Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was uncharacteristically not processing paperwork, instead looking earnestly at the scroll on his desk.
Right at that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned as a familiar set of footsteps echoed from outside the door. Taking a deep breath, he put away the scroll on his desk, placed it inside the desk drawer, picked up a mission report, and began reading it with a feigned air of focus.
"Hiruzen! You had Homura intentionally lose the battle, giving the Fourth Raikage a chance to breach Konoha's gates."
"Even so, you can't pin all your hopes on the Uchiha!"
"What if they team up with the Raikage?" Koharu Utatane said with a displeased tone.
Ever since they reached a consensus in the office that day, Koharu Utatane had stayed home to watch and wait. Yet the longer she watched, the more panicked her heart became. She had agreed to Hiruzen Sarutobi's plan of intentionally suffering a defeat based on her trust in him, believing that such a move meant he had made thorough preparations and possessed absolute confidence.
As a result, she saw no sign of Hiruzen Sarutobi mobilizing troops to guard against the Fourth Raikage's arrival, nor did she see the Uchiha Clan successfully halting the impending disaster of the Raikage.
What made Koharu Utatane sit on pins and needles the most was that Hiruzen Sarutobi showed no intention whatsoever of summoning Jiraiya and Tsunade.
"Hiruzen! Both you and I know what your title of the Strongest Hokage is really about. Don't let your stubborn pride stop you from summoning Jiraiya and Tsunade."
"If the Uchiha actually reach a peace agreement with the Fourth Raikage and form an alliance, turning their blades back on us, then everything will be over."
Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the paper document in his hand,