Secret meeting
The daimyō had arrived, but the sandaime 's exam wouldn't start immediately.
These few days were for the ninjas to recover.
Additionally, the Sandaime had called a secret meeting.
---
Hokage Building, Conference Room
Kyōichi and Minato sat waiting for the others.
Soon, a voice echoed from outside.
"Minato-kun, Kyōichi-kun, I didn't expect to see you two here."
"Orochimaru-sama!"
Both Kyōichi and Minato stood up.
Orochimaru had arrived!
Like a snake, he moved silently—neither of them had sensed him until he was right at the door.
Orochimaru entered and took a seat.
Moments later, the Sandaime appeared.
"This small meeting…"
"Hiruzen, why weren't we informed about this meeting?"
"…"
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
Kyōichi glanced at the Sandaime, baffled.
Why are these two here?
The Sandaime sighed softly and shook his head.
He didn't invite them.
Kyōichi understood.
Flies drawn to blood.
He smirked inwardly but said nothing, standing with Minato to greet them before sitting back down.
The Sandaime gestured to the empty seats.
Koharu entered and said, "Hiruzen, I heard you're considering lifting restrictions on some forbidden techniques?"
"Not all—just a few," the Sandaime clarified.
"That's unacceptable!" Homura interjected. "Most forbidden techniques are too dangerous or harmful. Some even raise ethical concerns. Lifting restrictions would harm our ninjas!"
Orochimaru chuckled silently, his eyes flicking between the two advisors and the Sandaime.
"Hiruzen, we've been comrades for decades. The Nidaime himself sealed many of these techniques. Are you going against his wishes?" Koharu pressed, invoking the Nidaime's authority.
These old fossils.
Even the Sandaime found them tiresome. That's why he hadn't invited them—yet here they were, uninvited.
The Sandaime sighed. "The Nidaime researched many forbidden techniques. Some he didn't even record. The ones he left behind were meant to be taught judiciously."
"The Sandaime is right," Kyōichi chimed in, subtly nudging Minato.
Minato caught on and added, "Forbidden techniques shouldn't be abused, but limited dissemination especially to Jōnin—is reasonable. They have the judgment to decide whether to use them."
Orochimaru, sitting across from them, watched Kyōichi with interest.
I thought this meeting was to reprimand me. But no—it's about lifting restrictions on forbidden techniques.
Impressive.
Convincing the Sandaime isn't easy.
His gaze shifted to the two advisors, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Kanda Kyōichi, I know you're the one pushing for this. We've reviewed your Breath Activation Technique. It's useful, but do you realize it shortens the user's lifespan?" Koharu turned her focus to Kyōichi.
"Lifespan? Sitting in an office, safe and sound, of course you'd worry about lifespan. On the frontlines, where death is a constant threat, who has time to think about that?" Kyōichi retorted coldly. "If using the Activation Technique shortens my life, and breathing does too, should I just stop living?"
"You! Are you mocking us for not risking our lives? We've been on the battlefield too!" Koharu's face flushed with anger.
That hit a nerve.
"Enough, Kyōichi didn't mean it that way," the Sandaime intervened.
"Hiruzen, don't cover for him! Boy, we've all faced life and death. We're not as useless as you think!" Homura snapped.
"Oh? The Nidaime fought on the frontlines even as Hokage. The Sandaime has personally led missions. But you two? Since becoming advisors, have you ever stepped foot on the battlefield?" Kyōichi didn't hold back.
These old relics—I've had enough of them.
The Sandaime, for all his flaws, at least fought when needed. These two?
All talk, no action.
The moment he finished speaking—
Bang!
Koharu and Homura slammed the table, rising to their feet.
"Is this how you speak to your elders?"
Before they could continue—
Crash!
The window shattered as a figure burst into the room.
"What's going on? Old fools, I think Kyōichi's right."
A familiar chakra presence.
Kyōichi and Minato turned, stunned.
Orochimaru, however, grinned.
Tsunade.
She had returned.
The Sandaime was equally shocked.
Koharu, after a moment of stunned silence, snapped, "Tsunade, how dare you!"
"You talk about rules when we discuss logic, and manners when we talk about skill. There's no point arguing. I saw through this back when I pushed for medical ninjas."
Tsunade smirked, pulling up a chair beside Kyōichi.
She leaned on the table, utterly unbothered. "Since the Nidaime's death, who's been on the frontlines? Us and the Sandaime. Have you two even left the village? Have you faced death?"
"You!" Homura's hands trembled with rage.
"The past? Everyone has a glorious past. We've all faced life and death. But you? You cling to yours, telling yourselves you've earned the right to rest."
Tsunade leaned back, her smile sharp and unapologetic.
She had returned—but not to stay.
She was here to back Kyōichi, not to play nice.
So why hold back?
The Sandaime understood and sighed.
This is a mess.
"Tsunade, that's unfair. Both the frontlines and the rear serve the village. And we're not afraid of death."
A cold voice cut through the tension.
Danzo stepped into the room.
Kyōichi glanced at him, surprised.
No cane yet. He almost looks respectable.
Almost.
"Serve the village? All I see is Konoha being attacked repeatedly, surrounded by hostile villages, while internal strife and scheming never stop. Aside from creating ROOT to stir trouble, what have you accomplished?"
Tsunade didn't hold back.
Kyōichi was impressed.
She's been holding this in for a long time.
"The role of ROOT is beyond your understanding," Danzo replied calmly.
"Oh? If it's so effective, why is Konoha declining?"
Tsunade wasn't done, even dragging the Sandaime into her tirade.
Orochimaru's smile widened. Finally, he spoke.
"Everyone, let's set aside the advisors' contributions—they're hardly relevant. The real issue is the lifting of restrictions on forbidden techniques, no?"
"…"
Such sarcasm.
Kyōichi almost laughed.
Their contributions don't even matter compared to this topic.
And he's not wrong.
Koharu's face turned green with fury.