(Conflict region, land of grass, town affiliated to the leaf)
It was a beautiful day. Rays of sunshine shone down upon the wide plains of the Land of grass. A light breeze blew, carrying with it leaves and dust from the forests to the towns and cities.
Despite the beautiful day however, no travelers were in sight. The paths through the forest were abandoned and wide plains and fields were devoid of people.
The cities, usually bristling with life bore awkward atmosphere, riddled with tension. Rumors circulated and safety waned.
"Did you hear? More people disappeared near the Jana-brewery."
"That's terrible! I ... don't think its a coincidence anymore! Just last week..."
"I'm telling you!! Its those Shinobi! They think they can act high and mighty, just because..."
Makoto kept walking at a slow pace, his gaze occasionally scanning the articles of street vendors, sometimes stopping when something caught his eyes.
'Yuzuki asked me to be on the outlook for meat for a stew...'
But the problem was that he had found some already. Or rather, he could not decide between which to buy.
'...just so many choices. And i don't know what's good. She'll yell if i choose something bad again, won't she?'
A sigh escaped him but still, he turned to face one of the many vendors and made his order at random. In the end, ruminating over choices he didn't know how to make was simply a pointless endeavor.
The vendor complied and Makoto soon went on his way, bringing the meat to his comrades.
*Click. The door to his apartment opened with a slight groan and Makoto waltzed in, greeting his friends.
"Yo, Yuzuki! Haruto! I got some meat!"
"Hm? Oh, that's great! Yuzuki's out by the way!"
Makoto clicked his tongue at that.
"Well, she's the one who asked me to bring it. I hope she comes back soon, it gets dark early out here and i don't wanna eat too late. Being out's hard on a full stomach."
Haruto walked by the corner, a friendly smile on his face. His expression was one of tiredness, but that was to be expected given his last shift.
"Heard anything interesting?"
He shook his head in answer.
"Nah, the population is getting riled up though. About the disappearances. Konoha's taking the blame."
"I guess the commander of the outpost here really isn't too popular, right?"
Makoto snorted. That was an understatement. The Konoha commander was just a Chuunin, yet acted like a Jonin of the highest ranks. He made fuss about etiquette and protocol and the inhabitants of the town harbored a strong dislike for the man.
Despite that, the man was competent. He knew how to investigate and the way he organized his men in the city had made it incredibly difficult to enter for Makoto and his group.
A small smirk bloomed on his face as he looked over to Haruto.
"Yeah, Konoha really is earning a bad rep. The pressure on them should skyrocket by the end of the week if we keep at it."
He was met with a shrug for answer.
"Uhuh. Here, put down your groceries." His helpful friend picked up the meat and brought it to the kitchen whilst Makoto inspected the windows. Haruto continued. "Their commander is probably going to write a report to Konoha though. They may not be able to afford sending reinforcements, but we never know. When do we pull out?"
"Hmmm..." Makoto raised his hand to his chin as he thought. "Well, reinforcements aren't likely in the face of a revolt unless they somehow know we're here. We're assuming they send their reinforcements to suppress the riots... so i guess that would be good for us. Konoha earns a bad rep and Iwa swoops in to save their populace. Or maybe just spread the rumors of Konoha suppressing their own cities. So yeah, if reinforcements come, we're out."
"Uhuh." Haruto once more bobbed his head in understanding, his face bearing a light frown. Seconds later, the smile came back to his face as he stared back to his teammate.
"But well, we'll be fine whatever..."
"Im back! Makoto! You got the meat for the stew?"
Haruto found himself interrupted as their third teammate's loud voice boomed through the building.
Makoto grinned nervously whilst Haruto's friendly smile stiffened and his gaze fell back onto Makoto.
"Yeah, got it! Its in the Kitchen!"
Yuzuki answered from the hallway, her tone bearing a threatening undertone. "I hope for your sake you made a better choice than last time! Haruto got sick back then! He'll be back in the night, there was just too good an opportunity to pass up."
"..."
'...what?'
A cold feeling crawled up Makoto's spine as his gaze shifted over to Haruto.
'"Heard anything interesting?; The commander of the outpost is not too popular, is he?; When do we pull out?"'
His breath hitched in his throat for a fraction of a second. Meanwhile, Haruto turned his back to Makoto and silently walked into the kitchen.
Yuzuki entered the livingroom, her mockserious expression disappearing upon seeing Makoto gesture to the Kitchen with a Kunai, mouthing "M-A-K-O-T-O."
