Chapter:9

In an office in the Hokage Building, an elderly man stood at the window, hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance. His face was weathered with age spots, and he wasn't particularly tall. Despite his unassuming appearance, his eyes carried an intimidating sharpness that hinted at the power he wielded. This man was none other than the Third Hokage, **Sarutobi Hiruzen**.

An ANBU ninja, donning a dog mask, knocked on the door and entered upon receiving permission.

"What's the situation?" Sarutobi Hiruzen inquired.

"Last night, **Sarutobi Keisuke**, **Sarutobi Hiroshi**, **Sarutobi Kazuharu**, and **Sarutobi Shinichi** initiated a conflict with **Hatake Yuuki**, **Hatake Takashi**, and **Hatake Shinichi**, resulting in a fight. The Security Department has sentenced the four Sarutobi members to a ten-day detention," reported the ANBU ninja with respect.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes grew cold for a brief moment. Despite Sarutobi Keisuke and the others being in the wrong, they were still part of his clan. The fact that the Security Department punished them so swiftly, with no regard for his status, felt like a direct affront to his authority. However, that cold look vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the Hokage's usual expression of "benevolence."

He spoke, "If they made a mistake, they should be punished accordingly. The Security Department acted appropriately. This is the kind of justice the village needs."

Turning to the ANBU ninja, Sarutobi added, "Relay a message to Sarutobi Keisuke and the others: they must reflect on their actions. Their status as Sarutobi clan members does not grant them the right to dishonor the name of our clan."

"Understood," the ANBU ninja replied, a deep sense of respect welling up inside him. Lord Hokage's fairness was beyond reproach. Even when dealing with his own family, he adhered to justice, showing no favoritism. If all the village's leaders were as impartial as Hiruzen, internal disputes would cease.

After the ANBU ninja left, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat at his desk, a contemplative look in his eyes. "Is the Security Department truly enforcing the law impartially, or are they targeting the Sarutobi clan?" he wondered.

Meanwhile, in a forest on the outskirts of Konoha, **Shimura Ryoma** and two of his clansmen, **Shimura Ichiro** and **Shimura Sosuke**, moved swiftly between the trees. Their goal was to intercept the largest caravan in the Land of Fire before it reached Konoha.

Ryoma had learned that this caravan was close to the **Uchiha Clan**, and with the ongoing tension between the Uchiha and Konoha's leadership, he sought to delay the caravan's arrival. If successful, the Uchiha wouldn't profit from the caravan's business dealings, allowing Ryoma and his clan to benefit instead.

"Lord Ryoma, I heard that the caravan's leader is a close ally of the Uchiha. What if he insists on going to Konoha despite our interference?" asked Shimura Ichiro, a young man of about 17, with short hair and a determined expression. Known as a genius within the Shimura clan, Ichiro harbored resentment toward the Uchiha, particularly **Uchiha Shisui** and **Uchiha Itachi**, whose fame eclipsed his own.

"The leader of the caravan is no fool," Ryoma said with a smirk. "He'll understand that siding with the Uchiha now is a losing game. With their influence in the village fading, he'll have no choice but to reconsider."

"But what if he refuses?" Ichiro asked, concern evident in his voice.

Ryoma's eyes gleamed with a cold, calculated light. "Then we'll play the role of robbers. We'll ensure the caravan doesn't reach Konoha."

Ichiro looked shocked. "If we're caught impersonating bandits, we'll be severely punished. Not even Lord Danzo could protect us."

"Not if we aren't discovered," Sosuke, the third member of the group, interjected calmly. His demeanor suggested he was no stranger to such underhanded tactics. "We'll be careful, and no one will know it was us."

Ryoma nodded in agreement. "Exactly. As long as we act discreetly, the Uchiha might suspect, but they'll have no proof. Besides, there are plenty of real bandits roaming the Land of Fire. Who's to say we didn't simply run into one of them?"

A few hours later, the trio ventured deeper into the forest. Suddenly, the sound of kunai and shuriken slicing through the air filled their ears.

"Incoming!" Ryoma shouted.

A rain of projectiles descended upon them. The three Shimura reacted swiftly, dodging and deflecting the deadly barrage with their kunai. However, before they could regain their footing, masked attackers appeared out of nowhere.

One masked figure silently emerged behind Shimura Ichiro, kunai aimed at his back. Sensing the attack at the last second, Ichiro managed to sidestep, but the kunai still sliced his side, leaving a deep wound. The young genius cursed under his breath as he tried to defend himself.

Meanwhile, both Ryoma and Sosuke were also under attack. Sosuke, though a skilled fighter, took a hit and sustained a serious wound. Ryoma, an elite jonin, managed to fend off his attackers without injury, but he found himself at a disadvantage due to their numbers.

"Who are you?" Ryoma demanded, his voice filled with fury as he glared at the masked figures who had ambushed them.

(End of Chapter)