Although the Uchiha clan had been focused on preparing for their own coup, today, everything was different.
By evening, almost all of Konoha knew what had happened over the past two days.
The villagers—who had been enjoying a rare moment of peace and looking forward to possible reconciliation—were suddenly overwhelmed with fury.
Fury at being deceived.Fury at being humiliated.
No one could have imagined that, on the very day the delegation from the Hidden Cloud arrived in Konoha, such betrayal would unfold.
Yesterday, everyone had welcomed the foreign shinobi with optimism, hoping for the end of years of tension.
But last night, the leader of the Cloud Shinobi delegation attempted—and nearly succeeded—in kidnapping the Hyuga clan's heiress, Hinata.
And if that wasn't already enough to ignite outrage…
After failing to abduct her, the Cloud leader committed suicide—likely to prevent interrogation.
Then, Kumogakure not only denied any involvement…They had the audacity to demand that Konoha hand over the "killer" responsible for his death!
"It's outrageous!" a civilian shouted in a local Konoha tavern, nearly flipping a table as he read the Uchiha Police Force's public notice.
"To hell with the Hidden Cloud! Do they think they can threaten us into submission?!"
Others chimed in, their faces red with anger.
"Do they really think they're the number one village now?"
"Just because we don't want war doesn't mean we're afraid!"
Their frustration boiled over.
Just yesterday, Konoha had thrown a welcome banquet for these so-called "peace envoys." Many of the villagers had even dared to feel hopeful.
But in truth, the Cloud Shinobi had only come for the Byakugan.
Looking back, the citizens now realized the humiliation—cheering for thieves.
"They must've laughed at us behind those fake smiles," one man said bitterly. "We were clapping for them while they plotted against our own!"
Now, the shame of being played twisted into something darker—rage.
And then came the second part of the Uchiha Police Force's announcement:
"The attacker was repelled and killed by Hyuga Naraku, who risked his life to stop the abduction.""However, it appears someone within the village leaked classified information about his identity and location."
The mood shifted.
"Someone betrayed him?" a woman gasped.
"You mean someone in Konoha gave up our own shinobi just to appease the Hidden Cloud?!"
"Whoever it is—he's no comrade of mine!" a man snarled. "Traitors like that deserve worse than exile."
Across bars, alleys, markets, and training grounds, the story repeated.
Konoha might be weary of war—but pride still burned fiercely in the bones of every shinobi and citizen.
For the sake of peace, they had tolerated insult after insult…But now?
Even peace had a limit.
Meanwhile, the reactions inside the major clans were more measured—but no less intense.
The Uchiha Clan.
Fugaku stood before the clan council, explaining everything—his suspicions, including the role of the Third Hokage in trying to eliminate Naraku.
"This..." murmured one of the elders.
Another asked quietly, "Was it really Root?"
Fugaku closed his eyes. "Shinnosuke Sarutobi admitted it himself."
The clan fell into uneasy silence.
Even Itachi and Shisui—watching from the crowd—exchanged tense glances.
They didn't want to believe that the Third Hokage could stoop to such methods.
But the facts were undeniable.
The Nara Clan Compound.
"Was it really the Cloud who sent the assassins?" the Yamanaka patriarch asked skeptically.
"No way," Nara Shikaku replied, sipping his sake lazily. "If the Cloud really wanted Naraku dead, they would've sent at least two jonin. They wouldn't risk such a sloppy failure."
He sighed, tapping the table. "Only one person in this village stands to gain from Naraku's death while avoiding war."
Yamanaka nodded, understanding dawning.
Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Shikaku didn't speak it aloud. He didn't need to.
Beside them, Akimichi Chōza kept eating, listening in silence.
As always, the three clans stood united in judgment.
Inside the Hokage's Office.
"We've got a problem," Shinnosuke muttered, rubbing his forehead. "Anbu reports that nearly everyone in the village is calling for war."
"I've heard it myself," he added. "Even the civilians are furious."
"This is bad," Koharu murmured. "We won't be able to contain this anger much longer."
The Third Hokage remained silent, fingers steepled under his chin.
But before anyone could speak further—
"You can't go in there!"
An Anbu's shout echoed from outside the room.
Bang!
The door burst open.
A Cloud Shinobi—a formal envoy from Kumogakure—strode inside, head held high.
"What's the meaning of this intrusion?" Hiruzen asked coldly.
The envoy ignored his tone and held out a scroll, pride radiating from his smirk.
"This is an official order from the Raikage."
"Konoha has seven days to hand over the killer.""Fail to comply…"
He paused, letting the silence hang heavily in the room.
"…and you'll meet the Hidden Cloud on the battlefield."
With that, he tossed the scroll to the floor and turned on his heel—without waiting for permission to leave.
The message had been delivered.