Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

A few days later, the morning light shone into the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his teacup, looked at the black sealing scroll and a letter on the table, and after a moment of silence, raised his hand to signal the ANBU outside the door to come in.

"Lord Hokage."

The ANBU member wearing a crow mask knelt on one knee.

"Send it to Sunagakure."

Hiruzen pushed the scroll and letter to the edge of the table. "Give them to their elder, Chiyo, and tell her that this is a gift from Konoha."

Anbu took the scroll, his fingertips pausing for a moment.

The entire Anbu knew what was sealed inside that scroll—the corpse of the Third Kazekage, Retsumon.

"clear."

Without asking any further questions, the officer turned and disappeared out the window.

The office fell silent again.

Hiruzen walked to the window and looked at the smoke rising from the village chimneys. Early-rising villagers were already sweeping the fallen leaves in front of their shops.

Another ordinary morning begins in Konoha.

It felt as if the earth-shattering battle of a few days ago was just a dream.

The letter was very short, containing only a few words.

But each word is enough for the people of Sunagakure to ponder for a long time.

"Kazekage Retsumon, who colluded with a cult and attempted to overthrow the peace of the ninja world, has been killed by me. The monstrous entity 'Black Zetsu' within him has also been eliminated. As for the affairs of Sunagakure, I hope you will act accordingly. Also, the rogue ninja Sasori of the Red Sand has been dealt with."

Hiruzen looked out the window, a very faint smile playing on his lips.

It wasn't mockery, it was exhaustion.

What he's been doing all this time has been patching up loopholes. Loopholes left by Madara Uchiha, and loopholes left by that monster who's been hiding in the shadows for a thousand years.

Now, it's finally been completed.

"Sunagakure..."

Hiruzen muttered to himself, his eyes somewhat unfocused, "I hope you can understand that Konoha is not necessarily your enemy."

He turned and walked out of the office.

In the corridor, several ninjas were exchanging mission reports. When they saw him come out, they all stood at attention and saluted.

Good morning, Hokage.

"morning."

Hiruzen nodded, and without stopping, walked straight towards the outskirts of the village.

There are two important things to do today.

The first item has already been dealt with.

The second thing...

He looked up at the distant sky and took a deep breath.

---

The Land of Wind, Sunagakure Village.

The atmosphere in the council meeting room was so oppressive it felt like it was about to burst into flames.

Chiyo sat in the main seat, a stack of documents in front of her, but she couldn't concentrate on reading a single word. Ebizo next to her was the same, his brows furrowed, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

"It's been five days already."

A Sand Village Jonin broke the silence, "There's still no news from the Kazekage."

"Could it be...?"

The other ninja hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

"Shut up."

Chiyo raised her eyelids and gave him a cold glance, at which the man immediately lowered his head.

Ebizo sighed, "Sister, we have to prepare for the worst."

"I know."

Chiyo closed her eyes, her voice hoarse, "But at this critical juncture, once the Kazekage's message gets out, Sunagakure will..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood.

It will be chaotic.

They will become prey.

Just then, the conference room door was suddenly pushed open.

"Report!"

"Konoha's Anbu..."

"Konoha?"

Chiyo abruptly stood up. "What are they doing here?"

"He said... he said he had a letter in the Hokage's own handwriting that he wanted to give to Elder Chiyo in person."

The meeting room erupted in chaos.

"What does Konoha mean by this?"

"At this time..."

"That's enough!"

Chiyo slammed her hand on the table, her voice low and deep, "Let him in."

A moment later, a member of the Konoha Anbu wearing a crow mask entered the conference room.

Without any further action, he simply placed a scroll and a letter on the table.

"A letter from the Hokage himself."

After saying that, he turned and left.

"Wait!" Ebizo called out to him, "What does this mean?"

The officer stopped, turned his head, and his voice behind the mask revealed no emotion.

"The Hokage said this is a gift from Konoha."

Then, he disappeared through the conference room door.

Chiyo stared at the scroll on the table, her fingers trembling as she reached out to it.

"elder sister……"

Ebizo wanted to remind her to be careful, but Chiyo had already broken the seal.

The next second, everyone was stunned.

It was a corpse.

The corpse of the Third Kazekage Retsumon.