In the Hokage's office.
Konoha's most influential ninjas gathered: Shimura Danzo, the village advisors, the Sannin Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and clan heads like Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi, among others.
Many of Konoha's Jonin were absent.
This wasn't a full mobilization of Konoha, but a briefing for its powerholders about the crisis facing the village.
A broader call to arms would follow.
Namikaze Minato and Tengen stood aside, strong in skill but lacking in authority compared to these figures.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, pleased at the turnout, and spoke gravely, "I must address a matter concerning Konoha's safety."
The ninjas below listened intently, no one doubted the Third Hokage would jest about this.
"The ninja world's been uneasy lately, as most of you likely know." Sarutobi Hiruzen began.
Nods rippled through the room. Though not drastic, the great villages' activities were rising, forcing Konoha's hand.
Otherwise, their ninjas risked harm.
"Sunagakure, our neighbor, leads the charge." Sarutobi Hiruzen continued. "Two days ago, I sent Jonin Minato and Chunin Tengen to the Land of Wind to investigate."
Eyes turned to Minato and Tengen at the side.
No surprise there, Konoha's elite knew these two, unlike other villages.
Minato, a top-tier Jonin, was widely recognized.
Tengen, months ago, had stunned Konoha at the Chunin Exams, cementing his name as a genius beyond Kakashi.
"The results are in." Sarutobi Hiruzen pressed on. "Sunagakure's dispatched ninjas toward the Land of Fire, toward Konoha. Their advance force may already be here."
"Sarutobi, you mean Sunagakure's attacking Konoha?" Danzo frowned. "Are they igniting a Ninja World War?"
"Yes, and I suspect it's not just them. Other villages may be involved." Sarutobi Hiruzen replied.
Faces shifted uneasily. Konoha might face at least two villages' assaults.
The great ninja villages were evenly matched. Konoha held an edge, but not enough to fend off four at once, a single village crushing the other four was unthinkable. Even if not all four attacked, Konoha was in peril.
"Hm, Sarutobi, a question." Danzo said, hitting the core issue. "The secret mission began recently. How could Minato and Tengen travel between nations so fast?"
He believed Sarutobi Hiruzen's account but wanted the reason.
Between them, Minato's skill couldn't manage it. Was it Tengen, the talent Danzo had coveted since the Chunin Exams? Thwarted by Sarutobi Hiruzen and Orochimaru, Danzo buried that ambition.
Clearly, Danzo held no fondness for Tengen.
"Danzo's question likely echoes yours." Sarutobi Hiruzen said, scanning the room.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique." he revealed slowly.
"Flying Thunder God Technique, Minato?" The ninjas reacted swiftly.
They knew it, created by the Second Hokage, mastered by none until Minato.
But Minato achieving this? Had his mastery deepened?
Their stunned looks drew a smile from Sarutobi Hiruzen. "You all think Minato used it, right?"
A pause. Wasn't it obvious?
No one else had grasped the Second Hokage's space-time ninjutsu.
"Sarutobi-sensei, is it Tengen?" Jiraiya spoke up, recalling Tengen's Rasengan mastery, a humbling feat. If not Minato, only Tengen remained.
"Tengen?" Eyes turned to him, marveling.
This was Konoha's genius? Beyond genius.
"Yes, Jiraiya, you're right. Tengen used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return from Sunagakure." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, smiling.
Gasps filled the room.
It was true.
At nine, with Jonin strength, wielding the Flying Thunder God Technique, and stunning taijutsu, an elite Jonin's arsenal.
"Flying Thunder God Technique." Danzo squinted. "Tengen, could you demonstrate here?"
"Danzo, what's that mean? I wouldn't lie." Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. Did Danzo doubt him?
"Yes, Danzo-sama, I can vouch too." Minato added.
"No, just curiosity. Tengen's a Konoha genius, after all." Danzo smiled, shaking his head.
"Danzo-sama, if you'd like to see, I don't mind." Tengen said, drawing a kunai. "Hope you won't mind either."
"Of course." Danzo replied evenly.
At that, Tengen's kunai flashed, streaking toward Danzo.
***
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