Chapter 24: Dangerous Decision
A/N: Our first goal has been reached, so there will be a Double Release next Monday. Our target is to reach 700 powerstones by Sunday for a Triple Release next week Monday. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! New Goal: 700 Powerstones!
Getting into Goro's personal space, the Cloud ninja grabbed him by the collar and shouted, "Wait till you see how we deal with you, brat! Do you think our village is a joke?"
The unpleasant experience of having someone yell in his face and spit all over him was something Goro hated. In his past life, prison was a haven of arguments, so he was all too used to the typical shouting match.
Goro twisted the man's arm, forcing him to let go of his shirt. "Yeah, that's me. What're you going to do about it? I'm still yet to see the consequences for my actions," Goro challenged, a defiant look in his eyes.
'I wasn't going to touch them to avoid escalation, but I'm not a pacifist either. The Cloud isn't stupid enough to go to war with the Leaf while we're still strong.'
Letting go of the Cloud shinobi and pushing him away, Goro commented, "I let you off once. Don't do it again."
The Cloud shinobi was a tall, fair-skinned, middle-aged man with a broad nose, wide shoulders, and black spiky mohawk hair.
The veins in the man's head started to pop out, his face turning a bright shade of pink. Without any warning, the man charged towards Goro, ready to strike him. Goro was prepared for the attack. To him, it looked as if the man was running in slow motion. As Goro prepared to counter, Ino jumped in between them and ended up being the victim of the man's assault.
"Serves her right! What does she think she's doing getting involved?" the man laughed, his bravado filled with arrogance. He stood above Ino, reveling in the sight of a Leaf ninja hurt on the ground.
Clang!
Five Anbu, including Izumo and Kotetsu, blocked Goro's swing, struggling to keep the broken Executioner Blade from taking the man's head off.
Hearing the sound of metal hitting metal, the Cloud ninja spun around only to see the boy he was mocking being restrained by seven Leaf ninja.
"That's enough, Katsu!" the leader of the Cloud team commanded.
The man known as Katsu returned to his team leader's side with his tail between his legs.
"This brat... He's just a Genin, but it feels like I'm pushing against a boulder!" Izumo thought, gritting his teeth from the strain.
Seeing his enemy retreat, Goro pulled back his blade, returning it to its strap. He crouched beside Ino, checking her condition.
'A young girl punched at full strength by a middle-aged Jonin... He should be ashamed.'
Squatting down beside Goro was an Anbu ninja. The Anbu checked Ino's pulse and explained, "We'll get her the medical attention she needs. In the meantime, you and those Cloud shinobi will be coming with us. The Third Hokage has accepted an assembly with the Cloud ninja."
'Returning to the Hokage's office so soon...'
In the Hokage's office stood the two parties involved in the issue, with two Anbu by Hiruzen's side and Danzo present.
'So that's the boy I've heard so much about...' Danzo thought, inspecting Goro's stature.
'Danzo... This is our first time meeting.'
Beginning the assembly, Hiruzen asked for both sides to recount what had happened. After listening to both parties, Hiruzen concluded, "It seems it was a case of self-defense. From what you've said, I'm sure the Raikage understands that too."
Danzo nodded in agreement with Hiruzen. It wasn't often that the two saw eye to eye, but the situation was clear-cut.
Clearing his throat, the leader of the Cloud group—a man with long black hair, dark skin, and a scar on his chin—rebutted, "We did not come here to discuss the nuances of the situation. The facts are that your ninja killed a ninja from our village, one that we hadn't yet recognized as being rogue."
Danzo's blood began to boil. Everyone in the room, including the Cloud shinobi themselves, knew that a small issue was being made into something far bigger.
Hiruzen, attempting to remain patient, responded, "What is it that you want? You've come here for a reason, haven't you?"
The leader of the Cloud team flinched at the straightforward approach Hiruzen took. The aura the Third Hokage was giving off sent shivers down the spines of the Cloud ninja.
Composing himself, the leader responded, "The Raikage demands the head of the ninja who committed the crime against our village—"
'Bastards…!'
"Insolence!" Danzo snapped, refusing to listen to any more nonsense.
The Third Hokage sat silently for a moment, thinking about the words the Cloud ninja had just uttered. The tension in the room grew with every second the Hokage remained silent.
