14 Chapter: 14

Hokage's Office:

The Hokage's office was a spacious room overlooking the village, mostly bare except for a couple of bookracks, a sofa set stacked in a corner for the Hokage to entertain important guests, the Hokage's chair, and the most precious piece of furniture... the Hokage's table, an aged wooden desk that has been on the receiving end of not one, not two, but three Hokage. The curtains were drawn, shrouding the room in an impregnable darkness.

As for Sandaime himself, well, he was a wizened old man, clad in a long white cloak with the word 'Third' stitched to its back. He leaned back into his chair, a tired look marring his wrinkled old face.

Standing before him was a trio wearing porcelain masks and black robes... except for the figure at the very front. His face was bare and instead of the black robe, he wore a white one.

"The situation with Suna has grown more hostile over the past few weeks,"

Stated the unmasked figure, in a low, hard voice,

"The Third Kazekage seems to be taking a more volatile approach."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of Konoha, frowned,

"This much is quite obvious, we have already received reports of increased military activities on the side of Iwagakure. If even Sunagakure joins the fray... it won't be pretty."

His words were met with silence, a silence that spoke of ill news and conflict.

"Perhaps, it is time that I step in."

The voice came from the other corner of the room, one without the sofa set. 

A wizened figure walked out of the shadows, half of his face was covered under bandages and one of his arms hung limp on his side,

"It is clear that my 'Root' is more suited for the matter than the ANBU Black Ops."

"Danzo..."

Groaned the third Hokage,

"You should have taken the seat instead of skulking around in the dark like a rat."

Danzo ignored the insult and instead focused on the ANBU Commander standing at the forefront,

"Since the death of White Fang, the performance of ANBU Black Ops has dropped significantly. Perhaps it is time you consider my advice and adopt my 'Root' as the main Spec Ops unit."

His words elicited no response from the ANBU kneeling behind their commander, but the same couldn't be said for the commander himself,

"What did you say?"

He asked in a low voice, barely suppressing the urge to go up and pummel the old bastard to an early retirement.

"That's enough! Both of you!"

Hiruzen chose this moment to stop them from arguing, otherwise, it would be a pain in his old behind to broker peace between two of the main factions of Konoha's armed forces. Both, of course, were smaller than his own by a large margin.

"Danzo, do you have something to report?"

Otherwise, the slimy old snake wouldn't have crawled out of his hole.

Danzo harrumphed at the ANBU Commander and turned to the Hokage,

"We need to act swiftly,"

He pressed.

"My root operatives within Suna have just sent back a report regarding the movement of the One-Tail's Jinchūriki."

This got the attention of both the Hokage and the ANBU commander,

"Are you certain of the news, Danzo?"

Asked the Hokage, in an agitated voice.

If the Suna was moving their Jinchuriki, then the Third Kazekage was most likely not messing around. He really intended to declare war on Konoha!

"Yes, my spies have eyes on Bunpuku's location and movement. The Kazekage is sending him to the Suna-Tani border."

The atmosphere in the room turned grim at the mention of the Land of Rivers,

"Do you think,"

The Hokage stared at Danzo right in his eyes,

"It has something to do with Tanigakure?"

Danzo nodded,

"It is likely,"

He walked over to the window overlooking the village,

"Recently, these smaller Shinobi Villages have been getting more and more presumptuous. Popping up like mushrooms,"

He parted the curtains, allowing for moonlight to penetrate into the Hokage's office, exposing a rather impressive sight.

"Hidden Fang Village, Hidden Claw Village...*HUMPH!*"

He withdrew from the window. The moonlight was blocked again, and the two dozen Elite Jonins of the ANBU were hidden in the darkness once more.

"Before long we will be hearing of the Hidden Noodle Village and Hidden Tea Village! I think it is time we remind them why we, of the Leaf, are called the strongest..."

But before he could finish his heart-warming, blood-boiling, and potentially war-mongering speech, Hiruzen interrupted him,

"I think not, Danzo. We should be more tolerant of our allies, after all, they have the grave responsibility of acting as the buffer zone between the Five Great Nations."

By this, he meant acting as the battlefield for Shinobi World Wars, and as a meat shield while the losing sides withdrew and scattered across their lands.

The ANBU Commander nodded to show his support for the Hokage's words and Hiruzen found himself pleased with his past decision of electing someone easily tamed to lead the ANBU Black Ops.

Danzo snorted in disdain, banging open the door, and strode out of the Hokage's office. Of course, he didn't forget to repeat his dialogue,

"You will regret this Hiruzen!"

Hiruzen, meanwhile, was busy searching his desk drawer for more tobacco to be worried about the old mummy's threats.

Once Danzo was out of earshot, Hiruzen's playful demeanor turned serious and he signalled for the ANBU Commander to continue with his report,

"Right. As Lord Shimura pointed out, there has been a significant fall in the number of missions we receive every month. With all these new 'Hidden Villages' appearing out of nowhere, most of the tasks below B ranks are being entrusted to them while those of rank B and above are handed over to us."

A sudden look of apprehension appeared in his eyes as he turned over a page from his report,

"It has already affected our shinobi, just last month our casualty count reached a third digit!"

These were troubling news indeed, for Daimyos to trust these fledgling villages with easier tasks sang of one thing, trouble.

Hiruzen sighed heavily, rubbing his temples,

"Danzo may be a poisonous old snake,"

He began in a sad tone,

"but sometimes, even a snake can be a loyal companion."

Dealing with Danzo's hawk faction had always been the last thing on his wish list, it always left a bitter taste in his mouth. But he seemed to be genuinely concerned for the village just this once,

"A third-digit casualty count..."

He murmured in a heavy voice, his face devoid of its serious or carefree facade,

"This peace has become so fragile..."

For once, he seemed genuinely sad about something.

"Hokage-sama!"

The ANBU Commander began with a bowed head,

"While Shimura-sama's advice does seem a bit hawkish, it has some truth to it. The new villages are eating away at the missions entrusted to us, and the other Great Nations are beginning to make their move as well."

Hiruzen blew out a smoke ring, rhythmically tapping the desk with his free hand,

"For now, our priority is Shukaku."

"Should we send a scouting party to investigate their motives, Hokage-sama?"

The Commander asked, but Hiruzen shook his head,

"No. Sending someone too close at this stage could provoke a response we don't want."

He thought for a moment before coming up with a plan,

"Increase our border forces on the Tani border, and get that brat Jiraiya to go there as well."

The ANBU Commander straightened up,

"And the smaller Hidden Villages?"

Hiruzen nodded,

"We can't ignore them, nor the threat they pose. Gather intel on these new villages, their leaders, their strengths, their true intentions, I want everything!"

"As you command, Hokage-sama!"

With that confirmation, the ANBU commander flickered out of the room, and so did the rest of his subordinates, roughly thirty ANBU Jonin and Elite Jonin.

'The brat's got the talent for power play.'

He chuckled merrily, after all, the one on the opposite side of the ANBU's powerplay was the old Mummy, Danzo.

*KNOCK**KNOCK**KNOCK*

"Come in."

The door creaked open and in came another ANBU,

"You wanted a private audience? Speak up, what's bothering you?"

Hachidori went down on one knee in respect to their village's leader,

"Yes, lord Hokage!"