"Should we kill or capture him?"
A hush fell over the chamber. The weight of the question settled in the space between them like an unspoken omen.
Everyone present was well aware of Renjiro's existence. He was the Young Shinobi who presented them with the right 'cause' to see through their plans of undermining Konoha.
The Raikage remained silent for a moment, his gaze unreadable. Then, in a voice like rolling thunder, he answered.
"He is no different from the rest."
There was no hesitation, no flicker of doubt. His tone was absolute.
"For shinobi like the Sannin—Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade—the order is simple: flee on sight. But for others, more so Renjiro and Minato, we eliminate them. Every loss weakens Konoha. We will be at war. Mercy is not an option."
A murmur rippled through the room, some nodding in agreement while others remained silent, considering the implications.
Had Renjiro been present in this chamber, standing in the centre of the storm that plotted his and Konoha's downfall, he might have scoffed at their short-sightedness.
He would have advised them, almost begged them to extend that same flee-on-sight order to Minato Namikaze, the man whose legend was still in its infancy but whose fate was already carved into the annals of history.
The Third Shinobi War was the crucible in which Minato would forge his legend, a golden flash of death on the battlefield. But Kumogakure had yet to fully grasp what they would soon face.
The Raikage's voice cut through the murmurs.
"Enough. We move forward."
The discussion shifted, the air in the chamber shifting from cold calculation to the broader game of war. Scrolls were unrolled, maps were revealed, and the true weight of the coming conflict settled over the room.
One of the older strategists, a man with sharp, hawk-like eyes, cleared his throat.
"Kumogakure does not stand alone. Sunagakure has agreed to an alliance. They are tired of Konoha interfering in their war with Iwagakure."
At this, a few heads turned, interested. Sunagakure had always been a careful, measured force in the balance of power. Their involvement changed things.
Sunagakure and Iwagakure shared borders and were almost constantly at war with skirmishes all over their borders. Konoha, miles away from the two powers, inserted itself in the skirmishes by nudging the neighbouring minor villages to attack either of the two to ensure peace does not prosper in the area.
This was beneficial as Konoha was the only major village to be surrounded by minor villages which it quickly put under its thumb. While Iwagakure and Sunagakure were busy with each other, Kumo was also busy with Kirigakure as they were in a similar situation.
The Raikage merely exhaled through his nose.
"Do not mistake this alliance for military support," he warned. "The Kazekage will not march his forces into Konoha. He will turn his attention to Iwagakure instead. The moment Konoha is distracted, Sunagakure will take advantage and declare war on them. Their ambitions are their own."
There was a quiet understanding in the room. This was not a battle of loyalty but of opportunity.
A bald elder, his wrinkled fingers steepled before him, hummed thoughtfully.
"Then what does Kumogakure gain from this alliance?"
A slow smile crept across the Raikage's face.
"Reparations," he said simply. "The Land of Fire is vast. Fertile. Both Sunagakure and Kumogakure need their land. Their fields will feed our armies, and their resources will fuel our campaigns."
There was no remorse in his tone, only ruthless pragmatism. Kumogakure's mountainous terrain made large-scale agriculture difficult, and Sunagakure's desert lands were even less forgiving. The Land of Fire was rich, and in the chaos of war, who would stop them from claiming their share?
The bald elder nodded in understanding.
"And what of the Kage Summit?"
A few looks were exchanged. The upcoming summit was meant to be a diplomatic effort, but no one in this room believed it would lead to peace.
The Raikage leaned back, his expression unimpressed.
"The summit is a formality."
That was all he needed to say.
He knew Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Sandaime Hokage was a deluded, a man of diplomacy and restraint. He would never bend to the Raikage's demands. He would hold onto peace until it strangled him.
The Raikage smirked. "The Kazekage has already assured me of his full support. Konoha stands alone in this."
The words settled over the council like a decree of fate. Konoha had long relied on its status as the strongest village, but strength was a fleeting thing. The tides of war were shifting.
A different elder, one with a jagged scar running from his brow to his chin, exhaled deeply before voicing the inevitable question.
"If Konoha stands alone, will any village come to their aid?"
The answer was swift.
"Iwagakure will not."
A scoff from one of the elders.
"Naturally. Iwa would sooner burn their own lands than stand beside Konoha."
The long-standing hatred between Iwagakure and Konoha was well known. The wounds from the First and Second Shinobi Wars had never healed. No, Iwa would not come to Konoha's aid, not even in desperation. All in all, the hate was only a fraction of what Kumo felt towards Konoha and vice versa.
But there was another variable.
A hesitant pause. Then, an answer.
"Kirigakure is the wildcard."
Silence.
Kirigakure's stance in the upcoming war was uncertain. Would they side with Konoha? Would they remain neutral? Or worse—would they turn against them entirely?
The Raikage's expression darkened.
"Kirigakure is unpredictable." His fingers tapped against the wood, a slow, rhythmic "
thunk… thunk… thunk…"
"They are ruled by their own internal struggles. They will not move unless it benefits them."
A murmur of agreement. Kirigakure had recently been embroiled in its own bloody purges recently giving Kumo ground in their skirmishes with their neighbours. Their interest in a war beyond their borders would be limited.
Still, the uncertainty of their involvement was an irritant. War was a game of precision, and unknown variables were dangerous.
For a long moment, the chamber was silent, each shinobi lost in thought. Then, one of the elders, his voice slow and deliberate, raised a new point.
"Should we consider seeking the services of mercenaries?"
They had no loyalties, only a price. A dangerous resource, but one that could turn the tide of war in unexpected ways.
The Raikage's eyes narrowed, considering.
And the storm continued to build.
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