3 Chapter 3: Kumogakure's peak, konohagakure's decline
In terms of strength the third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was much weaker than the second, Tobirama Senju.
There was no point in even comparing him to Hashirama Senju, the one known as the [God of Shinobi].
But he survived and held onto the title for Hokage much longer than every else could.
During his reign, Konoha held at least 60% of all geniuses from around the ninja world.
Sakumo Hatake, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Itachi…
However, all these geniuses ended up leaving the village, defecting or were forced to their deaths.
They practically did the impossible losing with an almost perfect hand.
After receiving the letter Inviting Konoha into an alliance with Kumogakure the third Hokage wanted opinions.
The other three stared at him silently.
Even Danzo who represented the more Radical and aggressive shinobi in the village did not hold any objections to this alliance.
All of them were well aware that Kumo and Konoha's strength was did not differ by much.
Although the strongest Raikage had fallen, his son the new Raikage was also a Kage-level ninja.
There was also Hachiro Raiden, who established himself as the ninja with the strongest lightning style in the third Ninja War.
Secondly, there was two perfect Jinchūriki, Killer Bee and Yugito.
In the whole village, right now only Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru was at kage-level. (Danzo hasn't got his transplants yet.)
Right now, while Konoha was at it's weakest, Kumo had reached a new peak.
Fortunately, the leaf hadn't been severely affected by Hiruzen's poor management.
Although it didn't really matter much as Danzo had 'helped' in eliminating the Senju for him.
However, the Yamanaka, Nara, Inuzuka, Aburame and Akimichi were still as strong as ever. additionally, the Uchiha extermination hadn't took place yet.
They also had the Hyuga clan's Byakugan that had foiled Kumo's plans more than a few times during the war.
Therefore, the gap between the two villages not too large.
"In that case, I'll agree to this Invitation. Announce to the village that early next year the signing ceremony of the alliance between Kumogakure and Konohagakure will be officially held!"
…
…
Konoha's 49th year, January 1st.
Hachiro Raiden and Sarutobi Hiruzen stood on the top floor of the Hokage's Residence.
In the presence of tens of thousands of Konoha Village residents below, they shook hands to indicate that the alliance between the two villages was officially reached.
In the new year, coupled with the double joy of the alliance, the cheers of the whole village boiled to a new peak.
"What's the matter Shikaku? The era of peace is coming, are you unhappy?"
Suddenly, among the many high-level ninjas standing behind the two, Yamanaka Inoichi found out that his friend Nara Shikaku had a Suspicious expression and couldn't help but whisper.
He shook his head and said.
"No, I just… don't see why the cloud Shinobi want to ask for an alliance just after the fourth Hokage has passed away. Based on the Raikage's personality isn't he more likely to start a war?"
The Nara family has been the Hokage's advisers for generations for a good reason.
Even among his clan Shikaku was intelligent.
In his opinion, this peace came too suddenly.
The Land of Lightning as a whole was a militant country.
With the way they usually did things they would have tried to launch an attack before they could formulate a proper plan to go forward after the fourth's death.
And they didn't request anything that was majorly unfavourable for Konoha.
This was totally not in line with their usual aggressive behaviour.
But when he saw how happy the Hokage was, he struggled about whether he should bring some glaring issues with the agreement to light.
…
…
On the day of the signing of the alliance agreement, Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen announced that the entire village would throw a celebration.
Among the cloud shinobi Hachiro, Samui, Darui and the other shinobi accompanying them joined in on the party.
In Konoha, only one clan leader did not participate——
At the residence of the Hyuga clan's leader.
Because the eldest daughter of patriarch Hyuga Hiashi was just three months old, he had to stay home with his wife.
After a few hours everyone returned to the high-end hotel arranged for them by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
But no one slept peacefully, and everyone sat down on the Japanese floor mat with solemn expressions.
"Tadashi, please."
Hachiro said with a calm expression.
"Yes!"
A terminally ill Jōnin who wouldn't be able to survive more than a month or two, bowed his head and promised to complete his mission. He jumped out of the hotel's window, and disappeared under the moonlight of Konoha.
…
…
About half an hour later.
A dark shadow slipped out of the patriarch's residence of the Hyuga clan.
