Night fell over Konoha.
Most of the village had gone to sleep. The celebration from earlier in the day had wound down hours ago, leaving the streets quiet and dark except for the occasional patrol passing through. Only a handful of lights still burned in windows, night owls working late or parents tending to crying children.
Through his Transparent Release puppet's perspective, Kenji watched a figure emerge from the building housing the Kumo delegation.
The man was dressed entirely in black with a face covering that obscured his features. He moved quickly but clumsily, his silhouette too visible against the lighter-colored buildings. This wasn't someone trained in proper infiltration techniques. This was someone pretending to be stealthy while making himself obvious to anyone watching.
The puppet tracked him as he made his way through the streets toward the Hyūga clan compound. The ANBU surveillance team shadowed him from the rooftops, maintaining distance but never losing visual contact.
Kenji's mental clone processed what he was seeing. The Kumo ninja's movements were deliberately unprofessional. His chakra signature registered as chunin-level at best. And he was heading directly for the one clan in Konoha where every single member possessed eyes that could see through walls and detect chakra at long range.
This wasn't a serious kidnapping attempt. It was theater. So even if he interfered, it would still lead to the same conclusion: Kumo would demand compensation.
The man was meant to be captured and then killed. His death would give Kumo the excuse it needed to make demands, apply diplomatic pressure, and extract concessions while appearing to be the aggrieved party. It was clever in its way. Transparent enough that Konoha's leadership would see through it, but structured so that refusing to cooperate would make them look unreasonable to outside observers.
The puppet followed at a safe distance as the Kumo ninja reached the Hyūga compound. The clan's territory was extensive, multiple buildings arranged in a traditional layout with gardens and training yards between them. Security should have been tight, but the intruder moved through it like he had a map. Because he did have a map. Someone had provided intelligence. Floor plans, guard rotations, the location of Hinata's room. Everything he needed to make this look like a credible attempt.
The Kumo ninja scaled a wall, dropped into a courtyard, and made his way to one of the residential buildings. He slipped through a window that had been left conveniently unlatched and disappeared inside.
Kenji's puppet positioned itself on a nearby rooftop where it could observe the building's exits. The ANBU team had spread out, covering multiple angles. Everyone was waiting to see how this played out.
Minutes passed in silence.
Then the Kumo ninja emerged from the same window, this time carrying a small bundle. Hinata, unconscious and wrapped in a blanket. He'd clearly used some kind of sedative or technique to keep her quiet.
The moment he hit the ground, the compound's alarm should have sounded. Hinata's absence should have been discovered immediately.
But it wasn't.
The intruder made his way back through the compound, moving faster now that he had his target. He scaled the outer wall and dropped to the street beyond, then broke into a run toward the village perimeter.
That's when the Hyūga compound erupted with activity. Lights blazed to life in multiple buildings. Voices shouted orders. And a figure in traditional clan robes appeared on the outer wall, Byakugan activated and locked onto the fleeing kidnapper.
Hiashi.
The clan head moved. He dropped from the wall and hit the ground running, covering the distance to the fleeing Kumo ninja in seconds. His Byakugan tracked every movement.
The Kumo ninja realized he was being pursued and tried to accelerate, but it was pointless. Hiashi was faster, more skilled, and furious. His daughter had been taken from his home.
The confrontation lasted maybe ten seconds.
He caught up to the kidnapper at the edge of the compound's outer perimeter. The Kumo ninja turned, tried to use Hinata as a shield, but Hiashi was already moving. A precise strike to the man's wrist made his grip go slack. A follow-up blow to his temple dropped him like a stone.
The Kumo ninja hit the ground and didn't get back up.
Hiashi stood over the corpse, breathing slightly harder than normal, his daughter cradled safely in one arm. His Byakugan scanned the surrounding area and immediately detected the ANBU operatives watching from concealment.
Two ANBU dropped from nearby rooftops and approached. One of them, a woman with a cat mask, spoke first.
