The Plot Hatched at Midnight

The hall fell deathly silent.

Sarutobi Ryota's shoulders jerked, and his eyes reddened.

Mitokado Homura closed his eyes and released his grip on the armrest. Utatane Koharu stared blankly at the boy on the podium, her lips parting without a sound.

Shikaku Nara narrowed his eyes, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. That was clever.

He'd made the Third Hokage a tragic hero, silencing everyone while driving that little "but" into their hearts.

"The third matter," Uchiha En said, "is that Akatsuki won't wait for us. Konoha must grow stronger, fast."

"We'll accelerate the Point System's rollout, put the five major units into combat training, expand our intelligence network to cover every front, and increase enrollment at the Ninja Academy."

"At the same time, we'll hold a grand funeral for the Third Hokage. We'll lay him to rest with dignity and steady the village."

When he finished, the hall remained silent for three full breaths.

Then Hyuga Hiashi stood first. "The Hyuga Clan accepts your orders."

Tsume Inuzuka slapped the table and rose. "So does the Inuzuka Clan!"

Shikaku Nara stood slowly. "Ino-Shika-Cho is at the Hokage's command."

Shibi Aburame, one of the neutral faction, rose without a word and nodded.

On the old guard's side, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu never spoke. They knew that when the Third Hokage died in battle, they had lost their last card.

After the meeting, in the corridor.

Shikaku Nara walked at the rear, with Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka beside him.

Crunching on potato chips, Choza said indistinctly, "A crisis that nearly shook the village, and that young Hokage turned it into a rallying cry to unite Konoha and speed up reform..."

Shikaku said nothing. He took a few more steps, then glanced back toward the meeting room and murmured:

"That