"The meaning behind that name…" Jiraiya stroked his chin, forcing his imagination into overdrive as both an intelligence expert and a novelist. "'Under the King'… so they serve beneath some 'King'? And 'The Seven Warlords'… Could it be that there are seven people as strange and powerful as that 'Tree'?"
The speculation sent a chill through everyone present.
One "Tree" was already unfathomable.
If there were seven…
A heavy gloom settled over the clearing.
The flood of information was overwhelming—far beyond their existing understanding.
Demon God. The Seven Warlords. Inheritor. Devil Fruit. Chakra impurities…
"We must strengthen our cooperation," the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, said gravely after a long discussion.
"We must establish a tighter alliance and share all intelligence regarding the 'Demon God,' the 'The Seven Warlords,' the Devil Fruits, and anything revealed by the mysterious projections. No single village can face what may be coming."
The other Kage nodded solemnly.
"As for Kirigakure…" Tsunade glanced at the Mizukage's body on the ground and sighed. "With the Mizukage fallen, the Hidden Mist will inevitably descend into turmoil. Each of our four nations will dispatch an elite squad to escort his remains back to the Land of Water and inform the Mist's leadership of everything that happened here."
It was a reluctant but necessary decision.
The news of the Mizukage's death had to be delivered swiftly. Kirigakure needed time to choose a new leader and stabilize itself.
By sending escorts from all four nations, it was both humanitarian aid and a gesture—a signal that in the face of an unknown crisis, the Five Great Nations must preserve at least a basic framework of communication and cooperation.
With the decision made, no one spoke further.
They began cleaning up the battlefield, collecting their fallen comrades and tending to the wounded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi cast one last glance at Danzo Shimura's severed head in his hand, then toward the direction where "Tree" and Karin had vanished. His expression was deeply conflicted.
He handed Danzo's head to a member of the Sarutobi clan and quietly gave instructions before walking wearily to Tsunade and Jiraiya.
"Let's go back," he said hoarsely. "Konoha… has much to prepare."
Tsunade and Jiraiya nodded silently.
Together with the remaining Konoha shinobi, they turned and began the journey home.
Konohagakure
Kakashi Hatake pressed one hand against his aching temple. In the other, instead of Icha Icha Paradise, he held an urgent border patrol report.
The dark circles under his eyes were so deep they rivaled heavy makeup. Even his silver hair seemed dull.
"Please don't let anything happen…" he muttered hoarsely. "Lady Tsunade, Lord Jiraiya… you'd better get back soon."
Acting Hokage in their absence was draining his life force.
He hadn't touched his beloved reading material in days. His entire being radiated the exhaustion of someone on the brink of collapse.
As he forced himself to focus on the next report—this one concerning unusual fluctuations in the village's barrier—his gaze drifted unintentionally out the window.
The setting sun cast a golden-red glow over the Hokage Rock, illuminating the stone faces of the previous Hokage in solemn majesty.
And then—
Kakashi's entire body went rigid.
On top of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju's massive stone head…
There was someone standing there.
Who?!
A tourist? Impossible.
An enemy? A spy?
Kakashi's heart clenched as he locked his gaze onto the spot.
But the very next second, the figure vanished.
As if it had never been there.
Yet Kakashi was certain—absolutely certain—he had not imagined it.
"There's an intruder!"
Without hesitation, his orders came in rapid succession:
"ANBU, activate full alert immediately! Conduct a complete sweep of the village—especially the Hokage Rock area. Search for any abnormal signatures!"
"Inform all jōnin squad leaders to assemble their teams and enter combat readiness!"
"Notify the Medical Corps and logistics to prepare emergency protocols!"
The well-trained shinobi moved at once. Figures darted across rooftops and through the streets—tense, but orderly.
Even with the swift response, Kakashi's unease did not lessen.
The intruder had come and gone so easily—what was their objective?
Konoha's top combat forces were absent. Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Hiruzen were all outside the village.
Guy was powerful, yes, but…
"Guy…" Kakashi looked out the window again, thinking silently, I hope… there won't be a need for you to open that gate.
A Quiet Courtyard in Konoha
"Konoha is becoming more and more disgraceful," Koharu Utatane sneered, dissatisfaction plain on her face.
"No matter what's happening outside," Homura Mitokado said quietly, audible only to the two of them, "it has little to do with us now."
"Don't forget—we no longer hold any official positions. We're just two 'retired' elders. The village's defense is the Fifth Hokage's responsibility. We… will simply watch."
Their tone was calm.
Detached.
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