Chapter 12: Prelude to War

Over the past two months, Sunagakure's search for the Third Kazekage had grown increasingly reckless.

Not only were their ninjas scouring the neighboring lands of Kusagakure, Amegakure, and Tanigakure, but even within the Land of Fire itself, Suna shinobi had been spotted. Their blatant disregard for secrecy had begun to seriously undermine the "Border Treaty" signed between the major villages.

At the same time, the intelligence networks of the great villages were becoming increasingly active. Konoha's Root division had already weeded out a number of enemy spies within the village.

Meanwhile, the news of the Third Kazekage's disappearance had begun spreading among the upper echelons of the great nations.

Just as Danzo finished his training for the day, he received an invitation to a meeting at the Hokage's office. Upon arriving, he found Hiruzen Sarutobi already there, along with the two village elders.

"The situation is growing unstable," the Third Hokage began without preamble. "Kumogakure has just sent envoys, proposing an alliance to wage war against Iwagakure."

He couldn't help but feel some admiration for Danzo's keen intuition regarding war. Two months ago, Danzo had already approached him, advising that they prepare for conflict at any moment. Hiruzen hadn't expected it to come this soon.

"With the Third Kazekage missing and the villages mobilizing their forces, war could break out at any moment. I believe we should consider forming an alliance with Kumogakure," Mitokado Homura suggested.

Kumogakure was widely acknowledged as one of the strongest among the five great villages. Forming an alliance with them would be beneficial to Konoha.

Hiruzen pondered this for a moment, tapping his pipe against the ashtray.

"Danzo, what do you think?"

"You are the Hokage, Sarutobi. The decision is yours. I will support whatever course of action you choose."

Hiruzen did not press the matter further but silently nodded in approval. He was becoming more and more satisfied with Danzo's attitude—though, at the same time, he couldn't ignore the creeping realization that both of them were growing old.

Danzo himself had little patience for these kinds of fruitless discussions. In his mind, alliances were meaningless—none of them were truly reliable. Given the current state of affairs, war was inevitable. If anything, Konoha should strike first, securing the advantage and intimidating the other villages into submission.

However, he knew Hiruzen well enough to understand that the Hokage would never approve a preemptive attack.

"I have decided to reject Kumogakure's proposal," Hiruzen finally declared.

He took a slow drag from his pipe, his deeply furrowed brow accentuating the lines of age on his face. But his gaze remained resolute.

"The peace we have fought for in Konoha did not come easily. I will not let us be drawn into a war unnecessarily."

Danzo inwardly sighed.

Just because you don't want to fight doesn't mean the war will wait for you.

By now, the other villages had long since recovered from the last war. Given their limited resources, expansion was their best path forward. Conflict was inevitable. Even if the Third Kazekage's disappearance hadn't ignited tensions, something else would have eventually.

Understanding that further argument was pointless, Danzo merely discussed border defenses with the others before leaving the matter be.

The Kumogakure envoy had been given quarters not far from the Hokage Tower, a symbolic gesture of Konoha's respect for their presence. However, the area was heavily guarded—both in plain sight and from the shadows. Despite the formalities, relations between the two villages were far from friendly.

...

"As expected, the Hokage refused the alliance…"

"Then we proceed with Plan B."

"We've mapped out all intelligence and escape routes."

"We'll handle anyone who gets in our way. If this mission succeeds… please take care of Miya and her child."

"For Kumogakure."

"For Kumogakure."

Late into the night, the village's quiet peace was shattered by the sudden roar of explosions and raging fire.

Leading the charge, the head of the Kumogakure envoy launched a direct assault on the Hokage Tower with his entire delegation.

By the time Danzo received the report and arrived at the scene, the battle was already under control. Only three Kumo shinobi remained standing, their bodies crackling with lightning as they struggled against a dozen Anbu operatives.

Scattered around them were the bodies of fallen comrades from both sides, the remnants of a brutal clash.

Hiruzen stood not far away, his brow tightly furrowed as he observed the battle.

"Take them alive. If we execute them all, the Raikage will use this as an excuse to declare war," Utatane Koharu stated grimly as she arrived, her face clouded with concern.

If the entire envoy perished in Konoha, the Raikage would undoubtedly rally Kumogakure into full-scale war.

"They're using forbidden techniques. Even if we capture them, they won't survive long."

The remaining Kumo shinobi were clearly in an abnormal state, their chakra flow erratic. It was evident they had activated some jutsu that pushed their bodies beyond their natural limits.

"The Raikage has already made his decision. War is inevitable."

The gathered Konoha shinobi looked grim. Those who had arrived late to the scene, including several clan heads, quickly assessed the situation and reached the same conclusion—this was a setup from the start.

"Vacuum Strike!"

With precise timing, Hyūga Hizashi launched a Gentle Fist attack from a distance, striking one of the Kumo shinobi and disrupting his chakra flow.

"Gah!"

A scream tore from the shinobi's throat as his body withered in an instant, aging rapidly as his life force drained away.

The two remaining Kumo shinobi exchanged glances before making a desperate decision.

Their hand seals sped up, their lightning aura darkening to black. Regular jutsu disintegrated upon contact with this ominous chakra, unable to harm them in the slightest.

"Stop them," Hiruzen ordered calmly, his sharp gaze locking onto the unfolding crisis.

Several clan heads prepared to step in personally, recognizing the threat.

Danzo acted first. With practiced precision, black sealing marks surged forth, bypassing their lightning armor and spreading across their bodies. Their ominous black lightning flickered, then faded, their chakra dissipating uncontrollably.

Their determined expressions turned to horror as their bodies withered away, succumbing to their own forbidden jutsu.

The gathered shinobi cast glances at Danzo. No one had expected him to be so proficient in sealing techniques. Even those present had methods to counter such techniques, but none could have done so as effortlessly.

Newly appointed Uchiha Fugaku narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of wariness in his gaze. Danzo had never been a friend to the Uchiha, after all.

Ignoring their stares, Danzo walked steadily toward Hiruzen.

"War is unavoidable now. Kumogakure never intended to negotiate. Root just sent word—the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki has been taken outside the village. The jinchūriki herself is in pursuit."

A heavy silence fell over the group.

If Konoha lost a Tailed Beast, the coming war would be far more difficult to win.

Hiruzen's face darkened, but when he looked at Danzo, a flicker of trust crossed his gaze.

"Danzo, bring her back. Safely."

"Leave it to me."

With that, Danzo vanished into the night, while those left behind were lost in their own thoughts.

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