"We'll handle things from here. The Hokage will want a full report. You should bring your daughter to safety and then report to the tower."
Hiashi's expression remained controlled, but his voice carried an edge. "Understood. I'll go immediately."
He turned and made his way back into the compound, moving quickly but carefully to avoid jostling his daughter. The ANBU operatives stayed behind, securing the scene and the body.
Kenji's puppet had seen enough. He withdrew the mental clone and dispelled the summoning, returning his consciousness fully to his original body in the office.
He was already moving toward the door before the summon fully dissipated. Minato would be calling an emergency meeting within minutes. This incident was exactly what they'd been anticipating, and now they needed to decide how to respond.
---
The conference room was already occupied when Kenji arrived. Minato sat at the head of the table with Hiashi beside him, both wearing grim expressions.
"Kenji, good," Minato said as he entered. "I was about to send ANBU to find you."
"I've been monitoring the Kumo delegation all evening," Kenji replied, taking a seat. "I saw what happened."
Minato nodded. "The delegation's leader is dead. He was killed by Hiashi after attempting to kidnap his daughter. Kumo's going to use this as leverage to make demands."
Before anyone could respond, the door opened again. Hiruzen entered first, followed by Danzō, Homura, and Koharu. Shikaku came last.
Once everyone was seated, he summarized the situation concisely. The kidnapping attempt, Hiashi's response, the death of the Kumo delegation leader. When he finished, he looked around the table.
"That's where we stand. Now we need to decide how to handle the fallout. Kumo will use this to apply pressure. The question is how we respond."
Hiruzen spoke first, "We should take the initiative and open negotiations with Kumo. We can offer compensation for their deceased ninja and demonstrate that we are committed to maintaining peace despite this unfortunate incident."
Hiashi's expression tightened. "If compensation is required, the Hyūga clan will provide it. This happened on our territory. We'll bear the cost."
The thought of paying the people who'd tried to kidnap his daughter clearly galled him, but he was willing to do it for the village's sake.
"An excellent opportunity," Danzō said quietly. "We could use the compensation negotiations to lure the Raikage to Konoha in person. Then, when he arrives to collect the payment, we arrange an ambush and remove him."
Kenji kept his expression neutral, but internally he was analyzing both proposals.
Hiruzen's suggestion was classic appeasement. Give the aggressor what they wanted and hope it bought lasting peace. It demonstrated weakness and invited further exploitation. Kumo would see cooperation as confirmation that Konoha was vulnerable and press for more.
Danzō's plan was somehow even worse. Assassinating a visiting Kage under a flag of diplomatic negotiation would destroy Konoha's credibility completely. Every village would see them as treacherous. And even if they succeeded in killing the Raikage, Kumo's retaliation would be apocalyptic.
Both approaches were flawed, products of leadership that had been making similar mistakes for decades. The fact that Konoha had survived this long despite such decision-making showed the village's fundamental strength, not the wisdom of its advisors.
He glanced at Minato and caught the Hokage giving him a subtle signal. Minato was uncomfortable with both proposals but couldn't directly contradict his predecessor and his fellow advisor without creating political friction.
Fine. He could work with that.
"I think the point about compensation has merit," he began.
Minato's expression flickered with surprise. Hiruzen's face showed satisfaction.
"But the village that should be paying is Kumo. They violated the alliance we just signed. They attempted an operation on our soil targeting a clan. By any reasonable standard, they owe us compensation, not the other way around."
Hiruzen's satisfied expression smoothed back to neutral. Minato looked faintly amused.
"This entire alliance was suspicious from the start," Shikaku said, jumping in to support the argument. "The ease with which they signed, the request to stay overnight, and the timing of the kidnapping attempt. It was all planned. If Kumo wanted to steal the Byakugan, they would have sent someone with the skills to escape Konoha successfully. Instead, they sent a chunin-level operative who got caught and killed almost immediately. That ninja was a pawn meant to die so Kumo could claim victimhood and make demands."
