However, based on the intelligence received in recent days, the activity from Sunagakure appears to be escalating. Their movements are becoming increasingly suspicious, though their exact intentions remain unclear.
Perhaps we should deploy Yūhi Kurenai's team to the border of the Land of Wind under the guise of retrieving an agent.
The purpose isn't to assign Asuma Sarutobi a dangerous espionage mission. Rather, it's to have the team stationed there long-term to recover returning spies from Sunagakure.
Indeed, in the world of shinobi, it has become almost a tradition for the major villages to embed spies within one another. Of course, Konoha, with its vast shinobi force, likely fields the largest number of infiltrators. It's inevitable, given their manpower.
Normally, retrieving one's own spies wouldn't require deploying a full squad. But the current situation in Sunagakure is clearly abnormal.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had already decided to activate several deep-cover operatives embedded in Suna to uncover what was truly going on.
Under these circumstances, assigning Yūhi Kurenai's team to the area would not be a waste of resources.
However, just as Hiruzen was making his plans, a sudden influx of memory surged into his mind.
He froze momentarily before realizing what had happened: his Shadow Clone stationed at the Hokage's office had dispelled itself, relaying urgent intelligence. This method was one of the fastest ways to communicate over short distances in the village.
As he processed the information, Hiruzen's expression grew serious.
"Sunagakure... what are they planning? Are they trying to start another war?" he murmured gravely.
The report had come from a patrol unit near the border. They had discovered traces of Suna shinobi operating near the Land of Wind's frontier. According to intel, Suna seemed to be quietly moving a significant number of ninja to that area.
Though they hadn't made any overtly aggressive moves, the nature of their maneuvering was troubling.
Now, as for how Konoha's patrol ninjas were able to get so close to the Wind Country's border without being noticed—well, those who understand, understand.
Immediately, Hiruzen thought of dispatching a message to Yūhi Kurenai.
Thinking of his youngest son, Asuma Sarutobi, a pang of hesitation struck his heart.
He considered reassigning the mission. But after a moment's thought, he dismissed the idea.
Even fledglings must learn to spread their wings. As a father, he couldn't protect Asuma forever.
As a veteran of two Shinobi World Wars, Hiruzen knew the cost of coddling one's children. He thought of his eldest son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke—a respectable Jōnin, but not outstanding. Though talented, Shinnosuke had plateaued. Why? Because he had been protected too well.
Was he going to let Asuma repeat that mistake?
"If it were your choice, Asuma, what would you do?" Hiruzen mused aloud, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
He already knew the answer.
"Yes... it's time to let them stand on their own." Though Hiruzen was no longer in his prime, his strength still lingered at the edge of his peak. With his eldest son still alive, he felt reassured enough to take risks.
Having finalized Kurenai's squad's assignment, Hiruzen began preparing contingency plans in case Suna made a hostile move.
If Sunagakure's activities had remained internal, regular surveillance by embedded agents would have sufficed. But given their scale of mobilization, Hiruzen had no choice but to prepare for the worst—war. He would also deploy several Jōnin teams to uncover what Suna was truly planning.
Leaving the Sarutobi clan compound, Hiruzen headed toward the Hokage Building.
Tonight would be a sleepless night.
---
The Next Morning
Yūhi Kurenai arrived early at Kawaki Aoba's residence.
"There's a long-term mission we need to undertake outside the village," she said directly.
"A long-term mission?" Kawaki Aoba echoed. "Got it. I'll pack."
He began assembling his gear, as he had countless times before. But internally, he was surprised. Given his "injured" status, he hadn't expected to be deployed so soon. Kurenai-sensei knew this too—so why the urgency?
There could be only one reason: this was a mission that necessitated removing him from the village quickly. And that reason, in all likelihood, had something to do with the Hyūga clan.
If this was a long-term assignment, then this wasn't a mission—it was a strategic withdrawal.
He had already prepared himself for the worst when he severed ties with the Hyūga clan. But surprisingly, things hadn't gone the way he imagined. There were no fanatical Hyūga chasing him down, no ANBU interrogating him about the Byakugan.
Instead, there was Kurenai-sensei—running herself ragged for his sake over the past few days.
And then there was Asuma Sarutobi.
Though Asuma may not fully grasp the role he played, it was thanks to his status as the Hokage's son that things had remained so stable.
Aoba realized he owed a great debt this time.
And though it sounded silly even to himself, he vowed to repay it.
"When I grow stronger... if I ever meet Hidan, I swear I'll dismember him into eight pieces and bury him."
Kurenai-sensei... in the original timeline, she barely made it through the Kyuubi's assault. She didn't die in the Third Shinobi War, but she didn't escape unscathed either.
And the Hyūga... that grudge could never be forgotten.
There was much to do. Many people to protect. He needed to grow stronger—fast.
---
Departure
At the rendezvous point, Yūhi Kurenai, Asuma Sarutobi, and the rest of the team were already assembled.
