Danzo's single sentence left both Sarutobi Hiruzen and Might Duy stunned.
Not because they were afraid...
But because they couldn't understand it.
Hiruzen pondered for a moment, his gaze turning sharp.
"Danzo, don't tell me you deliberately stirred up friction along the border just to rack up military merits?"
"I did authorize the village's shinobi to retaliate in self-defense without restrictions..."
"But I never said they could start a war!"
Danzo's face darkened.
To be fair, he had thought about doing exactly that.
But Root was no longer his own private kingdom. If he actually went through with it, the trail would inevitably lead back to him...
So in the end, he had only entertained the idea.
"Hiruzen, that's completely unfair!"
"Do I look like the kind of person who'd start a war? I'm the Second Hokage's disciple too. I also carry the Will of Fire that longs for peace..." Danzo tried to imitate Hiruzen's usual rhetoric and public image.
What he hadn't expected was that Hiruzen and Duy—two people with completely opposite personalities—would react in exactly the same way.
Both simply smiled with a dry, "Heh."
Danzo clicked his tongue. Sure enough, this style just wasn't his forte...
"Look, Hiruzen."
Walking over, Danzo laid the aerial reconnaissance photos taken by the patrol force's air squadron of Kirigakure's advancing army on the desk.
"The Land of Water and Kirigakure have announced to the entire shinobi world that the village betrayed their trust, exploited the cooperation with Kirigakure for massive illegitimate gains, and deliberately fed them false intelligence..."
"So now they're launching an attack on Konoha!"
He placed several official documents on the desk as well.
Half-convinced, Hiruzen picked them up and read through them carefully.
Then he fell silent.
The Hokage's face filled with utter bewilderment.
This...
This made no sense!
"Danzo..." Hiruzen muttered softly.
"I'm here. What's wrong?"
"We stationed those integrated sea-air patrol warships along the coastal border, didn't we? We never intentionally concealed the Air Ninja technology we seized from Kirigakure. Even if they've been isolating themselves from the outside world, they still should've seen it..."
Hiruzen took out his pipe and began smoking one puff after another.
"They definitely saw it." Danzo nodded.
"They even sent exchange students to the village. We never intentionally played weak in front of them. Whether it was our welfare systems or the combat strength of our shinobi, we let Nakamaro and the others witness every bit of it firsthand."
Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"You were pretty unhappy with that approach before."
"I was. I thought we shouldn't display so much military strength to Kirigakure. It would only discourage any hostile intentions they had," Danzo replied matter-of-factly.
"It's just like how the ANBU and Root bait shinobi from other hidden villages into making the first move. If you don't make yourself look weak enough, who's going to attack you?"
"Other people aren't idiots. They have basic judgment."
Hiruzen waved a hand.
"You know what I was aiming for... I did all that because I wanted Kirigakure to recognize Konoha's overwhelming military superiority and form a relatively stable alliance with us."
"And together with Amegakure in the north, an alliance between the three villages would make the other three Great Hidden Villages think twice before trying to interrupt our development through war."
"With Konoha's current rate of development, every extra year we can buy before war breaks out will have a decisive impact on the outcome."
Danzo let out a sigh but didn't argue.
Konoha wasn't like Sunagakure.
In modern Sunagakure, where puppet techniques and Magnet Release dominated, the prestige of the First Kazekage, Reto, had actually fallen behind that of the Second Kazekage, Shamon.
But in Konoha, Hashirama's prestige and reputation far surpassed Tobirama's.
Following Hashirama's ideal of pursuing peace was absolute political correctness in Konoha.
Even Danzo—the Darkness of the Shinobi—would never openly challenge that principle, lest he become the target of universal condemnation...
Besides, Danzo also believed Hiruzen's approach could work.
It just wasn't as efficient—or as satisfying.
"Then tell me..."
"If Kirigakure already knew all of this, why would they still choose to wage war against the village?" Hiruzen's face showed profound confusion, along with a trace of anger.
Hiruzen naturally understood geopolitical concepts like a preventive war and the Thucydides Trap.
That was precisely why he had been doing everything he could to prevent such a situation from arising.
As long as Kirigakure understood that Konoha had already pulled far ahead of them, it should have shattered any unrealistic fantasies they still harbored.
That, in turn, would have allowed the Konoha–Kirigakure–Amegakure trilateral alliance to take shape, maintaining a stable balance across the shinobi world while all three villages continued developing steadily.
But how could the Third Mizukage be this unbelievably insane?
Konoha had practically laid all its cards on the table to demonstrate its strength. While Nakamaro and the others were still in the village, Hiruzen had even seen Kisame run into the Nine-Tails when it had secretly slipped out during its morning exercise...
