Konoha, the Hokage Building.
Afternoon sunlight streamed through the window frames into the corridor, casting long, slender bands of light across the wooden floor. The patches of light slowly shifted as the clouds moved overhead.
At the end of the third-floor corridor, the tightly shut office door bore the brunt of an argument raging inside. The voices were loud; even through the thick door, Jiraiya's voice was unmistakable.
"No-Tsunade-we can't let Konoha do this!"
Jiraiya looked frantic.
"Tsunade, listen to me. Konoha is already on the wrong path!
During the recent battle against Uchiha Madara, Konoha took advantage of the situation to do something like that to our ally, the Hidden Mist Village-
How do you expect the other ninja villages to see us now? Konoha will become a village condemned by the entire Ninja World.
This... this already goes against the Will of Fire!"
He paced back and forth, his steps hurried and heavy, the wooden floor creaking softly beneath his feet.
"Tsunade, don't keep making the same mistake! Hyuga Tianyi defeated Uchiha Madara. He's a hero, and I won't deny that-but his plan is unacceptable!
Not long ago, the Great Toad Sage prophesied that Hyuga Tianyi would drag the entire Ninja World into the mire of war!
Konoha will be dragged in too. How many people will die then? His ambition is to annex the entire Ninja World. Are you really going to stand by and watch countless people in Konoha die or suffer?"
He stopped and turned, staring straight at Tsunade behind the desk.
"I will not agree to this plan! And the Great Toad Sage said that only my student could be the Child of Destiny who saves the Ninja World!"
Behind the Hokage's desk, Tsunade leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed, her