Konoha Village News
Konoha Intelligence Division, July 7 Report:
Hiruzen Sarutobi, leader of Konohagakure, met today at the Hokage Building with Morgans, the head of the Ninja World Economic News Agency, widely known as Big News.
The two sides discussed several pressing matters, including the Third Great Ninja War, recent attacks, relations between Konoha and Kirigakure, and the issue of the Tailed Beasts. Among these, the topic that drew the most attention was Konoha's Lightning Flash, Uchiha Hayashi.
The following is an excerpt from the interview:
Morgans: This should be the third time you have accepted an interview with our agency, correct?
Hiruzen Sarutobi: That's correct. The first time was when I had just become Hokage, and the second was after Konoha's victory in the Second Great Ninja War. I believe there will be a fourth interview soon.
Morgans: You sound very confident that Konoha will win this war.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: Isn't that obvious? We have already defeated Kirigakure.
Morgans: However, according to our sources, Kirigakure has no intention of surrendering. The Fourth Mizukage still seems determined to continue resisting.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: Determined, that is a nice way to put it. But in the face of overwhelming strength, persistence alone has no meaning. Words cannot compete with reality.
I believe the Fourth Mizukage is a rational man. If he refuses to act rationally, Hayashi would not mind paying Kirigakure another visit and having a private discussion.
Morgans: I will make sure to pass that message along. Speaking of Hayashi, the man known across the ninja world as Konoha's Lightning Flash, I had hoped to interview him as well. However, he does not appear to be in the village at the moment.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: He is currently carrying out a mission.
Morgans: Would it be possible to disclose his location?
At that point, the interview was abruptly interrupted. An ANBU operative stepped forward and confiscated the recording device, leading to a brief confrontation.
Ten minutes later, the interview resumed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: This is a sensitive time. The question you asked involves classified military information. Also, I would prefer if the previous segment were removed.
Morgans: I apologize, but I must uphold professional standards. Accuracy and completeness are essential in reporting.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: Very well. I am sure Hayashi would be happy to speak with you personally.
...
Morgans: Ahem, let us return to the main topic. The events of May shocked the entire ninja world. Konoha's Lightning Flash infiltrated Kirigakure alone. According to incomplete reports, more than a thousand ninja and civilians died in that attack, and the village itself suffered devastating destruction. What is your opinion on this matter?
Hiruzen Sarutobi: I regret the loss of life, but this is the reality of war. It is harsh and unforgiving. Still, I will restate Konoha's position.
We are a village that values peace, but we do not fear war.
Konoha will never be the first to deploy Konoha's Lightning Flash, nor will we use him to threaten peace-loving nations.
However, we will not tolerate hostility, incitement of war, or baseless claims such as the so-called Konoha Threat Theory.
Morgans: Understood. We have heard the resolve of the Third Hokage. Finally, is there anything else you would like to say?
Hiruzen Sarutobi: May the ninja world know peace.
This concludes the official interview with the Third Hokage. The entire village stands united under the leadership of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The autobiography originally scheduled for release,
The Fourth Mizukage: My Struggle,
has been postponed indefinitely due to unforeseen circumstances.
Small Advertisement: Hello everyone, I am Hōzuki Takitsuki, head of the Hōzuki Clan. I was ambushed by Konoha's Lightning Flash and forced to abandon my body, my spirit barely escaping to the Land of Demons. I am currently in need of funds to rebuild. If you support me now, when I become the Fifth Mizukage and unify the ninja world, I will reward you greatly.
...
If the Third Hokage was the first to learn of the catastrophe that struck Kirigakure, then Ōnoki was not far behind.
Despite the great distance between their villages, Iwagakure had always kept a close watch on Kirigakure. The reason was simple, the two had a long-standing feud.
Years ago, the Second Tsuchikage and the Second Mizukage battled for three days and nights in the Land of Water, ultimately killing each other.
The Second Tsuchikage had been Ōnoki's mentor.
Because of that loss, Ōnoki had always paid close attention to Kirigakure's movements.
At this moment, the conference room was silent.
The high-ranking officials of Iwagakure felt shock, but also a sense of relief.
Fortunately, that terrifying figure, Konoha's Lightning Flash, had not appeared on the front lines of the Land of Grass. Otherwise, it might have been Iwagakure facing destruction.
Only Ōnoki's expression continued to darken.
Floating slightly above the ground, he read through the intelligence report in silence, deep in thought.
After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh.
The younger ninja present could not understand its meaning, but the older generation knew exactly what it represented.
Looking out the window, Ōnoki's thoughts drifted back to a distant memory, to the day he met his teacher and another man.
It was not simply unpleasant.
It was a nightmare.
That day, everything he believed in had been shattered.
From that moment, he understood a simple truth, in the face of absolute power, all words become meaningless.
That man had become a lifelong shadow in Ōnoki's heart.
Later, Uchiha Madara fell in battle against Senju Hashirama.
And after that, Hashirama himself passed away.
The two towering figures who once dominated the ninja world were gone, allowing every village to breathe again.
Ōnoki believed that the suffocating fear they inspired had vanished with them.
But he had been wrong.
With the destruction of Kirigakure, the lingering shadow of Madara had reappeared, now embodied in a young Uchiha.
In the future, who would dare stand against such a person?
Susanoo was not something that could be overcome simply by numbers. And even if it were, would Konoha remain idle?
Ōnoki slowly turned his gaze toward the distant mountains, his expression unreadable.
He was a veteran of countless battles. Worrying alone would not change anything.
Finally, he spoke in a firm voice.
"Recall Roshi immediately."
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