The gaze of the Iwa Shinobi hardened but the smile and expression reappeared on her face as she followed Haruto into the Kitchen and leaned against the wall. Her voice did not change in tone.
"Hmm? You're already back?"
*Psssssshhhhhhhhh...
A soft hissing sound appeared as Haruto turned on the Gas.
Both Yuzuki and Makoto tensed and Makoto began preparing his Earthwall Jutsu incase their fake-teammate decided to blow everything up.
Only after a few seconds did "Haruto" turn back around.
"You seem pretty tense. Now why would two civilians be so tense in the presence of their friend?"
The tension increased as the sound of "Haruto's" voice came out as a distinct female purr.
Makoto's eye twitched in barely suppressed anger. His voice remained forcefully calm as he spoke.
"Speaking about that friend of ours, would you happen to know where he is?"
Not-Haruto smiled coldly. "I'm not sure... Perhaps the latest guests at the Jana brewery could answer that."
"You bitch..." Makoto suppressed the rest of his anger. A few steps ahead of him, Yuzuki scatched her head in a nearly casual way, but Makoto noticed the sign she made with her fingers.
'We're pulling out? But this bitc...haaah. The mission.'
Yuzuki lowered her hand as she kept staring at the fake-Haruto. "And? The farce is over. Won't you show us your face? Konoha dog."
"I rather like this face. I think i'll keep it for longer. And i wouldn't want you to escape in the smoke."
It was Yuzuki's turn to smile. "We'll do that regardless."
*-sssshhhhh
With a flick of her wrist, Yuzuki suddenly threw her Kunai and jumped back towards the window, Makoto following close behind. "Haruto" blocked the Kunai with her own but she did not follow the two Iwa shinobi, instead opting to call out.
"THE WINDOW!"
Yuzuki's eyes as a figure fell down the roof, turning to the window mid-fall. The small figure's hand signs were completed and she recognized the Jutsu by last sign alone.
"MAKOTO! WALL!!"
[WATER STYLE: WILD WATER WAVE]
[EARTH STYLE: EARTHWALL]
The boy's cheeks bulged as he spewed out the mass of water. The window exploded as the pressure burst into the living room of the apartment, threatening to smash into the two Iwa Shinobi.
But Makoto's jutsu came in time. The floor splintered as the earth raised itself, forming a wall between the mass of water and the Iwa Shinobi.
The water loudly splattered against the wall, before simply flooding the ground of the apartment.
However, they were not safe yet.
*Poof.
Smoke burst out of the kitchen as "Haruto's" disguise fell, revealing the lithe figure of the adult Kunoichi, wearing the Konoha headband. A kunai immediately shot out of the smoke as the Kunoichi sprinted to engage.
'A taijutsu specialist. Makoto's not suited to fight her.'
Yuzuki clicked her tongue in displeasure as she moved to intercept the Kunai before engaging the Konoha Kunoichi. In an instant, she found herself under a barrage of kicks and stabs, her defense steadily being put to test under the pressure.
Meanwhile Makoto hesitated. His gaze shifted from the windows, where the Konoha boy had been to his teammate under the Taijutsu barrage.
'She needs a distraction.'
In an instant, he formed his hand signs and molded the chakra for one of his weaker Jutsu. Yuzuki noticed it the moment he formed his handsign and positioned herself to block "Haruto's" view.
[EARTH STYLE: ROCK BULLET JUTSU]
He spat out his projectile and Yuzuki used the same moment to attack in a low stance. "Haruto" managed to raise her blade to block the rock, but with her guard raised, she could not manage to protect herself from Yuzuki's kunai approaching her stomach.
Then, Makoto noticed the open door. And the Konoha boy entering the room.
'Shit...'
[WATER STYLE: WATER BULLET]
The water between Yuzuki and "Haruto" stilled. Then, the water bullet shot straight into Yuzuki's stomach, knocking her backwards. The boy ran away through the door in the same moment.
'This bastard! We could've had her!'
Despite the hot anger bubbling in Makoto's stomach, he did not pursue. Yuzuki was good at Taijutsu, but she alone would struggle against her opponent. He had to remain as support.
Meanwhile, "Haruto" did not pursue. She simply stared at her opponents with a calculating glint in her eyes.
"Whew. That was a close one. I thought you had me if it weren't for that water bullet."
Yuzuki's expression was one of tight concentration and she did not answer.
'What are they playing at... every second wasted means more gas in the room. But they cannot trigger it without being caught in the explosion...'
Yuzuki's thoughts were racing. Were they getting reinforcements? Why was this Shinobi so lax?
