Chương 208: Chapter 209: Danzo: Konoha Can't Survive Without Me

The ninja world possessed no shortage of methods for transmitting intelligence. At the most basic level, there were messengers. More advanced options included trained birds such as communication hawks. Fastest of all were intelligent summons—cats, dogs, and other creatures capable of carrying information directly. Every village had its own network. Kumogakure was no exception. Killing or detaining the delegation now would accomplish nothing.

The information had almost certainly already been relayed through some covert channel. And even if no message had been sent, that absence itself would be a message. Kumogakure would act regardless. After ordering the jōnin council to assemble, Hiruzen turned to another ANBU operative.

"Transmit my orders to the northern front immediately. Tell them to prepare for a possible Kumogakure offensive." He paused.

"If the enemy's strength proves overwhelming, they are not to throw away their lives. I authorize a withdrawal. Reinforcements will be dispatched from the village at once."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!" The ANBU vanished.

"Come." Hiruzen gestured to the Hyūga brothers.

"Let's discuss our response at the jōnin council." Then he looked toward Dongye zhen.

"You as well."

"Me?" Dongye zhen blinked.

"I'm not a jōnin." The old man sighed helplessly.

"Didn't you just claim the kill was yours?"

"... Fair enough." Perhaps the Third already knew who had actually killed the delegation leader. But did it matter? Not really. This wasn't the original timeline. The Nine-Tails disaster hadn't devastated Konoha. Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki were both alive and well. And above all else— They had Dongye zhen. With that kind of deterrent in hand, Hiruzen Sarutobi had more than enough confidence to stare Kumogakure down. Soon, the available jōnin council members and clan heads gathered in the conference room.

On the raised platform sat Konoha's famous F4. Minato occupied the seat beside the Third Hokage. Looking over the assembled shinobi, Hiruzen decided to settle several matters in one stroke. Drawing deeply on his pipe, he announced:"Everyone. Just moments ago, the leader of Kumogakure's diplomatic delegation died." The room exploded.

"What?!"

"Impossible!"

"He was at the banquet not long ago!"

"How did this happen?" The news struck like a thunderbolt. The incident had unfolded so quickly that most of them hadn't even heard the details yet. Now they were suddenly being told that the man responsible for negotiating peace had died inside Konoha. No one considered that a small matter. Everyone knew Kumogakure's reputation. They were arrogant, aggressive, and rarely reasonable. There was no chance they'd let this slide. Was another war really about to erupt on the eve of the New Year? Koharu Utatane frowned.

"Hiruzen. What exactly happened? Who killed him?" Hiruzen nodded toward Dongye zhen.

"Zhen. Give everyone a brief explanation."

"Understood, Lord Hokage." Dongye zhen rose and calmly recounted the events.

"The delegation leader was only pretending to be drunk during the banquet. After retiring to his quarters, he coordinated with his subordinates and used a few tricks to deceive the ANBU surveillance team."

"He then infiltrated the Hyūga compound and abducted the heir of the main family."

"I witnessed everything from beginning to end." His voice remained perfectly even.

"As someone who finds the theft of Konoha's bloodline limits utterly intolerable, I naturally intervened."

"And killed him." A storm of outrage swept through the room.

"Despicable!"

"Those bastards!"

"Kumogakure acting like bandits again!"

"They want war? Then let's give them war!" Not a single person questioned Dongye zhen's actions. The enemy had practically walked into Konoha's home and tried to rob them blind. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. If anything, killing the man was showing restraint. Satisfied by the crowd's reaction, Hiruzen nodded.

"We all understand this is merely Kumogakure's pretext. Nevertheless, war may break out at any moment."

"Let's begin discussing troop deployment." Dongye zhen raised a hand.

"Lord Third, there's no need for such a fuss. The village doesn't need to mobilize on a massive scale over this."

"I'll go to the front myself." Hiruzen stared.

"Just you?"

"Of course not." Dongye zhen smiled.

"The northern forces are due to rotate home for the New Year anyway. I'll accompany the replacement troops." Ever since the giant incident, no one doubted his strength anymore. Voices of agreement quickly spread through the room. Even though Dongye Jiro, Gekkō Kumami, and Uzuki Yūwa looked somewhat concerned, none of them objected. Right now, overwhelming force was the best way to crush Kumogakure's ambitions. Hiruzen considered for a moment before nodding.

"Very well. With your strength, I have no concerns." Then his expression grew serious.

"However, I want your primary goal to be ending the conflict. Avoid unnecessary slaughter that would only deepen the hatred between both sides."

"I understand, Lord Hokage." After a brief discussion with his brother, Hizashi Hyūga rose to his feet.

"Lord Third. Regardless of the circumstances, the man died within the Hyūga Clan."

"I will serve as Zhen's deputy and lead a contingent of Hyūga shinobi to the battlefield." Hiruzen nodded.

"Approved."

"Then it's settled." He paused.

"Now for the second reason this meeting was called." The room quieted immediately. Hiruzen exhaled a stream of smoke.

"At the end of this year, I will officially retire."

"I will no longer hold any position within Konoha."

"In the future, I ask all of you to support the Fourth Hokage wholeheartedly and help maintain the village's prosperity and stability." No one objected. If anything, many felt this announcement was long overdue. After all, he'd been serving as an "acting" Hokage for an awfully long time. Only one person immediately opposed it.

"Absolutely not." Danzo's voice rang through the room.

"Hiruzen, Minato is still too young—""Danzo." Hiruzen cut him off gently.

"Minato isn't young anymore. After these years of experience, he's fully qualified." A faint smile crossed his face.

"The truth is, we're the old ones now."

"And when old men grow old, they should step aside and hand the burden to the next generation." His gaze sharpened.

