Naruto: Mixed Heritage(Rewrite)

The chamber was dimly lit, with the soft flicker of oil lamps casting dancing shadows against the aged stone walls. The six figures sat around a polished wooden roundtable, their faces grave and etched with lines of experience. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat at the head of the table, his robes of office slightly dishevelled, revealing the weariness of leadership. Surrounding him were the Village Elders: Homura Mitokado, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, Eiji Senju, and Satoru Miyazuki. Of the five, Eiji and Satoru carried an aura of deep authority, their tenure as Elders beginning in the latter years of Tobirama Senju's reign as Hokage when the rest were just Jonins.

The tension in the room was palpable, like an unspoken battle waged with careful words and subtle glances. Homura broke the silence, his voice calm but probing. "What I want to know is why Suna sent the message?" His question hovered in the air, the weight of it pulling everyone's attention.

Danzo leaned forward, his single visible eye narrowing. "If it were Kumo, we wouldn't have accepted it," he stated bluntly, his tone carrying a hint of derision.

A shinobi village had the right to refuse a call for a Kage Summit if they deemed it against their interests. Refusing was as simple as not accepting the correspondence; no formal rejection was necessary. Yet, Suna's request had been unexpected.

Hiruzen tapped his pipe against the edge of the ashtray before lighting it. "Suna and Konoha have always maintained... neutrality," he said slowly, smoke curling upward as he spoke. "Our relationship has never been particularly close, but neither has it been antagonistic. Their sudden involvement is puzzling."

Koharu crossed her arms, her sharp gaze scanning the faces around the table. "It's obvious," she said curtly. "They're allying themselves with Kumo."

At her words, the room shifted subtly. Homura's brow furrowed in contemplation, while Danzo's jaw tightened imperceptibly. Eiji stroked his greying beard thoughtfully, his eyes betraying no immediate reaction.

Satoru, the eldest of the group, broke the silence. His voice, though worn with age, carried an undeniable weight. "Can't we form an alliance of our own? Surely we're not out of options."

Hiruzen shook his head before responding, but Danzo, always eager to dominate the conversation, interjected. "The only viable options are Iwa or Kiri," he said sharply. "And neither are realistic. Onoki—that Fence-sitter Bastard—would sooner die than align with Konoha. As for Kiri, the Third Mizukage holds a personal grudge against Hiruzen from the last war. That battle ended... poorly."

Homura raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't that before he became Mizukage? Surely he can set aside old grievances for the good of his village."

Koharu scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "Homura, you underestimate how petty the shinobi of Kiri can be."

The words hung in the air, a grim affirmation of Konoha's isolation. Satoru leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "So, we're alone against the other villages," he said, his tone resigned.

Hiruzen's lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. "It wouldn't be the first time," he replied, exhaling a plume of smoke.

Koharu, ever pragmatic and ruthless, leaned forward. "Then we need to punish them," she said firmly. "We can use the minor villages around Kumo to sow chaos and keep them preoccupied."

Danzo gave a slow nod, his expression unreadable. "I'm already working on it," he said. The quiet menace in his tone made the others exchange uneasy glances.

Homura sighed, rubbing his temples as though attempting to banish an encroaching headache. "How did we find ourselves in this position?" he asked, his frustration seeping through.

Danzo's response was immediate, his words carrying a sharp edge. "Ask Hiruzen," he said coldly. "He's the one who refuses to give up the boy."

Hiruzen's expression hardened, his pipe clattering against the ashtray as he set it down with more force than necessary. "I will not hand over Renjiro to Kumo," he said, his voice unwavering. "If we yield to their demands, we will be seen as weak. Weakness invites exploitation, and we cannot afford that."

His words hung in the air, a steadfast declaration of his resolve. Most of the room silently agreed, though none spoke of the deeper grudge many in Konoha held against Kumo. The death of Tobirama Senju at the hands of the infamous Kinkaku and Ginkaku during a mission decades ago had left a bitter wound that had never fully healed.