'...more reinforcements might be outside. They are trying to capture us. But they don't want to escalate it.'
A tight smirk appeared on her face before disappearing as "Haruto" cast her first Hand-signs, then formed a box between her fingers.
[SECRET TECHNIQUE: SLY MIND AFFECT]
'A Yamanaka?!'
Yuzuki threw herself aside and immediately started agitating her Chakra, checking for any lingering abnormalities induced by the Yamanaka Shinobi.
Then, the realization hit her. She turned back and found herself face to face with a glassy eyed Makoto, rushing at her to catch her in a bear hug.
'Fuck, Makoto!'
It wouldn't be difficult for her to knock her teammate out, but the couldn't afford to dispose of her Ninjutsu specialist. That moment of hesitation cost her as Makoto embraced her in a deep hug, restricting her movements.
In the corner of her eye, she noticed the Yamanaka stumbling out of the room, closing the door. In that instant, Yuzuki suddenly realized the sheer danger she was in.
'What if they don't need us alive? What if they captured Haruto?'
In that instant, she pulled her knife and stabbed it into Makoto's shoulder, snapping him out of the Yamanaka's control.
"Huh? What...?"
But it was too late. Because at the window, the Konoha boy reappeared, a small papertag in hand, flicking it towards the kitchen.
The world seemed to slow down as Yuzuki attempted to free herself from the still dazed Makoto, her eyes fixed on the explosive tag's flight trajectory.
Then, it detonated. And the entire house exploded.
-
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(POV: Narration)
Hours had passed since the explosion of the residence in the city. Not many Shinobi were in the camp as they spent their time in the city, attempting to placate the riled up population.
'A group of criminals. Rogue Shinobi. Unaffiliated.'
That was what had been told the public. It was a lie and Commander Hayashi Masanori had been the one ordering to spread said lie.
He was currently in his office in his base after having listened to the report of what had happened. The destabilization of his authority in the city and spreading of rumors about his Shinobi had been a rather obvious attempt at defamation.
The question had been, was it from Iwa or Suna? Or even just a criminal band?
His investigations had been useless. The Land of Grass was not densely populated but many travelers crossed its territory. Searching up people's origin here was useless.
So Masanori tried something else. Infiltrating his own population. Essentially, sending his own Shinobi to hide among their population and learn and gather information about any rumors.
'Kidnapping. Murder. Theft. And all blamed on us.'
Terrorism. Destabilization. The kind which was not easily predictable. He could do nothing against it. Unless they walked into his arms.
They did just that. A party at a local brewery. Of course organized by him. Filled with Civilians and surveilled by Shinobi.
The rats were unable to resist the appeal and the first Iwa Shinobi was captured.
'...hmm. I guess moles would fit them more.'
Despite the capture, they had not even bothered with interrogation. Instead, the Yamanaka Chuunin forced her way into the Iwa Shinobi's mind and soaked up every bit of information she could find.
Which wasn't much. One had to be quite the powerful Yamanaka in order to safely extract information from the mind of an unwilling prisoner.
So, if he'd have asked her to get information about the Iwa Shinobi's mission, there would have been a chance of failure or even countermeasures. Not to mention the fact that common sense alone was tool enough for him to think of Iwa's possible plot.
That was why the Yamanaka Chuunin focused on the person itself. His habits, the name of his teammates and the location of his hideout. Basic Information.
'Just enough to impersonate him.'
Content welled up in his chest as he looked at the now finished report. No casualties on his sides, the site of explosion evacuated in time, two moles eliminated and one captured. In addition to that, information coming from the moles themselves.
It was worrying information, but he was just a local base commander. It was up to the Hokage and his advisors to manage the aftermath and make big decisions.
'But well... here's to a job well done.'
With that thought, he raised his bottle of Sake to his lips. And prayed for a promotion.
-
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(POV: Danzo Shimura)
"Teacher is worried..."
"How observant." Danzo replied flatly. "Did the crease in his eyebrows give him away? Or the fact that he has not stopped tapping against his desk for the past thirty minutes."
Hiruzen shot Danzo a strange look before his gaze returned upon their Teacher.
"I didn't know you knew Sarcasm."
Danzo scoffed in answer. Despite their jokes, the two Chuunin remained in position at the office door. Inside the office, Tobirama Senju sat surrounded by stacked reports and letters, his eyes furiously moving across pages as though wielding the Sharingan.
He had not acknowledged their presence, nor even their banter, for quite some time.
