Encountering an Attack: The Political Struggle Over Its Characterization and the Transnational Accountability Official Letter

The atmosphere in the Hokage's Office froze when the red Scroll arrived.

The writing on the Scroll seemed to carry the damp chill and stench of blood from Wailing Gorge.

Shikaku Nara stood beside the desk, his gaze shifting between the Scroll and Baishi's face. He said nothing, but his tightly furrowed brows said it all.

Baishi's fingers rested on the edge of the Scroll, his fingertips cold.

The office door was suddenly shoved open, bringing with it a barely contained fury.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu entered one after the other. Both advisers wore identical livid expressions.

"Lord Hokage!" Mitokado Homura's voice was like a branding iron plunged into ice water. "You should have received the emergency military report from the southern border by now!"

Baishi raised his head and looked at them calmly. He said nothing, merely giving a slight nod.

"This is a provocation of war! An outright act of war!" Mitokado Homura slammed his fist into the armrest of the nearby reception sofa, producing a dull thud. "Amegakure has crossed the line!"

"Namikaze Minato is a hero of our village and a peace observer! They actually dared to attack our diplomatic emissaries on their own territory!" Utatane Koharu's voice was shrill with fury. "We must respond with the utmost force at once! I propose immediately mobilizing the Southern Border Guard Forces, placing them on a wartime footing, and sealing every entrance and exit of the Land of Rain!"

"Only sealing them off?" Mitokado Homura snorted. "I demand that we declare war on the Land of Rain immediately! We will make them pay a bloody price for their stupidity and arrogance with the force of thunder!"

The two advisers echoed one another, pushing the atmosphere in the entire office to the brink of war.

Their anger was