After the Jonin Assembly ended, the higher-ups gathered in the Hokage's office.
Danzo entered just as Mitokado Homura laid several diplomatic scrolls on the desk.
"The strength of Konoha's guardian ninja has proven insufficient," Homura said gravely. "The negative impact is spreading among the Fire Nation's vassal states."
"Not only the daimyo of the Land of Hot Water, but also those of the Land of Rivers, the Land of Waves, and Uzushio Village have written to the Capital and to Konoha, expressing concern over what happened in the Land of Hot Water."
"My son serves as captain of the guardian ninja in the Land of Rivers. Their daimyo now demands at least six guardian ninja at all times."
He paused.
"Two shifts exhaust them, yet they cannot refuse the daimyo's orders."
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled slowly.
"The mission share is vital to the village."
"Sixty percent of our missions come from the Fire Nation. The four smaller nations combined account for forty percent."
"Homura, take a delegation and visit the capitals of the vassal states."
"Start with Uzushio Village. Then the Land of Waves, the Land of Hot Water, and finally the Land of Rivers. Meet each daimyo in turn. Reassure them."
"Konoha remains the strongest in the shinobi world."
"In the past two years, the repeated deaths of the Land of Hot Water's guardian ninja were primarily due to the renewed activity of rogue shinobi Uchiha Madara."
"Convince them of this—Uchiha Madara is over seventy years old. This is merely a dying flare. By shinobi standards, he cannot live much longer."
Hiruzen continued, voice steady.
"Madara harbors deep hatred toward Konoha. He will not give up."
"Surveillance on him must not cease. We must prevent him from repeating what he once did—summoning the Nine-Tails at Konoha's gates."
He did not speak of killing Madara.
Only monitoring him.
Deep down, Hiruzen still feared that man.
His father, Sarutobi Sasuke, had once admitted bluntly—before Uchiha Madara, he could last at most five minutes.
If reinforcements failed to arrive in time… he would die.
Hiruzen still remembered it vividly.
Madara standing atop the Nine-Tails.
The beast's paw smashing Konoha's gates.
The terror.
If not for the First Hokage, the fledgling village would have been wiped from the earth.
Mitokado Homura nodded.
"I will depart at once. I'll begin with Uzushio Village and stabilize the rear."
"Let us hope Hatake Sakumo succeeds in the Land of Hot Water. That would give weight to my persuasion."
Hiruzen inclined his head.
"Sakumo is studying the intelligence. He was previously excluded from much of the information network. He will need two or three days to digest it."
"Once he understands Madara's organization, he will depart immediately."
After they concluded matters regarding the daimyo, Danzo finally spoke.
"We must grasp Uchiha Madara's movements."
"If he loses control and attacks Konoha directly, we must not be caught unprepared."
"Assign Fox a mission."
"Send him into the Land of Rain. Have him investigate Madara and his subordinates."
"Make it clear—if he encounters Spiral Zetsu acting alone, he is not to kill him. He is to notify me immediately. I will handle Spiral Zetsu."
Handle?
In truth—retrieve the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Hiruzen and Homura exchanged a glance.
Danzo had not let go of his anger.
Fox had disobeyed him in battle, insisting on killing Uchiha Gogo.
Later, he failed to recover the Mangekyō from Uchiha Tōka.
Danzo's dislike was written plainly on his face.
He wanted Fox out of the village.
Hiruzen nodded.
"Fox is indeed the most suitable candidate. Let him go to the Land of Rain."
Danzo's objective achieved, he rose and left.
—
Yako was outside Konoha Hospital, officially assigned to monitor Tsunade and the Senju clan.
In truth, he was watching a maternity ward.
White Crane had taken leave—her sister Yamanaka Ruri was giving birth today.
Inside the room, Yamanaka Ruri cradled a soft, fragile newborn while speaking excitedly to her sister Yamanaka Riko, who lay exhausted but radiant on the bed.
A baby girl.
Yamanaka Sayaka.
The child inherited the Senju bloodline.
That was fortunate.
The Senju traits manifested as strong vitality and abundant chakra—nothing visibly distinctive.
The sisters were overjoyed.
Their home had gained a new life.