Hiruzen spoke up again, his voice a bit louder than before. "The situation has got to be pretty bad if teacher is so invested."
Still no answer. The two Chuunin exchanged looks, unsure whether to stay on their posts, guarding the door or take a peek at the documents.
*Whoosh. A lithe figure with a simple white mask suddenly appeared in front of the door to the office.
"Danzo. Hiruzen. I've got another report for teach...Lord Second."
Their old friend, Kagami Uchiha held a small letter. "From the land of grass."
The two nodded, signaling him to get in. Then, seconds after, they curiously poked their head around the corner, looking at their teachers reaction.
"Hmm? Ah! Kagami. It is good you're here. I would like you to deliver this letter to the Aburame... Another report? And from the Land of Grass, no less. Hm. Thank you. And tell those two buffoons to stop poking their heads through the doorway!"
His last sentence was a lot louder than before, to which Hiruzen and Danzo immediately snapped back into position, their expressions ones of utmost seriousness.
Kagami gave the Hokage a bow before leaving the office and playfully nudging his two friends on his way out, then body-flickering away.
Minutes later...
"Haaahh, Hiruzen! Danzo! Since you two are so curious, come here."
The two Chuunin immediately snapped to attention and practically body-flickered into the room. Even the usually stoic Danzo seemed to seek a distraction from the boring stand-guard job.
"Yes, Lord Second!" x2
"Take a look at this. What do you think."
With that, Tobirama held out a small letter for his two students to read. It took them only a few seconds.
Both Hiruzen's and Danzo's expressions hardened. Danzo was first to answer, his eyes narrowed.
"Blatant provocation. They won't stop there. It's likely they've infiltrated other cities in the surrounding countries, stirring unrest."
Tobirama did not react, instead turning to Hiruzen who frowned slightly.
"I agree with Danzo. Iwa does seem to be testing us... This will likely escalate until they force a reaction."
Lord Second's fingers tapped against his tables as his piercing gaze bore into his students.
"Then, answer me this. How do we react?"
'A test...?' x2
The two had the same realization at the same time and exchanged glances. Once more, Danzo answered first.
"It's about positioning. The Land of Grass is not vital to them. Its just convenient. So we force them to reconsider."
Danzo paused, looking at the map for a moment.
"Harassment in the Land of Waterfalls.
We do not know exactly where Iwa's village lies, but given how our positioning to their south has not bothered them, we can assume their capital lies either further north, or east.
Taking control or interfering in the Land of Waterfalls would disrupt any dealings they could have with Kumo and allow us to strengthen the Buffer zone to our north."
Tobirama's gaze lingered on Danzo for a moment before nodding. Then, he turned to Hiruzen.
"What do you think?"
Hiruzen's frown had deepened at Danzo's plan. He hesitated for a moment before speaking up.
"I think this is too aggressive. Iwa could easily take it as a challenge, and if there truly were any dealings with Kumo, we'd risk angering both.
Instead, i say we keep the current buffer and rotate the Shinobi posted there to avoid infiltration into military ranks."
Danzo scoffed. "You said it yourself, monk... Hiruzen. Iwa will push until they get a reaction."
Hiruzen answered calmly. "And they will get one. But they will stand alone when facing it."
With that, the two Chuunin turned to their teacher who remained seated, thoughtfully stroking his chin.
Then, he spoke. "In the end, you are suggesting the same thing. Only different ways to get there."
Tobirama's gaze shifted back onto Danzo. "Your idea is strategically sound, but politically bold. While it would give us an advantage in time of conflict, Hiruzen is right to call it a provocation."
He turned, staring at Hiruzen. "And while you are correct about Danzo's strategy, yours lacks the strategic advantage it would give us. Konoha would be put at a disadvantage, only to reduce the number of enemies we'd face at once."
The two Chuunin exchanged glances once more.
"So which is correct?"
Tobirama's answer was curt. "Both are."
Hiruzen and Danzo's expressions were filled with confusion.
Their teacher leaned back in his seat, his eyes scanning the map once more.
"Strategy is not about right or wrong. It is a question of weighing reward for risk and action for consequence."
His gaze settled on his two students, a rare, tired smile gracing his features.
"Your answers say more about you than you might think. Danzo, your mind seeked to be the first to strike and to seize advantage before the enemy can. That is not wrong, but easily misappliable.
And Hiruzen, your caution may minimize risk and garner safety, but it must not paralyze action when opportunity appears."
-
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(POV: Tobirama Senju)
Hours passed. Darkness had long covered the city and light after light extinguished as it's denizens went to sleep.
