Kumogakure Tries the Same Old Trick

The next afternoon.

A group passed through Konoha's main gate and entered the village, where tensions were simmering beneath the surface.

At their head was a burly man in his early thirties. He had dark skin, muscles that strained against his fitted clothes, and a short blade at his waist. Its hilt was wrapped in the black cloth distinctive to the Land of Lightning.

Seven or eight shinobi followed him, all dressed in Kumogakure gear, with Kumogakure Forehead Protectors tied around their heads.

The Kumogakure Delegation.

Their leader was Tie Lan, a Kumogakure Jonin and a notorious hardliner close to Fourth Raikage A. He was famously stubborn. He had never bowed his head to Konoha in his life, and he had no respect for those "weaklings" either.

This time, he had come carrying Lord Raikage's message.

Prince Takasu had died suddenly, and the Five Great Nations had jointly called for Akatsuki's destruction. Lord Raikage had said Konoha was a complete mess inside. For all they knew, the prince's death was a smokescreen Konoha had created to divert attention from its own problems.

Kick them while they were down.

As Tie Lan walked through Konoha's streets, his gaze swept over the patrols of Konoha Military Police Force shinobi on either side. A trace of disdain curled his lips.

Konoha was rotting from within, yet it still had the energy to run some military police force and recruit civilian shinobi. How far the village had fallen.

He gave a cold laugh and led his people straight to the Hokage Building.

The Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu sat on the sofa. The Kumogakure Delegation stood before the three of them.

Tie Lan did not sit down.

He stood in the middle of the office,