My Journey as Fourth Kazekage

The sudden shift in activity between Kumogakure and Iwagakure did not escape the watchful eyes of Konohagakure, which was still locked in a fierce battle against them.

Neither Kumogakure nor Iwagakure had made any effort to conceal their troop movements. Their actions were observed and reported in meticulous detail by Konohagakure's Anbu, who had been closely monitoring the battlefield.

By now, both Kumogakure and Iwagakure forces had deeply penetrated the Land of Fire. As a result, Konohagakure had been forced to shrink its defensive lines. While this contraction was a setback, it also allowed the high-ranking commanders from both fronts to consolidate their forces, enabling their troops to provide mutual reinforcement. This unified strategy was one of the main reasons Konohagakure had managed to withstand such a sustained and overwhelming assault.

Inside Konohagakure's command tent, the tension was palpable.

Seated around the table were the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, alongside Danzo, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze, Hiashi Hyuga, the leaders of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, and Shibi Aburame. This rare gathering of Konohagakure's elite underscored the dire situation the village faced.

The fatigue etched on their faces told the story of a month-long campaign that had pushed even the strongest to their limits.

As the group reviewed the latest developments, Shibi Aburame, ever the precise and efficient intelligence officer, began his report. Using the observations gathered by his insects, he detailed the troop movements of both Kumogakure and Iwagakure.

The Third Hokage, clad in his black combat attire, listened intently. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke.

"So, in terms of key combatants, the only noteworthy withdrawals appear to be Iwagakure's Four-Tails Jinchūriki and Kumogakure's Darui. Is that correct?"

Shibi nodded.

"Yes, Hokage-sama. However, according to our sources, Iwagakure's demolition squad, led by the infamous explosive-release user Gari, is already en route to the frontlines. The absence of the Four-Tails Jinchūriki won't significantly weaken Iwagakure's capabilities. If anything, their ranks may grow more cohesive."

Hiruzen nodded slowly, processing the information.

"Hmm, it seems our situation remains precarious."

Danzo seized the chance to interject.

"Why don't we take advantage of this confusion to strike back at Kumogakure and Iwagakure while their forces are in flux?"

Shikaku Nara, who had been managing the frontline operations, let out a weary sigh.

"At this stage, our forces are far too drained to launch a successful counteroffensive. Our ninjas need rest, and both Kumogakure and Iwagakure will undoubtedly be on high alert. Any attack we mount now is likely to fail and cost us dearly."

Danzo's eyes narrowed in frustration, but they remained silent for the moment. Breaking the brief lull, Jiraiya leaned forward.

"Have we confirmed the reason for these sudden changes in their frontlines?"

Inoichi Yamanaka, the group's expert in intelligence gathering, nodded.

"Yes. Based on the information we've collected, their movements suggest that their target is Sunagakure."

"Sunagakure?"

The revelation shocked nearly everyone in the tent. Eyes widened, and a low murmur rippled through the room.

Just weeks ago, Sunagakure had humiliated Konohagakure by stealing priceless treasures, leaving them scrambling to respond. The Daimyōs were still pressuring Konohagakure to launch a campaign against Sunagakure to reclaim the stolen artifacts.

Danzo's expression, however, darkened considerably. His hatred for Sunagakure burned hotter than ever. The fiasco with Sunagakure had left his influence in the village weakened, forcing him to remain on the frontlines instead of returning to the village to consolidate his power.

Danzo knew with absolute certainty that he had never acted against Sunagakure's Third Kazekage. But at this point, that detail was irrelevant. What truly mattered was how the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure had uncovered the secret of his arm.

Over the past few days, Danzo had meticulously scrutinized every individual privy to the knowledge of his arm's secret. Yet, none of them seemed likely to have leaked the information—not even Orochimaru.

The tension around Danzo was obvious and everyone in the tent could feel it. Yet, despite the oppressive atmosphere, no one dared to address the matter directly. There were larger, more pressing issues at hand, and Danzo's personal concerns would have to wait.

Orochimaru, however, stood apart from the others, wearing a peculiar smile that made those around him uneasy.

The Third Hokage, sensing the growing stagnation in the room, decided it was time to refocus the conversation.

"Do we have any idea why Kumogakure and Iwagakure are mobilizing against Sunagakure?"

Inoichi Yamanaka stepped forward.