The office of the Hokage, did not follow their lead..
Tobirama Senju remained in his office, his mind tired but restless in face of the hundreds of reports he'd read.
'...it seems i was too focused on internal affairs...'
Lord Second's fist tightened. He knew very well that he had always prioritized the village's inner working over the relations and connections with other villages.
'...i isolated us.'
He unclenched his fist, a heavy breath escaping him. The failure of his management had consequences he already felt.
Outposts and camps all around Konoha being poked at from every side. War was imminent. And resources were lacking.
'And with the favors i used, getting the other Shinobi clans to fight will be problematic.'
His original plan had been to pressure them with the existence of the ANBU. But for that, it needed to reach completion. As of now, it had yet to do that.
'...favors. I will need to grant them more favors.'
It was infuriating. A multitude of clans existed and had of course contributed to the creation of Konoha, during Lord Brother's reign, but now these clans called for favors and recognition, turning his elder brother's beloved village into a political fighting ground.
And what had he done? He, the second Hokage had done nothing but blindly follow his brother's footsteps, as though hoping for war to stay away from their home.
He had stabilized the village, yes. He had accounted for the Uchiha and their mood-swings, yes. But he did not prepare for a war fueled by envy. A war which now approached, with Konoha bearing the title of "King of the Hill" and everyone else attempting to rob them of that title.
'But what now. The land of hotsprings with the damn cloud. The land of Mangroves and of waves, beset by Kiri. Suna and their Natural fortress. And now the Grass, just when we pulled our troops from the Land of Rain.'
They were surrounded. By hostile Nations. And they lacked allies.
'...allies. The Land of Whirlpools. I should reach out to them.'
Supporters of Lord First's cause during the warring states. They had not wished to join the village, their secrecy reason for that. But they had always been vocal about their support for the cause of peace.
'If they accept... then Konoha will have taken its first step out of the hole it's been laying in.'
First, he'd garner Alliances. Uzushiogakure was a prime contender for such an Alliance. Then, he'd need to work on more Jutsu. If it came to fighting, he was specialised on countering the Uchiha. His enemies however, would be more than that and he'd need to study how to counter them.
'Then... there is also the matter of my students.'
Danzo Shimura, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kagami Uchiha.
The corner of his mouth slightly lifted at the thought of them. Three competent Shinobi, only one possibility for the title of Third Hokage.
And as much as it pained Tobirama, Kagami was just not an option.
The reason for that, was Politics. He knew very well that out of his students, Kagami was by far the most brilliant. Intelligent, resourceful and compassionate, he was an exact representation of how a Konoha Shinobi, a follower of the Will of Fire should be.
But, he was an Uchiha.
And the Uchiha were inherently flawed. Even if Kagami would remain unaffected by the flaw, the rest of the clan would quickly step up in Konoha's politics, leveraging the position of their Uchiha Hokage.
This, was unacceptable. Konoha had been built not for the Senju or the Uchiha, but for everyone. The Senju had disbanded because of that. They had given up their power, for the sake or Lord First's dream.
A prideful, volatile clan such as the Uchiha was not suited to lead the village.
That, left two options. Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen Sarutobi. And frankly, Tobirama already knew who was better suited for the role.
Namely Hiruzen Sarutobi. His decision was not truly a matter of competence, but of image.
Hiruzen was more charismatic. More understanding. More soft-spoken and even just more powerful. He may be a Chuunin right now, but he was already on the same level as Jonin and he had the potential to become more than an S-Rank Shinobi and be on even field with a Kage.
Danzo was more straightforward, more extreme, more intelligent and more strategic, but ultimately less powerful. He too was ranked Chuunin as of now, but his potential in battle sat between A-Rank and S-Rank.
In short, Hiruzen, despite his flaws, was just more impressive.
'...But they will cover for each other.'
Yes. Together, his three students would make Konoha thrive.
Hiruzen would be the image, Danzo the strategist and Kagami would be the Anchor, making sure that Hiruzen's pacifism and Danzo's extremism never strayed the path.
As such, they would never lose themselves in the darkness of the Shinobi world.
-
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CHAPTER END
You may notice the lack of a certain... Hanami? To be honest,i enjoy writing this strategy/ politics thing. Idk if its understandable or logical. Or even correct.
But yeah. My other reason is that i need to train on writing Shinobi fight sequences. Its a lot more difficult than regular fights, because a lot more is going on with distractions and tricks and shit.
So, yeah. Hope it was good.