Chapter 216: Darkest Night Hidden in The Leaf (1)

Chapter 216: Darkest Night Hidden in The Leaf (1)

A little more than six months have passed in the blink of an eye since the last batch of shinobi graduated from various levels in the academy. Some persisted in training, some reevaluated their choices to adopt less dangerous professions after their blood cooled off, and some corpses were incinerated based on the Shinobi Code for funerals.

A majority of the teams fell in the first category.

A few cases, like Anya, one of Mikoto's former team members, fell in the second category. The administration of the village always accounts for such issues. It is one of the reasons why the administration encourages bright students to complete their courses before graduatingNot only are the graduates older and more tempered, but the students are also 'taught' about the prosperity of the village and the will of fire to push them beyond their base fears.

Undoubtedly the numbers of genins who jumped ships to more stable professions were more significant in this batch, but Hiruzen felt glad he allowed unusually early graduation. Things are turning out terribly, after all.

The chances of increased causality are high. So, the more teachings the previous generation can leave behind, the better.

"Hokage-sama, the meeting is about to start." Shikudo glances at his leader.

"What about the preparations?" Hiruzen wears his hat to hide his noticeably worse bald spot and somewhat increased whiteness in his hair. The increased stress from the recent events has tested Kage's nerves intensely. His cheeks are fairly sunken, his wrinkles are far more prominent, and the shadowy eyebags under his eyes have chosen to become permanent tenants on his face. He thins his dry lips as Shikudo's words barely bring any comfort.

"The preparations are complete, Lord Third."

"Hmm."

"And what about the latest patrol? Did they find anything?"

Shikudo's gaze darkens. Even his nerves feel tense as he replies quietly, "Not yet. But the civilians, including clan members returning from outside businesses, are relocated to the bunkers. Hokage-sama forgive me for saying this, but we have put all our eggs in one basket rather literally this time."

"And months of planning led us to conclude this course of action," Hiruzen sighs deeply.

"Forgive me," Shikudo whispers. "Even I never imagined things to worsen to this extent. We could have adopted a more active position if the Hyuga Clan did not remain an internal threat."

"No matter. What we need to do now is make the best of the situation as we planned. As crude as our course of action is, it is the only thing that can trump dissemination of information from unknown sources."

Hiruzen cast a glance out of his window. The sun isn't harsh as the afternoon light radiates a sweet warmth on the village, making the elderly civilians want to take a blissful nap. But instead, Hiruzen makes out shut shops and empty streets. Hiruzen did not hide the relocation of the civilians of the village. It was useless to hide it.

And Rikudo bless the Hyuga's Elder's rotten hearts as they allowed the civilians of their clan to relocate alongside themselves. In the grand scheme of things, the Elders of the Hyuga Clan meant little to Hiruzen. After all, he has a sneaking suspicion that the day will not end peacefully.

The Hyuga Elders may want to enter the bunkers for safety, but Hiruzen wished to deal with them laterpeacefully or otherwise.

Major threats that should resurface somehow occupy Hiruzen's mind. Just because the patrol of the village came up with nothing did not entail the other leaders of the Shinobi will sit back and not use Konoha's internal destabilization.

Maybe all of this is an old man's paranoid thoughts getting the better of himbut better safe than sorry.

Maybe, other villages have similar internal conflicts, and they all are holing themselves in fear of a similar attack.

But the truth is that Konoha houses Third Raikage's son. And if Hiruzen recalls that cunning behemoth correctly, 'A' will not take this lying down.

"Lord Third?"

"Hmm?"

"The meeting?"

"Oh, yes."

Hokage nods. Shikudo still doesn't know the truth behind the Hyuga Conflict. But then again, aside from Mukai, Yata, Hiashi, Hizashi, and Hiruzen himself, all the other clans are kept in the dark.

There is no way Hiruzen reaches on top of this situation personally if his involvement with a clan's conspiracy is brought to light. Even his ardent backers will build a thin layer of caution around him.

So, Hiruzen knows things will not settle in this meeting, but one must keep appearances.

The duo leaves the Kage Office and enters the meeting chamber, where all the other clan heads, advisors, Senju Clan's Proxy, and Mukai Kohinata are already present.

---

Nawaki isn't losing his marbles like his first meeting, and Tsunade seems intent on making him see-through this event till the end. He understands that it's one of the reasons why Tsunade took it upon herself to spar with him and force him to polish his skills further.

Tsunade even made him seek Orochimaru for more tips in training.

Not being as clueless as before, Nawaki felt there was an odd tension between Tsunade and Orochimaru that, to quote his former Jonin Sensei, made him the perfect tool to annoy Orochimaru. Not that Orochi left him hanging. Instead, he made Nawaki follow the basic training again with his adopted son Mitsuki.

It didn't help at first, but Nawaki soon realized the simple meaning behind this training.

No, it wasn't anything cliche as returning to the roots and mastering some hidden power.

No, it's a hint.

Training must start from the basics, and Nawaki skipped one of the most crucial basics. It wasn't his fault.

