The fallout from Danzo's disruption of the Konoha council meeting had shaken the village leadership. The Third Hokage and the two elders saw their authority among the clans diminish significantly. Soon after, someone leaked details of the meeting to the wider village.
The leak had a massive impact among the ninja ranks. Many shinobi rushed to the Hokage's office, pledging their lives to Konoha's protection but refusing to endure such dishonor.
Initially, the Third Hokage and the elders tried to pacify the masses. However, the situation spiraled when Hyuga Hiashi, as the victim of the event, publicly declared:
"The Hyuga branch family may die to protect the main house, but we will not be sacrificed like this."
"If someone must die for the sake of Konoha's peace, that person should be the Hokage."
This sentiment spread rapidly throughout Konoha, evoking memories of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
The outcry grew louder by the day, and even the Third Hokage found himself unable to control the situation. Civilian and ninja dissatisfaction became more evident, with many openly comparing the Third to both the Fourth Hokage and Danzo.
Amid this turmoil, news arrived from the Land of Lightning:
The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning had sealed off Kumogakure's trade routes and cut off financial support, effectively placing the village under a complete lockdown and economic sanction.
Within two months, Kumogakure fell into disarray, verging on collapse. Three assassination attempts were made on the Raikage during this time. Food shortages plagued the village, and ninja stipends and wages could no longer be paid.
Kumogakure's outposts throughout the Land of Lightning were also attacked by unknown assailants, leading to significant casualties. Many Kumogakure ninja, receiving no aid from their village, chose to abandon their outposts and flee.
The chaos worsened as some minor shinobi clans began to defect and large numbers of civilians fled the village, drawing the attention of the entire shinobi world to Kumogakure's plight.
Though the sanctions had lasted only two months, they demonstrated the extent to which a Daimyo could discipline a shinobi village.
The Raikage was now far from being able to wage war. Simply maintaining his position as Raikage had become a challenge.
Konoha's higher-ups were well aware that Danzo had promised to resolve this matter. While they admired his foresight, they also felt a lingering fear at the Land of Lightning's fate.
...
Inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage silently smoked his pipe, revealing no emotion.
"What's wrong, Sarutobi? Why did you summon us?"
The two elders, Koharu and Homura, entered and immediately sensed the tense atmosphere.
"Koharu, you've always overseen Shirakawa Town. Why did its income last month drop to just 600 million ryo? That's less than a third of what it was two years ago."
As Konoha's financial hub, Shirakawa Town had been entrusted to Koharu after the Third took office. Even when the Fire Daimyo suggested appointing noble officials to the town, the Third Hokage had politely declined.
After all, with Konoha's expanding needs, money was essential, and he couldn't allow these profits to be divided.
"I… I'm not sure. Everything's been operating as usual," Koharu answered, clearly troubled.
The Third Hokage sighed.
"Homura, if the Fire Daimyo were to cut Konoha's funding and block our trade routes, how long could we hold out?"
"That won't happen… We've always been loyal to the Daimyo," Homura replied, his expression uneasy.
"Go back for now," the Third said after taking a long puff from his pipe. His eyes briefly reflected disappointment.
Once they left, the Hokage's office filled with thick smoke. The Land of Lightning's actions had revealed a potential crisis within Konoha.
The night before, the Third had done the calculations. If the Fire Daimyo truly mirrored the Land of Lightning's actions, Konoha could last six months—perhaps less.
But if the Fourth Hokage were still alive…
These thoughts circled endlessly in Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind, leaving him agitated. He even felt a strong desire to confide in his old friend, Danzo.
Unable to suppress the impulse, he opened the bottom drawer of his desk. Inside were various documents left behind by the Fourth Hokage.
...
Meanwhile, in the sandstorm-filled Sunagakure:
"As expected, the Raikage is just a muscle-brained fool," Rasa remarked with a sneer as he skimmed through the report delivered by Baki.
Back then, when the Third Raikage had arrogantly taunted Sunagakure outside its gates, no one from the village had dared to stop him. How triumphant he had been.
Now, that same man's son was little more than a lackey of the Daimyo.
"You truly have foresight, Lord Kazekage. If not for you, Sunagakure would likely be worse off than Kumogakure right now," Baki said, half serious, half flattering.
For years, Sunagakure had been the poorest of the Great Nations' shinobi villages, resorting to whatever means necessary to secure funds.
Yet even so, most of the village's finances still depended on the Wind Daimyo's support.
That was until Rasa took office. In recent years, through both open and covert means—controlling checkpoints, oases, and trade routes—he had elevated Sunagakure's economy significantly.
While still not on par with the prosperity Konoha enjoyed under the Fourth Hokage, it was enough to spark meaningful economic improvement.
More importantly, the framework for a stable economy was gradually taking shape, inching closer to the standards Konoha had achieved under the Fourth Hokage.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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