"It's my fault," Hyuga Hiashi confessed.
The clan heads exchanged glances.
"Let's fight, there's nothing else to say."
"Otherwise, we'll just wait for those Kumogakure thieves to twist the truth and then demand an exorbitant price!"
Inuzuka Tsume slammed her hand on the table.
Then she looked at everyone, her face filled with ferocity.
"Konoha has suffered many losses recently, but it's just Kumogakure. Are we really afraid of them?!"
The two Advisors kept their faces down, remaining silent.
Danzo, too, was uncharacteristically quiet.
This matter could be big or small.
Moreover, knowing Hiruzen as they did, the three of them were sure he had already come up with a disgusting countermeasure.
The Jinchuriki matter had just settled down, and they couldn't be bothered to talk about this. Anyway, the Old Monkey wouldn't listen, so what was the point of talking?
Besides, the Cloud Village Envoy was being watched by your Anbu Ninja, yet something like this still happened. Heh.
Danzo sneered inwardly. Once Hiruzen Sarutobi mishandled this matter, he would have a reason to once again challenge for the Hokage position.
Fourth Raikage: "They're quite skilled at infighting."
Fourth Raikage: "If only we had known, our demands should have been even more excessive back then, hahahaha~"
At this moment, hearing the Fourth Raikage's voice, many in Konoha showed anger.
But in an instant, it was as if they were deflated balloons.
The guy was speaking the truth!
Frustrating! It was truly frustrating!
Following such a Hokage, they would never get ahead in this life.
Uchiha Madara: Hashirama, please continue your forced smile.
Senju Hashirama: Hahahaha~
Senju Hashirama: I am already dead.
Hmph~!
Senju Tobirama's eye twitched.
How could this be!
These guys actually made Big Brother start looking for excuses!
If he were to ask, Uchiha Izuna would definitely reply without hesitation, 'Of course, it's because there's no virtue or ability~!'
"Calm down, Tsume, it hasn't been confirmed yet," Inoichi Yamanaka said.
"The matter hasn't been confirmed yet, but please, everyone, prepare for war," Nara Shikaku took a deep breath. He knew something would happen, but he didn't expect it to be this.
At this time, no one mentioned why Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't had the Anbu keep a closer eye on the Cloud Village Envoy.
Hyuga Hiashi sat in his seat, his expression somewhat grim.
For the Hyuga, it was indeed an unprovoked disaster.
"Hmph!"
"It's just Kumogakure. If we work together, repelling them won't be difficult."
"The only difficulty lies in the attitudes of the other three Great Ninja Villages."
Uchiha Fugaku said, arms crossed, looking at everyone.
Subsequently, the heads of the various Ninja clans expressed their attitudes.
Fight! Of course, they had to fight!
Not fighting meant admitting defeat, didn't it?
If other villages found out, wouldn't anyone be able to pull this stunt in Konoha in the future?
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head of the table, silently taking a few puffs from his pipe.
Finally, everyone's gaze fell on him.
"Let's leave this matter here for now."
"I have sent a hawk to relay the full story, and I believe we will receive a reply from Kumogakure in a few days."
"Everyone, before this matter is confirmed, do not spread any rumors."
"I will have the Anbu advise civilians to minimize their time outdoors, so that in case of an emergency, they can evacuate to shelters immediately."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly stood up.
"Dismiss."
After speaking, he didn't give anyone else a chance to ask questions.
With one hand behind his back and the other holding his pipe, he left.
The clan heads looked at his retreating back, opening their mouths, but ultimately no one spoke.
Hyuga Hiashi slowly rose and walked towards the door.
He had to prepare for the worst.
Seeing this, the other clan heads could only rise one after another and walk out.
Finally, only Danzo and the two Advisors remained in the conference room.
"Danzo, what do you think?"
"Watching the show," Danzo said, getting up and walking away without looking back.
The two Advisors exchanged glances, both seeing the intention to retreat in each other's eyes.
Clearly, they also didn't want to get involved in this messy situation and lose their own influence.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, and Konoha was peaceful for a few days.
Caw—!!!
On this day, a clear and piercing cry echoed above Konoha.
An Anbu Ninja, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly called down the soaring eagle.
After catching the eagle, the Anbu Ninja took the letter from its leg, handed it to a nearby Ninja, and then took the eagle to feed.
Receiving the letter, another Anbu Ninja rushed to the Hokage Building.
At the same time, an uninvited guest arrived at the border of the Land of Fire.
The Fourth Raikage personally arrived at the front line.
Before long, a squad of Ninja appeared behind him.
Leading them was none other than the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer Bee.
They did not cross the Konoha border but waited quietly.
With such a large movement, someone from Konoha would definitely come.
Fourth Raikage: "Tsk~!"
Fourth Raikage: "What a pity, Konoha's Eternal Little Sister, if you were still here, we really wouldn't dare to come so brazenly."
Fourth Raikage: "Hmm, maybe we'd still sneak around."
Minato didn't reply.
He planned to lie low for a while. He had only said one sentence before.
His original intention was to mend his relationship with Kushina.
Unexpectedly... a single slip of the tongue reignited Kushina's 'powder keg'.
Oh, and it seemed he had also offended the Second Hokage.
In the sealing space, Minato sat on the head of the Nine-Tails Yin Half-Body, rubbing his head, completely bewildered.
"Kurama, did I say something wrong?"
"I don't know," the Nine-Tails Yin Half-Body lay lazily, not even bothering to lift its eyelids.
On Konoha's side.
Hiruzen Sarutobi put down Kumogakure's reply, his face full of helplessness.
'I can't let this continue.'
'This war absolutely cannot start, otherwise...'
As he was thinking, suddenly, the Hokage Office door was pushed open by a Sarutobi Clan Ninja.
His face was filled with panic.
"Clan Head!"
"Kumogakure's vanguard unit has appeared at the border!"
"Led by the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki!"
"He sent a message to you, saying that if you don't provide a satisfactory answer, they will lead their troops to attack in three days!"
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened, and he slammed his hand on the table.
This is going too far!!!
"You may leave," after a long moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand weakly, dismissing the Sarutobi Clan Ninja.
Sitting in the Hokage's seat, Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
This is bad!
Even if the Cloud Village Envoy had been watched, it was highly possible he would have committed suicide in the guesthouse.
But that way, no one would have to take the blame.
However... having experienced a similar ploy once before.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, somewhat confident, let the other party go, wanting to see Kumogakure's intentions and then plan accordingly.
The result was the Envoy's death, and the Hyuga suffered an unprovoked disaster.
For Kumogakure, the outcome was death either way; how he died didn't matter. In short, they wanted to use this as an excuse to extort Konoha.
It would be best if they could obtain the Byakugan's secrets.
As for the result, things developed even more smoothly than imagined.
They were already preparing to send a message to inquire about the Envoy, but Konoha walked right into the trap.
And for Konoha.
How could the heads of the various Ninja clans not know that it was actually the Anbu's oversight?
Otherwise, how could the Envoy have appeared in the Hyuga's compound so silently?
And the Anbu's oversight, didn't that equate to Hiruzen Sarutobi's oversight?
"Come with me to the Hyuga's," Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath.
He had made his decision.
He left with several Anbu Ninja, heading towards the Hyuga Clan compound.