The room fell silent as people processed the analysis.
"Then we strike first," Minato said decisively. "We will return the body to Kumo along with a formal protest. The remaining members of their delegation will be expelled from the village. We will also send a diplomatic message stating that they violated the alliance through the attempted kidnapping of a clan heir and demand appropriate compensation for the breach."
"That could provoke a war," Hiruzen said. "Konoha has only just recovered from the Third War. Our reserves are still rebuilding. Can we risk another conflict so soon?"
"If they refuse to acknowledge their violation," Kenji replied, "and instead try to flip this around and make demands of us, they'll use the threat of war as leverage anyway. That's their entire strategy. So we need to be more aggressive, not less."
He met Hiruzen's gaze directly.
"Deploy forces to the border with the Land of Lightning. Make it obvious we're preparing for conflict. Force Kumo to back down by demonstrating we're willing to fight rather than submit to extortion."
"That's far too dangerous," Homura interjected. "Military positioning like that could trigger a great war. The risk is too high."
"There won't be a war," Kenji said flatly. "Konoha may have just come out of a major conflict, but Kumo is in worse shape than we are. The Land of Lightning doesn't have the economic resources of the Land of Fire. Their supply lines are longer. And we've consistently had the advantage in border skirmishes. If they had the capability to wage war successfully, they wouldn't be playing these games. They'd just attack. And if the worst-case scenario happens and they start a war anyway, I'll personally carry out a decapitation strike, remove the Raikage from the equation, and force them to appoint someone more reasonable to negotiate with."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Everyone recognized that Kenji wasn't making an idle threat or engaging in bravado. He was stating an option he was fully prepared to execute.
"We'll proceed with Kenji's plan."
Minato's tone made it clear the decision was made.
---
A few days after the incident, Minato sat in his office studying the letter that had just arrived from Kumo. The afternoon light streaming through the windows seemed to darken as he read through the demands.
"Just as Shikaku predicted," he said finally, setting the letter down on his desk. "Kumo is demanding we hand over the person responsible for killing their delegation leader. They're claiming we violated the treaty and deliberately murdered their envoy. And they want five hundred million ryō in cash plus another five hundred million in supplies. If we refuse, they're threatening war."
Kenji, who'd been leaning against the wall near the window, let out a quiet sigh. The situation was almost funny when you thought about it. In the original timeline, Kumo had made similar threats against a Konoha that was vulnerable. Minato and Kushina dead, Hiruzen aged and past his prime, the Nine-Tails jinchūriki still a child. That Konoha had been weak enough that aggressive posturing might have worked.
But this wasn't that timeline. This Konoha had its Fourth Hokage alive and in his prime, supported by capable advisors and experienced ninjas. For the Raikage to try the same tactics here showed either poor intelligence gathering or dangerous overconfidence.
Hiruzen, seated in one of the chairs facing Minato's desk, spoke calmly, "Perhaps we should consider sending a diplomatic delegation to Kumo. Not to accept their demands, of course. Those are clearly unreasonable. But opening channels of communication would at least demonstrate we're willing to seek peaceful resolution."
Minato's expression didn't change. "With respect, I believe negotiation would be counterproductive. Kumo orchestrated this entire situation specifically to extort us. Sending a delegation would only confirm that their strategy is working."
"But if we refuse outright without even attempting dialogue," Hiruzen continued, "we risk escalating directly to military conflict. Another major campaign so soon could be devastating."
The argument again... Still, it was reasonable on its surface. Pragmatic concern for the village's welfare. But this was classic Hiruzen, using appeals to caution and peace to justify appeasement.
Before Minato could respond, Danzō spoke from where he sat in the corner shadows. "If negotiation is deemed necessary, Root can provide security for the delegation. However, under no circumstances should the Hyūga clan head be surrendered. The Byakugan's exposure to a hostile village would represent an unacceptable loss."
