Renjiro exhaled deeply as he stepped into the Hokage's office, the weight of the upcoming mission already settling in his chest. The moment his foot crossed the threshold, however, he felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere—one that sent a prickle of unease down his spine.
He had expected to see Hiruzen waiting for them, perhaps accompanied by Jiraiya or a handful of senior shinobi to discuss final details before departure.
Instead, the room was filled.
Not just with familiar figures, but with an audience of power.
All six village elders were seated in the dimly lit room. At the head, closest to Hiruzen, sat Satoru whose nearly wrinkled hands rested on his lap in careful stillness, his sharp eyes darting between Renjiro and Minato as they entered.
On the opposite side sat Danzo, his face unreadable. Eiji and the rest were also present. Also Lined along the room's sides were several clan heads, their presence adding even more weight to the meeting. Among them was Daichi, his arms crossed in a rigid stance, dark eyes narrowing slightly when Renjiro met his gaze.
It was only then that it struck him.
This wasn't just a pre-mission briefing. This was a council gathering.
Renjiro and Minato exchanged a quick glance, both of them realizing that neither had been informed about this.
"Ah, good. You're both here," Hiruzen finally spoke, his voice calm but firm, drawing their attention back to him. Despite his usual fatherly demeanor, there was an edge in his tone today—one that hinted at the resistance he had likely been dealing with prior to their arrival.
"You're just in time," he continued. "Before you leave, we need to go over our travel route."
Renjiro remained standing beside Minato, his posture straight but relaxed, though inside, he could feel the intense scrutiny of the elders burning into his skin. Some of them were analyzing him, others were outright dismissing him with their expressions.
But one thing was clear—not all of them supported his inclusion in this mission.
The tension was almost palpable.
One of the Hokage's advisors, a tall, sharp-featured man with greying hair, stepped forward, clearing his throat before unrolling a detailed map of the continent across the large table.
"The route has been carefully planned to minimize exposure to any potential threats," he explained, his voice professional, yet carrying a tone of subtle caution.
Renjiro and Minato leaned in slightly, studying the intricate paths marked in red ink.
"You will first head north toward the border station at Tetsu Pass, just after the Valley of the End," the advisor continued, tracing the route with his finger. "This will be your first checkpoint. Due to the sensitive nature of this summit, you cannot proceed further until permission has been granted by the neighbouring territories. This delay is expected, so provisions will be made at the station for an overnight stay if necessary."
Renjiro frowned slightly but said nothing. It made sense. Kages were not simple messengers or shinobi—they were symbols of power, the living representations of a village's military power and their movement across borders was not taken lightly.
While this was in proper accordance with the power they wielded in literal and figurative sense, it also restricted them. The presence of a single Kage in another nation's land could upset the balance and be seen as a potential act of aggression.
"Once clearance is given," the advisor continued, "you will take the secondary northern route through the Frost Ridge valley. It is a difficult terrain, but it will provide better coverage and less visibility from potential enemy scouts."
At this, Hiruzen nodded in approval. "A wise choice," he mused.
Renjiro took note of the planned stops along their journey. Even with their precautions, the mission was inherently dangerous. There were too many opportunities for an enemy village to attempt an ambush, and if they did, things could escalate very quickly.
He glanced at Minato, who remained composed, his sharp eyes scanning the map carefully.
Everything seemed straightforward so far.
Until the protests began.
"I still fail to see why these two have been chosen as your escorts, Hokage-sama," Danzo finally spoke, his deep voice breaking the brief silence in the room. His one visible eye settled first on Minato before shifting to Renjiro, who held his gaze without flinching.
"Surely, we have more seasoned shinobi suited for this task," he continued, his fingers tapping lightly against his cane. "The risks are too great to rely on—"
"Enough," Hiruzen interjected before Danzo could finish his sentence. His voice was not harsh, but the authority in it was undeniable. "You've made your objections clear, Danzo, but my decision stands."
Danzo, however, was not the only one discontent.
"I must agree," spoke another clan head, this one wearing the insignia of the Shimura clan. "The presence of this shinobi," his eyes flickered toward Renjiro with barely veiled distaste, "will only provoke Kumogakure further."
"And what of the risks to the Hokage himself?" Another elder added, his arms folded. "Should anything happen, we may not have the forces necessary to respond in time."
Minato's jaw tensed. He did not like the way they spoke of Renjiro as if he weren't standing right there.
"Enough!"
Hiruzen's voice carried across the room, and for a moment, the air stilled.
He looked around, his eyes sweeping over every individual present.
"If you are suggesting that I take another escort because you believe there is someone stronger than these two in the village," he said slowly, voice measured, "then you are also implying that I should step down as Hokage."
Silence.
The weight of his words settled like a boulder in the room.
Danzo's expression remained unreadable, but some of the elders shifted uncomfortably. Even the more vocal clan heads seemed to hesitate.
"No one here doubts your strength, Hokage-sama," one of them said cautiously.
"Then you will trust my decision," Hiruzen replied simply.
Renjiro, who had remained silent up until now, watched with quiet awe as Hiruzen effectively shut down every opposition in the room with a few simple words.
With the meeting concluded, all other unnecessary figures were dismissed. Only Hiruzen, Minato, and Renjiro remained as they finalized their last-minute preparations.
Outside, the village streets were bustling, but to Renjiro, everything seemed distant.
This was it.
The Kage Summit was a pivotal event—one that had the potential to alter the course of history.
And this time, he wasn't just an observer.
He was a player.
Standing beside Minato, Renjiro exhaled one last time before placing his forehead protector firmly over his head, securing it in place.
Minato gave him a side glance, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Ready?"
Renjiro rolled his shoulders, adjusting his gear
"As ready as I'll ever be."
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