"There's no chance I'll sacrifice any ninja from our village, let alone one with the most talent. I won't allow the same mistake that occurred with Hizashi to happen again…" Hiruzen pondered, staring into the eyes of the leader who made the absurd demand.
"Your permission to enter the village has been revoked. Leave at once. You've only come here to look for trouble," Hiruzen demanded sternly.
'Lord Third? I didn't expect him to take such a strong stance… You see, he does have a bad track record. That being said, the Raikage speaks as if his village is far stronger than the Leaf. He tried to exploit the situation but made a grave mistake.'
"But!" the leader protested, but he wasn't allowed to finish his sentence.
At that moment, the Anbu hidden within the building revealed themselves, surrounding the Cloud ninja, their kunai drawn and ready to be used.
Giving up on trying to negotiate, the leader stepped back, half-turning around, and threatened, "Lord Raikage will be hearing your response." Fully turning this time, the leader and his group left the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen stared at the door for several moments after they left, as if he could burn holes through it with his gaze alone. Shifting his eyes to Goro, Hiruzen stated, "This should've been in the mission report," his voice strict.
'This is quite the pressure… I guess with power comes a certain aura…'
"Lord Third, the corpse had disappeared by the time I returned, so I thought Shinobi from this village had already picked it up. I could've never imagined there would be Cloud shinobi nearby," Goro explained, pleading his case.
Hiruzen grabbed his pipe and leaned back in his chair, taking a puff. "It cannot be helped then. A Genin is bound to make mistakes," Hiruzen sighed, spinning his chair towards the window.
"Goro, was it?" a voice dripping with malice asked. Staring at Goro with desire was Danzo, a pleased expression written all over his face.
Respectfully bowing, Goro replied, "Yes sir, that's me."
It was clear from the cursed grin spreading across Danzo's face that he was pleased with the Genin's respectful attitude.
"You did well," Danzo simply said, walking toward the exit.
As he passed by Goro, Danzo whispered, "We'll continue our little chat some other time."
'His breath is awful… That being said, I'm not so weak that I can be forced to do Danzo's bidding. I am well known to the Hokage, so that also gives me some leverage. Matter of fact, System, remind me of my stats.'
[Stats:
Taijutsu: Lower Sannin (18%)
Physical: Sannin (28%)
Ninjutsu: Lower Sannin (65%)
Chakra Capacity: Upper Sannin (83%)
Chakra Control: Sannin (26%)
Shurikenjutsu: Upper Elite Jounin (12%)
Kenjutsu: Lower Elite Jounin (89%)
Chakra Affinity: Water(x5) + Fire(x5) + Lightning(x3) + Wind(x4) + Ice(x4) + Earth(x3)
Skills: <Clone Technique>, <Substitution Jutsu>, <Transformation Jutsu>, <Body Flicker Jutsu>, <Firestyle: Great Fireball Jutsu>, <Firestyle: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu>, <Firestyle: Dragon Fire Jutsu>, <Waterstyle: Wild Water Wave>, <Waterstyle: Hiding In Water Jutsu>, <Waterstyle: Water Prison Jutsu>, <Waterstyle: Water Clone Jutsu>, <Hidden Mist Jutsu>, <Waterstyle: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu>, <Waterstyle: Great Waterfall Flow Jutsu>, <Waterstyle: Thousand Needles of Death>, <Hiden: Crystal Ice Mirrors>, <Hiden: Dome of Magnificent Nothingness>, <Lightningstyle: False Darkness>, <Hiden: Earth Grudge Fear>, <Windstyle: Pressure Damage>, <Firestyle: Searing Migraine>, <Earthstyle: Earth Spear>, <Waterstyle: Phoenix Ride>]
'Yeah… There's no chance I'd lose to him. I've also got two affinities maxed out. I wonder what the Raikage is going to do. The Hokage made an extremely bold move. I would have never expected it from him.'
Gradually rotating his chair back to face Goro, Hiruzen smiled weakly. "I never planned on giving you up, but I hope you understand the gravity of the situation. I hope you take this to heart, and I hope you do not betray this village like my student once did," Hiruzen said, his voice tinged with melancholy.
Goro bowed and exited the office.
'If this village treats me right, I have no plans of leaving, but if not…'
Reminder: Our target is to reach 700 powerstones by Sunday for a Triple Release next week Monday. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! New Goal: 700 Powerstones!
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