The wind blew softly across the mountaintop, carrying the scent of pine and old stone.

At the Fire Temple, monks swept fallen leaves from the stone paths while smoke rose from the meditation halls. A quiet peace lingered, until Chiriku opened the scroll he'd been handed.

His eyes scanned the message. No orders from the capital. No notice from the Daimyo. And their weekly courier hadn't returned.

Chiriku narrowed his eyes. This wasn't normal.

Inside the temple hall, the other Guardian Ninja were already gathering. Some wore the faded robes of warrior monks. Others were shinobi, mercenaries, or wanderers who'd once taken oaths to protect the Land of Fire's feudal lord.

Kazuma leaned against a pillar, arms crossed. "It's quiet. Too quiet. You all feel it too, right?"

A few nodded.

"There's been a change," Kazuma said. "No word from the Daimyo. No new missions. Something must have happened in the capital."

One of the younger monks spoke, uncertain. "Maybe… maybe it's just a delay?"

"No," Kazuma snapped. "We've been left in the dark. What if Konoha's taken over? What if the Daimyo is dead?"

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Chiriku said calmly, stepping forward. "We don't move without proof."

Kazuma scoffed. "And if we wait, we'll be picked off one by one."

The room fell quiet. The Guardians looked to Chiriku, caught between two paths.

Back in Konoha, inside the Hokage's office, Asuma stood quietly in front of Tsunade's desk. Beside her sat Shikaku, calm as ever. Across the room, Hajime leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, silent but focused.

"Asuma," Tsunade began, her voice even. "There's no easy way to say this. The Daimyo has been removed from power. Konoha now will governs the Land of Fire directly."

Asuma blinked. "...What?"

"The Daimyo is killed, as he was Confronting Konoha." Shikaku added. "We've taken control to prevent more conflict."

Asuma's jaw clenched. He had once been a Guardian Ninja. He had sworn an oath to protect the Daimyo.

"You want me to go against them?" he asked slowly.

"No," Tsunade replied. "We want you to talk to them. Calm them down. They might listen to you."

Asuma glanced at Hajime.

Hajime's voice was low and firm. "This is your chance to prevent a fight. But if it turns into one… we'll handle it."

There was no threat in his tone. Just certainty.

Asuma certainly knows Hajime Strength, as he was famous from the war with Kumogakure Years ago, now Hajime also have grown more.

Asuma exhaled slowly. "Alright. I'll go."

Outside the Hokage Tower, Asuma walked through the streets alone. The village was alive, vendors shouting, kids laughing, jonin patrolling the rooftops. Life moved on.

He passed the training field where Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji were sparring together. Their teamwork was rough around the edges but improving.

He watched them for a moment, then turned away.

His thoughts drifted to the past: younger days at the temple, training beside Chiriku, and members, sharing meals and old jokes. They had fought together. They had believed in something.

Asuma lit a cigarette. The flame flickered in the breeze.

"What would Father do?" he muttered.

In the command chamber below the tower, Hajime and Tsunade sat around a low table. A map of the Fire Temple region was spread across it, with small markers placed over known Guardian Ninja hideouts.

"If negotiations fail?" Tsunade asked softly.

"We remove them," Hajime answered without pause. "We'll Clean all it's members, as to avoid Damages or Threats in the future."

Tsunade gave a small nod. "You'll go?"

Hajime stood. "I'll handle it personally."

There was no need to brief the entire ANBU. He would lead the cleanup team himself.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Asuma slipped quietly through the village gates. He wore a hooded cloak, simple and dark, to avoid drawing attention.

Two shadows followed at a distance, ANBU operatives, assigned to observe. Their footsteps made no sound. Even Asuma, seasoned as he was, never sensed them.

Tsunade stood by the office window as he left, arms folded. She didn't speak, but her eyes lingered on the direction where Asuma ran off.

~~~

At the Fire Temple, Chiriku held the letter in both hands.

"It's from Asuma," he said aloud. "He's coming."

The Guardians reacted immediately.

Kazuma stood up, voice sharp. "It's a trap. Konoha's testing us. They'll send us back, one by one to kill us."

"We don't know that," Chiriku said.

Kazuma turned to the others. "Do you trust Konoha now? Do you really think this is just a peaceful visit?"

Some of the younger members muttered in agreement. One unsheathed his blade and began sharpening it on a flat stone. Another checked the seals on their kunai pouch.

Chiriku's voice stayed calm. "We'll listen to what he has to say. He deserves that much."

The tension was thick. No one moved, but no one truly agreed either.

At dusk, Asuma stood on a ridge overlooking the Fire Temple valley.

The trees below were thick and dark, broken only by the lights of the temple grounds. Smoke curled from the chimneys, just like old times.

He remembered long nights training there. Quiet mornings. Laughter.

But everything had changed now.

He pulled the cigarette from his lips and looked at the glowing ember at the tip.

"If they choose war…" he whispered. "What am I supposed to do?"

The wind picked up. No answer came.

But down below, his old comrades were waiting.

Chapter End

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