Chapter 58

The Third Hokage was furious.

He had stayed out all night, indulging in a bit of freedom, only to be summoned to an early meeting before he could catch up on any sleep. Jiraiya slouched in his seat, disheveled, his white hair more unruly than usual. An odd assortment of smells clung to him, prompting Orochimaru, seated beside him, to wrinkle his nose in disgust.

"Will—"

"The Sand Village is truly crossing the line!" Utatane Koharu interjected, cutting Jiraiya off mid-sentence. Her expression was livid, and Jiraiya, already weary, hesitated before closing his mouth and choosing to stay silent. He knew his opinions would carry little weight here. Before becoming one of the Sannin, neither he nor Orochimaru had much say in the village's political affairs. Their status as students of the Third Hokage only went so far.

So, he resigned himself to silence, watching Koharu's display with weary acceptance.

*Why bother interrupting?* Jiraiya thought, attempting to justify his restraint. When he glanced sideways, he saw Orochimaru looking at him with disdain before turning away.

"???"

*What's with the look, Orochimaru?*

"They initiated aggression in the Land of Rivers, and when the village responded, they had the audacity to ambush and kill our people. Are they trying to provoke a war?" Koharu's voice rose, sharp with anger.

In her younger days, Koharu had been known for her impatience and temper. Now, she placed the full blame on the Sand Village.

"Is there a chance this is a misunderstanding?" Tsunade's voice cut through the tension. She wasn't one to let Koharu dominate without challenge. After reviewing the intelligence, she added, "Something doesn't add up. Even if Sand Village was eager for action, escalating things this far seems excessive."

"A one-off incident is a provocation. But repeatedly? Every time? Is that still just provocation?" Koharu's tone bristled with frustration.

Tsunade's interruption irritated Koharu. She was convinced her analysis was correct: Sand Village was intentionally stirring up conflict. Tsunade, for her part, frowned, ready to argue further.

Sensing the rising tension, Akimichi Tofu, seated between them, interjected quickly, "Tsunade's observations are valid, but either way, the Sand Village initiated these conflicts. We need to be ready for war."

"You're right," Tsunade said after a pause. She leaned back, conceding for the moment. Regardless of any hidden motives, Konoha needed to be prepared for whatever came next.

Konoha might not instigate wars, but they would never show weakness when challenged. At this time, Konoha was far from the passive stance it would adopt in the aftermath of the Third Ninja World War.

"Ahem!" The Third Hokage, seated at the head of the table, cleared his throat and set his pipe down. "Both Tsunade and Koharu make valid points, but Akimichi is correct. The village must prepare for any outcome."

He addressed the room. "War could break out at any moment. Every department must be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Whether this is a misunderstanding or deliberate provocation, our response depends on Sand Village's actions."

If it was all a misunderstanding, Sand Village would back down. If Konoha exercised restraint, tensions could ease.

But if Sand Village continued sending more ninjas into the Land of Rain, then the debate over right and wrong would become moot. It would mean war.

"The senior ninja unit will organize a deployment, including enough medical personnel, ready to move to the Land of Rain for support at a moment's notice."

"The medical and logistics departments must coordinate closely," the Third Hokage continued. "War isn't something that can be managed on the fly. Preparations for personnel, equipment, and supplies must be made in advance, not improvised during the crisis."

"It's not wise to build a toilet only after your stomach starts to hurt," Mito Kado En chimed in.

The Third Hokage glanced at Akimichi Tofu, who looked down, trying to avoid attention. *Don't look at me, don't ask me,* his posture seemed to say.

"The medical department will begin preparing the necessary supplies for war. A team of medical ninjas will be ready to deploy to the Land of Rain at any moment," Tsunade said, rising to take charge.

Although Akimichi Tofu held the official title over the medical system, the real power rested with Tsunade. She wielded actual control, while Tofu held only nominal authority.

"Will Tsunade be going herself?" Sarutobi Matsuda, the senior ninja unit leader, inquired.

If war broke out with Sand Village, a capable medical leader on the front lines would be crucial. Tsunade was the perfect fit for this role. Sand Village's puppet ninjas were known for their expertise with poison, and without a skilled medic capable of handling such tactics, Konoha's casualties would skyrocket.

"I…" Tsunade hesitated. "I can't give a definitive answer right now. I'll make my decision before the reinforcements leave."

Sarutobi Matsuda glanced at the Third Hokage, who spoke up. "Tsunade, if war does come, I hope you'll lead the medical effort at the front."

"I'll consider it," Tsunade replied, not committing. She needed to discuss this with Shinki before making a final decision. If Shinki hadn't advised caution, she would have immediately accepted the assignment.

The meeting concluded swiftly. Tsunade handed off the logistics preparations to Akimichi Tofu and returned home.

Back home, Tsunade relayed the meeting's details to Shinki.

Shinki pondered for a moment before speaking. "The escalation feels deliberate. Is someone behind this, trying to push Konoha and Sand Village into conflict?"

"I thought the same," Tsunade agreed. "But Akimichi's point stands. We need to be ready for war, regardless of what's driving it."

She knew others in the room had also considered this possibility. Only she had voiced it, while Jiraiya avoided clashing with Koharu, and the rest had held their tongues when Tsunade spoke up.

"But if there is someone behind this, who could it be? Rock Village? Rain Village?" Tsunade mused aloud.

"They're both suspects, but I'd bet on Rain Village," Shinki said. Hanzo the Salamander was known for being difficult and unpredictable. It wouldn't be surprising if he stoked conflict between the three major villages to protect his own interests.

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