And they still dared to start a war?
"Well..."
Realizing that his usually easygoing old friend was genuinely angry, Danzo carefully chose his words.
"Hiruzen, you know what the shinobi world is like. It's full of all kinds of people who just aren't normal..."
"Their mental states and obsessions are far too extreme. Quite a few of them even have self-destructive tendencies, so you can't judge them by the standards of our own village..."
"I know you're angry because your sincere efforts for peace were thrown back in your face, but there's just nothing we can do about that..."
Danzo rambled on, doing his best to comfort Hiruzen.
Duy, standing off to the side, felt his face gradually flush red as he listened. It was as if every muscle in his body had been filled with strength.
Even a man whose creed was to protect others found violent thoughts rising within him.
He suddenly wanted to kick something...
What magnificent character the Hokage possessed!
He could clearly have lured Kirigakure into declaring war on Konoha, giving the village every justification to strike back...
Yet the Hokage had refused to do so, remaining wholeheartedly committed to working alongside the other villages for their mutual prosperity. He truly carried both the Will of Fire and the ideal of peace in his heart...
So why were there always people who couldn't appreciate it?
"If they're going to spit on our goodwill..."
"Then we fight!" Hiruzen suddenly slammed his hand onto the desk, making the entire office tremble.
Both Danzo and Duy froze.
"Sound the alarm immediately! Place every shinobi in the village on Level One combat readiness! All Konoha Council Members are to report to the Hokage Building at once for a war council!"
This time, Hiruzen was genuinely furious with Kirigakure.
For all his kindness and generosity...
If someone came knocking at Konoha's door looking for a fight, then unless he shattered the enemy's teeth, they would only continue entertaining dangerous fantasies.
"Yes, Hokage!"
Danzo snapped to attention before rushing off to carry out the orders.
The moment Hiruzen lost his temper, the words Danzo had intended to use to persuade him died in his throat.
Even he, Hiruzen's oldest friend, found that fury chilling.
When a genuinely kind man was pushed too far...
He was terrifying.
At that moment...
The peaceful atmosphere of Konoha was shattered by the piercing wail of the emergency alarm.
Every shinobi and villager instinctively stopped what they were doing and looked at one another.
Thanks to the Police Force's long-running public awareness campaign, everyone knew exactly what it meant...
Another hidden village had invaded the Land of Fire!
Konoha was entering a state of war preparedness.
A long-forgotten war was about to begin!
From that moment onward, an air of grim determination spread throughout the village.
The shinobi's expressions became deadly serious as they hurried back to their assigned units.
Inside the village's command center, members of the Yamanaka Clan used the Earth Grudge Communicator to contact the jōnin and ANBU currently out on missions, ordering them to return to the village immediately and await further instructions.
...
Ichiraku Ramen.
Teuchi wore a solemn expression as he shouted, "Everything's free today! Everyone, go take care of what's important!"
The shinobi who had been eating ramen barely had time to thank him. Most could only offer an apologetic glance before dashing toward their designated assembly areas and reforming into their assigned units to await the village's orders.
"War's coming, old man Ichiraku..."
Teuchi let out a sigh.
"I wonder which bastard started this war."
"War..." The Sage of Six Paths frowned. Although he had expected this day to come, seeing it actually arrive still stirred mixed emotions within him.
During his time in Konoha, he had gradually come to think of himself as nothing more than an ordinary ramen chef. Living amid the warmth, liveliness, and peace that filled Konoha had brought him genuine happiness.
It was almost exactly the kind of world he had envisioned when he first founded Ninshū.
But war remained a harsh trial.
The Sage of Six Paths felt not the slightest pity for those who destroyed peace. It was only natural that those who committed evil should be severely punished. Showing mercy would only embolden the wicked.
Even when facing his own mother, Kaguya, he had never hesitated to use Planetary Devastation to seal her inside the moon for a thousand years in order to protect the shinobi world.
Yet, based on the thousand years he had spent observing the world...
Even shinobi fighting for the side of justice often suffered severe moral decline during war. Some even abandoned their pursuit of peace altogether and descended into unpredictable extremes.
Uchiha Madara and the Infinite Tsukuyomi were classic examples.
'But Hiruzen is different. He's already proven himself...'
'He once attacked Kusagakure, yet his objective was only to rescue the kidnapped shinobi. He didn't seize the other hidden villages' rescued shinobi and turn them into Konoha's slaves or forced laborers. Instead, he sent every one of them back to their own villages...'
The Sage of Six Paths hadn't spent his time in Konoha merely making ramen. He had also been steadily learning about everything that had happened throughout the shinobi world, especially events involving Konoha.
