The next morning dawned clear and bright, a sharp wind cutting through the warm sunlight.
Mikami arrived early at the Hokage's office. He didn't bother knocking, simply pushing the door open to find the Third Hokage and his legendary students, the Sannin, already waiting. Their eyes locked onto him the moment he entered—especially Jiraiya's, which held a particular intensity that made Mikami's skin crawl.
The look plainly said, 'You're late, you little brat, and we've been getting an earful from the old man because of it!'
Mikami ignored the accusatory glare, his gaze moving directly to the Third Hokage.
His eyes were clear and placid, yet held a depth of unwavering confidence. His calm, detached demeanor acted like a stabilizer, subtly easing the tense atmosphere in the room.
'As expected.'
Orochimaru gave an almost imperceptible nod, a flicker of surprise in his serpentine pupils. Even he was affected by the boy's composure, the knot of anxiety in his own chest loosening slightly.
Seated closest to the Third, Orochimaru—who had not yet betrayed Konoha—was a picture of loyalty. Had it not been for the sudden, brilliant rise of Namikaze Minato, the title of Fourth Hokage would likely have been his. His position here spoke volumes of the trust the Third still placed in him.
"Mikami. Sit."
The Third Hokage nodded in approval, gesturing to the empty seat beside the Sannin. The more he observed the boy, the more he appreciated his presence. A commander needed not just strategic minds, but also those who could steady morale and mend fractured resolve. This was often more critical than any plan.
As the saying went: With the mountain preserved, one need not worry about firewood. The hearts of people were the root of everything. If morale shattered, Konoha's fall would only be a matter of time.
The Third could only sigh inwardly. Turbulent times bred heroes; the great waves washed away the sand. The legendary "Sannin" who had dominated the last war were becoming figures of the past.
The rising star before him… might very well define this era. Just as Uchiha Madara could only be mentioned in the same breath as Hashirama Senju, and only when Hashirama was raised up, so too would others be measured against Mikami.
---
"From the beginning. Tell me the news from the front."
Once Mikami was seated, the Third's eyes settled on Jiraiya. Seeing the man's unusually grim expression, the Hokage's face hardened. His tone shifted abruptly from calm to commanding. "Report the specifics of Sunagakure's offensive. Now."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Jiraiya hurriedly stood, grabbing the frontline dispatch. As he prepared to read it aloud, his face soured further—the intelligence was clearly another report of defeat.
Mikami watched Jiraiya's pained expression with inward amusement. If it weren't for the gravity of the situation, he might have laughed outright.
---
"Our… our forward defensive line has been breached again. Suna's vanguard forces have likely advanced to the vicinity of Kikyō Pass."
His voice thick with shame, Jiraiya bowed his head, unable to meet the Third's eyes. As the commanding officer responsible for the Suna front, he was, in effect, the one accountable for the defeat.
"Sit down, Jiraiya."
The Third's expression remained neutral, his voice devoid of blame. He knew this wasn't Jiraiya's failure. Facing the combined might of a Kage and multiple elite veterans from an entire village was an impossible task for any single commander. It was a case of two fists against four hands.
"Orochimaru. Your thoughts on breaking the current deadlock?"
The room fell into a heavy silence. The Third could only turn his hopeful gaze to his most tactically brilliant student.
"Tch, what good is that creepy snake gonna do?"
Before Orochimaru could speak, a low grumble, clear as a bell to everyone present, came from Tsunade. Orochimaru and the Third elegantly ignored it; Tsunade merely raised a brow, accustomed to the rivalry between her two teammates, who were partners in one sense and competitors in another.
"The only viable option now is to deploy counter-force. Our most elite ninja."
After a moment of contemplation, Orochimaru spoke, his voice hoarse. Letting Suna's advance continue was unthinkable. For now, all they could do was commit their best to slow the enemy's momentum.
The Third nodded. He shared the same assessment. His eyes then inevitably drifted to Mikami. Almost all of Konoha's high-tier combatants were already deployed or otherwise occupied. Only Mikami remained unassigned.
"I have no issue facing Sunagakure."
Mikami spoke softly, his tone brimming with a quiet certainty. Merely repelling them would not be difficult for him.
"But simply beating back their forces is treating the symptom, not the disease. Wounding them is meaningless. 'Wildfires burn endlessly, born anew with the spring wind.' I trust everyone here understands this simple truth."
A chill, laced with pure killing intent, began to emanate from him, dropping the temperature in the room to near freezing. Looking closely, one could see a cold, wicked charm etched on Mikami's indifferent face, his handsome features frosted over. The naked, direct hostility he radiated was daunting.
"It is better to break one of their fingers than to injure their entire hand. We must shatter Sunagakure's spine—utterly destroy their confidence to ever challenge Konoha again."