"HIRUZEN! You understand how crucial the ANBU is to the village. Jiraiya may be strong, but he's young, inexperienced, and has no record of ANBU missions. Putting him in charge of an ANBU division is outright reckless. It's like gambling with the village's safety!"
Danzo's voice was sharp and furious.
"Jiraiya may lack ANBU mission experience, but he is my student. I can personally guide him. Under his leadership, the ANBU division will only grow stronger."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was resolute, unyielding.
"Danzo, I see no issue with the Hokage's decision," said Homura Mitokado, stepping in to back Hiruzen.
"Jiraiya may be young, but his strength is undeniable. Look at the recent mission—he eliminated six Iwagakure ninja in record time without sustaining a scratch. Among the new generation, who else has such power?"
"Give Jiraiya some time. He'll soon rise to the level of an elite jōnin, maybe even surpass us. Even without experience, his sheer strength is enough to handle most situations."
Homura's loyalty to the Hokage was unwavering. He was also keenly aware of Jiraiya's astounding potential. Homura even admitted to himself that if it had been him handling the bounty station cleanup, it wouldn't have been as efficient as Jiraiya.
"Danzo," Koharu Utatane interjected, her voice calm yet firm, "the ANBU is the Hokage's direct force. We don't have the authority to interfere."
As Hokage advisors, both Koharu and Homura understood their roles. Their primary responsibility was to support the Hokage, not to oppose him. Unlike Danzo, they harbored no ambition to become Hokage. They were satisfied with the power and influence granted to them by Hiruzen.
Danzo, on the other hand, aimed higher. He coveted the position of Hokage and tirelessly worked to expand his own influence. Naturally, Hiruzen's efforts to limit his power were met with fierce resistance.
"You're always claiming the Root division is short on personnel. I'll assign a few elite ANBU members to Root," Hiruzen said, cutting off Danzo's protest.
Danzo's face turned an alarming shade of green. He knew full well that Hiruzen was determined to sever his ties to the ANBU entirely.
"Jiraiya has been spending a lot of time with the Senju lately, and now you're giving him so much authority. This is dangerous!" Danzo warned, unwilling to give up.
"Jiraiya's Will of Fire is beyond question," Hiruzen countered, his tone calm but firm. "He would never act against the village's interests."
Hiruzen understood Danzo's concerns, but he believed they were unfounded. Jiraiya's loyalty to the Will of Fire was unshakable—so much so that Hiruzen often felt his own commitment paled in comparison.
The idea of Danzo questioning Jiraiya's dedication to the Will of Fire was almost laughable.
"Jiraiya understands the Will of Fire better than you ever will, Danzo."
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!" Danzo snarled before storming out of the Hokage's office, his fury palpable.
The remaining advisors exchanged knowing looks. Danzo's dramatic exits had become so predictable they barely registered anymore.
"Hiruzen," Homura began hesitantly, "Danzo does have a point. Jiraiya's youth and inexperience could pose a risk during missions. Perhaps I could accompany him on his initial assignments to ensure a smoother transition."
With Danzo's influence in the ANBU now completely eradicated, Homura saw an opportunity to step in where he had previously been blocked. For years, Danzo had fiercely guarded the ANBU, rejecting any attempts by Homura's allies to join its ranks.
"I'll take it into consideration," Hiruzen said with a nod.
"Hiruzen," Koharu interjected, her face grim, "based on the intelligence we've received from the ANBU stationed in Amegakure, we should prepare for a potential conflict. Both the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth have stationed large forces near the border. An alliance between them seems likely, and that poses a serious threat to us."
"Reports suggest that Wind and Earth have already begun targeting Amegakure's forces, weakening them through assassinations. One of our intelligence teams in the ANBU was recently ambushed by unknown shinobi. Based on the surviving members' accounts, the attackers were likely from the Land of Wind, as many of the deaths were caused by poison. While Amegakure is known for its use of poison, it wouldn't risk attacking us under the current circumstances."
Homura added grimly, "Based on our intel, Wind and Earth will launch a full-scale assault on Amegakure by the end of this month. We need to decide when to intervene and secure our own interests."
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
"Effective immediately, all chūnin and jōnin in the village are to cease regular missions and prepare for war. Notify the clan heads and summon all elite jōnin for a meeting."
...
Before long, Konoha's top brass gathered in the meeting hall.
"You're all aware of the situation with the Lands of Wind and Earth targeting Amegakure," Hiruzen began, addressing the assembly. "We cannot allow these nations to grow stronger unchecked. We must act to protect our interests. I want to hear your suggestions on how we should proceed."
Despite already having a plan in mind, Hiruzen believed in listening to others' opinions to refine his strategy.
"The Uchiha Clan will follow the Hokage's orders."
"The Senju Clan will do the same."
The two most influential clans, often at odds with the village leadership, quickly voiced their compliance. They knew their input carried little weight in such discussions and chose to focus on preserving their standing within the village.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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