Tsume Inuzuka slammed her palm onto the table. The teacups vibrated violently, and a crisp sound echoed through the hall:
"This is practically handing a freebie to those Akatsuki renegades in their black robes with red clouds! Every time they seize another Tailed Beast, the balance of the Shinobi World tips a fraction more, and our crisis grows by a fraction!"
"In my view, while Sunagakure is severely wounded and unable to look after itself, we should strike directly and bring Sunagakure completely under our control!"
Kakashi, who had been standing with his arms crossed and remaining silent, spoke up after a moment: "What about the Lord Hokage? He is in seclusion... deducing the details of the reforms. Does he know about this?"
This question made everyone in the room fall silent.
Several gazes landed simultaneously on Shikaku, awaiting his reply.
Shikaku remained silent for a few breaths, then slowly waved his hand. His tone was so flat it bordered on indifference, sounding nothing like he was discussing a major event that could destroy a nation:
"The Lord Hokage left instructions before entering seclusion. If the Land of Wind changes, Konoha will hold its ground and wait for Sunagakure to come knocking on our door."
The words dropped like a boulder thrown into still water, stirring up layer upon layer of ripples in everyone's hearts.
Hyuga Hiashi narrowed his eyes slightly, deep in thought. This new Hokage had actually anticipated the catastrophe in the Land of Wind so early?
Tsume Inuzuka instinctively lowered her voice, her tone full of shock and suspicion: "That brat... Could the Lord Hokage have known the inside story all along?"
Shikaku did not answer directly.
He methodically folded the confidential letter, put it away inside his robe, stood up, and gave a deep, commanding instruction: