The Imminent Threat of the Sand Village

The Leaf Village greening mission is complete. Yamato returns to the village and reports back on the mission. Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura follow him back. A batch of new medical ninjas also arrive to continue their training. Medical service is a long-term contract signed between the Sand and Leaf Villages and a source of revenue for Leaf Village.

Upon their return to Leaf Village, they are immediately summoned to the large conference room at the Hokage building. Present are Tsunade, the newly promoted management, including Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Hiashi Hyuga, and surprisingly, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado, whom Tsunade had removed from management.

Naruto, Sakura, and Yamato are confused, while Kakashi senses the unusual tension.

Tsunade rubs her temples and asks, "Kakashi, Yamato, how did you find the Sand Village during your time there?"

Kakashi succinctly responds, "The Sand Village is visibly powerful."

"Evidence?" Tsunade asks.

Kakashi presents photos he took. He was restricted from entering certain areas but toured the unrestricted zones. Apart from showcasing the skyscrapers, he highlights the Sand Village's Fifth Squad and the tank units training in the desert.

The Leaf Village elders inspect the photos of Fifth Squad members in exoskeletons and monstrous steel tanks. Kakashi explains, "You can see their shoulder badges; they are the Fifth Squad of the Sand Village."

"What about the Fifth Squad?" others inquired curiously.

Danzo explains, "Their attacks are sharp, their armour grants them great strength, and those dual swords can cut through ninjutsu."

Kakashi is surprised. How does Danzo know this?

Tsunade asks Kakashi if this is true. He nods, "Yes, but the important point is that they are all ordinary people."

"Ordinary people?" Shikaku asks, "Do you mean they are samurai from the Land of Iron?"

The Land of Iron is a neutral country built around three mountains known as the Three Wolves. It is known for its distinct culture and formidable 'samurai' who channel chakra into their blades and guard the country without involving ninjas.

Shikaku, looking at their attire and swords, mistakes them for the Land of Iron's samurai.

Kakashi shakes his head, "No, they are ordinary people without chakra knowledge. They rely on this equipment to match ninjas in strength."

"They maintain the internal security of the Sand Village," Kakashi adds, shocking the Leaf Village's high-ranking officials. Ordinary people equipped like this are equivalent to ninjas?

If the Sand Village arms all 70,000 of its residents with such equipment, wouldn't they have an army of 70,000 ninjas? The military strength of the Sand Village would be overwhelming.

Kakashi also discusses the tanks, but the ninjas, familiar with their agile ninjutsu, dismiss tanks as mere large metal shells, which are ineffective against their techniques.

Troubled by the implications, Tsunade recalls Muzake mentioning enhancing ordinary people's capabilities. She had thought it was just boasting, not expecting him actually to achieve it. Will she be at his mercy if he fully arms the Sand Village?

If Muzake knew what Tsunade and the Leaf Village leadership were thinking, he would surely laugh. The exoskeletons showcased by the Fifth Squad were just a few among many, and not everyone had one. The idea that Muzake could equip 70,000 villagers with such advanced gear was impractical with the current resources.

The revelation spurs Danzo into action, having been sidelined by Tsunade and now seeing a chance to regain influence with the information brought back by Sai about the Sand Village's capabilities.

"The threat from the Sand Village is urgent," Danzo declares. "We must change!"

Caught off-guard by the potential of ordinary people possessing combat capabilities comparable to ninjas, the Leaf Village must reassess its vulnerabilities and the balance of power within the ninja world.