Eiji, sensing the mounting tension in the room, decided to steer the conversation away from the heated exchange between Danzo and Hiruzen. His voice, calm and deliberate, cut through the oppressive silence like the edge of a kunai. "Do we have any intelligence on whether the other villages will lend their support to Kumo?" He leaned back in his chair, his hands resting on the table, but his sharp eyes betrayed the calculating mind of a man who had spent decades navigating the intricacies of diplomacy and war.

Satoru, the eldest of the group, adjusted his spectacles and folded his hands over his chest. His voice, though softened by age, carried the gravitas of experience. "Iwa is unlikely to align with us, but they'll almost certainly maintain their neutrality." He paused, letting his words hang in the air. "Their neutrality, however, is a calculated stance. With Suna backing Kumo, Iwa benefits from the distraction of two major villages at odds without committing any of their own resources. Their position weakens us by design, even if they do nothing overtly hostile."

Danzo grunted in agreement, his single eye narrowing as he tapped his gloved fingers against the table. "Onoki is far too shrewd to involve himself unless there's a clear gain. That so-called neutrality might shift if he sees an opportunity to exploit the situation. The man has never been one to let a grudge go unpunished, and he still remembers the losses Iwa suffered in the Second War."

Eiji nodded thoughtfully. "True, but at least we know where Iwa stands for now. What about Kiri?"

Satoru exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. "Kiri is... complicated," he admitted. "They've always been a village of contradictions. Their internal politics are as turbulent as the seas that surround them. On one hand, they might align with Kumo simply to weaken us, but on the other, they're equally likely to remain uninvolved, especially if their internal struggles demand their attention."

Homura leaned forward, his fingers interlaced as he rested his elbows on the table. His face was drawn tight with concern. "So, we're looking at a situation where Iwa stays neutral, Kumo has Suna's support, and Kiri is a wildcard," he summarized. "It's not an ideal position to be in."

Hiruzen, who had been silent during the exchange, finally spoke. His voice was steady, but there was an edge of determination in his tone. "It's not ideal, but it's not hopeless either," he said, his dark eyes sweeping across the room. "Our course of action is clear. We attend the summit, we deny Kumo's accusations, and we refuse to give in to their demands. We must stand firm and demonstrate our strength."

Danzo leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Strength is meaningless if it isn't backed by action," he said, his voice cold. "Words alone won't deter Kumo or their allies."

Hiruzen's gaze turned sharp as he met Danzo's eye. "And reckless action will only plunge us into another war," he countered, his voice calm but unyielding. "We must choose our battles wisely. Appearing weak is dangerous, yes, but so is rushing into conflict unprepared."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of their precarious position pressing down on everyone. Eiji finally broke the quiet, his voice softer but no less serious. "Do we have a fallback plan? In case the summit doesn't go in our favor?"

Hiruzen nodded. "We'll prepare contingencies. If the summit fails, we'll need to bolster our defenses and secure our alliances where we can. But for now, our priority is to present a unified front at the summit. We cannot allow our enemies to sense division or doubt."

Satoru nodded approvingly, though his expression remained grave. "It's a gamble, but it's the best chance we have. If we hold our ground, we might force Kumo and Suna to reconsider their positions."

Homura's eyes flicked to Danzo. "And what of the measures you mentioned earlier? Using the minor villages to cause trouble for Kumo?"

Danzo gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. "That plan is already in motion. We're leveraging certain... assets to ensure that Kumo's focus is divided. It won't solve all our problems, but it should buy us some breathing room."

The Elders exchanged glances, the weight of Danzo's words settling over them. Homura leaned forward. "And who will accompany you to the summit?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity and an underlying challenge.

=====

Bless me with your powerful Power Stones.

Your Reviews and Comments about my work are welcomed

If you can, then please support me on Patreon. 

Link - www.patreon.com/SideCharacter

You Can read more chapters ahead on Patreon.