Naruto: Mixed Heritage(Rewrite)

After Eiji heard what Hiruzen said, his head swivelled toward the Hokage, his expression somewhere between amusement and disbelief. A short, incredulous laugh escaped his lips, though he quickly muffled it with his hand.

"You're joking, right? A single shinobi, a child in fact, causing a war? Come now, Hiruzen, even for you, that's a bit dramatic."

Hiruzen turned to meet Eiji's gaze, his face unyielding, carved with the solemnity of someone carrying a burden far too heavy for any single man. "I don't joke about war, Eiji. Especially not this."

The seriousness in Hiruzen's tone doused Eiji's amusement, though scepticism lingered in his eyes. He gestured toward the pipe in Hiruzen's hand. "You sure this tobacco hasn't gone to your head?"

Hiruzen sighed, placing the pipe carefully on the low wooden table between them. The glow of the embers faded as the air around them seemed to grow colder. "I wish that were the case."

Eiji tilted his head, the faintest flicker of curiosity breaking through his doubt. "Alright, then. Tell me exactly what happened."

The Hokage leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, the soft creak of the wooden bench barely audible over the gentle rustle of the garden's leaves. The flickering torchlight cast wavering shadows across his face, deepening the furrows of worry that had taken residence there. "During an ANBU mission, Renjiro encountered the new Two-Tails jinchūriki from Kumogakure," he began, his voice heavy. "They fought. He managed to escape, but not without... consequences."

Eiji's brows shot up, the surprise etched clearly across his usually composed features. He leaned back, the pipe in his hand momentarily forgotten.

'He fought a jinchūriki and lived to tell the tale? The boy's stronger than I thought. But he did say new'

Eiji thought as he resumed his calm demeanour, taking a slow draw from the pipe and exhaling a thin stream of smoke that curled upward like a dissipating memory.

"Was the jinchūriki even fully adapted to their powers?"

Hiruzen inclined his head slightly, a grim confirmation. "No. It's likely that Renjiro's survival was due to her inexperience. But that hasn't stopped Kumogakure from twisting the narrative. They're claiming Renjiro killed her and are demanding we hand him over."

The pipe halted mid-air, and Eiji's lips parted slightly in surprise. For a moment, he simply stared at Hiruzen, as if waiting for him to retract the statement.

When it became clear that the Hokage was deadly serious, Eiji let out a low, mirthless chuckle, shaking his head. "Hand him over?"

His voice carried a sharp edge. "Of course, they would demand that. And if we refuse…"

Hiruzen's expression darkened further, his jaw tightening. "They've threatened war if we don't comply."

A heavy silence settled over the garden, broken only by the distant chirping of crickets. Eiji leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs, his pipe now balanced precariously between his fingers. His sharp gaze was fixed on the ground, as if it held the answers to the precarious dilemma. "The audacity of Kumo…" he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with disdain. After a beat, he glanced at Hiruzen, his curiosity sparked. "Still, I'm impressed. Renjiro held his own against a jinchūriki. Tell me, did he…" Eiji hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "…unlock the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

The question hung in the air like a blade suspended by a thread. Hiruzen widened his eyes before frowning, clearly caught off guard. "I don't believe so. What makes you ask that?"

Eiji waved a hand dismissively, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Call it an educated guess. I've been observing the boy for a while now. There's something about him. But perhaps I'm overthinking it." He returned to his pipe, though his eyes betrayed his lingering suspicion.

Ever since he interrupted Riku and Renjiro's 'spar' Eiji felt that there was something different about the boy. He couldn't put his finger on it and this new information increased his suspicions.

Hiruzen didn't press further, though a flicker of unease danced in his dark eyes. Instead, he made a mental note on the matter before exhaling heavily, leaning back against the bench. "Regardless, this isn't about his potential. It's about the political fallout. Kumogakure's accusations have put us in a precarious position, and I…" He paused, his voice faltering for the briefest of moments. "I'm not sure what to do."

Eiji sat up straighter, a hint of amusement softening his features despite the gravity of the situation. "And so you came to me for advice? Hiruzen, you're the Hokage. Surely, you don't need an old man's input for this."

The Hokage shook his head firmly, his voice resolute. "You're more than just an old man, Eiji. You're one of Konoha's five elders, one of the two longest-serving to be specific, a respected figure among the Senju, and someone who understands the intricacies of our village's politics better than most. Your influence could sway the council's opinion."

Eiji chuckled softly, the sound warm but tinged with skepticism. "You already have the majority, Hiruzen. Even if I remain silent, you'll get what you want."

Hiruzen's gaze grew steely, his tone unwavering. "Not this time. For what I'm planning, I need more than a simple majority. I need complete sway over the council."

Eiji's expression shifted, the curiosity in his eyes sharpening into something more calculating. "And what, exactly, are you planning?"

Before Hiruzen could respond, a faint knock reverberated through the stillness of the garden. The sound was sharp, precise, and broke through the conversation like the toll of a distant bell. Both men turned toward the source as a shadowed figure stepped into the torchlight. The cloaked and masked ANBU agent moved with practiced silence, their presence almost ghostly against the flickering orange glow.

The agent knelt, their voice calm yet urgent. "Lord Hokage, we've received a letter."

Hiruzen's brow furrowed, his gaze sharpening. "From whom?"

The ANBU straightened, extending a sealed scroll with the faint emblem of Sunagakure embossed on its surface. "It's from Sunagakure."

Eiji's eyes narrowed as he studied the scroll from a distance, suspicion flickering across his face. "Suna? What could they possibly want at a time like this?"

Hiruzen took the scroll, his fingers deftly breaking the seal. He unfurled the parchment, his eyes scanning the contents with growing intensity. The further down the scroll his gaze traveled, the darker his expression became. The light from the torches seemed to dim in the face of his deepening frown.

Eiji, ever the observer, immediately noticed the change. He leaned forward, his pipe now forgotten entirely. "What is it, Hiruzen? What does it say?"

For a moment, the Hokage remained silent, his eyes lingering on the final line of the letter as if it were some dreadful omen. When he finally looked up, there was a weight in his gaze that Eiji hadn't seen in years.

"Kumogakure has called for a Kage Summit," Hiruzen said, his voice heavy with foreboding.

The words hung in the air like the aftermath of a thunderclap, their implications rippling outward. Eiji's hand tightened around his pipe, though he didn't raise it. His sharp eyes flickered with understanding and concern as he exhaled slowly, the breath seeming to carry a part of his composure with it.

"A Kage Summit…" Eiji repeated, the weight of the statement settling over him like a shroud. "They're not wasting any time."

Hiruzen nodded grimly, his gaze distant as if already anticipating the storm on the horizon. "They're moving faster than I expected. We'll need to act quickly."

Eiji leaned back, his sharp mind already calculating the ripple effects of this development. "So, it begins," he murmured, his voice low and measured, as though speaking aloud a prophecy he had long feared.

The night seemed to grow colder, the distant rustle of the wind through the trees carrying with it the whispers of an uncertain future.

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