Please Execute Tokuma Hyuga to Steady the Troops!

The twenty-fifth year of Konoha, autumn.

After three days of forced marching without sleep or rest, the travelers were coated in dust, their clothes, armor, and packs thick with it.

As the morning sun climbed higher, the dust swirling through the air began to settle. Shimura Danzō and his party finally saw the outlines of tents stretching across the hills.

The closer they came, the clearer the camp's grim, immovable air became.

There were no cheerful songs or idle conversations. A heavy shadow seemed to hang over the entire Second Legion camp.

On the watchtowers, sentries stood straight as spears, sharp eyes fixed on the road. Along both sides, ninjas stood guard in formation, backs straight and blades half-drawn, cold steel glinting faintly in the autumn sun.

The dirt road beneath their feet was crisscrossed with footprints and wagon ruts. Signs of hurried troop movements lay everywhere.

The party slowly stopped before the camp's main gate.

Danzo landed steadily and brushed a thick layer of dust from his shoulder. His face was grim, his eyes keen as a hawk's as he calmly surveyed the heavily guarded camp.

Behind him, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Hatake Sakumo came to a halt. The fatigue of their long rush had yet to fade, but their eyes were already on the vast camp, where the tension of impending war hung in the air.

"Hmph! Torifu hasn't done badly. At least he hasn't let our teacher's instruction go to waste." Danzo led the others into camp. Watching the ninjas come and go and taking in the various defensive arrangements, he nodded to himself.

Meanwhile, in Konoha, inside the Hokage Building.

The door to the bright, spacious Hokage Office stood open as people arrived one after another.

Kagami Uchiha sat in the broad wooden Hokage chair, fingertips resting lightly on the edge of the desk. The threat of war on the Northwestern Border already hung over the village. Today, he had summoned the heads of its departments, the Konoha Elders, and the core Jonin who had remained behind.

Footsteps sounded in succession as the door kept opening.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura entered briskly, their expressions grave. The heads of logistics, medical care, intelligence, and policing followed, each finding a seat.

Shikata Nara arrived with several core members of the Nara Clan. A stream of well-known Jonin filed in, and the room was soon half full.

The office, usually spacious enough, was now packed with Konoha's leadership.

No one spoke or laughed loudly. Tension filled the air. Everyone knew the border situation was dire and that Danzo had already led reinforcements northwest. The Hokage had called them here to decide what the village would do next.

Kagami Uchiha raised his eyes and slowly surveyed the room.

Only after the last Jonin entered and gently closed the door did he speak, his steady voice carrying through the silence.

"Fighting has begun on the front lines, and Danzo has taken his forces to the Second Legion. But we cannot stake everything on the northwestern battlefield."

"I summoned you today for one reason—to declare war on Iwagakure!"

The quiet office erupted at once.

Many frowned and exchanged opinions in low voices. Muted discussions rose on every side.

"Declare war outright? Isn't that too rash?" one Jonin asked with a frown. "If the other four great ninja villages take the opportunity to attack while our village is undermanned, how will we hold them off?"

Others looked troubled but kept their lips pressed shut, unconsciously rubbing their knees as they weighed the advantages and risks.

Still others lowered their eyes in prolonged thought, staring at the floor while rapidly working through the possible consequences of war.

Mitokado Homura frowned slightly and turned to speak quietly with Utatane Koharu. Neither could hide their worry.

Shikata Nara narrowed his eyes and stroked his short beard in silence, rapidly sorting through the flood of information.

A wave of voices rolled through the room, busy but not rowdy. Worry, confusion, and hesitation mingled together.

Kagami Uchiha remained in the Hokage's seat, his expression unchanging. He watched everyone's reactions without interrupting or rushing to defend his decision, allowing them to voice their concerns.

"Lord Hokage, may I ask why you intend to declare war on Iwagakure? Their forces may be stationed in the Land of Grass, but they have not crossed the Land of Fire's border."

"As I see it, Iwagakure is primarily testing our response."

After careful consideration, Shikata Nara rose and spoke.

"Exactly, Lord Hokage! The village's reforms are at a critical stage. A war now would put everything we do next at a disadvantage!" Utatane Koharu added as soon as Shikata finished.

Many Jonin nodded in agreement. Those from civilian backgrounds said nothing, but the worry on their faces was plain.

Only a few Uchiha Clan ninjas looked openly displeased.