"It appears that Kumogakure and Iwagakure attempted to form an alliance with Sunagakure but were turned down."

"???"

The revelation left everyone stunned.

Noticing the skepticism on their faces, Inoichi quickly elaborated, trying to provide more context.

"This information was directly released by Sunagakure itself."

"..."

The room fell into a tense silence. The reasoning was baffling, and yet, it seemed deliberately calculated. While no one could fully understand Sunagakure's motives, one thing was certain: the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure was not someone to take lightly. Both Konohagakure and the Land of Fire had already paid dearly for underestimating him.

After a pause, Danzo seized the opportunity to put forth his suggestion.

"In that case, why don't we use this chance to strike Sunagakure as well? Daimyō has been pressuring us to take action for some time now."

Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, appeared momentarily intrigued by the idea. But after a brief consideration, he shook his head.

"No... If we move against Sunagakure now, regardless of the outcome, we'll likely drive them straight into the arms of Kumogakure and Iwagakure. That would leave us fighting on three fronts instead of two. The Daimyō's demands must be met, but this is not the right moment. Our immediate priority is to resolve the current two-front war. If we can force either Kumogakure or Iwagakure to retreat, it will significantly ease the strain on Konohagakure."

The reality was simple: Konohagakure had never feared facing a single village in open combat. But handling two major powers at once was stretching their resources and morale to the brink.

Shikaku Nara nodded in agreement.

"That's true, but with the way things stand, it's going to be an uphill battle. Any move we make against one side will almost certainly draw the other into action. They'll seize the chance to press their advantage."

The grim logic of Shikaku's words made the deadlock feel even more suffocating.

Just as the room fell silent again, Danzo spoke up with another bold and divisive suggestion.

"Then let's unleash the Nine-Tails on the battlefield. With its immense power, we could—"

Before he could finish, Minato Namikaze, who had been quiet until now, rose abruptly.

"No. Danzo-san, Kushina has not yet gained full control over the Nine-Tails. Sending her into battle now would be reckless."

"Hmph."

Danzo's expression darkened, and his gaze turned icy.

"The purpose of a Jinchūriki is to serve as a weapon for the Tailed Beasts. Now is the time for Kushina to prove her worth."

Minato, however, didn't flinch. His response, steady and firm, carried a weight that silenced the murmurs in the tent.

"No, Danzo-san. Uncontrolled power isn't just a threat to the enemy; it's a danger to our own forces as well. I don't believe bringing Kushina to the battlefield is a wise decision."

Danzo's expression darkened as Minato repeatedly challenged him. Frustration and anger began to seep into his tone.

"Minato, are you defying my authority as an elder?"

Minato, unfazed, met Danzo's glare with an unusual coldness.

"With all due respect, Danzo-san, this is a battlefield, not the village. Here, I'm the supreme commander of the Iwagakure front. Only the Hokage has the authority to countermand my decisions. To be precise, even you, Danzo-san, are under my command here."

!!!

The tension in the room soared as Danzo's face twisted into an expression of icy fury. His gaze locked on Minato, but the younger man didn't waver, meeting his stare with a calm yet resolute confidence.

The oppressive silence in the tent was finally broken by the Third Hokage's cold tone.

"Enough, Danzo. Kushina is not up for discussion anymore."

The Hokage's command brought an abrupt end to the heated exchange, leaving Danzo visibly seething. After a moment, he let out a bitter chuckle, his voice laced with sarcasm.

"Jiraiya, you've certainly raised a fine student."

Jiraiya, unfazed by the insult, grinned and gave Minato an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

"Yeah, I'd say I did a pretty good job!" he replied, his laughter cutting through the tension.

Danzo rose slowly, his movements deliberate and his demeanor icy.

"If there's no room for my input here, I'll return to the village... Hmph."

With that, Danzo turned and left, his footsteps heavy with irritation. As he exited, the unease in the tent lingered. Most of the gathered shinobi exchanged uncertain glances, but no one dared to speak out. The Third Hokage's silent contemplation only deepened the discomfort.

Only Shikaku seemed to grasp the deeper implications of Danzo's departure. He reasoned that with the village's current instability, Danzo's return might actually help suppress rumors and keep the Uchiha clan in check.

Meanwhile, far to the west, Sunagakure's intelligence network had also picked up on the movements of Kumogakure and Iwagakure. Word quickly spread within the village: an attack was coming.