"Alright, it's just a small conflict. No need to make it so serious."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, letting the matter pass, then looked at the others present and said seriously, "Back to the main topic, what are your thoughts on my proposal?"
'Thoughts?'
'Hiashi' was practically furious, yet he didn't dare utter a single word.
The example was right there in front of them. What thoughts could they have? What thoughts did they dare to have?
But war was not a game. War meant death.
If they mobilized ninja from their clans, the ones who would die would be their relatives, friends, brothers, sisters, lovers…
And so, the conference room fell into perfect silence. People could hear their own breathing, even the pounding of their hearts.
Until a jonin of civilian origin spoke up, expressing willingness to follow the Third Hokage's orders.
"This matter also involves fault on the part of the Hyuga clan."
Hiyoshi finally spoke, his voice deep. "On behalf of the Hyuga clan, I am willing to follow the Third Hokage's command."
Beside him, 'Hiashi' opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing.
That meant the authority to mobilize clan ninja was now entirely handed over to Hiruzen.
"Very good!" Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction, his tone approving. "As expected of one of Konoha's great clans, truly concerned for the village's safety."
At the mention of "great clan," Uchiha Fugaku's expression twitched.
No matter how lacking his political acumen was, he could tell that remark was aimed at the Uchiha. Left with no choice, he followed the Hyuga's lead and agreed.
Among the crowd, Shikaku sighed inwardly. Together with Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Todo, he spoke respectfully, "The Ino-Shika-Cho is the same."
With both the Hyuga clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho in agreement, the other clans, no matter how unwilling, could only pretend to comply. Soon enough, they were even competing to show their loyalty.
"..."
Arata watched this shift, from arrogance to submission, with a calm expression, even finding it faintly amusing.
Was he some loyal hound of Konoha?
No. Of course not.
Human misfortune lies in living in a base world, troubled by its baseness, forced to become base in one's own actions.
The reason Arata agreed to step forward was not because of some self-sacrificing devotion to Konoha.
It was because, in his view, the ninja clans were no longer the dominant forces they had been at the founding of Konoha.
That was also why he admired Senju Tobirama more than Senju Hashirama.
Tobirama's brilliance lay not only in ninjutsu creation, but in his superior political foresight.
Establishing the Ninja Academy and Chunin Exams to cultivate talent from civilians.
Publicly sharing his own developed jutsu, forcing other clans to follow.
Creating the ANBU and the Konoha Military Police Force to centralize Hokage authority.
Even guiding the Senju clan to abandon their surname and intermarry with civilians, improving the overall talent pool and nourishing Konoha like fertilizer to soil.
Tobirama transcended clan bias and led by example.
His reforms shaped not only the Senju but also Konoha itself.
Far more grounded than Uchiha Itachi's seemingly grand but ultimately extreme actions.
Even without Itachi's so-called sacrifice, the Uchiha clan never had the power to overthrow the Hokage faction.
The clans had already been weakened significantly by Tobirama.
Unless the Uchiha united all clans.
But would they? Could they?
No, and no.
Because the Uchiha could not humble themselves.
And the other clans were not fools.
Even if Fugaku tried to ally with them, they would smile and agree, then immediately report him to Hiruzen to prove loyalty.
Because the clans were never truly united.
There were always pro-Hokage factions among them.
Arata even believed Tobirama chose Hiruzen as Hokage not because of some noble willingness to sacrifice, but because of his ties with clans like Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi.
Only Hiruzen could divide and balance the clans.
As for Danzo?
He still thought he lost the position due to a single moment's hesitation.
Heh. He truly deserved to lose.
"Very good."
Hiruzen scanned the room, visibly relieved. "As long as we stand united, neither Kumogakure nor anyone else can defeat us."
Konoha had grown weaker.
But that didn't mean its enemies had grown stronger.
And… Hiruzen glanced at Arata.
He thought of Uchiha Shisui, of the young Naruto.
A trace of satisfaction flickered in his aged eyes.
'Konoha still had a future.'
'A bright one.'
Click.
The meeting soon ended, and people began to leave.
Hiruzen kept Arata behind, along with another young man.
Hatake Kakashi.
ANBU member. Konoha jonin.
Arata recognized him instantly; the dead-fish eyes gave it away.
"Let me introduce you. This is Hatake Kakashi," Hiruzen said with a smile. "You two became jonin at similar ages. Both are Konoha's future."
After the brief joke, he turned serious.
"Arata, I want you to join Kakashi's team. Move out with the army, then proceed to the Land of Hot Water to investigate the so-called 'Abyss.' This is provisionally an S-rank mission. What do you think?"
'The Abyss? Land of Hot Water? S-rank?'
Kakashi glanced at Arata thoughtfully.
'So the escort mission's failure wasn't just a Kumogakure ambush…'
"I'm willing."
Arata agreed without hesitation.
If Hiruzen hadn't suggested it, he would have requested it himself.
Joining Kakashi's team was an unexpected bonus.
He knew exactly who was in that team.
"Tenzo."
And in the future… Uchiha Itachi.
Even just for Tenzo's Wood Release cells, he had to join.
After giving further instructions, Hiruzen dismissed them.
Before leaving, however, he patted Arata's shoulder and whispered with a smile:
"Before you depart, make sure to visit the Forbidden Techniques Library."
Arata's eyes flickered.
'A reward. And bait.'
'The Forbidden Techniques Library… the Scroll of Seals.'
'That was valuable.'
Click.
Moments later, Arata stepped out of the meeting room and saw 'Hiashi' waiting.
The wound on Hiashi's face had nearly healed, but the humiliation remained.
"Arata."
His voice was cold with menace. "Do you think that just because the Third Hokage favors you, I can't do anything to you?"
Arata didn't respond.
He didn't even look at him.
He simply walked past.
He was now?
Just the meaningless barking of an old dog.
'Hiashi' trembled with rage, veins bulging on his forehead, yet he could do nothing.
Moonlight fell upon his temples.
Already gray.
He didn't dare act.
He truly had grown old.
Morning light filled the Raikage's office in Kumogakure.
A thunderous crash shattered the silence.
Boom!!
A massive fist smashed the solid wooden desk to pieces. Papers scattered, and cracks spread across the floor.
"How dare Konoha?!"
The Fourth Raikage was wreathed in lightning, hair standing on end, his face filled with both fury and shock.
Beside him, Mabui's expression was equally grim as she held the declaration of war from Konoha.
The Fourth Great Ninja War, had begun.
The news spread across the ninja world, shaking it to its core.
All factions, overt and hidden, were alarmed.
Many were shocked by Hiruzen's speed and decisiveness.
They dispatched scouts to the Land of Hot Water and contacted spies within Konoha.
An indecisive Hiruzen and a decisive Hiruzen were entirely different threats.
They wanted to know, what exactly had happened between Konoha and Kumogakure?
Aside from those two, only one group had partial knowledge.
The Akatsuki, still lurking in the Hidden Rain.
But…
"With Hiruzen's personality, he should hesitate in situations like this. Why is he so decisive this time?"
In the dark rain of the Land of Rain, a hoarse voice murmured, then steadied.
"Nagato… it seems the plan has changed. You must act immediately."