"That includes you."

"After the New Year, release the curse seals on Root personnel and merge the organization into ANBU."

"Retire alongside me."

"Koharu and Homura may remain for another couple of years."

"As for the two vacant advisor positions—whether Minato abolishes them or expands them—that decision will belong entirely to the Fourth Hokage." This was Hiruzen's final attempt to secure a peaceful retirement for his old friend. Whether Danzo accepted it or not was another matter entirely. Minato inclined his head respectfully.

"Please leave everything to me, Lord Third." Internally, he already understood the political significance. If he filled those advisor seats with his own people, he'd finally command a majority among Konoha's leadership and free himself from constant obstruction. Without Hiruzen and Danzo backing them, the remaining two elders might not continue opposing him at every turn. And those vacant seats— They were like admission tickets to Dongye zhen's dojo. A gigantic political prize.

No matter how they were distributed, they represented enormous leverage. The jōnin were openly delighted by Danzo's loss of power. Everyone present knew at least a little about the old hawk's methods. Very few liked him. Meanwhile, most minds had already fixated on a different word. Advisor. The highest echelon beneath the Hokage himself. Who wouldn't want that? Only a handful of jōnin who had once followed Orochimaru continued voicing opposition.

Danzo shot a glance at his two longtime comrades, hoping they would support him as they always had. Unfortunately, Homura and Koharu had suddenly become fascinated by the tips of their own shoes. Neither showed the slightest desire to intervene. The crippled elder finally erupted.

"Hiruzen!"

"The Root is an indispensable force that protects the village from the shadows!"

"Everything I've done has been for Konoha!"

"I oppose this decision!" Well then. He'd dispensed with formalities entirely. In front of the entire jōnin council, he addressed the Third Hokage by his childhood nickname.

"Danzo." Hiruzen's voice turned cold.

"As of this moment, I am still the Hokage."

"This is an order."

"You will obey it."

"Hmph!" Danzo's face darkened.

"You'll regret this." With a furious sweep of his sleeve, he stormed out of the room. Hand over power peacefully? Not in this lifetime. Though it was deep into the night, Konoha resembled a great beast roused from slumber. Replacement troops were already gathering ahead of schedule, preparing to depart for the northern front. Meanwhile, the Kumogakure delegation maintained contact with their village through special communication methods.

Not long afterward, Hiruzen finished issuing instructions and turned toward Dongye zhen and Hizashi.

"Then I'll leave everything in your hands." Dongye zhen smiled.

"Don't worry, Lord Hokage."

"There won't be a war." At that moment, an ANBU operative appeared and handed over a report.

"Lord Hokage. Kumogakure has also delivered a message to the Hyūga Clan."

"I see." Hiruzen read the contents and shook his head.

"The Fourth Raikage is as greedy as ever." A Hyūga elder then entered with several clan members.

"Lord Hokage."

"If Kumogakure merely wants Hizashi's body, perhaps this matter can still be resolved."

"There is no need for war between nations over our clan." Hiruzen raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"Are you suggesting surrendering Hiashi?"

"Of course not." The elder's answer came instantly.

"The Byakugan of the main family must never be lost."

"But branch family members exist to protect the main family."

"Hizashi and Hiashi are twins. Their appearances are nearly identical."

"So..." The implication was obvious. If sacrificing an expendable branch family member could prevent war, it was a bargain. After all, branch family lives weren't worth much in his eyes. Hizashi remained expressionless.

"Elder."

"If that's truly the decision, why didn't my brother come tell me himself?" The elder snorted.

"Watch your place, Hizashi."

"This is the unanimous decision of the main family."

"You are in no position to question it." Apparently Hiashi had refused and been restrained by the clan elders. Dongye zhen was dumbfounded.

"Elder."

"Ordinarily, this is a Hyūga family matter, and I wouldn't interfere."

"But I do have one question." His eyes narrowed.

"So you hand over Senior Hizashi's corpse this time."

"What about next time?"

"What happens when Kumogakure pulls the same stunt again?"

"Whose body do you give them then?"

"The time after that?" He tilted his head slightly.

"Yours?" The elder's expression stiffened.

"If that's your logic, there's no need for complications."

"We can send you instead."

"I can completely destroy your bloodline and ensure Kumogakure gains absolutely nothing."

"So tell me." Dongye zhen smiled.

"Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for peace?" The elder trembled with rage.

"Y-you little brat—what do you know?!" Dongye zhen's voice suddenly sharpened.

"You're right."

"I don't know much."

"But I do know this—""Peace is never won through surrender."

"And I certainly won't acknowledge a peace bought with Senior Hizashi's corpse." He stepped forward.

"If that's the answer, then what exactly have we spent our lives training for?"

"To become turtles hiding inside our shells?" His gaze turned icy.

"I think you're simply senile."

"If you want to be a coward, don't drag me into it."

"Y-you... you..." The elder's face flushed crimson. Being called an old turtle by someone young enough to be his grandson, in front of so many witnesses, nearly sent his blood pressure through the roof. He was furious enough to meet his ancestors on the spot. As for attacking Dongye zhen? Not a chance. He was old, not suicidal. Even tied together, the entire Hyūga Clan wouldn't survive a single hand of Dongye zhen. Seeing an opportunity, Hiruzen stepped in.

"Enough."

"The matter is settled."

"The Hyūga Clan need not take any further action."

"Return home."

"And do not act on your own." Watching the elder wobble away in fury, Hiruzen felt his temper rising as well. Konoha wasn't powerless anymore. If they actually followed the Hyūga elder's proposal, the entire shinobi world would laugh at them. And after retirement? What would happen to the reputation of Hiruzen Sarutobi—the Professor, the Hero of Shinobi?