Naruto: Aizen's Shadow in Konoha

The high-level conference room in the Hokage building was filled with tension. Although Hiruzen, Konoha's Hokage, and his advisors—Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura—had not yet arrived, the assembled council members were already restless.

Low murmurs filled the room as various leaders and strategists exchanged updates and concerns.

"Did you hear about Okayama Village?" one elder whispered. "They were wiped out overnight by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! Only a handful of survivors managed to escape, and they've come to Konoha seeking refuge."

Another nodded grimly. "And the Land of Waves has become the Mist Ninja army's staging ground. They're using it as a springboard to land troops on the southeast coast of the Fire Country. The threat is escalating rapidly."

"The Mist Village is no small matter," someone else interjected. "Their strength rivals that of the Cloud Shinobi, second only to Konoha itself. And let's not forget their bloodline clans—the Hozuki, Kaguya, and Yuki clans are formidable."

Discussions about the Mist's capabilities grew more fervent, but another faction of the room focused on a different, equally pressing threat.

"What about the AB Group from Cloud Village? They're already deep into the Fire Country, advancing steadily!"

A heavy silence fell as the council acknowledged the infamous duo.

"One of them is the son of the Third Raikage, a master of Lightning Style. The other is Killer Bee, the perfect Jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails. Together, they've destroyed every stronghold in their path."

The conversation shifted again, this time to the Rock Village's movements.

"The Rock Shinobi have decimated our forces in the valley," someone reported. "Kitsuchi and Hunter have torn through our defenses with terrifying precision. And Sand Village isn't far behind—Rasa and Pakura are gaining ground as well."

With every update, the room grew heavier with unease. It wasn't just the four villages converging on Konoha—it was the emergence of a new generation of powerful shinobi.

"New talents like the Cloud's AB Group, the Mist's Seven Swordsmen, and the Rock's demolition squad... This war is breeding monsters," someone muttered.

Minato, standing near the corner of the room, clenched his fists tightly. On one hand, he was concerned for the village's survival. On the other, he felt the weight of expectation.

As Konoha's rising star, he was constantly under scrutiny, especially from the veteran council members who now measured him against the prodigies from other villages. Their eyes were on him, silently evaluating whether the famed Yellow Flash could turn the tide of this war.

Aizen, seated at the periphery of the room, observed the proceedings with disinterest. Unlike Minato, he drew only occasional, wary glances. To most in the room, he was a mystery—a powerful shinobi whose abilities defied understanding.

Though his presence was acknowledged, he remained a shadow in the council, content to let the others squabble and speculate. His mind worked far beyond the immediate concerns of Konoha's leaders.

Creaaaaak!

The room fell silent as the doors opened, and Hiruzen entered, flanked by Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzo. Their expressions were grim, each step heavy with the weight of Konoha's dire situation.

The council members immediately straightened, their eyes fixed on the four senior leaders as they took their seats.

"I won't waste time recapping the situation—you all know the stakes," Sarutobi began, his voice steady but grave. "Time is of the essence, and the war demands swift and decisive action. I'll outline the resolutions we've agreed upon, and if anyone has objections, speak now."

A hushed silence fell as the room held its collective breath.

"First," Sarutobi continued, "Orochimaru will be appointed as the commander-in-chief of the northern front. He will be joined by Aburame Shikuro and Nara Shikaku as his deputies. Together, they will lead 10,000 elite ninjas to counter the advancing forces of Rock Shinobi and the remnants of Okayama Village."

The decision to appoint Orochimaru as the commander-in-chief of the northern front against the Cloud Shinobi was met with unanimous approval from the council.

Orochimaru's brilliance as a strategist and his overwhelming strength had been evident since the Second Shinobi World War. Entrusting him with this critical front was a natural choice.

Alongside him were Aburame Shikuro and Nara Shikaku as deputy commanders.

Shikuro, a master of the Aburame clan's deadly nano-scale poisonous insects, was a name that sent shivers down the spines of enemies and allies alike. While Shikaku's physical prowess was less pronounced, his unparalleled strategic genius made him an invaluable asset.

With these three leading the defense, the Cloud Shinobi forces—though as strong as Konoha itself—would face a formidable challenge.

Seeing no objections, Hiruzen moved to the next announcement.

"Secondly," Sarutobi declared, "Jiraiya will serve as the commander-in-chief of the northwest front. Yuhi Mako and Sarutobi Shinnosuke will act as his deputies, leading 8,000 shinobi to counter the Iwagakure forces."

There was little debate over this decision.

Jiraiya's strength and tactical acumen were legendary, making him a natural choice for this command.

His deputies, Yuhi Mako and Sarutobi Shinnosuke, were both seasoned Elite Jōnin with extensive battlefield experience. Known for their sharp instincts and impeccable leadership, they were well-equipped to face the fourth-ranked Hidden Rock Village.

The council once again nodded in agreement, understanding the necessity of these appointments.

However, the atmosphere grew tense as Hiruzen moved to the next item on the agenda.

The Hokage's gaze flickered briefly to a figure seated near the back of the room before announcing:

"Thirdly, one of the Uchiha clan member will be appointed commander-in-chief of the southeast front, with Hyuga Kyosuke and Kosuke Maruboshi as his deputies. This unit will comprise 8,000 shinobi tasked with defending against the Mist Shinobi Village's invasion."

The room fell silent for a beat.

Then, chaos erupted.