Konoha, Hokage Building.
In the top-floor office, the atmosphere was as oppressive as a graveyard.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, the two elder advisors who had lorded over Konoha for decades, now huddled in a corner like defeated quails, trembling uncontrollably.
"Cough... cough..."
Mitokado Homura pushed up the reading glasses sliding down his nose. He wanted to say something, but a wad of phlegm caught in his throat, making him cough until his old face turned red.
"What do we do... What are we supposed to do now?"
Utatane Koharu's voice was shrill and quavering, on the verge of tears.
Her harsh old face was filled with utterly lost terror.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had fallen, ordered by the daimyo to be imprisoned for life.
Danzo had suffered even worse. The enraged villagers had trampled him into pulp, leaving not even a complete corpse behind.
The two of them were now commanders without an army.
The village was in complete chaos.
Leaderless.
And outside, Iwagakure watched like a hungry wolf, ready to pounce at any moment and tear Konoha's rotting flesh to shreds.
If they did not stabilize the situation soon, Konoha truly would be finished.
"Activate... the highest emergency protocol."
Mitokado Homura finally caught his breath, his voice hoarse.
"Right now, they're the only ones who can hold the fort."
Koharu shuddered at his words.
She knew exactly who Mitokado Homura meant.
The legendary Sannin.
The First's granddaughter, Tsunade.
And that unpredictable Toad Sage whose mind was just as abnormal, Jiraiya.
"But... but..."
Koharu hesitated.
"That woman Tsunade has long borne a grudge against the village because of what happened to her brother and lover."
"Will she really be willing to return and take over this mess?"
"There's no time to worry about that!"
Mitokado Homura slammed his hand on the