It was late at night and the sky had already darkened. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his office, pipe laid across his lip, smoke in his lungs. Scrolls unfurled haphazardously everywhere: the desk, the floor, the Hokage's own lap. They were all intelligence reports from various Konoha shinobi planted across the ninja world, and they all spelled one thing–unrest was rising.
During the Second Shinobi World War, two main powers had collapsed. Hidden Rain Village, Amegakure, was reduced to rubble. Even before the war, it was a place that housed refugees and anyone without a home; after the war, it was a no man's land. Depressing, cold, hollow.
The sky was gray and the people reflected it.
Similarly, the Land of Whirlpools, Uzushiogakure, was annihilated and all of its people were either killed on the spot or displaced with no place to call home. In addition to the mass migrations caused by these two events, there was no clear profiteer in the Second Shinobi World War. All villages lost thousands upon thousands of shinobi.
Konohagakure was named victor, but no major benefits were exchanged. The villages that had bled so much, that had lost so much, that had spent so much–now had nothing to show for it. No funds for future shinobi. No land for future development. No resources to spark an advantage.
But at the time, the villages were already bleeding too heavily. They had lost too many troops. The war could not go on, so it ended without the spoils. Years had gone by. Nearly a decade.
In that time, new generations of shinobi emerged: talented, peerless, exceptional. Across the shinobi world, geniuses were born one after another, and with each new talent, the various Kage across the world recalled the Second War and its "unfinished" state. It's mere memory bitter in their minds.
As new talent emerged and as hope once again flourished, the Kage asked once again, "Is it time to test the water?"
"To stir the pot?"
In the Land of Rain, there's been a dramatic increase in foot traffic. More merchants, more travellers, and more shinobi exchanging between countries. Below the Land of Rain, in the Land of Rivers, Sand shinobi have been spotted crossing the war-torn land. As the country between Konoha and Suna, any movement by Suna needed to be monitored carefully.
Further north, Hidden Grass Village saw a thriving economy. More merchants arrived by the day with many in transit towards Kumogakure, the Shinobi Village seemed to be making many large purchases of grain and rice.
The spies in Takumi Village also reported an increase in ninja tool demand; again for Kumogakure.
Then, there were the Kirigakure reports, the Village Hidden in the Mist. The "Blood Mist" Policy enacted by the Third Mizukage had begun. The Village was slaughtering its own and didn't bat an eye. Many of the Clans in Kiri had already condemned the actions of their Mizukage, but they were met with nothing but an iron fist.
Kiri was deteriorating.
Kumo was stocking supplies.
Suna was pushing into foreign territory.
The world that had been quiet for over a decade was finally stirring from its slumber.
*knock* *knock*
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced up from the intelligence report in his hand.
"You may enter." He exclaimed.
A man entered with a clipboard. He appeared familiar. He was the fifth adult present at the Academies monthly exam.
"Ah. It's you Otaro. How are the children this year?" Hiruzen asked, recognizing Otaro as the Special Jōnin left in charge of recording the monthly exam this time around.
Otaro appeared as a standard Konoha shinobi. He had brown hair, a green vest, and navy blue pants. In his hands, he held this examination's report.
"This year appears slightly above average, Lord Hokage. Please, take a look." Otaro extended the report forward.
Hiruzen flipped through the pages. Smoke bellowed around him.
"Jun-kun is developing well. His nature transformation is impressive." The Hokage commented.
"Oh? Ando Kaze and Okuda Tomomori? These are new names."
"Yes, Hokage-san." Otaro bowed. "Ando shows great promise with his analytical skills as well as his chakra control whereas Okuda has made great progress with his taijutsu and physical conditioning."
"Hmm." Hiruzen Sarutobi analyzed the reports of the two children. "Continue to monitor them. If they continue to show promise, notify me accordingly."
"Yes. Lord Hokage."
"Anything else to report?" The Hokage asked.
"There was another incident with an Uchiha.." Otaro detailed the spar between Cheiko Uchiha and Mori Fūma.
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head as he listened to the story. Then, he exhaled a large swath of smoke as it finished. The Uchiha were becoming a consistent headache for him.
"Thank you for informing me. You are dismissed." Hiruzen said.
Otaro bowed and retreated. Meanwhile, the Third Hokage gazed out of his window. He was unsure if Konoha was ready for another war. Jiriaya was travelling the world, seeking out his own version of the prophet, and he refused to stay in Konoha for long. Tsunade, on the other hand, could no longer stand the sight of blood, and has become useless both on and off the battlefield as she is now unable to perform medical ninjutsu at even the first sight of crimson.
Then lastly, there was Orochimaru. Orochimaru used to be Hiruzen's favorite disciple. Now the pale man barely saw the light of day. Day in and day out, Orochimaru spent locked in his lab for hours, weeks, months at a time. He did not respond to summons nor did he ever take the advice that Hiruzen had given him. Instead, Orochimaru receded further and further down a path that Hiruzen could not see the end of.
The world was changing. Hiruzen could tell that much. As for how and when?
Only a fool would dare presume that much.
"Hiruzen!!" Danzo Shimura burst through the Hokage's doors without a care in the world.
Immediately, Hiruzen sighed. Anytime Danzo swaggered in with such an attitude Hiruzen knew that the man wanted something from him.
"Yes, Danzo? What is so urgent that you slammed my precious wood doors?" Hiruzen asked.
"The Uchiha have gone too far! That girl must be punished for her brazen disregard of the Will of Fire!!" Danzo argued.
Immediately, again, Hiruzen's eyebrows rose. Danzo never spoke of the Will of Fire. He must really want something big.
"Her behavior resembles many of the others. Even Jun-kun targeted areas meant for maximum pain." Hiruzen countered.
"She did not allow her opponent to surrender, Hiruzen! She is a beast! She's uncontrollable! Like all of the Uchiha! They are evil, despicable creatures, Hiruzen!" Danzo roared.
"And what do you propose her punishment should be? Have you not considered the implications of punishing one minor Uchiha? She is nothing, Danzo!"
"Send her to Root!" Danzo blurted. "A beast needs to be tamed, Hiruzen! Let me muzzle her and turn her into the tool her Clan was meant to be!"
"That's enough, Danzo!"
"Hiruzen–"
"I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen raised his voice. "And this conversation is over. You may leave now, Danzo."
For a moment, the air stilled. Danzo did not move. He stared at his old comrade. He stared at the incompetence and weak-will that had possessed him.
"Hmph!" Danzo turned and left.
*BANG*
He slammed the doors on the way out.