Quinque

Since Danzo had put it that way, the two advisors could only secretly assume that he had been ambushed and injured while carrying out a mission.

Only Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Danzo a suspicious look, but he did not say anything.

This insignificant disturbance quickly passed. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, cleared his throat and drew the attention of the higher-ups.

"I called you here this time because of something."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke solemnly to the three old friends before him. "You should already know about Sunagakure's recent actions in the Land of Rivers, right?"

At those words, the expressions of the three Konoha higher-ups turned somewhat unpleasant.

Utatane Koharu was the first to speak. "Those Sunagakure bastards somehow found so many scorpions, and that secret technique of theirs gives them far too great an advantage in close combat!"

Mitokado Homura said bitterly as well, "The wandering ninjas in the Land of Rivers have been steadily retreating. Even several of the strongholds we established there have been wiped out!"

Danzo glanced at the two of them, his hoarse voice sounding out. "Sunagakure is going all out to prove itself. The Jashin Cult's attack left Sunagakure utterly humiliated."

Danzo swept his gaze around the room, his expression turning serious.

"But if they can display strength that overwhelms Konoha in this conflict, they can prove that attack happened because the Jashin Cult was too powerful, not because Sunagakure was too weak..."

By this point, the two advisors had grown solemn.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in agreement. "If we cannot strike Sand Village hard in this conflict, Konoha's reputation will suffer a severe blow!"

"So this time, Konoha must not only win—we must win beautifully!"

At Hiruzen's emphasis, a trace of bitterness appeared on Mitokado Homura's face.

"Hiruzen, the problem is that Sand Village's secret