His favorite pastime now was welcoming the little Uchiha children who visited the shop before standing near the model citizen bulletin board outside the Uchiha Compound, chatting and laughing with the villagers.
Whenever the Uchiha children gathered around him, praising Uncle Ichiraku's delicious ramen and kind personality, the Sage felt an indescribable sense of fulfillment.
Every one of them was a tiny little Indra...
Looking at it that way, the Uchiha actually liked him quite a bit. The only real issue had been a misunderstanding between him and his eldest son...
It could only be said that, when it came to family matters, even a Sage sometimes found himself completely helpless and could only seek a little comfort where he could.
'Let me see how you'll handle this, Hiruzen...'
As he thought that, the Sage of Six Paths poured spring water into the loose flour and began kneading the dough.
His palms pressed, folded, and worked the dough along the natural grain of the gluten. Rather than crushing it by force, he simply coaxed the scattered flour into merging into a single supple, resilient mass.
After the dough had rested, he rolled it into an even sheet.
The long knife came down, every cut spaced with flawless precision.
Following the grain of the dough, each stroke ran cleanly from end to end, and in the blink of an eye, the sheet had become countless perfectly straight strands of noodles.
With a gentle sweep and lift of his fingertips, he gathered the noodles along their natural flow. Suspended in the air like countless silk threads, they wove themselves into an intricate web-like structure that remained perfectly motionless.
After observing Hiruzen up close, the Sage of Six Paths had already realized that this extraordinarily gifted Hokage was attempting to reach the realm of Kekkei Mōra as a mere mortal.
The individual bloodline and composite chakra threads within Hiruzen's body were proof enough that he was imitating a Kekkei Mōra.
Although it was only an inferior version, it still greatly piqued the Sage's interest.
His talent even surpassed that of Asura and Indra...
After all, those two had started far too far ahead.
A thought crossed the Sage of Six Paths' mind.
If Hiruzen handled this war in a way that aligned with the ideals the Sage approved of, then perhaps he could give the Hokage a small reward...
Of course, the Sage of Six Paths had principles of his own.
As long as the shinobi world had not yet fallen into crisis, he would not use the power of the Six Paths.
However, offering a talented junior a small hint or two as an elder...
The Sage didn't consider that to be interfering with the world's natural course.
It was simply the reasonable way of thinking for the co-owner of Ichiraku Ramen.
Helping the Hokage out, that's all!
As for whether that actually counted as interference...
Well, no one could say for certain. Probably no one would complain about it anyway...
Besides, the Sage of Six Paths thought he was being quite subtle.
He was just kneading dough!
What else was someone at a ramen shop supposed to do?
As for what the Hokage might comprehend from it...
That had nothing to do with him. It wasn't the Sage of Six Paths' responsibility.
"Ichiraku, looks like you've already gotten into work mode!"
Watching the Sage continue preparing ingredients, Teuchi was briefly taken aback before quickly understanding.
"Come on, let me help! During the war, the first three thousand bowls will be free. After that, we'll only charge enough to cover costs. Every shinobi protecting the village deserves a steaming bowl of ramen..."
"We can't fight ourselves, so this is the least we can do!"
"But every bit of help counts. It's still better than doing nothing..."
After a moment's thought, Teuchi hurriedly added, "And all the expenses are coming out of my pocket!"
After all, the ramen shop was a joint business between him and the Sage.
Even if it was to support the village, Teuchi didn't think it was right to drag his partner into it.
Ichiraku had only been in Konoha for a few years.
It wasn't his place to pay for this.
"What are you saying, Teuchi?" The Sage of Six Paths felt a warmth well up inside him.
Teuchi's refusal to take advantage of anyone while doing everything he could to support the village allowed him to glimpse the very heart of Ninshū shining through...
Strong or weak, everyone stood united as one.
Those with money contributed money.
Those with strength contributed strength.
"Didn't you say that after I'd worked here for a few years, I'd be able to settle down in Konoha? When the time comes, remember to help me find the right people."
"Konoha will be my home too. Now that the village's in trouble, how could I not do my part?"
The Sage chuckled.
"Don't underestimate me! The kids all call me Konoha's 'Ramen Sage.' I can't let everyone down after they've shown me so much affection."
Teuchi stared blankly at him before shaking his head with heartfelt admiration.
"You really are something, Ichiraku..."
"Alright! Then let's make sure the village's logistics never fail!"
With a loud shout, Teuchi and the Sage of Six Paths threw themselves into preparing food with boundless enthusiasm.
They were fighting for Konoha too!
...
Hokage Building.
Conference Room.
Hiruzen sat at the head of the table.
