Chapter 107: The Name of Hiruzen Sarutobi; Global Shifting Tides
As the shinobi rescued by Konoha from the Hidden Grass were returned to their
respective villages, the Kage and various leaders immediately convened emergency
summits to dissect the Hidden Leaf's true intentions.
In the minor villages—Ame, Taki, and Yu—the reaction was one of stunned
disbelief.
Is the Leaf actually treating us like people?
Konoha hadn't just returned their missing kin; they had provided a "Restitution
Package" from the seized Grass treasury. While the amount wasn't life-changing,
the gesture sent a wave of warmth through the lower ranks of the minor nations.
The Hidden Rain Village (Amegakure).
"Hiruzen Sarutobi... what game are you playing?"
Hanzo of the Salamander frowned at the intelligence reports. "Konoha possessed
this level of military efficiency? That means when they fought me... they
weren't even showing their full strength."
"They decapitated the Grass Village in less than two hours. The foundation of
the world's greatest superpower is truly terrifying."
"And they returned our shinobi without asking for a bribe..."
"They've propped up the Grass 'Flower' faction and completely eradicated the
'Fruit' hardliners. Surgical."
Hanzo let out a long, weary sigh. The Second Great Ninja War had been driven
largely by his own ambitions. After mastering his high-level Water Style and the
lethal Salamander Poison, Hanzo had genuinely believed he could unify the Ninja
World under his vision of "Peace."
In terms of raw battlefield dominance, Hanzo was a peerless monster. His toxic
mist and god-tier Shunshin could wipe out elite Jonin squads in the blink of an
eye.
But he had been broken by the reality of the Great Nations. Konoha, the Stone,
and the Sand possessed "Depth"—infinite reserves of manpower and resources that
a minor village could never match. Despite his early victories, his poison was
eventually countered by Chiyo of the Sand and Tsunade of the Leaf. He had been
forced into a stalemate, barely surviving until the peace treaties were signed.
"It seems sparing those three brats was the right choice," Hanzo mused.
He was referring to The Sannin—the Sarutobi Team.
"If the Hokage's disciples had died on my soil, the Monkey would have turned the
Rain into a wasteland. I wouldn't be standing here today."
Hanzo realized that Hiruzen's reputation for being "fair" and "noble" was a
double-edged sword. He had let Ame survive because Hanzo had shown mercy to his
students.
"But the hell of the Ninja World is changing even a man like him," Hanzo noted.
"Hiruzen is sharpening his blade. He's using 'Soft Power' as a cover for
military dominance. He didn't seize territory, he didn't annex the Grass—he just
'sanitized' it in the name of peace."
"How troublesome!"
The return of the Rain captives forced Hanzo's hand. He couldn't condemn Konoha
for saving his people. If he tried to start a PR war, his own shinobi—who were
currently praising the Leaf's kindness—would look at him like he was a madman.
"Halt all negative propaganda against the Leaf," Hanzo commanded his advisors.
"From this day forward, the official narrative of the Second War is this: The
conflict was caused by the Hidden Sand's greed and the Hidden Stone's
instigation."
"The clash between the Rain and the Leaf was a tragedy born of deception. Both
villages were victims of Suna and Iwa's schemes. We were blinded by misfortune."
"Emphasize that the Hokage and I are both dedicated men of peace. It is time to
resolve our 'misunderstandings' permanently."
"Announce that Amegakure wishes to form a Strategic Partnership with Konoha. A
mere ceasefire is no longer enough for the brothers of the Fire and the Rain!"
Hanzo rubbed his temples. He hated doing his own PR, but in a world where Konoha
was projecting such powerful "Light," he had to align himself with it or be
swallowed by the shadows.
The Hidden Cloud (Kumogakure).
Dodai delivered his report to the Third Raikage.
The massive leader slowly lowered a giant stone barbell, his sweat-slicked
muscles corded like iron cables.
"So, he's 'Flexing' with a smile. Cunning Monkey."
"He calls it 'Humanitarian Aid,' but it's a warning to the rest of us. He's
showing us how fast his elite can move when they aren't hindered by
bureaucracy."
The Raikage's eyes turned cold. "But this is just the prelude to a larger war.
Tobirama Senju died in our mountains. Hiruzen is his student—he will never feel
'goodwill' toward the Cloud. Not unless he wants to lose his own people's
respect."
