Chapter 13: How to Respond [Part 1]
Hiruzen Sarutobi cast Danzo only a fleeting glance and said nothing. He knew his old classmate all too well. If everything were handled the way Danzo wanted, Konoha would have ceased to exist a long time ago. Did he really think Konoha was still in the glory days of the First and Second Hokage?
"What's with that look, Sarutobi?" Danzo snapped, irritated by Hiruzen's expression. If it weren't for the other people in the room, he might have slammed the table in frustration. "They've already forced us into a corner—are you seriously thinking of compromising again?"
"Compromise is not an option," Hiruzen said, taking a long drag from his pipe. "They're demanding the body of the Hyūga clan head. If we cave to that, not only will we lose all face, but even though the Hyūga clan is aligned with the Hokage faction, they'll turn against us."
"In that case," Danzo sneered, "we should just declare war! It's only Kumogakure—we've fought them before. It's not like we haven't taken on multiple villages at once!"
But Hiruzen shook his head. "The Third Great Ninja War ended only a few years ago. Our forces haven't yet recovered. The Nine-Tails attack that followed weakened us even further. Most of our shinobi want peace right now, and above all… we lack high-level combat power."
Danzo fell silent at those final words.
In the wars between ninja villages, genin and chunin were little more than cannon fodder. Only jonin could be considered real fighting power, and even then, true high-tier combatants—the likes of Sakumo Hatake (the White Fang), the Legendary Sannin, or Minato Namikaze (the Yellow Flash)—were what truly determined the outcome of a war.
And now?
Hiruzen was aging. The Sannin were gone—one had defected, one was in self-imposed exile, and the other had gone off chasing shadows. The Fourth Hokage had died sealing the Nine-Tails, perishing alongside his wife. The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was still just a child. The Uchiha clan was estranged and increasingly hostile after the Nine-Tails incident. All in all, Konoha was perhaps at its weakest point in history.
"So what, we just back down like cowards?" Danzo asked bitterly. But he too could see the truth—there wasn't much they could do.
"Go home for now," Hiruzen finally said, waving his hand. "I need time to think."
As the others left the smoky room, the deep lines on Hiruzen's forehead seemed to grow more pronounced.
Danzo and Hiashi Hyūga exited in silence. Hiashi's face was dark as thunder. The enemy's intent was clear—they were coming for him. And knowing the Third's past tendencies, Hiashi feared he'd ultimately be forced to "compromise" by handing over the corpse of a Hyūga clan member.
In the days that followed, the atmosphere in the village grew heavier. Word had spread quickly: Kumogakure was pressuring Konoha. The fear of war loomed over everyone. The streets became noticeably quieter, and even the Ichiraku Ramen shop saw its business take a hit.
"Have you all heard what's happening in the village lately?" Ino whispered, her voice filled with mystery as she sat with a few friends in the nearly empty ramen shop. She had heard the details from her father.
"I heard from my dad that Kumogakure's forces are already preparing for war near the border," she added.
"They've gone too far!" Kiba growled, crossing his arms angrily. The Inuzuka and Hyūga clans were close, and he knew the backstory well. "They tried to kidnap Hinata! Clan Head Hiashi caught them in the act and fought back. One of them died, and now they have the nerve to blame us? It's infuriating!"
"What?! They were trying to kidnap Hinata?!" the others exclaimed, shocked and outraged. Hinata was sweet and well-liked. Even Sasuke, who normally looked down on the Hyūga due to clan rivalry, found it hard to dislike her.
"Relax. This war won't happen," Sakura said with a sigh. As someone who knew the "future" all too well, she could already guess what would come next. The Third Hokage would partially compromise, and Hiashi's twin brother, Hizashi, would be forced by the clan elders to take his place in death.
"Damn it… If the Sannin or the Fourth Hokage were still around, Kumogakure wouldn't dare act like this," Shikamaru muttered in frustration. His father, Shikaku, had already analyzed the situation for him—Kumogakure was acting so boldly simply because they saw Konoha's current weakness.
Just as they were discussing and cursing Kumogakure, a figure dressed in Anbu gear with a shock of white hair appeared beside them.
"Haruno Sakura," he said in a deep voice. "The Third Hokage wants to see you."
Following the ANBU-disguised Kakashi Hatake to the Hokage's office, Sakura couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled. Why would the Third Hokage want to see her at a time like this? Could it be… he planned to hand her over as a scapegoat for killing the envoy from Kumogakure?
"Sakura, let me ask you—what do you think about the current situation with Kumogakure?" Hiruzen Sarutobi got straight to the point the moment she arrived, which took Sakura by surprise.
"Why would you ask me that, Lord Third?" she asked, visibly confused. She was only four years old—no matter how you looked at it, there was no way someone like her should be giving opinions on such weighty matters.
"Just a feeling," the Third replied with a tired smile. "Call it instinct. I believe you might have a solution."
"Huh?!" Sakura's expression darkened. Sure, people always said women had a sixth sense, but what was an old man like him playing this game?
"My instincts are usually pretty accurate," he chuckled. In truth, he was simply cornered and overwhelmed, and needed someone to talk to—someone who might offer a fresh perspective. That's when he thought of Sakura, the mysterious girl with an unknown bloodline limit.
"Well, if you really want my opinion… I say we hit back—hard!" Sakura declared, as she casually floated up on her enchanted sword until she was level with the Third Hokage.
"If they want war, then let's give them war!"
"It's not that simple…" Hiruzen shook his head. Konoha simply couldn't afford another war right now.
"I know—it's because we don't have the manpower," Sakura said knowingly. She was well aware of Konoha's current state. If this had happened a few years ago, Kumogakure wouldn't have dared try something like kidnapping.
"You're absolutely right," Hiruzen nodded. "If Konoha and Kumogakure go to war now, the other villages will definitely seize the opportunity to strike. If that happens, Konoha will be in grave danger."
Konoha's geography was ideal—every other hidden village coveted the land. They would jump at the chance to wipe it off the map and claim it for themselves.