Naruto: Hero's Fist

The Hokage's office was shrouded in a haze of pipe smoke, the acrid scent mingling with the tension that hung heavy in the air. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat behind his desk, his weathered hands clasped before him as he listened to the latest reports from the frontlines.

A jōnin stood at attention before him, his voice steady but his eyes betraying the gravity of the situation. "Hokage-sama, I regret to inform you that our situation has... deteriorated significantly."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly, the only outward sign of his concern. "Elaborate."

The jōnin cleared his throat. "Yes, sir. Following the... disappearance of Chiyo of the Sand and her forces, Sunagakure has withdrawn to their borders. Our intelligence suggests they're unlikely to engage in further offensive operations for the foreseeable future."

"I see." Hiruzen murmured, taking a long draw from his pipe. "And while that might seem like good news on the surface..."

"It immediately sparked the other Villages into the mood for war." the jōnin finished. "Kumogakure has seized the opportunity. They've launched a major offensive against our ally, the Land of Hot Water. The attack is being spearheaded by their Two-Tails Jinchūriki. We've also lost intel on the location of the Almighty A."

Hiruzen's frown deepened. The Land of Hot Water was a crucial buffer between Konoha and Kumo. If it fell...

"There's more, sir." the jōnin continued, his voice growing more strained. "Iwagakure has altered their strategy. They've abandoned their plans to invade through the Land of Rain and are now pushing through the Land of Grass instead. This is likely due to the presence of those two men."

The Hokage set down his pipe, his eyes closing briefly as he absorbed the information. The war was expanding even further, spreading like wildfire across the continent. And Konoha, for all its strength, was beginning to feel the strain.

"Thank you for your report." Hiruzen said finally. "You're dismissed. Please send word to the border patrols to double their vigilance."

As the jōnin bowed and left, Hiruzen found his gaze drawn to a shadowy corner of the office. For a brief moment, he almost expected to see Danzo emerge, his one visible eye gleaming with that familiar mix of ambition and ruthless practicality.

Despite their many disagreements over the years, Hiruzen couldn't deny that Danzo's ROOT organization had been... effective. In times like these, when the village was threatened on multiple fronts, Danzo's willingness to operate in the shadows had often provided crucial advantages.

But Danzo was gone, crippled and disgraced, and ROOT had been disbanded. The tools Hiruzen had once relied upon, however distasteful he might have found them, were no longer at his disposal.

With a heavy sigh, the Third Hokage reached for a small bell on his desk. The clear, ringing tone had barely faded when an ANBU operative appeared before him, kneeling in respect.

"Summon the elders." Hiruzen ordered, his voice carrying the weight of his office. "Immediately."

The ANBU nodded once and vanished in a swirl of leaves. Hiruzen turned to the window, gazing out over the village he had sworn to protect. The bustling streets, the laughter of children in the academy yard, the sense of peace and normalcy that prevailed within Konoha's walls... how much longer could he maintain this illusion of security?

His musings were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Enter." he called, turning back to his desk.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, his longtime advisors and fellow students under the Second Hokage, entered the office. Their faces were grim, suggesting they were already aware of the dire news.

"Hiruzen." Koharu began without preamble, "the situation-"

"I'm aware." Hiruzen interrupted, gesturing for them to take seats. "The question now is how we respond."

A heavy silence fell over the room as the three leaders contemplated their options. It was Koharu who spoke first, her voice firm with conviction.

"We need to commit more of our forces to the front lines." she declared. "Specifically, I believe it's time we deployed our clan shinobi en masse."

Homura nodded slowly. "The clans have indeed been held in reserve for too long. Their unique abilities could turn the tide in our favor."

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing in thought. "You have specific deployments in mind, I take it?"

Koharu's eyes gleamed with a tactical sharpness that belied her age. "Indeed. I propose we send the Uchiha clan to the Kumo front. Their Sharingan would be invaluable against the Two-Tails Jinchūriki and Kumo's lightning-based techniques that enhance their reflexes."

"And the Hyūga to face Iwa." Homura added. "Their Byakugan and Gentle Fist style would be well-suited to countering Iwa's earth-based jutsu and give us an advantage from any surprise attacks."

Hiruzen nodded slowly, considering their suggestions. The clan shinobi were indeed a powerful resource, one he had been hesitant to commit fully to the war effort. But with the conflict expanding and intensifying, he could no longer afford to hold them back.

"Your proposals have merit." he acknowledged. "But deploying the clans will leave Konoha itself more vulnerable. We'll need to adjust our internal security measures accordingly."

As Koharu and Homura began to discuss the logistics of village defense, Homura suddenly paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

"There may be another option we should consider." he said slowly, as if carefully weighing each word. "Perhaps it's time we reached out to Amegakure with an alliance proposal."

The reaction was immediate. Koharu's head snapped towards Homura, her eyes flashing with anger and hatred. "Amegakure? Have you lost your senses? They're our enemies! Especially that bastard that attacked us!!!"

