At this moment, the conference room could truly be described as packed with big shots.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, sat in the main seat. On his left and right were the Hokage's advisor Shimura Danzō, and the elders Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. Next came Tsunade, representing the "Senju of the Forest," then the clan heads of the two great noble houses—the Uchiha and the Hyuga. After them were the heads of Ino–Shika–Chō, and the Aburame, Hatake, Inuzuka, and Kurama clans.
Even Konoha's ace combat assets—Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Dan Kato (who had mastered the super–S-rank Spirit Transformation Technique)—could only sit in the back row.
Even the Hokage's direct students—the future Konoha Sannin—were stuck in the back, which showed just how stacked Konoha's lineup truly was at this time.
And yet, in less than ten years, Konoha would play that hand so poorly it would end up with almost nothing left to draw.
If the "Yellow Flash" didn't rise later, even if Konoha won the Third Great Ninja War, it would still be an extremely hard-won victory.
"Everyone's here. Let's begin the meeting."
After all the jōnin who could represent Konoha's highest command—those who, in special circumstances, could even issue A-rank missions over the Hokage's head—had taken their seats, Hiruzen gave his advisor Shimura Danzō a look.
Danzō immediately stood, walked to the blackboard behind Hiruzen, and pulled down a curtain-like map of the shinobi world.
He used a red pen to draw two circles on the map. His next words made the jōnin present change expression.
"According to intelligence from our contacts, confirmed by Anbu, we are now 100% certain: Amegakure has gone to war with Sunagakure."
"So they really started fighting? Did Amegakure declare war on Suna, or did Suna declare war on Amegakure?"
"Thank goodness the Land of Iron didn't break the historical treaty. If Hanzō had the samurai legion's support, that man would be even more dangerous."
"…"
Seeing that the jōnin were mostly discussing Amegakure, Sunagakure, and Hanzō—without much sense of crisis—Danzō drew another circle on the map and said heavily:
"Besides the war between Amegakure and Sunagakure, our contacts have also discovered that the Land of Earth has increased troop deployments along its southern border."
At that, the atmosphere in the room instantly became heavy.
Anyone who had seen a shinobi world map and had even a little military sense realized the seriousness.
"So Iwagakure wants to join the war too? Is Rain Country's meager resources really worth their greed?"
"They moved troops to the south—aren't they afraid the Land of Lightning will take advantage and attack their eastern border?"
"Or maybe Ōnoki is only strengthening the southern border's defense, in case Hanzō suddenly shifts targets?"
"…"
"Everyone…"
Hiruzen finally spoke, and the conference room fell silent instantly.
Everyone turned respectfully toward the Third Hokage, waiting for his statement.
"The Land of Rain's special nature needs no elaboration. Between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind lies the Land of Rivers, with its broad natural terrain. That buffer zone is difficult to attack and easy to defend, which is why we and the Land of Wind have maintained a tacit balance."
"And if the Land of Earth wants to invade the Land of Fire, they must either cross the plains of the Land of Grass, or pass through the Land of Waterfall with its twenty-kilometer conifer forest. Given our relationships with Kusagakure and Takigakure, the Land of Earth—whose reputation has been terrible in recent years—cannot infiltrate the Land of Fire without being noticed."
"Only the Land of Rain—at the junction of the Lands of Fire, Wind, and Earth—has always been the best breakthrough point. It is shrouded in rain year-round, lacks vast undeveloped natural terrain, and lacks waterfalls and dense forests."
"In the past, that region was held in check by Hanzō. No one wanted to face the salamander with the shinobi world's deadliest poison."
"Now Amegakure has broken the balance on its own initiative. Hanzō and his salamander are tied down by Sunagakure. With the strongest roadblock gone, this breach point has become an excellent opportunity—both for us Konoha and for Iwagakure."
"So we cannot gamble on Ōnoki's mercy. We must prepare for the worst."
The jōnin all fell into thoughtful silence.
Then the Hyuga clan head—an absolute supporter of the Hokage line—Hyuga Tsubaki, spoke slowly:
"Hokage-sama, what is your plan? On behalf of the Hyuga, we will follow your arrangements."
"I second."
"I second."
"…"
Ino–Shika–Chō and the Aburame, Inuzuka, and other clans quickly echoed their support.
Then, as if by unspoken agreement, their eyes turned toward the Uchiha's side.
After the Senju integrated into Konoha, the Uchiha had become the shinobi world's number-one great house and the strongest ninja clan.
Their bloodline limit was even said to be unbeatable in one-on-one combat.
This was a clan with enough power and legacy to refuse the Hokage's face if they chose.
That was precisely why the Second Hokage had continuously suppressed them—and why the elder council, as Tobirama's students, also treated the Uchiha as a thorn in their side.
The Uchiha clan head desperately wanted to curse out loud right now.
But an Uchiha's pride wouldn't allow something so undignified. He only kept a hard expression, arms crossed, and said:
"I second."
Seeing even the Uchiha willing to follow the plan, Hiruzen smiled and nodded.
"Thank you for your support. My plan is to prepare for the worst."
"Not only the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth—we must treat the Land of Lightning, the Land of Water, and even the Land of Rain as potential enemies."
"The destruction of the Land of Whirlpools warns us that under special circumstances, these nations may set aside their hatred from the First Great Ninja War."
"We must prevent attacks from the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth, and also the Land of Rain—and we must be prepared for the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water to invade at any time."
"Therefore, we cannot shift all our forces to the western border. We must keep some forces and high-end combat power in reserve, ready to support the eastern and northern borders at any moment."
"Each of you clan heads, like me as Hokage, is the final line of defense for our nation and village. You may choose whether to personally lead troops to the front line. If you remain in Konoha to guard it alongside me, submit a roster of members who can be mobilized, and I will arrange deployment."
"If there are no objections, the meeting ends here."
Hiruzen's gaze swept the room. Then he called out names:
"Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Sakumo, and Danzō—you five stay."
At those words, the clan heads and elite jōnin like Dan Kato stood and filed out.
Even elders Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu rose and left.
Before long, only six people remained in the conference room:
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, the future Konoha Sannin, and Hatake Sakumo—already famous across the shinobi world as Konoha's White Fang.
~~~
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