"Now how should we respond?"
Hearing the Third Hokage's question, Koharu, Homura, and Danzo all felt headaches.
If they'd known the outcome would be like this, they wouldn't have chosen such a hardline approach.
Though the war situation favored Konoha, giving them more confidence facing Sunagakure, they were two hundred percent unwilling to choose war with Sunagakure.
Why?
Because the losses would be too great.
To fight Sunagakure, they'd have to end the war with Iwagakure at this stage.
But the war's scales already tipped toward Konoha. Choosing peace with Iwagakure now would yield little benefit.
Having paid nearly half their Shinobi in casualties, expended countless resources and funds… abandoning victory at the cusp, then fighting Sunagakure, the best-preserved village in this Shinobi World War... Only someone insane would choose that.
Their tough stance toward the Sunagakure's delegation wasn't to start a war, but to use the delegation as bargaining chips to reclaim benefits previously extorted by Sunagakure.
They believed the Sunagakure's delegation wouldn't resist, thinking it a sure thing.
But they didn't expect the other side to play outside the script.
No, not outside the script… they underestimated Ryuji's capabilities.
Though Ryuji's style was tough, decisive, ruthless, all this was based on having formidable strength as backing. He himself was actually someone who thought thrice before acting, weighing pros and cons for optimal action.
If Ryuji's trump cards were truly as they understood, he might have chosen to yield as they imagined.
"Now we're past the point of no return. Either swallow our pride or truly break the agreement!"
Danzo spoke.
Both choices had pros and cons.
Swallowing pride meant two-thirds of the Police Force died in vain, the village's reputation would be lost, and village's Shinobi trust in the higher-ups would diminish.
Also, the Sunagakure's delegation would return with learned knowledge, using it to grow stronger.
But the benefit was focusing on Iwagakure, securing the deserved victory.
Truly breaking the agreement, deploying full force to capture the delegation, would rupture the alliance with Sunagakure, possibly leading to war… regardless of war losses or victory, the impending victory against Iwagakure would surely vanish.
Also, village's Shinobi would question such a foolish decision.
But regardless of choice, Konoha couldn't remain as composed as before.
Koharu and Homura looked at Hiruzen. As elder advisors, their duty was providing counsel. With Danzo's advice given, they awaited Hiruzen's decision.
But was such a decision easy?
Hiruzen paced anxiously behind his desk, the pipe in his mouth extinguished, unaware, puffing away.
"Hiruzen, no time to hesitate," Danzo urged. "Senki Ryuji's group is heading to the commercial street. If they reunite, dealing with them becomes harder. Whether swallowing pride or breaking the agreement, decide quickly."
Hearing this, Hiruzen stopped, looking over with a resolute expression.
"Activate war alert. Have Genin evacuate civilians to shelters. All combat-capable Chunin and above, assemble."
Regardless of choice, Konoha needed significant sacrifice for gains.
Seemingly, swallowing pride was more cost-effective.
But an organization's most vital aspect is unity.
Two-thirds of the Police Force dead… if they offered no explanation, village's Shinobi would surely be disappointed with higher-ups, even the village itself.
Then, with unity shattered, the village's future would be gone.
Thus, regardless of consequences, Konoha could only choose to break the agreement.
Konoha's execution was strong.
With war alarms sounding, villagers, under Genin guidance, orderly evacuated to shelters.
In fact, civilian evacuation had begun earlier.
Though they never truly intended conflict with the Sunagakure's delegation, as planners, they couldn't ignore potential conflict consequences.
Thus, when alarms sounded, Konoha quickly emptied, leaving only batches of mobilized Shinobi rushing through streets or over rooftops.
The Sunagakure's delegation resided in Konoha's western outskirts. West lay the Forest of Death; south, Konoha's main gate. The commercial street was two hours away; the hospital nearly three.
Of course, this was by civilian pace.
For Shinobi, about half an hour.
Forced march would reduce it under twenty minutes.
But considering upcoming combat, needing conserved stamina, Ryuji didn't order forced march, proceeding at regular speed toward the commercial street.