"Hmph! Lord Hokage has his reasons. You all keep objecting—do you have other plans in mind, or are you dissatisfied with him?" Uchiha Setsuna, seated to one side, spoke coldly.

Several Uchiha Jonin promptly joined in, their replies sharp.

"Uchiha Setsuna, why are you so worked up? Lord Hokage called us here to discuss the matter. Naturally, he wants to hear what others have to say."

"What? Has Konoha become a place where Lord Hokage's word is the only one that counts?" Tokuma Hyuga asked from the side, looking up with a faintly mocking tone.

Uchiha Setsuna was about to snap back when Senju Bu, who had been sitting calmly throughout, gave a soft cough and cut their argument short.

"Iwagakure has stationed troops in the Land of Grass, so their target must be the Land of Fire. Why would they go to such trouble for a backwater like the Land of Birds?"

He paused, swept his gaze across the room, and finally looked at Tokuma Hyuga.

"Lord Hokage did nothing wrong by sending Danzo to command the front and prepare in advance. My only question is why we must declare war immediately!"

"That said, I trust Lord Hokage will give us a reasonable explanation."

"But you, Tokuma—have you gone senile? What gives you the right to slander the Hokage? The Third Hokage of Konoha is not someone an old cripple with one foot in the grave gets to disparage!"

"Or does your Hyuga Clan have designs on the Hokage Position too? Planning to challenge the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan for it?"

"You! Senju Bu, you old fool! Weren't you always the one most bitter about the Hokage Position leaving the Senju Clan? Have you drunk yourself senseless today?" Tokuma Hyuga's face darkened as he spoke.

"Hmph. What disappointed me was that the younger generation of the Senju Clan failed to measure up. Even if the Third Hokage Position went to Lord Tobirama's disciple, that doesn't make him a member of our clan."

"Besides, Konoha sits on the plains of the Land of Fire. Why are you so determined to divide it into rival camps?"

Senju Bu stood and gave Kagami Uchiha a slight nod before turning back to Tokuma with open disdain.

"And one more thing, old Tokuma. Let me remind you of three facts. First, Lord Tobirama named the Third Hokage as his successor before everyone while he lay dying. His claim is beyond question, and it is not for an old cripple like you to challenge."

"Second, Konoha is the work Lord Hashirama devoted his life to. The Senju Clan will never allow any foreign enemy to trample this land!"

"Third, the Third Hokage may be an Uchiha, but everyone has seen what he has done for the village these past few years. How dare you insult him like that in public?"

"I'll make this clear: debate all you like, but if anyone says another disrespectful word about Lord Hokage, I'll skin him alive!"

Senju Bu's furious shout rang through the room. He turned, his piercing gaze sweeping over every person present.

Uchiha Setsuna stood frozen, thoroughly confused.

Why is that old fool defending Kagami even more fiercely than we Uchiha are?

Did he really drink too much?

While his thoughts churned, a shout louder and more impassioned than the last exploded through the room.

"Tokuma Hyuga, you decrepit old bastard, shut your mouth!" Hayama Shirakumo of the Shadow Guard strode out of the ranks, tears in his eyes and outrage written across his face.

"Since taking office, Lord Hokage has risen early and worked late, exhausting himself day after day to make the village better, step by step!" His voice caught slightly.

"And what have you done? You oppose him at every turn and obstruct every new policy! Especially you, Tokuma Hyuga—you're the old bastard who leads the charge every time!"

"Can none of you see how much Lord Hokage has done for ninjas from civilian families?"

His words were a spark dropped into dry grass.

One Jonin flushed red and struck his thigh, his voice thick with regret. "He's right! Everything Lord Hokage does is for Konoha! And I didn't immediately stand with him!"

"What have I done?"

"I'm ashamed of myself!"

"Lord Hokage! You have my support!"

"Damn it! If anyone says another word against Lord Hokage, I'll kill him!"

Passionate cries rose one after another. Tears filled many Jonin's eyes as the room surged with emotion.

Tokuma Hyuga watched the mood turn against him. A chill raced up his spine, and his heart sank.

"Lord Hokage! Your subordinate requests permission to execute that old scoundrel Tokuma, to steady the troops and raise their morale!"

Just when everyone thought Hayama Shirakumo could not be outdone, someone proved even bolder.

Whose officer was that?

Everyone froze and turned toward the speaker at once.

Shizuya Hyuga.

What?

Someone from the Hyuga Clan?

For a moment, the vast Hokage Office fell utterly silent.