Double Pupils Like Flowing Water

How can I subtly express that I'm about to start talking nonsense? Well, Naruto will just say something fair.

"Putting aside the fact that the Nine-Tails did not appear, on August 24th, Itachi Uchiha, along with another S-rank rogue ninja, wandered around the village all day in strange clothes."

"I was attacked twice, with a very long interval between them, right under the noses of the Anbu and Root. I'm just a Genin, and it's already a miracle that I survived Itachi Uchiha's relentless search."

"Why didn't you report it?" Utatane Koharu.

"Report it up?" Naruto looked confused, staring at the old woman Utatane Koharu, for a while. "Do you want to hear what you're saying? The other party is Itachi Uchiha, the man who became the Anbu Captain at the age of twelve."

"Where should I report this? The Root members have flooded into the Anbu. Should I report this to Danzo for a decision?"

"They didn't even arrive until Anbu Itachi Uchiha left. What is this if not incompetence? I'd be dead a thousand times over if I relied on them to save my life."

"The village was in turmoil at the time, Anbu were short-handed and unable to provide effective feedback," Danzo finally explained.

"I don't want to hear these hindsight explanations. If the Anbu and Root had any intention of protecting the village, they would have found a way to detect the enemy in advance," Naruto said, shaking his head.

"The truth is undeniable, and Danzo, you should recognize this thing."

With a thud, a mask was thrown onto the long table in the conference room.

"Every mask worn by Root Ninja has a number, Danzo. Can you guess why this one is in my hands?"

The mask on the table, like a boulder thrown into a lake, finally created a ripple in the otherwise lukewarm meeting. While there might not be evidence for the Nine-Tails incident, the Root Ninja attack was undeniably real.

Danzo remained expressionless, while the two advisors turned ashen-faced.

At this moment, the situation took a turn for the better, and the expressions of the two consultants changed drastically.

The issue of dealing with the Jinchuriki is a problem left over from the Third Hokage, according to the advisors. Having served as the Third Hokage's right-hand men, they were dedicated to maximizing any possible benefit to the village.

The other clan leaders, however, were more concerned with the direction the matter would take than the outcome.

Regardless of whether Danzo or Tsunade prevails at this meeting, witnessing the clash between the new generation of Kage and the veteran core leadership offers a rare opportunity to glean insights into future trends.

As for how to view the issue of Jinchuriki, they had long since become numb to it. The situation was far too serious for them to offer their opinions.

The current situation is no longer just about the Nine-Tails; it's a battle between Tsunade and the veteran high-ranking officials. How to protect Naruto will be key to winning over the hearts of the other silent clan leaders.

Even if Tsunade didn't think that way, the other high-ranking members would have guessed it.

They were well aware of their role as silent spectators.

The Jinchuriki are far too important to the village, and since the Second's death, the Land of Fire has been on a downward spiral. Its awkward inland location means the Land of Fire is constantly facing three powerful enemies.

In the ongoing wars, Konohagakure has already lost too much; it cannot afford to lose any more Jinchuriki.

Naruto's act of sticking the knife into the table initially surprised them, because Naruto chose death as the way to prove his innocence. This was not a wise choice; from that moment on, the advisors were consciously interrupting Naruto, trying to keep him alive.

After Tsunade said those words, the two advisors began to waver. Naruto had too much background to bear, and if he really died, the two of them simply couldn't bear such a karmic burden.

But from the moment Naruto threw out the mask, it meant that he had already made the choice to live.

Their strategy of facing death head-on, simple and unpretentious, suppressed Danzo and forced the two advisors to express their opinions and make choices, which was truly amazing.

Silence.

A three-minute silence followed.

Shikaku Nara nearby, his face equally blurred, and he remained silent throughout the confrontation between the four high-ranking officials of Konohagakure.

All eyes were on Naruto; he was undoubtedly the center of attention.

But his gaze fell on Tsunade's face, the chief. If Naruto was a knife in the High-level Meeting, then Tsunade was the mastermind behind it all.

She appeared to remain neutral throughout, and despite the fact that two advisors had clearly Danzo, she remained calm and silent most of the time.

She has only spoken a few words since the start of the meeting, but every word has been perfectly timed and appropriate. If Naruto is engaging in sophistry, then Tsunade has maintained her rationality throughout.

In short, Naruto initially tried to stir up emotions in Danzo and the two veteran advisors. The opening scene of throwing his sword was explosive, followed by gradual verbal escalation, and finally, throwing out the Root Ninja mask in a show of facing death was truly spectacular.

However, Tsunade consistently played the role of detaching herself from the situation, which was equally important. Instead of constantly explaining things to Naruto, she chose to remain silent, only offering reminders to the two advisors from an outsider's perspective when the meeting stalled.

What does losing Jinchuriki mean for the village? What does Naruto's death in this capacity mean for the Will of Fire?

Shikaku Nara was certain that Tsunade had a better and more ruthless way to suppress the two advisors; all she needed to do was use Naruto's background.

But she chose to protect, choosing a method that, while not particularly sophisticated, was still effective.

The less-than-sophisticated method, in the face of such astonishing coordination, appears remarkably brilliant.

Shikaku Nara narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the group of high-ranking officials opposite him. Looking at their blurred faces in the light, he suddenly felt like laughing.

The executives sitting in this conference room aren't fools. Even if some of them are slow-witted, they'll figure it out after a few days at home following the meeting.

The most beautiful woman in the Shinobi World is not just a pretty face. She is medical-nin who returned from the carnage of war, traveled to various countries and then returned to Konohagakure. She is by no means as harmless as her appearance suggests.

The goal of confusing the Nine-Tails has been achieved, but Lord Tsunade purpose has yet to be revealed. Shikaku Nara couldn't help but smile; it was probably about time.

The play is over; it's time for the curtain to fall.

Knock knock!

Tsunade gently tapped the table, making a dull sound, breaking the silence first.

All eyes were drawn to the Fifth Hokage, who looked at them with complex or puzzled expressions, like Fuyō Tōyama.

Her eyes, like pools of clear water, resembled a crabapple blossom intoxicated by the sun.

"Since that's the case, Anbu and Root are in disarray, then let's keep them separate. The visible are visible, and the invisible are invisible. Mixing them together will only create more problems and affect the very purpose of the special ninja divisions."

Tsunade said this, casually bringing the Anbu back.

I apologize for the draft issue. As you can see from the beginning of the published version, my poor writing habits led me to write it down without thinking, resulting in a draft that was too obscure to publish. So I deleted the interactive elements and revised the High-level Meeting ahead of schedule.

I won't celebrate the New Year; I'll keep updating until I finish the manuscript.

As compensation, the extra chapters are in the introduction. I'll write the extra chapters when I have time after finishing the manuscript.