Konoha's Acting Was Terrible

The Land of Fire, Konoha.

Unlike the ruggedness of Iwagakure and the ferocity of Cloud Village, Konoha is situated at the junction of plains and forests. Its buildings are mostly wooden structures, with a gentle and vibrant style. The Hokage Rock in the center of the village overlooks everything, and the faces of the Hokage of each generation silently watch over their successors in the sunlight.

The atmosphere in the Hokage Office was so heavy it was almost frozen.

Tsunade sat behind her desk, her hands clasped under her chin, her long golden hair gleaming metallicly in the sunlight streaming through the window. Her brows were furrowed, and her eyes, devoid of their usual domineering presence and composure, held only heavy worry.

Jiraiya stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the Hokage Rock outside. His usually lazy, half-open eyes were now sharp as an eagle's. Kakashi sat in a chair in the corner, his copy of "Make-Out Paradise" unusually unopened, the spine unconsciously gripped in his hand. Shikaku Nara stood before the tactical map, his fingers slowly tracing the borders of the Five Great Nations, his brow furrowed into a deep "river" shape.

Uzumaki Naruto was the only one who couldn't sit still. He paced back and forth in the room, his golden hair swaying with his movements, his azure eyes filled with anxiety and... a hint of barely perceptible fear.

The fear wasn't just for himself, but for the entire Konoha and the entire Shinobi World. Even though Neji's guidance had greatly eased his relationship with the Nine-Tails, and he was slowly mastering the method, soon he would be able to control the Nine-Tails' power. But with Obito Uchiha possessing the Rinnegan, Naruto had no answer. His proud Rinnegan Sage Mode had failed against Nagato's Six Paths Clones. Even though he had injured the Deva Path clone with the help of the Nine-Tails' power, Naruto vaguely sensed that Nagato was holding back. Could he really defeat Obito Uchiha? Naruto had no confidence whatsoever.

Not long ago, an urgent letter from Iwagakure arrived. The contents were astonishing: Madara Uchiha's messenger, "Sake," appeared, carrying Uchiha Gunbai and a scythe, declaring war for fifteen days. Ōnoki's letter contained even more details: Space-Time Ninjutsu, ignoring Dust Release, and leaving calmly.

Unable to determine from the available intelligence whether Sake would declare war as he had suggested, Shikaku chose the most foolish approach: simply wait.

"Will he come?" Naruto asked for the third time, his voice filled with suppressed unease. "That 'sake'... is he really one of us? Is he really coming to Konoha to declare war?"

"Yes," Kakashi replied, his voice low. "He has a reason he absolutely must come..."

He didn't finish his sentence. Everyone in the office knew the answer, but no one said it aloud.

Just then, the air rippled.

Not from the doorway, not from the window, but from the very center of the office. Like a still image, and then a figure "grows" out from the colors.

Crimson robes and black cloud pattern, with a sealing scroll hanging at his waist. Akatsuki's "Sake" appeared without warning in the center of the Hokage Office, less than five meters from Tsunade's desk.

Naruto reacted the fastest. He assumed a fighting stance, the outline of Rasengan already forming in his right hand.

"Naruto, stop." Tsunade's voice was faster and calmer than Jiraiya's. She didn't get up, or even change her posture, but simply raised her hand. "Lower your guard. This is... a formal declaration of war, not a sneak attack."

Naruto was stunned. He looked at Tsunade, then at the Akatsuki member, his confusion almost overflowing. But in the end, he gritted his teeth and withdrew his Rasengan.

Neji —or rather, "Sake"—ignored Naruto's hostility. He didn't even glance at anyone, simply raising his hands and beginning to Hand Seals. Pale blue Chakra barriers rose from the four corners of the office, quickly closing and isolating the entire space from the outside world.

"A triple barrier: soundproof, anti-sensory, and anti-spying," Shikaku commented in a low voice, his tone complex. "Here we go again."

After the barrier was completed, Neji turned to Tsunade and nodded slightly. "Lady Tsunade, as promised, I've come."

His voice came through, calm and without a trace of emotion.

Tsunade a deep breath and sat up straight. Her gaze was fixed on the eyes behind the specially made lenses, as if trying to pierce through them and see the truth behind them.

"'Sake'," Tsunade's voice was steady, but her fingers gripping the pen tightened slightly. "Speak, Obito Uchiha... what message do you want to convey to Konoha?"

Neji didn't answer immediately. He looked around the office, his gaze lingering on each person for a moment: Tsunade's solemnity, Jiraiya's sharpness, Kakashi's complexity, Shikaku's deep thought, and Naruto's anger and confusion.

Then, he raised his hand to remove the barrier and then Hand Seals.

"Untie."

The sealing scroll unfurled, and white smoke exploded. When the smoke cleared, Uchiha Gunbai and a scythe appeared in his hands.

This time, he didn't raise them in protest. He simply held them quietly, as if displaying some kind of evidence.

"The Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, and the entire Konohagakure."

Neji's voice echoed through Konoha, calm, but every word carried weight:

"By order of Madara Uchiha, I am delivering the final message."

He paused, letting his words settle in the air:

"Eye of the Moon Plan is now in its final countdown."

"The war will officially begin in fifteen days."

Neji's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Tsunade, and his voice turned icy:

"Option One: Surrender. Surrender Uzumaki Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, acknowledge Madara Uchiha as the ruler of the Shinobi World, and accept the protection of the Eye of the Moon Plan. In the eternal dream, you will obtain peace without pain, loss, or war."

