"Lord Hokage, all Suna ninja within the village have been apprehended."
"Lord Hokage, Lady Shizune is currently leading the Medical Corps in rescue operations…"
"Lord Hokage, all the summoned beasts within the village have been eliminated."
"Lord Hokage…"
Kakashi returned to the Hokage building, where several intelligence officers stepped forward to report on the current situation in Konohagakure.
"Pass down the order: the heads of all departments and the clan heads are to assemble in Conference Room No. 1."
Listening to the status reports, Kakashi ordered a meeting of Konoha's leadership. The intelligence regarding Kazekage Rasa instigating a riot in the Leaf had not yet leaked out. The urgent priority was to silence the two villages as quickly as possible and launch a direct offensive.
Opportunities are fleeting. Kakashi had prepared for five years for this day, and he would not let this god-given chance slip through his fingers.
In less than ten minutes, Conference Room No. 1 was packed. A single glance revealed the heads of Konoha's various divisions, clan patriarchs, and a large number of Jonin. Aside from those guarding the borders of the Land of Fire or stationed in key domestic strongholds, almost every important figure in the village was present.
At that moment, Shizune, who had just stepped back from the medical front lines, was the last to arrive.
"My apologies, I'm late."
With a regretful smile, Shizune walked toward her seat.
"It's fine. Thank you for your hard work," Kakashi said from the head of the table, not lingering on her late arrival.
Looking at the woman whose gentle eyes held a hint of apology, many in the room felt a surge of profound respect. Previously, they had assumed Shizune was merely a member of the "privileged second generation" who had climbed the ranks through her connection to Tsunade. However, today's battle had forced everyone to re-evaluate the Director of the Medical Corps.
Beyond possessing exquisite Medical Ninjutsu, her individual combat prowess was formidable. In a one-on-one confrontation, she had single-handedly taken down the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.
One moment she was claiming to be weak and untalented; the next, she was flooring the Kazekage with a single punch.
"Alright, now that everyone is here, I won't waste time with pleasantries," Kakashi stated. "Inoichi, report the current situation."
As Kakashi spoke, Inoichi Yamanaka immediately stood up, holding the latest intelligence.
"Currently, the entourage of over a hundred personnel and Genin accompanying the Kazekage and Raikage have all been detained. Kazekage Rasa was defeated by Director Kato [Shizune]. The Fourth Raikage was defeated by Commander Might [Guy]. The Kazekage's three children, including the One-Tail Jinchūriki, have all been captured. Furthermore, all Otogakure ninja have been executed."
"However," Inoichi continued, "three individuals managed to escape from Lord Jiraiya using the giant snakes summoned via the Summoning Jutsu. According to our intel, one is Kabuto Yakushi, a spy Orochimaru planted in the Leaf long ago. The others are a Crystal Style user and a wielder of the Shikotsumyaku [Corpse Bone Chain]."
Kakashi frowned slightly at this.
Kabuto Yakushi, Guren, and Kimimaro. If Jiraiya had been serious, they wouldn't have stood a chance against him, let alone escaped. There was only one explanation: Jiraiya had let his guard down.
However, Kakashi didn't intend to dwell on such minor details. It was merely the combat power of three Jonin-level fighters; aside from Kabuto, the other two weren't particularly significant threats.
"On the whole, the internal unrest in the village has been suppressed with maximum efficiency," Inoichi concluded.
Kakashi nodded slightly and then asked, "How long will it take to extract intelligence from the Raikage and Kazekage?"
Inoichi's expression turned solemn. "Considering they are the heads of Suna and Kumo, their minds are protected by unique defensive secret techniques. At the earliest, it will take three days."
Kakashi's brow furrowed. "In that case, I'll give you three days. Complete the intelligence extraction on both of them within that timeframe."
Inoichi immediately voiced his compliance and sat down.
Kakashi leaned back in his chair, looking at the assembled leaders and Jonin with an unreadable glint in his eyes. "Everyone, what are your thoughts regarding today's events?"
It's coming!
Everyone in the room felt a jolt. If it were just about handling the village's internal unrest, there would have been no need to summon all of them. But now, the Hokage was asking them how to handle the situation in front of everyone…
Recalling this Hokage's usual style, a sense of gravity settled over them.
