Early that morning, the Anbu pounded urgently on the gate of the Nara Clan compound.
Shikaku Nara pulled on his robe and opened the door. The chilly morning wind carried in the bustle of Konoha's streets.
"Lord Hokage will hold a village-wide meeting in one hour. Clan Head Shikaku, please proceed to the Hokage Building at once to discuss matters." With that, the Anbu Ninja vanished around the corner.
Shikaku Nara gazed in the direction the Anbu had disappeared, lost in thought.
The same scene played out at the compounds of Konoha's other clans.
In front of the Hokage Building.
Inoichi Yamanaka wore his clan robes. Beside him, Choza Akimichi stuffed a rice dumpling into his mouth, his cheeks bulging, while Shikaku Nara yawned nearby.
"Shikaku, you're the smartest among us. Any idea why Hiruzen suddenly called a village-wide meeting?" After finishing the rice dumpling in his hand, Choza Akimichi casually wiped his mouth with his broad sleeve. The storage pouch at his waist gave a muffled clunk as he moved, and he leaned toward Shikaku Nara to ask.
Shikaku Nara wiped the sleeve that Choza Akimichi had brushed with a look of distaste.
After thinking for a moment, he replied, "I can't figure out what Hiruzen's thinking either."
Choza Akimichi scratched his head and muttered as he reached for the storage pouch at his waist again. "Meetings are never this rushed. When the Anbu came to my place, I hadn't even finished breakfast."
Inoichi Yamanaka leaned over. "Choza, give me some. I haven't had breakfast either."
Choza Akimichi grinned and reached into his pouch with his thick hand. He pulled out two rice dumplings wrapped in maple-leaf-patterned oil paper and handed them to Inoichi Yamanaka. "I knew you hadn't eaten!" Then he turned to Shikaku Nara. "Want some, Shikaku?"
Shikaku Nara waved him off.
As they were talking, the distant clatter of chains reached them. Tsume Inuzuka strode over, dragging the barking Akamaru. Her fangs glinted coldly in the morning light. "Well, look at you lot, taking it easy!"
She raised a hand and clapped Shikaku Nara on the shoulder with enough force to make him stagger half a step. "Shikaku, do you know why the Hokage suddenly called a village-wide meeting?"
Shikaku Nara looked helpless.
Why was everyone asking him? He wasn't some know-it-all.
Inoichi Yamanaka took a huge bite of his rice dumpling, his cheeks puffed like a squirrel's, and laughed indistinctly. "Does Shikaku look like he knows? He was the first one they woke up this morning."
Tsume Inuzuka burst out laughing at that and stopped pressing him.
Just then, Hyuga Hiashi came over with Hyuga Hinata.
Hinata's steps were steady and her gaze resolute. She was no longer the girl who used to blush at the slightest thing.
The others were surprised to see Hinata, and Inoichi Yamanaka asked, "Hiashi, why did you bring your daughter along?"
Hyuga Hiashi forced a faint smile and patted Hinata on the head. "My younger daughter has been cooped up at home for too long and wanted to get out. Since Lord Hokage was holding a village-wide meeting, I thought I'd bring her along to broaden her horizons."
Choza Akimichi scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "So that's it! Hinata looks a lot livelier than before. I almost didn't recognize her!"
As he spoke, he leaned closer to get a better look, but Inoichi Yamanaka stopped him.
Inoichi Yamanaka grinned and nudged Choza Akimichi aside with his elbow. "That big face of yours will scare Hinata."
Hinata gave a polite nod. "It's all right, Uncle Yamanaka. Uncle Choza is only looking out for me."
As everyone laughed and joked, Uchiha Ao walked over hand in hand with Uchiha Izumi, alongside Shisui and Fugaku.
"Clan Head Fugaku, you're here!" Choza Akimichi grinned, the flesh on his cheeks bunching into folds.
The other clan heads said nothing.
Uchiha Fugaku nodded. "Naturally, we must obey Lord Hokage's orders."
After that, no one continued the conversation.
Beside Hiashi, Hinata spotted Uchiha Ao at a glance and wanted to go say hello.
But then she remembered that Ao-kun hadn't come to see her in so many days. Hinata had just taken half a step before quietly pulling her foot back.
Hmph! If you don't treat me to barbecue, Hinata won't forgive you!
Hiashi had naturally noticed Hinata's little move. His brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing.
As time passed, shinobi gathered in front of the Hokage Building, one after another.
To everyone's surprise, a large crowd of civilians streamed in behind them.
"Why are there so many civilians here?" Inoichi Yamanaka asked, puzzled, glancing at Shikaku Nara beside him.
"It's obvious. Lord Hokage wants civilians to take part in this village-wide meeting too," Shikaku Nara replied casually after sweeping his gaze over the crowd.
Tsume Inuzuka stroked Akamaru's neck, the chain giving a faint clatter. "But whenever something happens in the village, it's the shinobi who lead the charge. Why bring civilians into it?"
Before she had finished speaking, dozens of Anbu Ninja suddenly appeared. The Anbu Ninja leading them had white hair. He spoke sternly. "Lord Hokage has ordered us to escort everyone inside. Please keep order."
The Anbu swiftly formed a cordon to guide the crowd. The noisy, disorderly throng fell quiet in moments.
Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka exchanged a glance. The former tapped his palm lightly. "Looks like Hiruzen has something big planned this time."
Escorted by the Anbu, everyone entered the Hokage Building in an orderly fashion.
The civilians whispered among themselves, curious and uneasy, while the shinobi from the various clans wore grim expressions and warily watched everything around them.
Once inside the spacious hall, people took their seats as directed by the Anbu.
Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Choza Akimichi sat together out of habit. Tsume Inuzuka found a seat beside them with Akamaru, while Hyuga Hiashi and Hinata sat a short distance away. The members of the Uchiha Clan gathered on the other side of the hall.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly climbed onto the raised platform at the front. The wrinkles on his face seemed deeper than usual.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura followed behind him, their expressions grave.
Only Danzo was missing.
"Shikaku, why isn't Danzo here?" Choza Akimichi poked Shikaku Nara beside him. The storage pouch at his waist clunked as he moved.
Shikaku Nara glanced at the empty seat of honor that belonged to Danzo. "His absence... may be the answer."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice echoed through the hall. "Everyone, I've called you here today because a cancer has emerged in Konoha!"
His aged face was filled with anguish. "I'm sure you've all noticed that Danzo hasn't come to this village-wide meeting."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's cloudy gaze swept over the restless crowd. "That's because, according to the Anbu's investigation, Danzo conducted forbidden experiments using the First's cells behind the backs of the Konoha High Command."
"Worse, in the name of protecting Konoha, he secretly extracted the bloodlines of the various clans, using shinobi and civilians as living vessels! The clansmen who vanished without a trace, the mission records marked by mysterious deaths—all of them were among his many crimes!"
Sorry, Danzo. You'll have to take the blame for all of this.
It's all for Konoha.
Hiruzen Sarutobi silently said to himself, then began furiously shifting the blame onto Danzo.
Before you continue