In his right hand, he was still carefully holding a sleeping baby.
The baby was Hyūga Hinata who was just born a few months ago.
crunch~
Suddenly, Tadashi stepped on a dead leaf scattered on the ground and made a crisp sound.
"Who's there!?"
Hyuga Hiashi, rushed to where the sound originated from and saw the man in black and his daughter who was in the process of being kidnapped.
His face suddenly changed.
He charged ahead as fast as he could and attempted to ruthlessly strike towards the intruders heart.
Pouch!
Gentle Fist hit the opponent's abdomen, and severely damaged the intruders internal organs.
"That's it?!"
Hyuga Hiashi himself was taken aback.
If someone dared to risk their lives intruding on the Hyuga clan's residences they should at least have some level of competence.
Before he could think more in depth about the suspicious situation. He reached out and gently lifted his unconscious daughter into his arms.
Hiashi held his daughter in his right hand and pulled off the mask on the intruders face with his left hand.
The Cloud Shinobi forehead protector was what greeted him to his shock.
"Patriarch, what happened?"
The sound of the battle attracted the guards attention.
In a matter of seconds several guards hurried over.
When they saw the ninja wearing the Cloud Shinobi's forehead protector they couldn't help but panic.
All of them were dumbfounded and didn't know what to do.
"Immediately, report this to the Hokage!"
Hyuga Hiashi gritted his teeth, and said these words in anger.
He also realized that he had fallen into Kumogakure's scheme.
…
…
In less than ten minutes the three elders, clan heads and many other members of the civilian council gathered in the Hokage's office.
The deathly and depressing silence contrasted with the joyful atmosphere around the village earlier.
After checking Tadishi's body in the middle of the office, Nara Shikaku frowned and said,
"Hokage-sama, obviously Kumogakure's request for an alliance with us is just a cover. Their true purpose is the blood of the Hyuga clan."
Uchiha Fugaku also said,
"In the third Ninja War, the byakugan has caused a lot of trouble for the cloud shinobi. Their tactics revolve around striking as fast as possible and as hard as possible. These tactics don't work nearly as well when the enemy knows where your going to hit so they must be looking for a way to get vengeance."
Hiashi's anger was visible for all to see as he said,
"Hokage-sama, please bring justice to my Hyūga clan!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath into his pipe, and released a cloud of smoke making a few people present frown, but he didn't dare to day anything for certain.
"Shinosuke, immediately notify the Kumogakure's envoy… and ask them to give Konoha an explanation."
After a short silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen gave orders to his eldest son.
Originally, he was still immersed in the joy of truce with Cloud Shinobi Village.
However reality cruelly hit him hard.
…
…
In less than 5 minutes, 14 members of the Cloud Shinobi's delegation led by Hachiro rushed to the Hokage's office.
Just as Hiashi was ready to interrogate the masterminds.
A shinobi from the cloud behind Hachiro saw the body of Tadishi on the ground.
Except for Samui and Darui, the other members of the envoy burst into tears. They knelt down beside Tadishi's corpse crying bitterly and shouting.
"No! Tadishi! What happened?"
"You... why did you die? Who was it? Who killed you... Tadishi!"
"Tadishi! You've worked hard for our village, how did you end up like this?"
"Asshole! Who dares to kill one of our brothers?! We must make him pay for it!!"
"Yes, your right we must back report this to Lord Raikage immediately!"
The people from Konoha were stunned by the performance of these Cloud Shinobi.
Lightning rumbled in the sky. It was if their resolve touched even the clouds above them.
Rumble!
The eyes of everyone glided over towards Hachiro's body, thunder was twisting and wrapping around his body as a violent air pressure was created.
Electric arcs passed around the room making his anger known.
"Hokage-sama! Kumogakure has sincerely came with the intent of entering an alliance with your village, but now my subordinates have been so brutally murdered in Konoha. What is going on? I need an explanation!"
He stared straight at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his hands were clenched and his whole body exuded killing intent.
Suddenly, all the members of Konoha realised that they had become the 'villains'.
Five seconds later, everyone uncontrollably cursed at anyone with any relation to Kumo in their minds.
"This bastard is branding us as villains?!"
Note: Feel like I forgot something 🤔