Homura held up a placating hand. "Hear me out. The political landscape has shifted dramatically in recent months. Our spies are no longer accessible and they've been in an information blackout over the last few years. An alliance with them could provide us with a crucial advantage. Any tensions that they may hold may have dulled over the years, and I would prefer to have Garp as an ally rather than an enemy, and that's excluding Hanzo."

Koharu's face reddened with indignation. "An advantage? Do I need to remind you what they did to Danzo? That is blasphemous to the Will of Fire!! Allying with Amegakure would be tantamount to betraying everything we've fought for! Everything that Tobirama-Sensei taught us!!"

As the two elders argued, their voices rising, Hiruzen remained silent, puffing thoughtfully on his pipe. The smoke curled around his face, obscuring his expression as he considered the weight of the decision before him.

Finally, unable to reach a consensus, both Koharu and Homura turned to Hiruzen, their eyes seeking his judgment.

Hiruzen stood slowly, moving to the window that overlooked the Hokage Monument. His gaze fixed on the stern visage of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, carved into the mountainside.

Tobirama had been a pragmatist, always willing to make difficult decisions for the good of the village. He had created many of Konoha's core institutions, including the ANBU and the Academy system. But he had also been the one to isolate the Uchiha clan, planting the seeds of distrust that still lingered to this day.

'What would Tobirama do in this situation?' Hi1ruzen wondered. Would he see Amegakure as a threat to be eliminated, or an opportunity to be seized? 

After a long moment of contemplation, Hiruzen turned back to face his advisors. His face was set in a mask of determination, the kind of expression that had earned him the moniker "The Professor" in his younger days.

"We will proceed with both proposals." he declared, his voice carrying the full authority of his office.

Before either elder could respond or dispute, Hiruzen's chakra flooded the room, an overwhelming pressure that silenced any potential arguments. It was a stark reminder that, for all his genial demeanor, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still one of the most powerful shinobi alive.

"The Uchiha and Hyūga clans will be deployed as suggested," he continued, his tone brooking no argument. "As for Amegakure... we will extend an alliance offer."

Koharu's mouth opened as if to protest, but Hiruzen raised a hand, cutting her off.

"I understand your concerns, Koharu. Believe me, I share many of them. But we cannot afford to let old grudges blind us to new opportunities. This war is escalating beyond our ability to control. If we do not adapt, we risk losing everything."

He moved back to his desk, his movements deliberate and purposeful. "Homura, I want you to draft the alliance proposal immediately. Make it clear that we are open to negotiation on the terms, but emphasize our mutual interests in maintaining stability in the region."

Homura nodded, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. "Of course, Hiruzen. I'll have a draft prepared by tomorrow morning."

"Koharu." Hiruzen continued, turning to the still-fuming kunoichi, "I need you to oversee the clan deployments. Ensure they understand the critical nature of their missions, but also make it clear that this is not a permanent reassignment. We're not stripping Konoha of its protectors; we're extending our defensive line."

Koharu's lips were pressed into a thin line, but she nodded stiffly. "As you wish, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen's expression softened slightly. "I know this is not an easy decision, my friends. But I believe it is the right one. We must be willing to take calculated risks if we are to secure Konoha's future."

He paused, his gaze moving between his two oldest advisors. "There is one more matter. I will personally inform Danzo of these developments."

Both elders' eyes widened at this. Danzo had been kept under close medical supervision since his confrontation with Garp. He had made many enemies in the Village, so this was for both his health and protection.

"Are you sure that's wise, Hiruzen?" Homura asked cautiously. "Danzo's... perspective on these matters is rather extreme. Especially with many of the Medical Nin proclaiming he is suffering from mental issues. It is why he has been having sessions with the Yamanaka Patriarch."

Hiruzen's expression hardened. "Danzo, for all his faults, has dedicated his life to Konoha's protection. He deserves to know how we're proceeding, even if he can no longer actively participate in village affairs."

Recognizing the finality in the Hokage's tone, both elders rose to leave. As they reached the door, Hiruzen spoke once more.

"Koharu, Homura." he said, his voice softer now, tinged with the weight of their shared history. "I value your counsel, now more than ever. But in times like these, we must be willing to challenge our preconceptions, to see beyond the boundaries we've set for ourselves. The world is changing. If Konoha is to survive, we must change with it."

The elders exchanged a glance, decades of shared experiences passing between them in that single look. Then, with respectful nods to their Hokage, they departed to carry out their assigned tasks.

As the door closed behind them, Hiruzen sank back into his chair, suddenly feeling every one of his years. He reached for his pipe, relighting it with a small fire jutsu.

'When can I retire?'

[Author's Note:

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays!! I got mostly colognes so I'm definitely pretty content. Comment what you guys got.

Does anyone think Boruto was a necessary extension or should they have just ended the show at Shippuden.]