"Good. Everyone's here. Let's head out. I'll explain the mission on the way," Kurenai said, her gaze lingering a moment longer on Aoba.
As they departed toward the village gate, Kurenai turned her head slightly—just a subtle movement, but Aoba noticed.
She was checking on the Hyūga operatives lurking in the shadows.
She wasn't wrong. Hidden in the periphery were indeed Hyūga clan shinobi.
Kurenai felt a mix of anxiety and relief. They had noticed her, but hadn't interfered. Yet.
He hadn't expected the Hyūga clan to be watching him so closely. He had done his best to move swiftly, but despite his efforts, they had marked him.
Fortunately, the mission had already been officially accepted. No matter how audacious the Hyūga clan was, they wouldn't dare to ambush a team still under the protection of Asuma Sarutobi—one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja and a trusted Jonin under the Third Hokage.
Shortly after the four-person team left Konoha, the Hyūga elders received word.
"They accepted the mission and departed the village? A wise move," Hyūga Kasaki, the stern Second Elder, remarked as he set the report aside.
However, the Third Elder beside him seethed. "Unbelievable! When did our clan fall so low? A mere genjutsu Jonin dares oppose us?"
"And what of Hiruzen Sarutobi? Does he intend to discard us after using our strength? He'd do well to remember—there are still Hyūga operatives in his Anbu."
His rage was not baseless. His branch had taken the heaviest blow in this debacle—nearly 80% of their elite shinobi lost. Most had been recruited into Danzo Shimura's Anbu training division—Root.
Among Konoha's clans, Danzo's reputation was infamous. Root had been founded during the Second Shinobi World War, supposedly to support Anbu. Eager for influence, each clan had sent their elite hoping for a share of power.
But Danzo had been a schemer from the start. His first assignments for those young elite shinobi had been suicidal infiltration and assassination missions deep in enemy territory. Even during wartime, these operations were virtual death sentences.
Still, many survived. They were prodigies, after all. And the clans, mourning their dead, clenched their teeth and tolerated it as the price for war—and perhaps, vengeance for Tobirama Senju.
But Danzo didn't stop there.
He placed cursed seals on those who remained—seizing complete control. Those who returned alive found themselves bound by secrecy, obedience, and fear. They were no longer clan shinobi—they were Danzo's.
Fury burned within the clans, but the war had ended, and Hiruzen's fame had peaked. With the peace, the clans lost their final leverage. None dared act first—any rebel would simply be crushed and discredited.
Thus, their suffering under Danzo was swept away and left unresolved.
Danzo's name became a curse among the higher-ups of every major clan.
Worse still, Hiruzen's refusal to rein in his old teammate only emboldened Danzo. Though most of his overtures were met with cold rejection, he still managed to siphon a few promising youths from various clans, using bureaucratic tricks or political pressure.
His Root expanded—silent, efficient, and ominous.
Now, rumors spread of Danzo's interest in the Konoha Orphanage—perhaps to start raising shinobi from childhood, molding them into weapons even before they knew what it meant to be free.
---
Mission Start
In the dense jungle of a Fire Country mountain range, four figures—one adult and three young—darted from branch to branch with practiced grace.
Only shinobi moved like this.
This was Team Kurenai: Yuhi Kurenai, their Jonin leader, and her three genin. Their mission was to travel to the border of the Wind Country, skirting villages and avoiding public roads.
Though the mission was classified as C-rank—retrieving a hidden informant—the team would be stationed near the Wind Country border for an extended time. Caution was essential.
"We can't afford to be seen," Kurenai instructed firmly as they moved. "No stops in Fire Country villages. Once we reach the Land of Rivers, things will be more manageable—but until then, be cautious."
This was their first mission across national borders, and Kurenai repeated her instructions often. Not out of doubt, but out of care.
"The Land of Rivers," she explained, "lies between the Fire and Wind countries. During the First Great Shinobi War, it hosted a minor shinobi village. But that village was wiped out—caught in the crossfire between Konoha and Sunagakure."
Since then, the country had fallen into chaos. Bandits, mercenaries, and rogue ninja drifted through its territory. The Second War spared the Land of Rivers some devastation—Rain's Ame Village had drawn the focus—but even so, the damage endured.
Now, the country was a neutral zone, riddled with lawlessness, yet essential as a buffer between major powers. Both Konoha and Sunagakure preferred to keep it unstable—but not collapsed.
Because of its disorder, wandering ninja were common there. No one questioned new faces. For Team Kurenai, that anonymity was useful.
As sunset painted the sky in deep amber, the team finally paused at the edge of Fire Country's border. They had traveled for nearly a full day, chakra-enhanced stamina propelling them at speeds far beyond civilian travel.
But even with chakra, the younger genin were exhausted. A faint tremble in their legs betrayed how close they were to collapse.
Kurenai, known more for her genjutsu than physical endurance, dropped to the forest floor with a tired sigh, resting flat on her back. Only after scanning the surroundings with her sharp senses and confirming they were safe did she allow herself the moment.