"Dodai, talk to the Land of Lightning's Daimyo. Demand a budget increase for
military training. I want the development of our Jinchuriki—Yugito Nii and
Killer B—accelerated immediately."
"And the Sage Treasures. Restart the mastery seminars. If the Leaf is using
'Forbidden Arts' as a deterrent, we need the Sage's power to match them."
The Raikage pointed at his son, A. "You! Stop staring and get in the tank! If
you can't master the Lightning Mode to the highest tier, you aren't fit to be my
heir!"
"Yes, Father!" A roared, his own lightning aura flickering.
"Spread the word," the Raikage added darkly. "Subtly link the death of Blue B to
Konoha's 'sanitization' of the Grass. Remind our people that Konoha's kindness
is a mask for their bloodlust. We do not trust the Leaf. We only wait."
The Hidden Stone (Iwagakure).
Ohnoki was delivering a similar lecture, floating in the air and spitting with
fury.
"Don't be fooled by the Leaf's 'Generosity'!" Ohnoki barked at his commanders.
"They're throwing pocket change at you while they sharpen their kunai! You know
who founded that village? Madara Uchiha named it! The man was a demon!"
"Tobirama Senju was a butcher! Hashirama was the only 'human' among them, and
he's been dead for decades! Hiruzen Sarutobi is a student of the Butcher, and
he's using the Uchiha as his frontline 'Cleaners'!"
"I want the 4-Tails and 5-Tails stabilized now! No more traveling! No more
'finding yourself'!"
Roshi, the 4-Tails Jinchuriki, let out a cold snort and stood up to leave.
"Where do you think you're going?" Ohnoki roared.
"I'm tired of your 'Uchiha-Leaf Threat' bedtime stories, old man. I've heard
them for forty years," Roshi said, looking back with a look of pure disgust.
"Konoha saved our people while you were busy counting your rocks. If the village
needs me on a battlefield, I'll be there. But I'm not wasting my life listening
to your paranoia."
"I am a weapon, yes. But I am also a man. My time is mine."
Ohnoki's hands wove the signs for the Particle Style. His eyes burned with an
urge to discipline the insolent host. But he stopped. A Jinchuriki who hated his
Kage was a liability he couldn't afford to break—not yet.
"I'm doing this for the Stone, Roshi!" Ohnoki shouted, deactivating the jutsu.
"Forgive my 'excitement,' but we cannot afford to be soft while Konoha grows
fat!"
Roshi didn't answer. He simply extended his left arm, which transformed into the
massive, red-furred limb of a lava-ape. Partial Transformation.
He looked at the Tsuchigage, then walked out.
Ohnoki slumped in the air. Cunning Hiruzen... he's making my own people question
me without ever crossing my border.
The Hidden Mist (Kirigakure).
The Third Mizukage sat in his darkened office, laughing softly.
"Sarutobi is truly my 'friend.'"
"To return our shinobi across the sea... it is a show of respect. It bolsters my
'Face' while I continue the purges."
"It seems there's no need to crush the Kaguya clan yet. Let them keep their
'correspondence' with the Hyuga. It keeps them distracted."
He turned to an assistant. "Take a few Academy brats and some Genin. Go to
Konoha and pick up the 'worthless trash' they rescued from the Grass."
"And once you're in international waters... execute them. If they were weak
enough to be captured by the Grass, they have no place in my Bloody Mist."
The Mizukage's smile didn't reach his eyes. "We don't need survivors. We only
need the strong."
Konoha. The Repatriation Zone.
As the villages began collecting their people, Seisui Uchiha (Tobirama) stood
beside Shisui.
He watched as the Cloud and Stone representatives took their gold and their
people, their faces masks of strained politeness. He saw the Rain ninjas bowing
to the Leaf guards with genuine tears.
Tobirama looked at the Hokage, who was standing on a balcony overlooking the
square.
You've done it, Saru, Tobirama thought. You've turned 'Decency' into a strategic
weapon. You've made our enemies' own soldiers love us.
But the Uchiha... they're still watching me.
Tobirama adjusted the collar of his new Uchiha robe.
"Ready for school, Shisui?" Seisui asked, his Sharingan flickering with a
mischievous light.
"Ready, Brother!"
"Good. Let's go meet this 'Master of the Flash.' I want to see if he's actually
perfected my jutsu, or if he's just another blonde idiot."
☆☆☆
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