After leaving the Uchiha clan compound, Hyuga Naraku headed straight for the Hokage building.
He wasn't surprised by the sudden raid from Kumogakure.
In fact, knowing the temper of the Fourth Raikage, it would have been more surprising if he hadn't taken advantage of the chaos.
This was the Fourth Raikage—not the hesitant, politically entangled Third Hokage.
In the streets of Konoha, a ripple of unease had begun to spread.
Anbu had already passed along the emergency message to the clan leaders.
And before heading to the Hokage building, each clan head had quickly spread the news throughout their respective factions.
One rumor led to ten, and ten turned to hundreds.
Soon, the entire village was buzzing with panic.
"I heard Kumogakure suddenly launched a surprise attack. Is that true?"
"Definitely. My friend in the Akimichi clan confirmed it!"
"They've already pushed into the Land of Fire?"
"No way. How did that happen so fast?"
"What is the Third Hokage doing? Wasn't he prepared?"
"Shhh! I heard he was considering handing over a Hyuga ninja to avoid war..."
"WHAT?! Is that true?"
"Keep it down! That's what I heard, but you didn't hear it from me..."
Ignoring the panic on the streets, Hyuga Naraku walked with quiet purpose.
By the time he arrived at the Hokage Tower, nearly all of the clan leaders had already gathered.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, glanced around and gave a slight nod.
"Since everyone is here, let's begin."
He looked around the table of stern, focused faces.
"You've all heard the news. Kumogakure has made its move."
Shikaku Nara narrowed his eyes and asked calmly:
"Lord Third, the rumors say their vanguard has already crossed into the Land of Fire. Is that true?"
Given the geography, Kumogakure would have had to bypass several neutral nations like the Land of Iron, Land of Fields, and Land of Hot Water. A direct incursion seemed impossible.
Hiruzen was silent for a moment, then finally nodded:
"It's true."
Gasps followed.
"How could that happen?"
"Where did they enter from? What about the border forces? Did they do nothing?"
"This is outrageous!"
The clan heads erupted in disbelief.
Hiruzen raised his hand and knocked on the table, silencing the room.
"Enough. What matters now is how we respond."
"I need every clan to mobilize and dispatch a combat team to intercept the enemy vanguard immediately."
The Third Hokage didn't want a war. But now it had been forced upon him.
Kumogakure had violated their land. If they didn't respond, the entire Land of Fire would view Konoha as weak. That would be even more dangerous.
"I expect every clan to contribute generously—especially the Uchiha and Hyuga. Speaking of which... where is the Uchiha clan head?"
He paused, scanning the room.
Uchiha Fugaku was missing.
"Anbu, did you not notify the Uchiha?"
Anbu stepped forward quickly and bowed.
"Hokage-sama, I notified Fugaku-sama in person."
Hiruzen's frown deepened.
"Then go to the Uchiha compound immediately and find out what's going on."
Whispers broke out among the clan heads. Why wasn't Fugaku here?
As the tension simmered, a loud voice cut through the room.
"Wait! Hyuga Naraku, what are you doing here?!"
All eyes turned to Sarutobi Asuma, who pointed accusingly at Naraku.
"You're not the Hyuga clan head, and you hold no official post! What right do you have to attend this meeting?!"
There was a strange excitement behind Asuma's voice.
He wanted Naraku gone. If he, Asuma, was now an Anbu squad leader, then surely Naraku, with no title, had no business here!
Several clan leaders turned toward Naraku, some confused.
But oddly enough... none had even noticed his presence before Asuma spoke. It was as if they'd subconsciously accepted that Naraku belonged here.
Asuma waved his hand.
"Anbu! Remove him at once!"
But before anyone could move, a calm voice rang out.
"If Naraku wishes, he may take my place as the Hyuga clan head."
Hyuga Hiashi looked straight at Asuma, the displeasure in his voice clear.
"If anyone must leave, it will be me."
Asuma froze.
Naraku chuckled softly.
"Patriarch, there's no need."
He turned to the rest of the room.
"Fugaku-sama has given me full authority. I'm here representing the Uchiha clan in this meeting."
A wave of shock swept through the chamber.
The Uchiha... sent Naraku as their representative?
Just as the Third Hokage was about to press him for details, an Anbu agent burst through the doors.
"Hokage-sama! Urgent report!"
The agent was out of breath, clearly having sprinted the entire way.
"The Uchiha clan has assembled a fully armed battalion—hundreds of shinobi, all geared for battle!"
A deathly silence fell.
This wasn't the Anbu unit sent earlier to check Uchiha movements. This was the Anbu unit assigned to monitor the Uchiha daily—to prevent rebellion.
If they were alarmed, the situation was real.
"What are you doing, Naraku?!" Hiruzen's voice thundered. "Are you plotting a rebellion with the Uchiha?!"
Naraku turned to him, calm and unshaken.
"The Uchiha clan has no intention of rebelling."
He let the words hang, then added, with weight:
"On the contrary…"
"They're marching to the battlefield."