Naruto: In Konoha Village, I awakened Wood Release at the start.

Leaf.

After leaving the Hokage Building.

The heads of the various families did not return home.

Less than half an hour.

They arrived at a luxurious restaurant.

This is the property of the Nara clan.

The soundproof barrier is activated.

The parasitic insects of the Aburame clan are everywhere, even in the most remote corners.

On either side of the long table sat some of the most powerful people in Konoha today.

Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi.

Even Shiki Aburame, Tsurugi Inuzuka, and several commoner Jonin were mixed in.

No one spoke.

All that could be heard was the gurgling sound of the tea boiling.

"What are you all holding back for?"

"The joint Chunin Exams will invite the four major ninja villages, plus all the smaller ninja villages."

"This is a scale that even the First Generation Lord never managed to pull off when he was alive."

A moment later.

Choza Akimichi grabbed a handful of potato chips and stuffed them into his mouth, crunching them down.

"Too arrogant."

"Kumakuya lost six billion before, and Raikage probably dreams of tearing us to pieces."

"Iwagakure and Kirigakure have remained inactive, while Sunagakure, though an ally, has long been on guard in secret."

"Now summon them all to Konoha."

"Isn't this tantamount to telling the entire ninja world that we're going to flex our muscles at home?"

Yamanaka Inoichi pressed his forehead.

A helpless expression appeared on his face.

"So what if I show off my muscles?"

"Lord Chiba's strength is enough to crush them."

"I'm afraid they won't dare to come!"

Fugaku Uchiha crossed his hands and rested them on his chin.

A hint of crimson appeared in his eyes, and the three tomoe marks on his face subtly shifted.

"I'll definitely come."

"How could they possibly let go of such a golden opportunity to find out the true nature of Konoha?"

"At that time, the village leaders might personally lead their teams over."

"If anything goes wrong, Konoha will become the target of everyone's anger."

Hiashi Hyuga glanced at Fugaku.

In the past, Fugaku Uchiha always kept a low profile.

Now look at them, they're more arrogant than anyone else.

Nara Shikaku remained leaning back in his chair.

He looked up, staring at the dim yellow chandelier on the ceiling, and remained silent for a long time.

soon.

All eyes gradually turned to him.

Everyone knows that Nara Shikaku is Chiba's most trusted chief of staff.

There are some things that only he knows better.

"You guys."

"The vision is still too narrow."

He noticed the Chunin's gaze.

Nara Shikaku looked away and then sat up straight.

He slammed his hands on the table, his voice very low.

"You really think...?"

"Did Lord Chiba organize this Chunin Exams just to flex his muscles?"

"Or is it just to intimidate them?"

The voice just fell.

Everyone's breath caught in their throats for a moment.

"Shikaku, stop keeping me in suspense."

"We're all in this together now, so let's speak frankly."

Fugaku Uchiha frowned.

He didn't quite understand what Nara Shikaku meant.

"Lord Orochimaru is back."

"The research department is burning through money every day these days."

"The number of ninjas in the village has doubled, and everyone is doing missions to earn merit points."

"A few days ago, Lord Chiba approved another large sum of money to expand the Ninja Academy."

"Where did this money come from?"

"Does it rely solely on the village's fiscal revenue?"

Nara Shikaku smiled.

He stared into everyone's eyes and asked softly.

"So, what does the Hokage mean...?"

Akimichi Choza swallowed hard.

"Don't you understand?"

"Konoha's current pool is too small!"

"The Joint Chunin Exams are a smokescreen, a trap."

Nara Shikaku tapped the table.

His voice carried a hint of emotion.

"Lord Chiba, are they preparing to take action against the other villages?"

Dead silence.

Everyone present fell silent.

The sunglasses under the hood of Yuu-onna Shimi reflected the light.

He was usually taciturn, but even he couldn't help but clench his fists at this moment.

Should they take action against other villages?

What does this mean?!