"Ryuji-sama..." After about ten minutes, a guard captain accelerated, catching up to propose, "After retrieving Karura and Yashamaru, we fight our way out. Should we split forces to seize Konoha's main gate now?"
Then, fearing Ryuji misunderstood, explained, "Judging from earlier attitudes, they didn't expect resistance. The main gate likely isn't reinforced. If we seize control before Konoha reacts and reinforces, we escape directly from the gate after retrieving our people."
"Excellent suggestion." Ryuji glanced at this accompanying guard Jonin in surprise. "Your name?"
"Yura. I'm Yura."
'Yura?'
Ryuji paused, then scrutinized this Jonin.
Black hair, black eyes, head wrapped in cloth, long bangs covering right eye, but face young, similar age to Ryuji.
"Is something wrong, sir?"
Seeing Ryuji staring, Yura felt puzzled.
"Nothing."
Ryuji shook his head, withdrawing his gaze. "Your suggestion is excellent. If I hadn't prepared other moves, it would be optimal tactics. But as I said in the meeting room, before coming to Konoha, I anticipated this day and made preparations."
"If sir is confident, I'll say no more."
Yura retreated into formation without distrust.
Ryuji's peripheral vision glanced at him. The young face increasingly resembled the future mature man.
'Is that bastard Sasori nearby?'
This Yura was a future Sunagakure's higher-up, but also a spy controlled by Sasori via the Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand Technique, acting as inside man when the Akatsuki invaded Sunagakure to capture Gaara.
Because of him, Deidara and Sasori succeeded so easily.
Yura's suggestion now made Ryuji think of Sasori.
Though Sasori agreed to be his spy within Akatsuki, Sasori wasn't honest. Before fulfilling promises, any action was possible.
Especially toward Ryuji, who captured him, nearly getting him executed... even assassination attempts were plausible.
However,
If Yura became a future Sunagakure's higher-up, he must have exceptional qualities. Uncommon strategic insight wasn't surprising.
Thus, it couldn't be determined whether Yura's suggestion was Sasori's instruction or his own viewpoint.
'It's better to stay extra vigilant in secret.'
Ryuji decided.
For discovered spies, the best method wasn't immediate elimination, but feigning ignorance, using them as channels for false information.
But regarding Sasori, he had no false information to transmit.
After all, no matter how strong, he was just one person… methods for dealing with organizations weren't needed.
But eliminating Yura directly would make Sasori plant unknown replacements.
Thus, only secretly monitoring Yura's actions remained.
Especially during events potentially linking to Sasori, closely watch him.
While thinking, the distant horizon met a group of Konoha's Shinobi.
The leader was familiar.
Black waist-length hair, pale skin, white robe, dangerous serpentine eyes.
—Orochimaru.
Behind him followed many Shinobi, most in Konoha's standard vests, but many in clan-style attire.
Like the Hyuga's hemp robes; Aburame's high-collared jackets, sunglasses, insect jars; Akimichi's large armor...
"Halt!"
Both sides stopped about twenty meters apart.
Ryuji and Orochimaru wordlessly stepped from their formations, stopping between both groups, assessing each other.
Orochimaru chuckled lightly. "Ryuji-kun, I didn't expect someone as intelligent as you to act so unwisely."
"Unwise?" Ryuji's lips curved slightly, forming a contemptuous smile. "Orochimaru, I thought you were intelligent. Turns out you're like those mediocre fools, truly thinking I'd push myself over a cliff?"
Hearing this, Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly.
Both Konoha's and his own intelligence indicated Ryuji wasn't reckless.
Konoha's greatest worry was Ryuji's actions not being impulsive but premeditated.
Orochimaru's words aimed both to probe and persuade surrender.
If Ryuji surrendered, everything was negotiable.
Even if not, his attitude, confident or reckless, could be gauged through brief dialogue.
Orochimaru sensed confidence in Ryuji's tone… not mere bluffing.
As a predator snake's intuition, he could tell.