"Something terrible has happened! Iwagakure was attacked by an unknown enemy and destroyed. The Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was killed, and the Four-Tails and Five-Tails were taken from the Stone Ninja."
"The enemy was Madara Uchiha!"
"Iwagakure is gathering its forces and preparing to demand an explanation from Konoha."
Minato Namikaze gave Nara Shikaku the news from the scroll, his expression grave. Shikaku looked utterly disbelieving as he heard it and murmured:
"W-what did you say?!"
"Iwagakure was destroyed, and the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, is dead?!"
After a moment of shock, Shikaku quickly regained his composure. His tone remained grave, but he had already calmed down. Minato reread the scroll twice before finally nodding.
"Minato, the most urgent thing is to send troops and strengthen our border defenses."
"This has happened so suddenly. Besides preparing for the Stone Ninja, who are already gathering their forces, we need to send reinforcements to our other borders as well."
"If the Stone Ninja make a move, there's no telling whether the other villages might get ideas too."
"And we need to summon Lord Jiuming back to the village as soon as possible. Madara Uchiha attacked Iwagakure. His next target will be either Sunagakure or us. Of the remaining villages, only Sunagakure has Tailed Beasts."
Once Shikaku had calmed down, he was every bit the Konoha strategist again, voicing his concerns.
"Shikaku, call an assembly of the Jonin."
"Invite the Third Hokage and the others too."
After speaking, Minato left the office. On his way to the meeting room, he sent Anbu to verify the authenticity of the report. When he entered the room, he was the only one there.
Minato took the seat of honor and waited for the Jonin to gather.
Dusk fell, and the setting sun cast its final glow across the land.
In