Konoha was in chaos.
What had started as a conflict between Nawaki and Orochimaru had gradually evolved into a village-wide debate.
After both Hiruzen and Danzō had "made their positions clear," the heads of every clan were soon "encouraged" to take a stance as well.
At the Senju compound.
Nawaki looked a little uneasy. Things had gotten way out of hand.
Akio didn't even look up.
"Pretty much every one of influence in Konoha has voiced their opinion now… hmm, let's add one more to your side say that Jiraiya, currently away on a long journey, has sent a letter expressing his support for you."
Nawaki's expression was exaggerated.
"Is that even allowed, Great-ancestor…?"
"Just do as I said," Akio replied without missing a beat.
The Land of Rain.
"Fire Style, Achoo!" Jiraiya's jutsu demonstration was interrupted by a sudden sneeze, and a small puff of flame escaped his mouth.
"Teacher, that technique…"
"Ahaha…" Jiraiya scratched his head. "Someone in the village must be thinking about me. Don't worry about it. Let's keep going, I'll only be teaching you for another month. Whether you can change this war-torn country after that… will depend on you!"
"Yes, sensei!"
Konoha Village, Hokage Office.
Hiruzen and Danzō exchanged wry smiles. Both of them knew this had Akio's fingerprints all over it.
They should've realized as soon as they were dragged into the debate, but Akio had moved too fast afterward.
Now the entire village was caught up in it, and things were getting… difficult to contain.
After a long silence, Hiruzen sighed.
"What should we do now? We can't let this continue. If it goes on, Konoha itself could fracture."
Lately, heated arguments had already escalated into fistfights. The situation was becoming uncontrollable.
Danzō's face was dark. The whole mess had started with him, true but Hiruzen had allowed it. Yet now, judging from Hiruzen's tone, it sounded like he wanted him to clean it up.
"Yo, the two of you are both here, huh?"
Akio strolled in with a grin. The guards stationed outside "pretended not to notice" him as usual.
Hiruzen stood up smoothly, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
"Elder Akio, welcome."
"Elder Akio," Danzō greeted stiffly.
Akio waved a hand casually, feigning ignorance.
"I assume you're both aware of the ongoing debate across Konoha? Have you figured out how to resolve it?"
The two men exchanged a silent curse. You know damn well how this started.
Hiruzen exhaled helplessly. "Then, Elder Akio, how do you suggest we handle it?"
Akio smiled.
"Konoha has always upheld fairness, openness, and transparency. This time should be no different, truth shines brightest through debate!"
The two glanced at each other.
"It's already being debated…"
"Not openly enough!" Akio said, eyes glinting with mischief.
Three days later.
The Konoha Stadium was packed to capacity.
Akio's voice, amplified through a Sound barrier, echoed across the stands.
"Today, I've gathered half of Konoha's residents here to address the question that's divided our village: Which matters more, the mission, or your comrades?"
"This argument has gone on for nearly a week, and neither side has truly convinced the other. It's begun to threaten Konoha's peace and harmony."
He frowned slightly mid-speech, the phrasing sounded oddly bureaucratic. Clearing his throat, he continued.
"Today, we're putting an end to this debate once and for all."
"Before me stand several of Konoha's most important figures, each with a clear stance on this issue."
"Through their debate, we will settle this once and for all. I trust no one has any objections?"
He smiled broadly.
"Now then, I hereby declare the First Konoha Debate Tournament officially open! Please welcome Elder Danzō Shimura, who will speak in defense of 'the mission comes first!'"
Danzō: "…"
He had a very strong urge to curse, but didn't know where to start. Somehow, Akio had twisted things until they'd reached this absurd point.
"Elder Danzō seems speechless," Akio continued cheerfully. "Then let's invite our beloved Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to share his view instead!"
Hiruzen gave a weary smile, casting a quick apologetic look at his old friend Danzō, before launching into a heartfelt speech about the Will of Fire.
In a setting like this, almost no one dared to publicly say they'd sacrifice a comrade for the sake of a mission, especially those with authority.
The higher one's rank, the more subordinates they commanded and even the most loyal shinobi would feel uneasy if they heard their superior might abandon them "for the mission."
When the whole farce finally ended, the "comrades-first" side had won by a landslide.
"This time, Tobirama's coffin lid is going to come flying off," Akio said with a grin. "When I see him again, I'm definitely teasing him about this one."
"What a ridiculous philosophy, stripping all humanity from shinobi. Missions can always be salvaged one way or another, but if a comrade's gone, they're gone."
Then he paused, frowning slightly.
Something didn't feel right.
Remembering Tobirama's personality and the fact that he'd said that line when Hashirama was still alive Akio muttered, "Wait a second… could it be…"
In the Hokage Office.
Hiruzen exhaled deeply.
"Konoha will likely suffer some loss from this incident. That line 'a shinobi must prioritize the mission' when Tobirama-sensei wrote it, it was mostly to encourage civilians to commission missions."
Danzō said nothing, standing to the side with a stormy expression.
"But perhaps this is for the best," Hiruzen went on. "Konoha today is not the struggling village it once was. Encouraging our shinobi to value their comrades more will help us grow stronger in the long run."
After a long pause, Danzō snorted coldly.
"Hiruzen, are you still deluding yourself? Elder Akio's intentions are obvious, he's clearly backing Senju Nawaki for the position of Fourth Hokage. And as for Namikaze Minato, he hasn't even been drawn into this incident. I'd wager Akio's real goal is to bring both him and the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Kushina Uzumaki, back to Uzushio."
If Akio had heard that, he would've cried out in pure injustice.
Hiruzen was silent for a moment, then finally said,
"For the upcoming peace talks with the Land of Earth… let Minato lead the team. Shikaku and the others can support him."
Time passed swiftly; two years, in the blink of an eye.
During those two years, Akio "lived in seclusion" in his Kiboku-dō shop, quietly watching the tides rise and fall…
At least, that was the official story.
In truth, he'd inserted himself into nearly every major and minor event in Konoha, all in hopes of collecting more Witness Points.
But his results were modest at best. After two whole years, he'd only earned eighty points, most of which came from Obito's Chūnin promotion and Kakashi's rise to Jōnin.
"Still three hundred short… Minato's ascension to Hokage should bring in a good amount. But after that, where can I make up the rest?"
Akio sighed.
Minato's rise to Hokage was practically guaranteed now. He didn't even need to intervene. Every one of Minato's missions had become well-known, and his reputation was nearly flawless.
"Hiruzen clearly favors Minato," Akio mused. "Is that Kushina's influence, I wonder?"
He shrugged. "Whatever the case, the seeds I planted back then are finally bearing fruit."
In his hands, he weighed a letter marked with jagged teeth across the seal.
It read: 'Meet at the usual place.'
Remembering the strange expression Tsunade had when she handed it to him, Akio sighed deeply.
"Ringo Ameyuri… are you trying to disgust me?"
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