Chapter 8: Endless Debates

Sarutobi had also examined the bodies of those Cloud Shinobi. He had reviewed the memories extracted from them by the Yamanaka clan. Of course, he had seen the figure that strikingly resembled Minato Namikaze, and for a moment, he was immensely excited. But upon witnessing the opponent's uncanny use of Magnet Release, Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart grew cold. Minato Namikaze could not use Magnet Release! Others might not know Minato well, but the Third Hokage certainly did. This powerful ninja could absolutely not be Minato Namikaze!

Could it be a technique from the Sand? When had such a formidable, unknown force emerged among them? For someone like this to infiltrate Konoha quietly and kill the Cloud emissaries—was it to provoke conflict between the two villages and profit from the chaos? Sarutobi Hiruzen was deeply troubled. Though his mind was awash with possibilities, without finding this mysterious ninja, he had no way forward. He could only focus on the matters at hand.

"Your Highness, we of Konoha fully understand your concerns. Please rest assured, we will spare no effort to handle this issue and strive to prevent the escalation of conflict. Our delegation has already set out for the border to meet with Raikage A, seeking a solution acceptable to both sides," Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke with firm resolve and calm, intent on soothing the daimyo's anxieties.

The daimyo nodded lightly, yet the worry between his brows was still evident. "You must understand, I cannot permit any action that might trigger war. Konoha stands as the pillar of the Land of Fire; your decisions are directly tied to the safety of the nation."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath and replied calmly, "Your Highness, I promise you that we will do everything in our power to preserve peace. We will conduct a fair investigation with the Cloud Shinobi, uncover the truth, and take appropriate measures."

The daimyo gazed intently at Sarutobi Hiruzen, and after a brief silence, he spoke slowly, "Very well. I trust your judgment and ability. But you must resolve this swiftly to prevent further deterioration."

Sarutobi Hiruzen bowed slightly, signifying his acceptance of the daimyo’s expectations. "Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. We will act with utmost speed and prudence, ensuring the peace and stability of Konoha and the Land of Fire."

After leaving the Tenshukaku, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately convened a high-level meeting. His senior advisors and many elite jonin attended, their faces tense as they discussed how to prevent the flames of war from spreading. The conference room was filled with a cloud of worry. They all knew too well that a misstep in handling this diplomatic crisis could ignite the Fourth Great Ninja War.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was the first to speak, his voice steady, "The daimyo has given clear instructions. We must resolve this dispute peacefully. Our options are limited, and every move must be prudent."

"The Fourth Raikage is not someone to be taken lightly. His fiery temper, ruthless methods, and formidable strength are all inherited from his father. We cannot simply ignore his demands."

"However, surrendering a hostage is absolutely out of the question. If we compromise, Konoha’s prestige will be utterly lost."

Koharu Utatane added with concern, "But if we refuse their demands, how can we quell this matter? A’s intentions are clear: he wants us to hand over someone. If we do not comply, they may use it as a pretext to attack us. Our village is currently in a transitional phase, with the shadow of the Nine-Tails incident still lingering. Starting a war now would be extremely disadvantageous for us."

Koharu Utatane’s words revealed her weakness; she feared war and hoped to settle the dispute with the sacrifice of a single life. Yet everyone present knew that surrendering someone was impossible—an utterly absurd idea. Not only was the identity of the mysterious ninja unknown, but even if found, handing them over was unthinkable. Such a talent should be retained, not given away. To do so would encourage internal sabotage!

Homura Mitokado proposed an unusual suggestion: "Perhaps we can stall for time by proposing a joint investigation with the Hidden Cloud, while searching for a scapegoat..."

The moment Homura Mitokado spoke, he felt the "enthusiastic" stares of the jonin around him, as if questioning, "Is this your advice as a senior advisor to the Hokage? Where is your backbone?"

"No more quarrels on this," Sarutobi Hiruzen cut off the discussion with a sweep of his arm, his tone resolute. "Their true aim is clearly the Hyuga and Uchiha clans. If we sacrifice the shinobi from these noble houses, what will the outside world think of us?"

"The Hyuga clan might sacrifice a branch member, and as for the Uchiha, they could afford to give a little more."

Suddenly, Danzo interjected. His words had barely landed when the Hyuga and Uchiha shinobi shot him sharp looks. Danzo seemed unperturbed and continued, "As shinobi, sacrifice is sometimes necessary to protect the village. If it is to prevent war, such sacrifices are our responsibility."

He glanced at the Hyuga and Uchiha jonin present, his gaze filled with caution and hostility, especially toward the Uchiha clan. "The Hyuga and Uchiha clans are prominent families of Konoha—particularly the Uchiha, who are one of the village’s founding pillars. They should bear more responsibility."

"Danzo, you’ve gone too far!"

"Are you openly provoking the dignity of our clan?!"

The Hyuga and Uchiha jonin retorted in anger, and an agitated Uchiha even drew his blade against Danzo, only to be stopped in time by Uchiha Fugaku.

Uchiha Fugaku’s Sharingan gleamed crimson as he stared coldly at Danzo, warning in a chill voice, "Shimura Jonin, you should be careful with your words. Uchiha's patience for provocation is limited."

Danzo refused to back down and replied bluntly, "The village’s tolerance for traitors has its limits as well."

This almost pushed Uchiha Fugaku past the edge of fury.

"Enough!" Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed the table. "Is this the time for infighting? Do you want to brawl here and become a laughingstock for all? Or are you sending a signal to the Cloud, showing them that Konoha's unity is gone and inviting them to attack us now?"

His thunderous roar restored a measure of calm, halting the quarrel.

After careful consideration, Sarutobi Hiruzen made his decision: "We will first adopt delaying tactics. A negotiation team will be sent to the Cloud's border stronghold to engage in direct dialogue with A. Meanwhile, we must strengthen our defenses to prevent further escalation."

"The leadership wants a peaceful resolution, mainly to avoid war spreading to the Land of Fire and causing unnecessary losses to the noble houses."

"Based on this, we can reason thus: if war becomes unavoidable, we might consider shifting the battlefield to the Land of Rain..."