Rumors

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After leaving the group, Horyu returned to his tent, ensuring everything was in order before finally settling down for the night. Once satisfied that all was secure, he allowed himself to drift into a well-deserved sleep, ready for whatever the next day might bring.

The morning came quickly. Horyu woke up with the first light of dawn, his body and mind refreshed. He started the day with a quick check of the camp's perimeter, a routine that kept him sharp and prepared. As he walked through the camp, he gave a few instructions to the sentries, reinforcing the importance of vigilance.

In the command tent, he met with the other Jonin, quickly discussing the plans for the day. "We'll continue reinforcing our positions," Horyu stated. "I want double checks on all our defenses."

The Jonin nodded, accustomed to his direct and no-nonsense style. They dispersed to carry out his orders, each understanding the gravity of their situation.

Horyu left the command to Kurenai for the time being and focused on his connections. He had spies in all five major countries, including Cloud. He planned to put them to good use, but the question was how. A regular rumor wouldn't do. He needed something striking and effective. Delving into his knowledge of the anime and real events, he decided to go with the truth.

The seal on his wrist shone as his message spread to every spy in Cloud, Sand, Stone, and Mist. Since the four nations worked together, he could sow some discord.

"Spread this: Cloud sent their Jonin Commander to Konoha under the guise of a treaty but attacked the young heiress of the Hyuga Clan in the dead of the night. When the Jonin Commander was killed, they shamelessly demanded the killer's head. A uses the goodwill of other nations to sneak into their villages and strike from the shadows. This war, is selfish desire of Raikage, and young people die for his endless greed."

Satisfied with the message, Horyu watched the seal's glow fade. The truth, framed as a scandal, would travel fast among the shinobi world, stirring doubt and distrust among the allied nations.

Returning to the command tent, Horyu found Kurenai overseeing the preparation of traps and early warning systems. "Any news?" he asked, joining her.

"Scouts reported increased activity on the border," Kurenai replied, her tone serious. "No direct attacks yet, but it's clear they're testing our defenses."

Horyu nodded. "We'll keep them on edge. Make sure the traps are well-hidden and the patrols stay unpredictable."

In the next few days, in Cloud, the spies received Horyu's message and began spreading it quietly among the ranks. In the bustling market, a merchant whispered to a customer, "Did you hear? The Raikage's envoy attacked the Hyuga heiress in Konoha. They say he tried to kidnap her in the dead of night."

The customer's eyes widened. "Is that true? And he was killed?"

The merchant nodded, his voice low. "Yes, and now the Raikage demands the killer's head. It's causing a lot of unrest."

In the village square, a group of civilians discussed the rumors. "Raikage is using this war for his own greed. We're losing our sons and daughters for his ambitions," a woman lamented, her voice trembling with anger.

A man nodded in agreement, "If the other nations hear of this, they might rethink their alliances with us. We need to be careful."

The same unease spread to Sand, Stone, and Mist. In a bustling street in the Sand village, a spy disguised as a vendor spoke quietly to a customer. "They say Cloud attacked Konoha's heiress under the guise of peace talks. Can you believe the Raikage's treachery?"

The customer, a young woman, looked shocked. "That's outrageous! If true, we're fighting for a lie."

In the hidden corridors of the Stone village, a conversation between two Chunin turned tense. "I heard the Raikage betrayed Konoha during peace negotiations. His greed knows no bounds," one said.

His friend, clearly troubled, responded, "If Raikage's ambitions are this dangerous, we should reconsider our stance in this alliance."

In the Mist village, the whispers were no less intense. In a dimly lit tavern, a fisherman whispered to his companion over a drink. "Cloud attacked Konoha's Hyuga clan during peace talks. Raikage's lust for power is risking us all."

The companion, a veteran shinobi, frowned deeply. "We need to be cautious. If Raikage's actions provoke retaliation, we could all be drawn into a larger conflict."

In his office, A punched the table as Mabui reported the rumors. "Who spread them?" he shouted, veins bulging on his forehead.

Mabui, calm as ever, checked her papers. "The source is unknown, but the rumors seem to have started in the market in the capital."

A snorted in frustration. "That means thousands of people. Do you expect me to kill them all?"

Bee, seated to the side, shook his head. "It is your fault, stupid bro. You chose a low blow. Kidnapping a little girl? Not cool. Now here we are, looking like fools."

A glared at him, but the truth of Bee's words stung. "We need to get ahead of this. Send out our own people to counter the rumors. Discredit them. We can't afford to let this undermine our alliances."

Mabui nodded and left to handle the task. Bee stayed behind, watching his brother pace. "We should have been more careful. This is messy," Bee said, his tone uncharacteristically serious.

A stopped pacing and faced Bee. "We didn't expect Konoha to fight back so quickly. Now we need to focus on damage control. The other nations must not doubt our intentions."

Bee crossed his arms. "Our intentions, huh? Maybe we should stop sneaking around and be upfront. These tactics are biting us back."

A's eyes narrowed. "It's too late for that now. We need to double down. Prepare for the possibility of open conflict."

Bee sighed. "I'll get our forces ready. But remember, this is on you. We could have avoided this mess."

In Konoha, Shisui's smile was rare these days. But today, it stretched across his face as he read the latest reports. The rumors were spreading, creating tension between Cloud and its allies. He suspected Horyu's hand in this. The timing and the nature of the rumors fit Horyu's style—blunt and effective.

Shisui put down the reports, a hum of satisfaction escaping him. "Good work, Horyu," he murmured, leaning back in his chair. The young Uchiha had a knack for turning the tide, even from the frontlines.

As Shisui looked through more reports, he felt a sense of optimism he hadn't experienced in days. Horyu's efforts had managed to shift the atmosphere of impending doom, at least temporarily. The rumors were doing their job, creating distrust among Cloud's allies.

Meanwhile, in the Rain Country, Horyu stood with his team, going over the latest intelligence. "We have a narrow window," he said, pointing at the map. "Cloud forces are destabilized. We hit them hard and fast, disrupt their plans before they regroup."

Asuma nodded, his face set in a serious expression. "What's the plan, Horyu?"

Horyu gathered the Jonin team around the map spread on the table. His expression was focused as he began, "We'll attack their supply base. It's critical we hit them where it hurts."

The Nara Jonin frowned, "That's their strongest camp. Attacking it might be too risky."

Horyu nodded, acknowledging the concern. "Exactly. That's why we need to attack together."

Asuma, skeptical of Horyu's bold plan, shook his head. "We can't leave our camp defenseless, Horyu. What if they counterattack?"

Horyu snorted at the question, confident in his response. "They won't. They're waiting for reinforcements."

The Yamanaka Jonin raised an eyebrow, curious. "How can you be so sure?"

Horyu presented them with a report, the details causing the Jonin to exchange uneasy glances. "Who spread this information?" Asuma asked, suspicion clear in his voice.

Horyu ignored the question. "That doesn't matter. What matters is that Cloud is waiting for reinforcements. They won't attack us while they're vulnerable."

There was a moment of silence as the Jonin processed this information. Horyu continued, outlining the plan. "Kurenai-sensei, you'll be with me. Asuma and Aburame-san, you two will attack from the south. Nara-san, Yamanaka-san, and Neji, you'll take the west. I'll lead the charge from the east and draw their attention. Our goal is simple: rob them of their resources and eliminate anyone in our way."

Though still uncertain, the Jonin nodded, trusting Horyu's confidence. They moved to prepare for the assault, each team member readying their gear and reviewing the plan in their minds.

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