"Since everyone is here…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a slow drag from his pipe, the familiar, gentle smile resting on his face as though nothing in the world could disturb his composure. Yet beneath that calm exterior, his gaze carried a quiet weight as it swept across the room.
"…then I'll explain why both the Senju and Uchiha clans have been summoned today."
The Second Great Ninja War had already entered its most intense phase.
Across the continent, the balance of power was shifting rapidly. The Land of Earth, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Fire had all deployed massive forces toward the same region—the Land of Rain. Advance units had already pushed deep into its territory, and what followed were relentless clashes, brutal and unforgiving.
There were no true alliances in this war.
No permanent enemies.
At any moment, allies could turn against one another, and enemies could become temporary partners. Every agreement was fragile, held together only by mutual interest and the constant calculation of advantage.
And at the center of it all—
Was the Land of Rain.
A country caught between giants, unable to escape its fate.
Its geography alone had sealed its destiny. Positioned directly between the three great nations, it became the perfect battlefield—because none of them were willing to fight on their own land.
So, without ever stating it openly, they reached an unspoken understanding.
The war would be fought there.
And so, the Land of Rain became a sacrifice.
Conflict erupted not only between the great nations, but also against the Land of Rain itself. Surrounded on all sides, it struggled to survive under overwhelming pressure.
At its center stood its leader—
Hanzo.
A formidable shinobi.
A man worthy of respect.
He led his forces with unwavering determination, resisting the invasion from all sides, fighting desperately to preserve his country's peace.
But no matter how powerful an individual might be—
He could not stand against the tide of an entire war.
When the conflict ended, regardless of who emerged victorious, the one destined to suffer the most…
Would be the Land of Rain.
That was inevitable.
Hiruzen let out a faint sigh as he spoke, a trace of genuine emotion flickering through his otherwise composed demeanor.
He admired Hanzo.
But admiration meant nothing in the face of reality.
Because for the sake of Konoha—
Other nations could be sacrificed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was gentle.
But he was not weak.
"…That is the current situation."
He exhaled slowly, a cloud of smoke drifting into the air as his eyes settled on those present.
"I believe both the Senju and Uchiha clans already understand the general state of the war."
There was a brief pause before his tone shifted, becoming more serious.
"The most difficult front at the moment lies in the Land of Wind. Their puppet masters have developed a new type of poison. Many of our shinobi have already fallen to it. Even Jōnin lose their combat ability once infected."
His voice lowered slightly.
"Ordinary medical ninja cannot handle it. Only Tsunade possesses the ability to counter these toxins."
Turning his gaze toward the Senju representative, Hiruzen continued, "Elder Suzuki, I hope the Senju Clan can dispatch Tsunade, along with a unit of their shinobi, to support the front lines."
This war extended far beyond a single battlefield. While the Land of Rain remained the central conflict zone, other fronts were equally volatile. Along the border with the Land of Wind, the legendary White Fang had already been deployed on a classified mission. To the east, tensions with the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water were rising rapidly, with skirmishes already beginning to break out.
And yet, despite everything happening beyond its borders, Konoha itself could not afford to lower its guard.
More importantly, Hiruzen had to remain within the village.
If any of the other Kage personally entered the battlefield, the balance of power would collapse instantly. At that point, only two individuals in Konoha could stand against them.
Hiruzen.
And Danzo.
But neither of them could leave.
Because everyone present understood one truth—
The Uchiha Clan remained a potential threat.
Hiruzen and Danzo would not risk leaving the village unguarded.
"Of course," Senju Suzuki replied without hesitation. "For the safety and peace of Konoha, the Senju Clan is willing to dispatch our forces. Tsunade-sama will personally lead the support unit."
The answer came too quickly.
Too smoothly.
Ryujin's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly.
As expected.
They had already reached this agreement beforehand.
After all, everyone in this room shared one common concern—
The Uchiha.
Especially the Senju.
The moment the Senju agreed, Hiruzen turned his attention toward Ryujin.
"The situation on the front lines is critical. As Hokage, I ask that the Uchiha Clan Head personally lead a force to support the battlefield."
His tone was serious.
But beneath it—
There was calculation.
A test.
Every gaze in the room shifted toward Ryujin.
If the Senju had agreed, then the Uchiha had no reason to refuse.
And if they did refuse—
It would confirm suspicion.
It would prove that the Uchiha were planning something dangerous.
At that point, Hiruzen would have no choice but to act.
But if Ryujin agreed…
Then at the very least, internal conflict could be avoided—for now.
That was what both Hiruzen and Danzo believed.
Ryujin leaned back slightly, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest of his chair. The rhythm was slow, deliberate, as if he were weighing something far more complex than the situation itself.
Then, after a brief pause, he lifted his head.
A faint smile appeared.
"Of course."
"We, the Uchiha Clan, are willing to fight for Konoha's peace."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Relief.
"Good… that's good."
Hiruzen exhaled quietly, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly.
At least until the war ended—
Things would remain stable.
Ryujin's words represented the entire Uchiha Clan.
For now—
There would be no rebellion.
Across the room, Danzo's expression darkened almost imperceptibly. A flicker of disappointment passed through his eyes before vanishing just as quickly.
If Ryujin had refused—
Everything would have been simple.
He would have had justification.
A reason to act.
But this—
This unexpected agreement—
Was far more troubling.
Something… didn't add up.
The intelligence he had received pointed to a different outcome.
A different path.
So why—
Why had Ryujin agreed so easily?
Had the information been wrong?
Or…
Was something else already in motion?
Danzo's gaze lingered on Ryujin, sharp and probing.
Because if there was one thing he understood—
It was this.
Men like Uchiha Ryujin…
Did not make simple decisions.