Konoha, the Hokage's office.
Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, but it could not dispel the oppressive atmosphere in the room.
Bam!
A copy of the Shinobi World Daily, reeking of printer's ink, was slapped hard onto Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk.
The ones who had slapped down the newspaper were Konoha's two senior advisors.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
At that moment, these two advisors, who normally put on airs and prided themselves on being Konoha's brains, looked livid, with even a trace of barely perceptible panic in their eyes.
"Hiruzen! You're still in the mood to sit here reading documents for the Chunin Ninja Exams?!"
Utatane Koharu pointed at the newspaper on the desk, her voice so shrill it almost cracked.
"Look at what's happening in the outside world!"
The Third Hokage set down his pipe, his gaze falling on that copy of the Shinobi World Daily.
Taking up the entire front-page headline was an alarming title printed in bold, eye-catching black type.
"Upheaval in the Land of Waves! A Mysterious Iron Fist Emperor Rises, Instantly Killing a Kumogakure Elite with One Punch!"
Beneath the headline.
There was a somewhat blurry photograph taken from a distance.
In the photograph was a tall young man in shorts with skin the color of black gold.
He was stepping on the face of a charred Kumogakure Jonin whose life or death was unknown.
And behind the young man.
Broken Ninja Blades littered the ground, along with Kumogakure ninja sprawled every which way.
Although the photograph had been taken from too far away to make out the young man's exact features.
That wild, unrestrained presence, filled with utterly overwhelming violence.
Still came through the paper, exerting a pressure that made it hard to breathe.
"The elite squad Kumogakure sent to scout the waters around the Land of Waves was wiped out."
Mitokado Homura pushed up the glasses on his nose and added gravely.
"And that's not all. According to an urgent report from our covert contacts in the Land of Waves."
"This fellow calling himself the 'Iron Fist Emperor' is the boss behind the 'Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce,' which recently monopolized the Shinobi World's high-end building materials market!"
"Apparently, not only has he brought Kirigakure's Demon, Zabuza Momochi, under his command."
"He's also established a private base overseas comparable to a war fortress. Even the Land of Fire's daimyo treats him with great courtesy!"
The Third Hokage picked up the newspaper and drew deeply on his pipe, yet he could not taste the tobacco's fragrance at all.
He looked at that blurry figure seen from behind in the photograph.
Although they had not met in two years, and the young man's build had changed enormously.
That savage bearing, as though he could smash anything to pieces.
Instantly reminded him of the boy who, beneath Hokage Rock two years ago, had shattered the head of the First Hokage's statue with one punch.
"It's Kenya, isn't it?"
The Third Hokage put down the newspaper, his voice somewhat hoarse.
Although he had phrased it as a question, his tone carried a helpless certainty.
"Who else could it be?!"
Utatane Koharu slapped the desk, highly agitated.
"Black wood of extraordinary hardness, pure and terrifying physical strength, and that utterly lawless manner!"
"All the signs point to this so-called Iron Fist Emperor being Senju Kenya, who defected back then!"
"Hiruzen, look at the disaster your indecision left us with!"
"Now he's not only founded a nation overseas and crowned himself king, but he's also become a powerful tycoon in the Shinobi World."
"If he comes back to take revenge on Konoha with that strength and wealth, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
The two advisors spoke one after the other, their words filled with fear at Kenya's rapid rise.
Two years ago, in their eyes, Kenya had been nothing more than a Senju orphan with a little brute strength, experimental material Danzo could manipulate whenever he pleased.
But now.
In just two years.
The boy they had driven away had actually grown into a behemoth that left them looking up at him and trembling!
Instantly killing a Kumogakure elite who had activated Lightning Release Armor with a single punch.
Such combat power had probably already surpassed ordinary Kage Level!
"What good does saying all this do now?"
The Third Hokage rubbed his aching brow, looking much older.
"Back then, Danzo acted behind my back and drove Kenya away."
"Now that he's fully established himself, what do you want to do? Send Anbu to the Land of Waves to wipe him out?"
The Third Hokage's words instantly silenced both advisors.
Wipe him out?
With what?
Even Kumogakure's elite squad had been crushed like bugs with a single punch.
Not to mention that Kenya also had a killer of Zabuza's caliber under his command, as well as a heavily fortified overseas stronghold.
If they insisted on going to war, Konoha would inevitably pay an extremely painful price.
It might even incur the displeasure of the Land of Fire's daimyo.
Because the daimyo was currently counting on timber from the Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce to build air-raid shelters.
"Are we supposed to... just watch him grow stronger out there, threatening the village's safety at any moment?"
Mitokado Homura gritted his teeth, deeply unwilling to accept it.
The Third Hokage sighed.
He pointed to the "Chunin Ninja Exams Preparatory Plan" on the desk.
"The Chunin Ninja Exams will soon be held in Konoha. Delegations and candidates from the various nations have already begun arriving."
"This is a crucial moment to display Konoha's national strength, and also a bond that maintains the Shinobi World's fragile peace."
"At this juncture, all the village's manpower and energy must be concentrated on security and preparations."
"We cannot spare even the slightest bit of manpower to deal with a monster overseas who possesses extraordinarily powerful Taijutsu."
The Third Hokage helplessly closed his eyes.
"Set this matter aside for now. Keep a close watch on the Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce's movements."
"As long as he doesn't attack Konoha first, we'll pretend we know nothing."
The two advisors exchanged a glance. Although their hearts were still filled with panic and resentment, they also knew this was the only option for now.
They could only pray.
That the Iron Fist Tyrant they had driven away with their own hands was enjoying his life as an overseas despot so much that he had forgotten all about home.
Preferably, he would never set foot in Konoha again.
However.
What they did not know was.
At that very moment.
On the border highway leading through the Land of Fire toward Konoha.
A luxurious carriage pulled not by horses, but by several enormous foreign beasts clad entirely in heavy armor.
Was slowly coming to a stop, throwing up clouds of dust.