Hand Him Over?

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Meanwhile, as the Hyuga clan mobilized with practiced urgency, Hiruzen pulled Shisui aside for a private conversation, their voices low against the backdrop of a village suddenly thrust into high alert.

"This is the Jonin Commander of Cloud that Horyu has killed," Hiruzen began, his voice edged with concern. "The Cloud will demand answers, perhaps even retribution. It may be wise to consider... mitigating our stance. Perhaps even—"

Shisui cut him off, his voice cold and his stance unyielding, "Mitigate? You suggest we sacrifice Horyu, silence those who witnessed his heroism, just to appease Cloud? I am not as soft as you, old man."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly, the weight of decades in leadership bearing down upon him. "We must think of the village, Shisui. Sometimes that requires hard decisions."

Shisui's response was sharp, a clear indication of his protective stance over his people and village. "Hard decisions, yes, but not cowardice. Cloud's accusations will fall on deaf ears here. Horyu acted within his rights to protect our own. I stand by him, openly and without hesitation."

Back at the scene of the confrontation, Horyu continued to oversee the securing of the village, his presence both reassuring and commanding. Soon, the diligent work of the clans uncovered additional Cloud shinobi lurking within Konoha's borders. The Hyuga clan, with their keen sensory abilities, detected a battalion of Cloud Shinobi near the Land of Fire's boundary. The tension in Konoha escalated quickly, the atmosphere thick with the urgency of threat.

In the Hokage's strategy room, frustration and anger were palpable. Shisui slammed his fist on the table, his features hardened by the deceit they had uncovered. The room was crowded with the village's top leaders—Itachi, Hiruzen, Danzo, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Hiashi, Shikaku, and Inoichi—all bearing serious expressions. Horyu leaned against a wall in the shadows, his eyes sharp and observant.

"They were prepared," Shisui growled, his voice low but filled with a controlled fury. "They planned to kidnap Hanabi, Uchiha Tokei, Nara Hashimura, Yamanaka Hana, and a few others from noble clans, then just disappear. Does Cloud really think they can do whatever they want and then demand an explanation?"

His rhetorical question hung in the air, a shared sentiment of indignation echoing silently among those present. No one in the room was prepared to let such a violation go unchecked.

Tsunade crossed her arms, her brow furrowed in thought. "It's a bold move, kidnapping during a supposed truce negotiation. It reeks of desperation or distraction."

Shikaku adjusted his glasses, his strategic mind working through the implications. "Either way, we need to bolster our defenses and perhaps reconsider our own positioning. If they're willing to go this far, who's to say what their next move might be?"

Jiraiya, usually more inclined to take a proactive stance, nodded in agreement. "We should send scouts immediately to track any other unusual movements by Cloud. If they're planning a full-scale assault, we need to be ready."

Danzo, ever the pragmatist, added his own cold analysis. "And we should consider the possibility of internal leaks. Such a coordinated attempt suggests they might have information from inside."

Hiashi, still visibly shaken by the threat to his daughter, spoke with a firm resolve. "My clan will double our surveillance efforts, especially around the borders. No one enters or leaves without our knowledge."

In the dimly lit corner of the room, Horyu remained silent, his thoughts not merely on immediate defense but on the intricate game of war at large. The Cloud's aggressive maneuvers were clear, but what truly held his attention was Shisui's reaction. Horyu was acutely aware of how similar situations had unfolded in the original timeline, similar to those in an anime he knew well. This backstory unfolded ten years before the main narrative, triggered when the Cloud attempted to kidnap Hinata. After Hiashi killed a Cloud ninja in her defense, the Raikage boldly demanded Konoha hand over Hiashi as retribution. When Konoha's leader, Hiruzen, agreed to this, Hizashi was sacrificed in his brother's stead due to Hiashi's role as the clan head. Hiruzen was such a wuss.

Horyu wondered if history would repeat itself, or if Shisui, as Hokage, would carve a different path. Depending on Shisui's stance, he would shape his next plans.

As the room filled with heated discussions and strategic proposals, Shisui stood firm, his expression resolute despite the pressing voices of Hiruzen and Danzo. He cut through the noise with a commanding tone, "Enough!" His voice echoed slightly in the tense room. "I will not sacrifice a protector of our village. Horyu's actions prevented a crisis—we would have been blindsided without his intervention."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. Everyone present knew the stakes, but Shisui's unyielding stance brought a palpable sense of resolve.

Horyu, standing slightly apart from the gathering, observed the dynamics quietly. He wasn't one for needless words, and his sharp gaze swept over the group, gauging reactions and calculating potential alliances.

Itachi, who had been quiet until now, spoke up, supporting Shisui's stance. "The Cloud has overstepped. If we yield now, it sets a precedent that Konoha can be coerced. That is not the message we want to send."

Danzo shifted uncomfortably, his eyes narrowing. "While I understand the sentiment, we must also consider the broader implications. This could escalate into a full-scale war."

Horyu's thoughts were clear; escalation might be inevitable, but showing weakness was not an option. His experiences had taught him that much—perception was often as powerful as actual strength.

Shikaku, ever the strategist, chimed in, breaking the brief standoff. "Let's reinforce our defenses and send a clear message: Konoha stands firm. We'll also need to communicate with our allies. If war is coming, we're better united."

Horyu chuckled, drawing everyone's attention in the tense room. "We have no allies," he said plainly, his gaze fixed on Hiruzen and Danzo. He paused for effect, his eyes never leaving the two elder statesmen. "Senju was killed," he continued, his voice steady and unwavering. "Uzumaki was killed."

Horyu's gaze held Hiruzen and Danzo, challenging them silently. "This village betrayed every ally it had. Now, we stand alone against all the other villages surrounding us. But they only unite against us because they know our strength. We don't need to bow or kneel. Even if we face death, let's face it standing."

The room was quiet for a moment, the weight of Horyu's words hanging in the air. He wasn't one for dramatic speeches, but his direct, unflinching delivery struck a chord. It was a reminder of the village's isolation, a stark portrayal of their current reality.

Shisui nodded slowly, absorbing the blunt truth of Horyu's words. "Horyu's right," he finally said. "Our strength has always been our unity before we sold our alliances out. If war is what it comes to, then we must prepare to defend that strength."

Hiruzen sighed, his expression somber. "Preparations are necessary, yes. But we must also think strategically about how we engage with the Cloud and others. Provocations must be managed carefully to avoid unnecessary escalations."

Danzo gave a dismissive snort as he regarded Horyu, seeing him merely as a small lamb that might soon be sacrificed. Despite being manipulated and under control, Danzo's deep-seated disdain for the Uchiha was unmistakably evident, almost enchantingly so. He bluntly declared, "Grand declarations won't secure victory in wars. First, we must placate Cloud before addressing the other three. Then, we turn our forces against Cloud to consolidate power globally." This statement was met with derision from the others. Itachi, Shikaku, and Tsunade, with their vast experience and sharp intellect, along with Jiraiya, the pacifist, all recognized the flaws in Danzo's reckless strategy.

The others in the room didn't buy into Danzo's plan. Itachi, Shikaku, and Tsunade exchanged glances, their experience in the shinobi world telling them that Danzo's idea was more about control than practicality. Jiraiya, usually the peacekeeper, simply shook his head, clearly not in agreement.

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