"Any negotiation mission to Kumo at this point would be interpreted as weakness," Shikaku said bluntly. "They engineered this crisis specifically to apply pressure. Responding to that pressure by sending delegates gives them exactly what they want."
Homura shifted in his seat. "Shikaku, we understand the risks. But if their demands can be negotiated down to acceptable terms, securing peace through diplomacy serves the village's interests better than rushing into conflict. Kumo doesn't want war either. They're looking for an advantageous settlement. Arranging talks would allow us to find common ground."
"And paying some compensation in exchange for maintaining peace is a worthwhile sacrifice," Koharu added.
The coordination was obvious once you knew what to look for. Hiruzen making the initial suggestion, Homura and Koharu backing him up with supporting arguments, even Danzō positioning himself as the middle ground. They'd clearly discussed this beforehand and were now trying to box Minato into accepting their preferred approach through apparent consensus.
Time to break that momentum.
"If we're sending a negotiation delegation," Kenji said, pushing off from the wall, "it should be led by someone with appropriate authority. This is a matter that could determine whether we have peace or war. Sending mid-level diplomats would signal we're not taking it seriously."
He looked directly at Hiruzen.
"Sandaime-sama, you have more diplomatic experience than anyone in this room. Your presence would demonstrate Konoha's commitment to finding a peaceful solution. Perhaps you should lead the delegation personally."
The office went quiet.
Hiruzen's expression remained perfectly composed, but something shifted behind his eyes. The trap had been laid and he knew it. Agreeing would mean traveling to Kumo, putting himself at risk in a village that had historically been hostile to Konoha's leadership. And refusing would expose the hypocrisy of advocating for negotiation while being unwilling to participate in it himself.
"Or if your schedule doesn't permit," Minato said, picking up the thread, "perhaps Danzō could lead the mission. Or Homura and Koharu. Your collective experience and authority would certainly convey our seriousness to the Raikage."
Danzō's single visible eye remained fixed on some point in the middle distance. He said nothing. Homura and Koharu exchanged a brief glance but also stayed silent.
Hiruzen took a slow breath, his hands folded calmly in his lap. "At my age, extended travel to a potentially hostile location would be inadvisable. The village requires experienced leadership here in case of emergency. I'm afraid I must decline."
The words were framed as concern for Konoha's welfare. But everyone in the room understood the real message. None of them were willing to go to Kumo. Because they all knew what had happened the last time a Hokage went there for negotiations. Tobirama had gone to establish peace. He'd died there, killed by the Kinkaku Force during the talks. That had been decades ago, but the precedent remained clear. Kumo didn't respect diplomatic immunity when it was inconvenient.
"Then we have no choice," Minato said. "If negotiation isn't a viable option, we'll have to refuse Kumo's demands directly. Even if that creates risk of conflict."
His tone made it clear the decision was made. He'd given the advisors every opportunity to commit to their own suggestion. Their refusal meant he could proceed with his preferred course without appearing to ignore their counsel.
"We should deploy forces to the border immediately," Shikaku said. "Not just as a defensive measure, but to demonstrate we're prepared to fight if necessary. Kumo needs to understand that threats won't work."
Hiruzen studied Minato for a long moment. The Fourth Hokage had firmly controlled this entire discussion despite their attempts to influence him. The balance of power in Konoha's leadership had shifted completely. He was no longer the one making final decisions, and they both knew it.
"Very well," he said quietly. "We'll proceed with your plan."
The acknowledgment was significant. Hiruzen had lost this battle and was smart enough to recognize when continuing to push would only make him look weak.
Minato turned to Kenji. "I need you to lead the deployment to the Land of Fire's northern border. You'll establish defensive positions and coordinate with local forces. If Kumo does move troops, you'll be our first response."
"Understood," Kenji replied. "I can leave tomorrow morning."
With the Sannin scattered, he was the logical choice for border command. His combat record and tactical experience made him one of Konoha's most capable field commanders.