It skipped his mind since he had a team to teach and bear more clan responsibilities.

Nature Transformation Training.

He threw his shadow clans in the grinder the second he realized the big step he skipped, even if it meant perpetual migraines that were only starting to feel better now. Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)

And all his training is visible through his composure.

Hiruzen watches Ane and DenjiAburame Patriarchquietly. The truth is far simpler. Hiruzen and others knew that the Aburame Clan would try to vouch for stability and skirt over the issue. In some scenarios, it does benefit Konoha.

But Hiruzen has to integrate the Hyuga Clan into the village's military to try and weed out the source of informants plaguing the village.

So, he needed Aburame Clansmen to have less credit to their name for a period, and that's what he did by alluding to Danzo controlling the previous Root Members.

But with A's son in custody, it is clear Danzo has nothing to do with this. At least, that's what Hiruzen senses about the situation.

Right now, Sakumo's disappearance is one of the unsolved mysteries of the village.

"If I may," Yata raises his voice with a clear of his throat.

"The Uchiha Clan has found a way to solve this situation peacefully. I believe this will benefit the Hyuga Clan, Konoha, Mukai Kohinata, and most importantly, the many talents of the village who are born with special gifts."

Shikudo furrows his brows. "And your clan would like something in return?"

"Ah, well, if you insist." Yata smiles and sets his elbows on the desk. "But let's not get caught up in my simple wishes. Before any individual desires, I have the village's well-being in my heart."

"And your colon 'cause that's a load of bull." Choku Akimichi speaks for once. His narrow eyes, credit to his round cheeks, narrow further as Yata smirks.

"Still upset about that fish stick? It was years ago!"

"Indeed. Years ago, when they were still available. Now with the import from Uzu up to shit, you're the one who ate the last piece of it!"

Yata raises an eyebrow before shrugging, "We'll figure something out in your restaurant."

Yata's words placate the Akimichi Patriarch. Others did not downplay Choku's annoyance because the Akimichi Clansmen rarely lose shit for political issues or usual ongoings of life. But their anger multiplies when it comes to their gullet.

"As I was saying, I have a way. A seal."

Others stare at Yata quietly. Even the Uchiha Advisor did not know anything about Yata's circumstances.

"A close associate of mine has developed a cursed seal capable of functioning the same way as the Caged Bird Seal of the Hyuga Clan."

"That's preposterous!" Hiashi slaps the table and raises his voice.

"Hiashi Hyuga!" Hiruzen whispers hoarsely. The Kage's eyes fall over the offending Patriarch while releasing the full brunt of his chakra. Hiruzen's reserves couldn't hope to contend with the likes of the First and Second Kage, but his reserves were the highest in this room. Hiashi grits his teeth and lowers his head.

"I apologize. But this sounds like a scandal perpetuated by the Uchiha Clan to demean ours. Everyone knows the rivalry between the two clans, and I don't think it is beneath the Uchiha Clan to invade another clan's privacy. After all, Yata Uchiha needs merit to regain the trust of the village squandered by the youths of his clan by desecrating the rules of the Uchiha Police."

Yata narrows his eyes.

"So, Yata stood up for you, and this is how you respond? Some Noble Clan the Hyuga is," Okami sneers.

"Please continue on with the seal. And I would like to know about this close associate who developed the seal that can solve this issue."

Yata blinks in surprise. For all purposes, a proxy like Nawaki shouldn't be speaking. His task must only be to listen to everything and inform Tsunade.

So, his voice means Tsunade's approval of the youth. And if it isn't like this and if Nawaki is overstepping his bounds, it would mean a lashing of a lifetime from Tsunade once he returns.

Still, Yata takes the chance to speak.

"I cannot speak about this close associate in front of others, but this information will be readily available to Lord Third to prevent misunderstanding. I am taking caution because of the assassination attempt on Mukai's life. As for the seal"

Yata begins weaving another story that roots everyone in their seats. A seal that can be manipulated individually and lock the special benefits for themselves.

A combination of the Hyuga cursed seal alongside the Uchiha Clan's baby-killing seal added something better.

A seal that can prevent the corpses of Aburame Clan's insects from falling into the wrong hand.

A seal that can allow the Inuzuka Clan to breed a rare variety of Chakra Ninken once again and keep them away from the paws of their enemy.

A seal that can become one banger of a kamikaze during the approaching time of war.

Hiashi's 'resistance' fall on deaf ears as Mukai watches everything unfold with quiet, indifferent eyes.

***

Alternate Title: The Kage Juggler; Hosting Another Kage's Son in a Special Treatment; Nawaki Grows Some Senju Nuts; Tsunade Lucked Out With Kai?; A Callous Play; None With Honor; A Shinobi's Battle Start Way Before the Drawing of Kunai; Yata's Seal; The Yata-Choku Conflict; A Rare Breed of Ninken?; Indifferent Mukai; Verbal Vow; Elders' Useless Plan; The Dawn of Conflict; One Proxy

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