Nara Shikaku

Rasa departed, taking Gaara with him.

Sakura didn't stop them.

The reason was simple: Sakura couldn't fly.

"Are you okay, Sakura?!"

"Sakura, you didn't see it, but I was really awesome!"

"I even outdid Sasuke!"

Naruto dispelled his shadow clone and approached Sakura, grinning from ear to ear.

Sasuke, standing nearby with his sheathed sword in hand, scoffed at Naruto's boasting.

"Idiot. Clearly, my effort was greater."

"What?! Damn it, Sasuke! Are you looking for a fight?"

Naruto bristled at Sasuke's words, leaping into action.

"Hmph. You're no match for me."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming with a hint of provocation as he regarded the indignant Naruto before him.

This guy… he really is something...

"Alright, alright, you two, knock it off," Sakura interjected, exasperated. "There might still be enemies left in the village. We should head back and help."

She sighed, looking between the two of them. Naruto being Naruto was one thing, but why was Sasuke acting this way now?

Hokage Building

Hokage Meeting Room

After quickly organizing teams to deal with the remaining enemies, Hiruzen Sarutobi called an emergency meeting.

In the conference room, Hiruzen sat at the head of the table. Tsunade was on his left, Jiraiya on his right.

Also present were Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, Danzo Shimura, the Ino-Shika-Cho clan heads, and the leaders of the Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans.

Nearly every prominent figure in Konoha had gathered.

The atmosphere was heavy and tense, making some of the smaller clan leaders visibly uneasy.

Hiruzen's gaze, once clouded with age, now shone with a sharp, commanding intensity. It was unsettling for those accustomed to his usual kind demeanor.

Was this change because of the Sand Shinobi?

"Everyone," Hiruzen began, his voice firm and resolute, carrying the weight of a king whose words could decide life and death.

No room for argument. No room for dissent.

"The village of Sunagakure has betrayed us. Rasa, the Kazekage, is the chief culprit."

"He conspired with the rogue ninja Orochimaru in an attempt to assassinate me."

"What do you all propose we do about this?"

The room fell deathly silent. Not even the faintest breath could be heard.

In that moment, Hiruzen didn't appear as the aging man they all knew. He was the fierce and commanding figure of the ninja wars, the leader who had once struck fear into enemies' hearts.

Even Danzo Shimura, long familiar with Hiruzen, looked at him as though seeing a stranger.

When did this happen?

When did this "Monkey" regain his vigor?

"We can't act rashly," Koharu Utatane began cautiously. "The village has just endured a disaster. While the Sand's betrayal is unforgivable, we must not sacrifice the greater good for the sake of revenge."

"The pain of war is still fresh. We should begin with diplomacy, condemning their actions formally, and then—"

"Ridiculous!"

Homura Mitokado cut her off, rising to his feet. His voice was sharp with indignation.

"They've already brought war to our doorstep! If we respond meekly, we'll become the laughingstock of the ninja world!"

"Konoha's strength will be questioned! People will think we're nothing more than a paper tiger, ripe for the taking!"

"This isn't about avoiding conflict! It's about survival! We must fight!"

His words hung heavily in the air, sending ripples of unease through the room.

Koharu glared at Homura, unwilling to yield. "And how do you propose we fight? Our enemies aren't limited to the Sand!"

"Iwa, Kumo, and Kiri are watching us like hawks, waiting for an opening. If we overextend ourselves, what then?"

Homura sneered. "Do you really think those three could work together against us? Their mistrust runs deeper than their hatred for Konoha."

"This isn't just a battle for our village's safety—it's a matter of pride. If we falter now, Konoha's reputation will be tarnished forever."

He gestured sharply, his voice cutting through the room. "Jiraiya and Tsunade are here. Kakashi, Might Guy, and others form our core. And the younger generation—Sakura, Rock Lee, and Sasuke—represent Konoha's future. Together, we can't lose."

The room was tense, as if the air itself had thickened.

Shikaku Nara, ever the observer, silently assessed the exchange. Were Homura and Koharu playing roles? Good cop and bad cop? If someone suggested they'd rehearsed this argument, Shikaku might just believe it.

--

"Ahem." Shikaku finally cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

Seeing him speak, Homura and Koharu both quieted down.

"Shikaku, what's your opinion?" Hiruzen asked, his gaze softening.

Shikaku nodded slowly, his calm tone cutting through the tension.

"As Elder Homura mentioned, we must retaliate. But as Elder Koharu pointed out, we can't ignore the other great nations."

"My suggestion is as follows…"

Shikaku laid out a strategy that balanced offense and defense, ensuring Konoha wouldn't be caught off guard by opportunistic nations. He proposed alliances, diversions, and covert operations to weaken potential threats while positioning Konoha strategically.

By the time he finished, the room was silent.

Hiruzen smiled approvingly. Shikaku's plan, though not identical to the one Sakura had devised earlier, aligned with its core principles.

The clan heads sitting near Shikaku subtly edged away.

When it came to strategy, Shikaku's mind was a labyrinth. You'd be sold out and still think you'd struck a good deal.

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