The aura of war spread like a gathering storm with the arrival of Kirigakure's forces.
As if by unspoken agreement, the other great ninja villages intensified their probing of Konoha.
Foremost among them—
Was the ferocious army of Kumogakure.
Personally led by the Third Raikage, A.
They advanced with unstoppable momentum toward the very heart of the Land of Fire.
Northeast of the Land of Fire — Less than 30 Kilometers from the Capital
The land had long lost its former greenery.
Charred craters scarred the earth.
Ravines split the terrain like wounds.
Bloodstains had yet to dry.
Broken Konoha headbands, shattered ninja tools, and uncollected corpses—
All bore silent witness to the recent massacre.
A one-sided slaughter.
The Kumogakure army had not even established a formal camp.
Elite shinobi were scattered across high ground and strategic routes.
Always ready.
Always watching.
Always waiting to strike.
At the center of the open field—
A massive banner bearing the character "雷" (Lightning) whipped violently in the scorched wind.
Beneath it—
Stood the Third Raikage.
Clad only in a simple white robe that barely covered his steel-forged body, his arms and chest exposed—
He stood with arms crossed.
Like a mountain.
Unshakable.
His gaze swept toward the southwest—
Toward the capital.
It carried the pressure of thunder yet to fall.
After relentlessly pursuing Shimura Danzō, he had stopped here.
Not to rest.
But to wait.
Waiting for the man who should have arrived long ago—
To stop him.
Or at least—
To stand before him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Lord Raikage."
A composed Kumogakure jōnin knelt on one knee.
"Forward scouts report that Konoha's routed forces have been mostly cleared. No signs of large-scale reinforcements. The capital is under lockdown, but no external deployment has been observed."
A snort escaped the Raikage.
Filled with undisguised contempt.
"So… our 'Professor' is even more cautious than I expected."
His voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"Is he afraid after Danzō's defeat?"
"Or is he weighing how to deal with the blade already pressed against his throat?"
He paused.
Then spoke coldly—
"Whatever he's thinking… it doesn't matter."
"Pass down my orders."
"All units—continue advancing."
His tone allowed no doubt.
"We stop ten kilometers outside the capital."
"Give the Hokage enough time to gather his courage."
His adjutant hesitated.
"…Lord Raikage, if Konoha delays—or sends envoys instead—are we truly—"
"He will come."
A cut him off instantly.
"Danzō is broken. Konoha's northeastern gate is wide open."
"If I, the Raikage, stand beneath the capital itself—"
"Then Hiruzen Sarutobi might as well smash his own Hokage seat."
His gaze sharpened.
"I'm curious."
"The man once entrusted by the Second Hokage…"
"The so-called 'Professor of Ninjutsu'…"
"Does he have the courage—"
"To stand before me?"
A glint of battle lust flashed in his eyes.
"Fight."
"Negotiate."
"Or crawl like a beaten dog."
"I'll accept all outcomes."
He glanced toward the capital.
"And those nobles—"
"Let them watch."
"Let them listen."
"Let them understand—"
"How fragile their 'shield' truly is."
"And how silent the world becomes…"
"Before thunder falls."
His words ignited the army.
Suppressed killing intent surged.
Like a beast waking from slumber.
Even without advancing—
Their presence alone was suffocating.
Overwhelming.
Absolute.
Under the Raikage's silent approval—
Kumogakure's might spread like wildfire.
Noble private armies.
Guard shinobi.
Foreign spies.
All sent urgent reports—
Toward one place.
The Land of Fire CapitalDaimyō's Residence
The once elegant hall—
Was now filled with suffocating fear.
Footsteps echoed sharply.
Servants moved quickly, heads lowered.
No one dared linger.
Even the air felt heavy.
When the latest report arrived—
Confirming the Raikage's army had advanced within ten kilometers—
And no negotiation had begun—
The Daimyō exploded.
"USELESS! UTTERLY USELESS!!"
He hurled the report to the ground.
His chest rose violently.
His eyes locked onto the kneeling figure—
Mitokado Homura.
"This is Konoha's 'guarantee'?!"
"This is your 'impenetrable defense'?!"
"The enemy stands at my bedside!"
"Their blade at my throat!"
"You shinobi—fed by this nation—call yourselves pillars?"
"Yet you collapse in the northeast and allow the Raikage to walk in unopposed?!"
"Tell me—Mitokado Homura—"
"Can Konoha still protect this country?"
"…Can it protect me?"
Each word struck like a whip.
Cold sweat soaked Homura's back.
He tried to speak—
"Enough!"
The Daimyō smashed a teacup to the ground.
It shattered.
"No excuses."
"Defeat is defeat."
"Incompetence is incompetence."
He stood.
Pointing down.
"If Hiruzen Sarutobi cannot stabilize the war—"
"If he cannot stop Kumogakure and eliminate Kirigakure—"
"Then he is unfit to be Hokage."
Silence.
Then—
The final blow.
"If Hiruzen Sarutobi cannot be Hokage—"
"…Then let the Uchiha be Hokage."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even Homura froze.
The word Uchiha—
Fell like thunder.
"Get out."
The Daimyō sat back.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
"Deliver my words exactly."
"Let your Hokage… think carefully."
Then—
Calmly—
"Summon the noble houses aligned with Mugen Castle."
"I have questions."
Homura retreated.
Like a puppet.
Outside—
He staggered.
The words echoed in his mind.
Cold.
Merciless.
Then—
He saw them.
Elegant nobles.
Calm.
Composed.
Aligned with the Uchiha.
At the end of the corridor—
Light and shadow met—
And there—
He saw it.
The Uchiha fan crest.
"…Hiruzen…"
"…we can't wait any longer…"
Konoha — Hokage Tower
Smoke rose—
Then stilled.
For the first time—
Hiruzen Sarutobi's calm—
Cracked.
No anger.
Only shock.
And something darker beneath.
The Daimyō's words—
Struck at the core of his authority.
And the word—
Uchiha—
Made everything tremble.
"…You are ruthless, Daimyō."
But what followed—
Was clarity.
Hesitation meant collapse.
Delay meant ruin.
No more compromise.
No more maneuvering.
He had to act.
Now.
"Transmit my orders."
"The one thousand shinobi assigned to the eastern front—"
"Rename them the Jade Guard."
"Full armament."
"Assemble immediately."
"And inform the Sarutobi clan."
"Deploy five hundred elites."
The ANBU trembled.
"…If something happens—"
"There is no 'if.'"
"The Daimyō is the greatest uncertainty."
"The Uchiha—are a declaration of war."
"We will show absolute strength."
"Let everyone see—"
"Who the Hokage is."
"I… am the Hokage."
He stood.
Robes flowing.
"Jōnin Commander will assume duties."
"Any internal unrest—suppressed under wartime law."
Orders spread like steel.
At Konoha's gates—
1,000 elite shinobi stood ready.
Beside them—
500 Sarutobi clan warriors.
Heavier.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
Hiruzen stepped forward.
Raised the staff—
Enma.
BOOM.
"Target—the capital."
"Protect the sacred 'Jade' of the Land of Fire."
"Jade Guard—move out!"
And just like that—
1,500 shinobi surged forward.
Toward the storm.
Among Them—
A man in a ridiculous green jumpsuit.
Might Dai.
Mocked.
Ignored.
Called a failure.
But his eyes—
Burned.
"Effort is never wasted, Dai."
"Your youth… I can see it."
His vision blurred.
Not tears—
Steam.
Before eruption.
Lord Hokage…
My youth has always burned beneath the surface…
And when the time comes—
It will erupt…
To protect everything.