From the tree canopy outside, Yako watched and thought about the safety of those around him.
To prevent Danzo from obtaining the Mangekyō, he had provoked him repeatedly.
Danzo had no bottom line.
Who could say he wouldn't take hostages?
After all, Yako had killed plenty of Danzo's clansmen and subordinates.
It would be naive to assume only he could kill.
Fortunately… he had some influence of his own.
He would assign the White Ram squad—officially to monitor him—to protect Kyoi and Yoru.
Under the guise of monitoring Yamanaka Ruri and Riko, they would protect them as well.
He glanced toward the Hokage Tower.
He had only one truly loyal squad.
It wasn't enough.
Yellow Dog… when will you make your move?
If you either rise to advisor—or fall—
Then I can take your seat as ANBU Commander.
At that point, aside from the Black Ant Squad, the remaining three squads could be cultivated as his core.
He could do much more.
As he was silently urging Yellow Dog to act, an ANBU appeared.
"Vice Commander! The Commander requests your presence!"
Yako soon received the assignment.
Surveillance of Uchiha Madara in the Land of Rain.
From Yellow Dog's tone, it was clear—he had not wanted Yako sent away.
This was Danzo's doing.
Danzo did not want him in the village.
Yako thought quietly:
Leaving isn't bad.
More freedom.
He could assist Hatake Sakumo if necessary.
He was tired of the current leadership.
The upper ranks needed… fresh blood.
He could never step onto the public stage himself.
But Hatake Sakumo?
A good choice.
He had principles.
He would not let Konoha descend into rot.
Sakumo should move.
Take a position among the higher ranks.
Not remain a glorified blade forever.
Yako departed Konoha with the Leaf Monkey squad.
With White Ram remaining behind, he felt slightly more at ease.
—
Elsewhere in Konoha.
Shinma practiced in his courtyard.
Flames danced along his short blade, illuminating his face.
A precious chakra blade—like Lord Sakumo's.
He would carve his own path with it.
His fire blade techniques had reached mid-range—one swing sent an arc of flame several meters forward.
After three hours of practice, he was drenched in sweat.
Just as he lowered his blade—
A hand seized his throat.
He clawed at the wrist, but the difference in strength was overwhelming.
When he saw the man's face, terror swallowed him whole.
Right eye—a tiny pupil lost in bloodshot sclera.
Left eye—bandaged.
An X-shaped scar across the chin.
The grip was precise.
Not enough to kill him.
Enough to render him helpless.
Danzo unfurled a scroll.
"Seal of Tongue Eradication."
The curse mark burned into Shinma's tongue.
Danzo looked down coldly.
"Shinma. As Hokage Advisor, I assign you a mission."
"I… refuse," Shinma rasped.
Danzo gestured.
The rear door opened.
A Root operative carried out a child.
"My… nephew!"
"That is your brother's son," Danzo said calmly. "If you refuse, I will…"
Shinma tried to speak Danzo's name—
But his body spasmed. The seal activated.
He could not say it.
"How can you target a martyr's child?! My brother died for Konoha!"
"I would never harm an orphan," Danzo replied evenly.
"If you refuse, he will join Root."
"The children of those who sacrificed for Konoha should possess the same spirit."
"If you comply, he will grow up normally. Enter the academy."
Danzo turned to leave.
"Do not attempt to reveal this. The seal will prevent it."
Only after he vanished did Shinma raise his chakra blade.
Too late.
He had not dared strike.
He ran to his nephew.
Unconscious. Unharmed—for now.
Sweat poured down his back.
If the higher-ups had marked them…
They would be crushed.
He looked toward Hokage Rock.
The massive stone face loomed over the village.
In front of this machine…
He and his nephew were nothing.
Could he rely on Lord Sakumo?
But Sakumo was struggling as well.
Hatake Sakumo to the Land of Hot Water.
Mitokado Homura to Uzushio Village.
Fox to the Land of Rain.
Three Kage-level combatants dispatched at once.
Even the informed jonin felt a chill.
The war had ended long ago.
Why did Konoha still feel on the brink?
—
Another full moon rose.
Yako led the Leaf Monkey squad through the Land of Rain.
He glanced north.
How was Hatake Sakumo's mission progressing?