The Konoha Council Members had all returned as quickly as possible.
It hadn't taken long, thanks to Orochimaru's real-time communication network, as well as Tobirama and Minato, both of whom could use the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The uniforms worn by the jōnin all bore concealed Flying Thunder God Technique markings.
It wasn't enough to guarantee instantaneous reinforcement.
After all, Tobirama and Minato each had duties of their own.
If either of them was engaged in battle, they couldn't activate long-range sensory perception.
Still, having the option was far better than not having it.
And now, it was proving its worth.
"Everyone's here. We'll begin the meeting."
"Everyone..."
"Kirigakure has declared war on us."
"And they've rallied the other hidden villages to issue a joint declaration of war against Konoha."
Hiruzen folded his hands together, his gaze calm and steady as he motioned for the Council Members to read the documents laid out before them.
Just like Hiruzen earlier, the Council Members' faces immediately filled with confusion.
Huh?
Kirigakure was attacking Konoha?
Was there really such a thing as smashing an egg against a boulder?
Even Orochimaru, who was normally unshakably composed, wore a puzzled expression.
Because even if all four Great Hidden Villages were nominally joining forces against Konoha, upsetting the balance of power still required someone to bear the brunt of the opening clash.
If Kirigakure intended to serve as that fulcrum, then they would have to withstand Konoha's first wave of attacks...
Wouldn't that simply end with Kirigakure being crushed?
Even if the other hidden villages managed to gain something from the conflict, it would have nothing to do with a Kirigakure that had already been reduced to rubble.
So where exactly was the logic behind this plan?
Especially considering that Kirigakure should have been the hidden village that understood Konoha's strength better than anyone else.
What was interesting, however, was that after finishing the declaration of war, although a handful of Council Members displayed the same anger Hiruzen had felt—Maruboshi Kōsuke, Jiraiya, and Sakumo among them—
Far more of them couldn't suppress the delight mixed into their outrage.
Hiruzen glanced around the room.
His own anger faded a little, replaced by helpless amusement at this bunch of battle fanatics.
Isshin.
Tenzō.
Fugaku.
Hizashi.
Hiruko.
Danzo.
Orochimaru...
Even Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were doing their utmost to keep the corners of their mouths from turning upward.
Sometimes Hiruzen had to admit that, if he had possessed the mindset of a traditional shinobi while commanding these people and these resources, he probably wouldn't have had the patience to focus on development.
Instead, he would have raised his arm and let the flames of war engulf the entire shinobi world!
Forget the long term.
Fight first!
But the Will of Fire rooted within Hiruzen ran too deep to be swayed by emotion.
"Sensei, the shameless Third Mizukage and Kirigakure must be dealt the harshest punishment!"
Orochimaru raised a hand.
"Genji and the Third Mizukage have betrayed our alliance!"
Hiruzen nodded.
"They certainly have."
"Everyone, let's first establish the overall situation of this war."
"As we all know, Konoha's abundant resources, along with the strength of the Senju and Uchiha, have always been coveted and feared by the other hidden villages. Now that Kirigakure has taken the lead, the others will undoubtedly follow."
"Sunagakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure have all declared war on Konoha, accusing us of provoking an arms race across the shinobi world, pursuing hegemony, infiltrating their nobility, and plundering their resources."
"The smaller hidden villages have remained neutral, but Takigakure has unexpectedly joined their alliance and issued its own declaration."
Hiruzen had initially been surprised that Takigakure—a village that had largely kept to itself—had suddenly emerged to attack Konoha.
His reputation among the smaller hidden villages should have been fairly good.
Why would even Takigakure, the village that possessed the Seven-Tails, become hostile toward Konoha?
But after thinking about Kakuzu, Hiruzen understood.
Although Kakuzu had concealed his identity and hadn't publicly announced that he had joined Konoha at first, shinobi across the world weren't fools. Given enough time, clues were bound to surface.
Kakuzu and Takigakure had been natural enemies from the very beginning.
That conflict ran too deep to erase.
Their hostility toward Konoha was probably fueled by the fact that Konoha had taken Kakuzu in.
But Hiruzen didn't care.
Setting aside the fact that Takigakure had been in the wrong in its dispute with Kakuzu...
It had also been Takigakure that had ordered Kakuzu to assassinate Hashirama all those years ago.
The First Hokage himself might not have cared.
But Hiruzen certainly could pursue the matter.
He held grudges.
And from a legal and moral standpoint, his justification was entirely sound.
After all, legitimacy was far from meaningless.
Its clearest manifestation was having a just cause for war.
Compared to forcing a war upon people, convincing the shinobi fighting that they stood on the righteous side greatly boosted both morale and unity.
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