"Option Two: Protect the Nine-Tails, gather your allies, and make a final stand. With your Will of Fire, with your bonds, with everything you have, defend this painful reality. And then—"

Neji raised his scythe, the blade pointing out the window, towards the Hokage Rock, towards the entire Konoha:

"Reduced to ruins by war. Konoha's history will end, Konoha legacy will be severed, and the name of Konoha... will be forgotten forever."

The office was deathly silent.

Naruto clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, drawing blood. He wanted to roar, to retort, to rush forward and smash that face. But he didn't move. Because Tsunade's hand was on the table, a signal for "quiet."

Tsunade slowly stood up. Her movements were slow, but every step carried the majesty of Hokage. She walked to the window, turned her back to Neji, and looked out at Konoha.

The village was quiet and solemn under the sunlight. The patrolling ninjas on the street stared solemnly at the Hokage Office Building. In the distance, the Hokage Rock silently watched all of this.

All of this is what she wants to protect.

"Madara Uchiha ..." Tsunade began, her voice soft but crystal clear, "Does he really believe that creating a false dream can solve all problems? Does he really believe that forcing everyone to sleep will bring peace?"

She didn't turn around, but the question was directed at Madara Uchiha's messenger—Sake.

Neji paused for two seconds, then answered:

"Lord Madara believes that reality itself is flawed. War, hatred, loss, pain... these are not accidental, but the essence of reality. As long as reality exists, pain will never disappear."

"So he wants to create a dream without reality?" Tsunade turned around, her eyes burning with fire. "But that's not peace, that's escapism! That's cowardice!"

"Then," Neji calmly countered as the messenger of war, "Does the Lord Hokage have a better plan? One that can eliminate all wars? One that can soothe all hatred? One that can relieve the suffering of those who have lost loved ones? One that can liberate those tormented by fate?"

He paused, then asked in a cold, emotionless tone:

"Konoha has been established for over sixty years. Has Hashirama Senju's dream been realized? Has the ninja world become a better place? Or... is it just a different form of war, a different generation of sacrifices?"

No one in the office could answer.

Because everyone knows the answer.

Tsunade closed her eyes. A few seconds later, she opened them, her eyes no longer wavering, only displaying the decisiveness befitting Hokage:

Reality may be imperfect, and it may be full of pain. But it is real. Our laughter is real, our tears are real, our bonds are real—and these realities are more precious than any perfect dream.

She took a step forward and looked directly at Neji:

"Tell Madara Uchiha: Konoha's choice is to fight. Not for the Nine-Tails, not for power, but to protect everyone's right to choose their own life—even if that life is full of suffering, it is still their real life."

Neji listened quietly.

After a long silence, he nodded slightly.

"Understood. Then, in fifteen days, Konoha will become the main battlefield."

He put away the Gunbai and sickle, and resealed them into the scroll.

"You..." Tsunade suddenly spoke, her voice tinged with complexity, "Do you really believe in Madara Uchiha's plan? Do you really think the Eye of the Moon Plan is the only way out?"

This question goes beyond the scope of a "war envoy." This is Tsunade questioning Neji Hyuga. Neji is confused. "Boss, I've already dispelled the barrier! What are you trying to do? Is it appropriate for you to ask me this question in this tone, as the Akatsuki's war envoy? And the other four, didn't you interrupt or stop Tsunade from putting on her act?!"

It was unclear whether the five people in the Hokage Office had forgotten that Neji had already dispelled the barrier, or if they had simply lost their minds. Everyone was staring at the wine.

Neji remained silent for a long time, feeling somewhat devastated. "I already informed you all in advance, and you still asked me such a difficult question. The acting skills of these Konoha people are just too terrible; they're the kind of acting that will make the audience want to curse."

Then, in an almost sighing tone, he said:

"I believe everyone has the right to choose their own path. Lord Madara chose his, and you chose yours. As for my task... it's simply to deliver a message."

He did not answer whether he believed it or not.

After saying that, Neji Hand Seals.

"Flying Thunder God Technique"

Space began to distort. But in the last moment before disappearing, he looked at Naruto, his eyes meeting Naruto's through his glasses. Neji realized that Naruto was beginning to master the Nine-Tails' power.

Then, Neji's figure completely disappeared.

The office remained silent for a long time.

Finally, Naruto spoke, his voice hoarse:

"Is he... really one of us?"

No one answered. But everyone had the answer in their hearts.

Shikaku walked to Tsunade's side and whispered, "Lord Hokage, we need to hold a high-level meeting immediately to discuss whether to unite with other ninja villages against Akatsuki. Fifteen days from now... Konoha is most likely to be the main battlefield."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: in fifteen days, the Fourth Shinobi World War would officially break out, and Konoha would likely become the main battlefield because of Naruto.

Tsunade nodded. She looked out the window, at the Hokage Rock, and at the entire Konoha.

The sun was still shining brightly. But she knew this might be Konoha's last... peaceful sunlight.

"Give the order." Tsunade turned around, her voice regaining its usual authority, "Activate all defensive barriers. Unseal all war reserves."

"Konoha... is preparing for war."

She paused, then added:

"Also, send someone to invite the two advisors. We need... to reach a consensus. And Naruto, work hard to master the Nine-Tails' power!"

Naruto nodded seriously and followed the others out of the Hokage Office, leaving Tsunade alone in the end.

She walked to the window, looked at the empty street, and closed her eyes.

"Neji..." she murmured to herself, "What exactly... are you plotting?"

Outside the window, the sky over Konoha remained clear. But Tsunade knew that a storm was brewing.