Naruto: Tenseigan Eye

If there was no battle, things might stay calm. But if conflict erupted, the first to suffer would be the ninjas from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, knew all too well that this situation was the result of Shimura Danzo's manipulations.

Shinki had made it clear: he hadn't forgotten Danzo's past schemes. If given the chance, Shinki wouldn't hesitate to send Shimura ninjas to the frontlines. But it wouldn't stop there—the Sarutobi clan would be next. After all, the Hokage had to lead by example.

"These are just my thoughts," Shinki said, his tone casual. "If anyone else has suggestions, please share. It's better to contribute than to stay silent."

He scanned the room, but no one responded. Feeling the weight of their silence, Shinki sighed and sat back in his chair.

As if on cue, Akimichi Torifu chuckled and said, "Hiruzen, I think Shinki has a point. There's no need for Konoha to involve itself in the Cloud and Mist Villages' disputes. Guarding against Iwagakure is sufficient. While we are allies, Konoha doesn't need to fight Iwagakure on their behalf. Isn't that right?"

"Indeed," Hiruzen nodded, though his expression was far from relaxed. If it came to that, he didn't want Konoha to fight at all—he wanted peace to rebuild and strengthen the village.

Yet, who could have predicted the sudden escalation between the Cloud and Mist Villages? It was a mess no one had seen coming.

The Culture of Silence

"Does anyone else have any suggestions?" the Third Hokage asked, mirroring Shinki's earlier invitation.

The room remained eerily quiet. Many in attendance felt they had nothing worthwhile to add. Others hesitated, fearing their ideas would backfire or be dismissed. After all, in Konoha's leadership circles, the less you said, the fewer mistakes you made.

For some, silence wasn't just safer—it was strategic. Watching Utatane Koharu take the fall earlier in the meeting had been a harsh reminder of the consequences of speaking up.

Take Koharu, for example: her involvement in the alliance with the Cloud Village had been a collective decision. Yet, when blame needed assigning, it had fallen squarely on her shoulders.

"Who wants to be the next scapegoat?" thought Akimichi Torifu and Nara Shikashin, who quietly opted out of the discussion. The rest followed suit.

This left the meeting at a standstill, devolving into a staring contest. No one dared break the silence.

Behind Closed Doors

When the meeting finally adjourned, the Third Hokage pulled Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu aside. Frustration seeped into his voice as he addressed Homura.

"Homura, what's wrong with you today? Usually, you're eager to contribute and advocate for the village. Why didn't you say anything?"

Homura frowned. Why? Isn't it obvious? He wanted to roll his eyes but restrained himself.

Out loud, he replied vaguely, "I thought Shinki's points were well-made, so I didn't see the need to add anything."

Privately, Homura thought: Blame is contagious. I've already seen what happened to Koharu. I'm not about to make the same mistake.

Koharu, who had remained uncharacteristically quiet during the meeting, finally snapped. "Everyone is at fault here! Homura, you didn't even support the alliance with the Cloud Village, yet you refused to stand by me when the blame came down. Hiruzen, why did you single me out?"

"Koharu, let me explain—"

"Explain?" Koharu cut him off, her anger boiling over. "Every decision we make affects the village, and every failure tarnishes our reputations. Don't act like you're immune to criticism. Just because you're the Hokage doesn't mean you should push all the blame onto your advisors."

Hiruzen sighed, his expression a mix of guilt and weariness. "As Hokage, my decisions carry weight. If my actions harm the village, it reflects poorly on all of us. I wanted to protect everyone's reputations."

"Protect everyone's reputations?" Koharu sneered. "You mean protect your own reputation at my expense."

Homura's Breaking Point

At that moment, Homura couldn't hold back anymore. Slamming his hand on the table, he turned to both Koharu and Hiruzen.

"This is ridiculous! The village faces the risk of being dragged into war, and all either of you can think about is your reputation or compensation. Is that reasonable?"

"And what about you?" Koharu shot back. "You didn't think about reputation? Then why were you silent in the meeting? Why didn't you take responsibility?"

Homura's patience snapped. "If it were my suggestion, I would've taken responsibility. But let's not rewrite history. You and Danzo pushed for this alliance, ignoring the risks. You argued it was in the village's best interest. Without your persuasion, do you think Hiruzen would've committed to this alliance? Don't act like you're blameless."

"And Danzo?" Homura continued, his tone dripping with disdain. "He's been exploiting the village for years, stirring up trouble and hoarding benefits for the Shimura clan. Every time he's called out, he retreats into silence, leaving others to clean up his mess."

Hiruzen remained silent, his expression somber as Homura's words hit home.

"Tell me, Hiruzen," Homura pressed. "If anyone else acted like Danzo—repeatedly testing the village's limits—would you tolerate it? Would you let it slide again and again?"

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[Naruto: Maelstrom Of the Uzumaki]