hyuga compound's precise location, much less avoided every guard. Even Hiashi noticed something unnatural. He reported that, under Byakugan, Akai's brain was tangled with foreign chakra threads."
"To confirm, Hiashi volunteered for the Yamanaka's Mind Reading Jutsu."
Danzo's tone sharpened. "Inoichi verified his account. Akai was indeed under a powerful genjutsu before death."
He paused. "As expected, we couldn't probe the envoy's brain—the cursed seal on him placed by Kumo would detonate. And for the sake of diplomacy, we cannot risk that."
Danzo's one visible eye gleamed coldly as he delivered his conclusion.
"All the signs are clear. The anomaly came from within the Village."
His words lingered in the air like a blade.
"And just like before—" he said, voice low and cutting, "it leads back to the same source."
A heavy silence fell.
"The Uchiha Clan."
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