Since the end of the First Shinobi World War, the power structure of the major ninja villages has been fixed.

After all the fighting, in the end, a ceasefire agreement still needs to be signed at the negotiating table.

Neither can destroy the other.

But Chiba's intentions now are clearly not as simple as just subduing someone.

He wants to take over!

"Gulp."

Someone swallowed a large mouthful of saliva.

Followed by.

A strange, labored breathing sound spread through the private room.

I wasn't afraid.

There wasn't a trace of fear in them.

"unified……"

Hiashi Hyuga's eyes were frighteningly bright; he didn't even notice when tea was spilled on the back of his hand.

He muttered to himself, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

"Let's do it!"

"There are too many idle people in the police department these days."

"If war breaks out, my Uchiha clan is willing to be the vanguard!"

Fugaku Uchiha suddenly stood up.

He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups bounce around.

"fart!"

"Why should the Uchiha be the vanguard?"

"Our Inuzuka clan's ninja dogs have been itching to go crazy!"

"When it comes to tracking down the enemy and eliminating hidden sentries, we're the experts!"

Inuzuka Tsuru kicked the chair away.

"How could a war be complete without the Akimichi clan?"

"The human bomb tanks can crush their defenses!"

Choza Akimichi burst into laughter.

He swept the bag of potato chips off the table.

Chaos.

Complete chaos.

The entire private room felt like a powder keg that had been ignited.

These Konoha nobles, like a pack of wolves smelling blood, fought over prey that hadn't even appeared yet, their eyes red with rage.

Looking at this group of clan leaders who had fallen into fanaticism.

Nara Shikaku did not try to dissuade him.

Because his own heart was also pounding wildly.

Konoha is just too strong.

They've become so powerful that they're tired of the so-called peace agreement.

Indeed.

Chiba is like a tyrant.

But he was a tyrant who could ensure everyone had meat to eat.

Following Hiruzen Sarutobi, they could only scavenge the limited resources available in the village.

With Chiba by their side, the entire ninja world becomes their hunting ground.

Even a fool could do the math.

"Everyone."

Shikaku tapped the table again, silencing the commotion.

"The Hokage's ambitions extend beyond the Land of Fire."

"While there's still time, gather all the best fighters in the family and get them training!"

"Anyone who drags the team down won't get a share when it comes to dividing the spoils!"

The clan leaders responded with a resounding roar.

Nobody thought there was anything wrong with it.

In the world of ninjas, strength should always prevail.

……

at the same time.

In a small tavern in Konoha's commercial district.

Jiraiya was slumped over the bar, with a dozen or so empty bottles lying in front of him.

He didn't use chakra to sober up.

Alcohol numbed his nerves, but it couldn't numb his heart, which was about to be torn apart.

The words of the Great Toad Sage were like a rusty nail, firmly driven into his brain.

"A towering tree, shrouding the ninja world..."

"Under absolute hegemony, there is no war..."

"The people live in peace and contentment..."

Jiraiya grabbed a bottle and tilted his head back to gulp it down.

The spicy liquor burned down my throat and into my stomach.

He coughed a few times, and tears almost welled up in his eyes.

"Bullshit hegemony."

Jiraiya mumbled something indistinctly.

How can peace be built on power and tyranny?

That must be something that can only be achieved through mutual understanding and the spontaneous expression of hatred.

but.

The Great Toad Sage's dream has never been missed.

This left Jiraiya feeling very conflicted.

"Phew~"

For a long time.

Jiraiya's eyes gradually cleared.

In the past few days, he has traveled all over the streets and alleys of Konoha.

He saw those ordinary children who were well-fed.

He saw low-ranking ninjas in the mission hall, arguing heatedly over merit points.

He also witnessed Orochimaru conducting experiments in the sunlight.

Everything is getting better.

Aside from his vague and unrealistic ideas.

He knew it very well.

I can no longer run away.

"I need to go and talk to him."