**Chapter 116: The Clouds of War**

In Konoha, whenever something major happens, the Third Hokage chooses to convene a meeting of the Jōnin.

Of course, the reason for holding this meeting is because the situation is under the control of the Third Hokage.

Without absolute confidence, he'd be crazy to call a meeting.

This time, the Third Hokage had already discussed things with many of the Jōnin in advance. Together, they planned to pressure the Uchiha clan, forcing them to compromise and make some concessions.

And!

The person representing the Uchiha clan at this Jōnin meeting was Uchiha Fugaku.

When dealing with the village, Fugaku tends to be a bit more tolerant than usual.

This was the Uchiha's attempt to integrate into Konoha, a clear compromise.

Everyone could see it.

This was a good sign! 

They believed that today, Fugaku would definitely make some concessions, especially since they had prepared a "big gift" for him.

But who knew!

Everyone had just gathered, and as soon as the Third Hokage began to speak, before anyone else could say a word, Fugaku suddenly stood up and roared.

In the previously quiet meeting room, this sudden outburst of rage startled everyone, including the Third Hokage and Danzo.

"Fugaku, calm down!"

The Third Hokage looked at the agitated Fugaku and said in a deep voice. 

"Hokage-sama, this is intolerable!" Fugaku shouted loudly, "Last time, when the Cloud Village caused trouble in Konoha, in the end, we sacrificed Hyuga Hizashi. Are we going to sacrifice Hyuga Hiashi this time too?"

Damn it!

The Third Hokage almost spat out blood.

Why do your words sound just like Uchiha Itsuki's? 

I had the ANBU tailing Itsuki, making sure he didn't meet with you. That guy is already resting at the crematorium.

How could you be so in sync with him!

Could it be that you two really share the same wife?

Hiashi's face turned green.

How did this even involve me?

Humiliation!

This is blatant humiliation! 

Uchiha Fugaku, did I ever provoke you? You just slapped me in the face out of nowhere!

Hiashi glared angrily at Fugaku.

Did he care about his brother? Yes. Deeply?

Hell no!

If he truly cared, why didn't he explain things to Neji earlier? Instead, he only revealed the so-called truth after Neji displayed extraordinary talent.

Back then, if Hizashi hadn't wanted to die, could he have lived? 

If he had taken the initiative and said something to move Hiashi, he could have better protected his son.

Otherwise!

He would've died miserably on the streets, his body left incomplete! 

And maybe even his son would have had to follow him.

It's not an exaggeration; Neji was too young to hide that kind of hatred.

It was only because of Hiashi's guilt that Neji managed to survive.

Fugaku noticed Hiashi's gaze and immediately shouted, "Hiashi, you surely want to fight the Cloud Village, don't you? To avenge your brother! Hmph, these bastards have gone too far, do they think Konoha is without defenders? We are the village that holds the Will of Fire!"

Damn it!

Hiashi's face darkened.

What am I supposed to say to that?

Should we fight or not?

The Third Hokage's face also darkened.

Fugaku's words had completely derailed what he had planned to say next.

The Will of Fire was basically a slap to his face.

If he stuck to the original plan, how would the Jōnin view him?

"Fugaku, sit down!"

The Third Hokage's tone grew severe as he said, "We are in the middle of a Jōnin meeting. Shouting like that, what kind of behavior is that? Don't forget your status."

Fugaku sat down abruptly.

He had already made up his mind—he was done with Konoha!

So now? 

Now, he was just playing around, doing everything he could to embarrass them.

After letting go of everything, Fugaku suddenly realized that the world wasn't just black and white.

Status?

I still have clones!

"Ahem!"

The Third Hokage cleared his throat, "Everyone, war only brings blood and tears. You all understand this."

"You've all participated in the Great Ninja Wars. You should understand the despair and pain of it…"

"So…"

"For the sake of the village, I believe that necessary sacrifices must be acknowledged."

Fugaku suddenly stood up and shouted, "Hokage-sama…"

"Fugaku!"

The Third Hokage shouted in a loud voice, sounding nothing like a man in his sixties or seventies.

At least, Danzo beside him was startled.

Damn it!

Danzo was furious.

Are you two done yet?

Combined, you're both over a hundred years old, and you're still causing scenes like this?

"Fugaku, sit down!"

"Hokage-sama, I have something to say."

"Sit down first!"

"Alright!"

Fugaku sat down reluctantly, his expression showing a bit of grievance.

The Third Hokage let out a long sigh of relief.

If Fugaku had kept talking, who knew what outrageous things he might have said.

But how was this Jōnin meeting supposed to continue?

...

At the crematorium! 

A ninja knelt on one knee in front of Itsuki.

"That's all?"

"That's all!" the ninja replied seriously. "It's confirmed that the enemy is skilled in assassination techniques, lethal and efficient. The three Cloud Village envoys had no ability to resist; all were killed with a single blow."

Itsuki looked at the information in his hand, "Could it have been the Root division?"

"Unlikely!"

The ninja replied, "The Root doesn't have such skilled assassins, and neither does the ANBU."

Itsuki muttered to himself, "Then who did it? Killing the Cloud Village envoys at this time almost seems like a deliberate provocation for war."

Akatsuki...

The ninja speculated, "Could it have been Iwagakure?"

"Iwagakure does have spies in Konoha, but none strong enough to easily kill three Cloud Village Jōnin. All three of them were Jōnin-level!"

"No matter!"

Itsuki tossed the report aside, "Proceed with the plan! They won't affect us."

"Yes!"

The ninja left, his voice full of excitement, "For a peaceful and blue ninja world!"

After the ninja left, Itsuki closed his eyes and connected with Pain through the ring.

"The envoys from Cloud Village sent to Konoha have been killed. Was it your people?"

"No."

Pain's voice was cold, as if busy with something, and he cut off the connection after his brief answer.

But even in that short exchange, Itsuki noticed something significant.

"Damn it!"

Itsuki's expression grew serious.

From that brief glimpse through the ring, he saw that Pain was doing something to the body of the Ten Tails.

And the originally lifeless body of the Ten Tails was starting to show faint signs of life.

Itsuki's mind was filled with just four words: **Butterfly Effect!**

Could it be that his presence, along with his actions, had sped up Akatsuki's plans?

Naruto was still under ten years old! 

"Alright, if that's the case, I'll accelerate my plans too!"

Itsuki smiled, a sinister smile.

On that very day!

While the Jōnin meeting was still in progress, they received news, and the once noisy room fell into complete silence.

Suna!

The Sand Village, which had been in a standoff with Iwagakure, had withdrawn many of its ninja and instead began gathering forces on the borders of Konoha.

It looked like war was imminent! 

At the same time, almost as if coordinated, Cloud Village and Iwagakure also dispatched large numbers of ninja to Konoha's borders.

Suddenly!

The atmosphere within Konoha's Hidden Village completely changed.

Three ninja villages had bared their fangs at them! 

(End of chapter)