War. It was coming!
"Sunagakure broke the alliance, and Kumogakure violated our treaty. For them to pull such a stunt during the Chunin Exams is unacceptable."
Amidst the dead silence, a voice rang out. A bearded man slowly stood up from the crowd, looking calmly at Kakashi.
It was Asuma.
Nine years ago, during the Hyūga affair [the Hyūga Affair involving the Hidden Cloud], Kakashi had been a staunch advocate for war, and Asuma had been the first to support him. Now, nine years later, Asuma was again the first to voice his support for Kakashi.
Standing to the side, Tenzō (Yamato), who had been mentally rehearsing his own speech, was slightly taken aback. According to the "script," he was supposed to be the first to speak. He hadn't expected Asuma to beat him to it.
Kakashi looked at the man standing in the crowd and felt a brief moment of silence in his heart. Truthfully, because of his relationship with Kurenai, he felt somewhat guilty toward Asuma. But now that the "rice was cooked" and a child might be in the picture in the future, he could only act as if nothing had happened.
"I concur!" Tenzō shouted, immediately standing up for the pro-war side at Kakashi's signal. "The Sand are cowards and the Cloud are rats! Now that they've dared to trample on us, when has Konoha ever suffered such humiliation since its founding? We fight! we must strike back ruthlessly!"
"I concur!" Hiashi Hyūga stood up immediately. "Konoha is currently teeming with experts. For mere Suna and Kumo to dare stroke the tiger's whiskers—do they truly think we have no temper? If we don't teach them a lesson, Konoha's decades of prestige will be trampled underfoot!"
"I concur," Shizune added calmly. She had expected this; or rather, Kakashi had previously instructed Tenzō to push for war the moment the meeting started in her presence.
"I am willing to fight the Cloud for Lord Hokage," Might Guy, the Jonin Commander, stood up and shouted.
"I am willing to go to the Suna front," Uchiha Itachi, the Captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, rose and spoke simultaneously.
"Is there anyone else?" Kakashi asked expressionlessly, looking at the crowd below.
"I am willing to go to the Iwa front!"
At that moment, the doors to the conference room were pushed open, and a slender silhouette stepped in against the light.
"Lady Tsunade?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Everyone was shocked by Tsunade's sudden arrival, but her words seemed nonsensical. There were only Suna and Kumo involved—where was this "Iwa front" coming from?
However, Tsunade ignored the murmurs, looking straight at Kakashi in the high seat.
The Kazekage and Raikage were both captured. With their shadows gone, the strength of those two villages would plummet. If Konoha pursued this to the end, those villages would never withstand the Leaf's military might on the battlefield.
Especially Sunagakure. Their strength was already at the bottom of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Having lost both their Kazekage and the One-Tail Jinchūriki, the village was being held together solely by the two elders, Chiyo and Ebizō.
When the lips are gone, the teeth are cold.
The Third Tsuchikage, an old fox if there ever was one, couldn't possibly fail to understand such a simple concept. If he sat idly by and watched Kumo and Suna be swallowed by Konoha, then Iwagakure's downfall wouldn't be far behind.
Therefore, the moment Konoha declared war on Suna and Kumo would be the same moment Iwagakure declared war on Konoha! And at that point, Kirigakure might even try to take a piece of the action!
In short, for Konoha to declare war on Suna and Kumo now was effectively declaring war on the other four Great Shinobi Villages simultaneously!
"Good," Kakashi said calmly, looking at the uninvited Tsunade. "I'll have Jiraiya go with you when the time comes."
"In that case…"
"Lord Hokage, please allow me to head to the Kiri front."
Another unexpected figure stood up from the crowd. His words sent a wave of suspicion and shock through those who didn't know the full story.
It was Hayama Shiragumo!
As the Hokage's right-hand man, the Hayama who wielded the "White Fang" blade was practically the spokesperson for the young Hokage!
And his words…
What did he mean, "allow me to head to the Kiri front"?!
Was the Hokage planning to declare war on all four Great Shinobi Villages at once?!
————
Supporting me on Pa-treon to gain early access to advanced chapters and enjoy expedited updates. Your support is greatly appreciated.
pat-reon .c-om/Dragonhair
(Just remove the hyphen - and space, to access Pa-treon normally.)