"If there's nothing else," Hiruzen said, rising from his chair, "I'll take my leave."
"Thank you for your input," Minato said politely.
Hiruzen nodded and walked out. Danzō followed without speaking. Homura and Koharu exchanged brief glances before also departing.
The door closed behind them, leaving only Minato, Kenji, and Shikaku in the office.
Minato immediately dropped the formal demeanor and grinned. "That was brutal. I thought he was going to have a stroke when you suggested he lead the delegation himself."
"He seemed so convinced that negotiation was the right move. I figured he'd want to handle something that important personally," Kenji said with a smile.
"Sending them to Kumo would be equivalent to a death sentence," Shikaku commented. "The Raikage isn't known for his diplomatic restraint. He'd probably arrest them on arrival and use them as additional hostages."
"Happy to send other people into danger but won't risk themselves," Kenji muttered.
Minato sighed but didn't disagree. The three of them spent the next hour working through logistics. Troop assignments, supply lines, defensive positions, rules of engagement if Kumo forces crossed the border. By the time they finished, the sun had set and evening was settling over the village.
"Get some rest," he told Kenji. "You've got a long day tomorrow."
"Will do."
Kenji left the Hokage Building and started walking toward his house. The streets were quiet this time of evening, most people already home for dinner. The lamps were just being lit.
He'd barely made it two blocks when he spotted Hiashi standing on the corner ahead, Hinata beside him. The Hyūga clan head saw him at the same moment and walked over.
"Kenji," Hiashi said as they met. "What did Kumo demand?"
He was worried that Konoha might sacrifice him to appease Kumo, hand over the "murderer" who'd killed their delegation leader.
"The usual extortion," Kenji replied. "They want the person responsible handed over, plus massive financial compensation. If we refuse, they're threatening war."
"And the Hokage's decision?"
"It's classified," Kenji said, "but I believe your clearance is high enough. This concerns your clan, and you as its head. If I'm wrong about the authorization, that's on me."
He met Hiashi's eyes directly. "The Hokage rejected their demands. We're deploying forces to the northern border instead. No one is being sacrificed to appease Kumo. You have my word."
The relief on Hiashi's face was brief but genuine. "Then the Hyūga clan must contribute forces as well. They attempted to kidnap our heir. We cannot stand aside."
"That's not necessary. This is a village matter, not specifically a Hyūga issue."
"Nevertheless, I will petition the Hokage to allow our participation," Hiashi replied firmly. "This concerns our clan's honor."
Kenji recognized that arguing further would be pointless. Hiashi had made his decision.
"Understood."
His attention shifted to the figure partially hidden behind Hiashi's legs. Hinata was watching him with wide, nervous eyes, trying to work up the courage to speak.
"And this must be your daughter," Kenji said, keeping his voice friendly. "Hello, Hinata."
The girl squeaked slightly and pressed closer to her father. Hiashi placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. After a moment, she stepped forward just enough to bow politely.
"H-hello, Kenji-san," she managed in a tiny voice. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Kenji replied. "Your father's very proud of you."
Hinata's face turned bright red and she immediately retreated behind Hiashi again.
"The Hokage is still in his office if you want to speak with him about deploying Hyūga forces," Kenji told Hiashi. "I need to get home and prepare my equipment for tomorrow."
"Thank you. Be safe on the border."
They exchanged brief farewells and Hiashi headed toward the Hokage Building with Hinata in tow. Kenji watched them go for a moment before continuing toward his house.
The Hyūga clan had historically maintained neutrality in Konoha's internal politics, not fully committing to any faction. But Minato's handling of this crisis, and his refusal to sacrifice Hiashi to foreign pressure, had clearly made an impression.
After this, the Hyūga would be firmly in Minato's corner. That kind of capital was valuable, especially with someone like Hiruzen still wielding influence among the older generation.
Kenji smiled slightly.
---
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