The council room is heavy with tension.
The heads of Konoha's main clans are present, each respecting their place and role in this already established hierarchy.
-------------- P.O.V Hiruzen -----------------------------
I slowly stand up, my hands resting on the table before me. The atmosphere is heavy, but I keep my voice calm and determined.
-"We are gathered here today to address a current situation. The intruder who attacked the village is Narume Uzumaki. Before you interrupt, yes, it is the person you are thinking of."
Just mentioning her name was enough to make some react. After all, given her status as a Jinchūriki, her death was an event known to all the high-ranking officials of the village.
I pause, allowing my words to sink into everyone's minds. Then, Hiashi Hyūga, standing straight and respectful, speaks.
-"With all due respect to this assembly, Hokage-sama, my first question concerns her state. Was she truly dead? The reports at the time confirmed her death, and..."
Danzo Shimura immediately interrupts, his tone cold and sharp.
-"She was dead. There is no doubt about it. Her body showed no signs of life, and standard protocols confirmed her state. What matters now is understanding what brought her back in this condition."
Shikaku Nara, speaking in a calm tone, responds softly:
-"If we accept that she was truly dead, then what we see now is not a resurrection in the traditional sense. Based on the information gathered, she remains physically dead. She is literally a moving corpse, yet she can speak and think for herself. This is something no technique to date has been capable of producing."
I then speak again:
-"The Byakugan confirmed that she has no vital flow, no chakra. Her state is clearly beyond what we -consider alive. She also exhibits a set of abilities she did not possess in life, ranging from techniques mimicking ninjutsu to skills that defy all logic. Moreover, she does it without forming hand seals."
At these words, silence fills the room, for this raises troubling implications not only for Konoha but for the entire shinobi world.
There are too many questions and not enough answers.
-"We must accept that her current state defies conventional rules. She is neither alive nor dead. What we do know is that her return raises questions about what could have brought her back or transformed her, given that she has put animals from the Forest of Death in a similar state to hers..."
-"We do not know if she can inflict this on humans. The conditions seem to be in place. And until we have answers, we must proceed with caution."
I fix my gaze on Danzo for a moment before continuing.
-"This includes protecting sensitive information. No matter what is revealed to the rest of the village, we must contain the truth about her identity and her connection to Naruto."
While some facts are already difficult to hide, it is imperative that we control what can be shared, both to protect Naruto and to ensure Konoha's stability.
Danzo slowly nods, his eyes unreadable.
Shikaku resumes, his calm tone prevailing over the palpable tension.
-"Containing the information is essential, but it will not be enough. We must also consider how her abilities, especially her teleportation, make her impossible to track. The use of this technique reminds us of abilities we have encountered before."
He pauses, but everyone knows to whom he is referring.
These words trigger silent reflection among the assembled leaders. None of them dare to directly mention the name of the previous Hokage, but the implication is clear.
Recalling our confrontation, I add:
-"Her teleportation is an even greater threat. Unlike what we have seen before, she does not seem to require markings or a physical anchor. And if she does, they are undetectable. She appears and disappears at will... According to her own words, she wandered through the village. I do not know how credible that is, but she must also have means of stealth."
After a moment of reflection, Shibi Aburame states:
-"This may be related to her dark energy. Everything we know about this energy suggests that it does not follow the rules of traditional chakra. It could be used to disrupt our defenses and bypass our detection systems. Additionally, it may represent an entirely new combat system."
Shikaku adds:
-"Our studies on the creatures she left behind show that her energy destroys vital energy, but a sufficient amount of chakra can limit or dissipate its effects. This could be a starting point for countering her abilities, though it requires extensive research."
Danzo, visibly frustrated, cuts in:
-"Hypotheses and analyses will not be enough if she acts again. We already know that she can strike wherever and whenever she wants."
Shikaku, still composed, replies:
-"And yet, she did not attack the village directly. She took Naruto, and he was found safe and sound. If she had wanted to cause damage, she would have already done so. This means she is acting according to a logic we do not yet understand. We must grasp her intentions before making irreversible decisions, given that we may not be able to stop her."
-"Maybe this is just her way of throwing a tantrum?"
Everyone's attention turned to Chōza, who had voiced this hypothesis, leaving the room stunned by his reasoning.
To my surprise, Shikaku nodded, considering it a valid option, and added:
-"After all, she is still a child. She does not seem to have aged, according to the shared reports. If we assume that her mind retains the same maturity..."
This made me think back to Narume's words during our fight and, although she was not simply throwing a tantrum, it was a possibility.
I slowly nod, absorbing the different perspectives.
-"We must act on multiple fronts. First, we need to protect Naruto and reinforce the defenses around him. He is too important to this village to allow any weakness in his security. Second, we must understand the mechanisms behind her abilities, particularly her teleportation and dark energy. Jiraiya will be contacted immediately to provide his expertise. And finally, we must anticipate her next actions while containing the information regarding her identity and Naruto's."
After the council members leave the room, I remain alone, watching Danzo.
-"Danzo. I want you to stay. We need to talk."
He stops, turning to face me.
-"Danzo, this time I am serious. If I find out that you had any involvement in what Narume has become, I will not stay silent this time."
Danzo looks at me for a moment before responding in a cold tone.
-"Hiruzen, everything I do, I do for Konoha..."
Without listening further, I slam my fist on the table.
-"Danzo, did you not hear me? This thing can teleport, her abilities defy all logic, and your plan is to make things worse? I do not want to see a single member of Root near Naruto or in his surroundings."
When he tries to continue, I cut him off with the one phrase I know will silence him:
-"Danzo! I am the Hokage..."
At this, he looks at me blankly before scowling and storming out of the office.
I still hear him yelling from the other side of the door:
-"You will regret this, Hiruzen!"
-"..."
He really had to say it.
I do, however, feel much more at ease after that.
My expression darkens as I recall Narume's comment about him being my lover.
We do not have that kind of relationship... right?
"Damn."