Naruto: From Spy to Hokage

...

Night, 2 AM.

During the wartime curfew in Konoha Village, the scenery was dark and silent, with only a few lights shining in the windows. Most of the village's electricity was diverted to key places like the Hokage building and the shinobi weapon factories. Even the usually lively gambling dens and entertainment districts had lost their former bustle.

In the dim moonlight, one could occasionally see shadows flickering across rooftops. These figures were mostly wearing grey or black combat uniforms, with masks covering their faces, as they vigilantly scanned their surroundings. On the streets, only one or two figures, just finishing their late-night shifts, could be seen.

War is not just about iron, blood, and fire on the frontlines. Victory and sacrifice also depend on logistics, production, transportation, and intelligence gathering and defense at the rear.

At this moment, in an unnamed small house, three squads of Iwagakure Shinobis gathered around a dark table, attentively listening to the person in the center explaining their plan. The briefing was brief, and each person's task was clear.

Finally, the person who had changed his appearance to become 'Kojima-kun' solemnly asked:

"Does everyone understand?"

"Yes." came the whispered but firm reply from all the Iwagakure Shinobis, their eyes showing their determination.

"Good!"

"Now... commence the mission!"

Removing their headbands, covering their faces, and getting rid of all identifiable markings, the Iwagakure Shinobis did not linger. They moved in an orderly line towards the underground passage created with Earth Release in the corner of the room and disappeared without hesitation.

'Kojima-kun' or rather, the man known as 'Sen'gao' as is moniker who had spent more than ten years in the intelligence world of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, quietly watched them leave. He knew that most of these people would die at the hands of Konoha Shinobis, just like the group from earlier that morning.

{Notes: Sen'gao in Japanese literally means Thousand face.}

But this was a mission that had to be done.

They needed to obtain information about Tsunade's team as quickly as possible. The Third Tsuchikage was currently on the frontline, leading the Iwagakure forces in a difficult battle of attrition against Kumogakure's large army. 

If the Third Tsuchikage were assassinated, the frontlines would collapse, and all of Iwagakure and the Land of Earth would descend into chaos. 

Iwagakure understood this. Konoha surely understood it as well.

'Kojima-kun' thought silently and then resolutely took a step toward the depths of hell.

...

"Ugh—"

At the entrance of the sealed storage room, a young boy around twelve or thirteen years old yawned sleepily and grumbled, "Sensei, isn't it time for the shift change yet?"

"Be quiet," responded the leader of the team, a middle-aged Jōnin in his thirties, with a cigarette in his mouth, leaning against the wall by the door of the storage room.

Looking at the boy, who was about the same age as his own son, the Jōnin couldn't help but soften his tone "It'll be soon."

"Seriously," the boy complained as he gazed out at the night, resting his cheek in his hand, "How is this a C-rank mission? Are we going to do this boring stuff all the time from now on?"

"Shut up, Shuuichi!" the girl beside him scolded. "You shouldn't say such selfish things during a mission."

"Yes~" The boy dragged out the word as he stood with his back to the newly repaired window.

However, at that very moment, a kunai shot out from the darkness and stabbed him in the neck.

Shh—

The kunai was pulled out, and blood sprayed everywhere.

"Shuuichi!"

The girl, shocked and confused, let out a cry, but the experienced Jōnin had already charged forward, grabbing the hand that had emerged from the darkness and yanking it back hard.

Pop!

The 'hand' he grabbed had a lit fuse attached to it.

The Jōnin moved with lightning speed, throwing the explosive device out the window in the blink of an eye. At the same time, he formed a quick hand seal.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

Despite being in a dry environment, he instantly created a swirling wall of water that enveloped the three of them. The precision and speed of the Jōnin's ninjutsu showcased his prowess.

The explosion outside the building startled the staff in the Hokage building, and everyone immediately looked toward the shattered window.

In the dim night, the fire was terrifying.

Almost at the same moment, four shadowy figures, fully dressed in black, charged at the trio who were now protected by the water wall. Their target was the sealed storage room door behind them.

But just as they appeared...

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

More than a dozen figures; some in ANBU uniforms, some wearing the Uchiha Police Force vests—broke through the outer windows, surrounding the intruders.

Standing at the front was Uchiha Sayuri, her Sharingan glowing with two tomoe, her cold gaze fixed on the four attackers.

Earlier in the day, when examining the bodies, she had realized the real threat had not yet arrived. She had expected to wait several more days, but to her surprise, they had shown up so quickly.

However, even as the four intruders found themselves surrounded by over a dozen Konoha Shinobis, they didn't seem to react. The one in the lead even sneered as he tore open his pitch-black shirt, revealing a vest lined with explosive tags.

Uchiha Sayuri's pupils shrank immediately.

The next moment—

Boom!

A thunderous explosion erupted, but it wasn't in the current floor.

Not only Uchiha Sayuri, but many of the other shinobis instinctively looked upward—toward the floor above them.

The fourth floor — Hokage's office.

Diversion!

Could it be that their true target from the very beginning was the Hokage's office?!

This thought crossed everyone's minds at the same time.

"Quick!"

"Capture these ones first!"

Without wasting a second, Uchiha Sayuri shouted orders to her comrades, already rushing toward the Explosion Corp's leader.

Her Sharingan unleashed a prepared Genjutsu.

"Demonic Illusion: Sharingan!"

The Iwagakure shinobi who had torn open his explosive vest froze for a split second, confusion flashing in his eyes.

But his companion, eyes closed to avoid the Sharingan's Genjutsu, ruthlessly pushed him forward while pouring chakra into his explosive vest.

Boom!

Another explosion roared to life.

The suicide bomber's body shattered into pieces, blood mist and shredded limbs flying in all directions. Even the tiniest bone fragments, sharp as shuriken, whistled through the air, embedding themselves into the walls with sharp, cracking sounds. The hallway and the outer wall of the building were blasted open, leaving a massive gaping hole.

Uchiha Sayuri, caught at the forefront of the blast, tumbled to the side, rolling away to dissipate the force of the explosion. Her body was stained with dark, heavy blood splatters.

Damn it.

Her Sharingan tomoe spun faster in her rage.

The three surviving Iwagakure shinobis, well-prepared for this moment, used the explosion's momentum to push forward, charging at incredible speed. They aimed their blades directly at the younger, less experienced Konoha Shinobis, intending to use them as a breakthrough point.

Before the mission began, they knew they were destined to die.

But even in death, they had to take down a few enemies who might end up on the battlefield.

...

At the same time, on the fourth floor—

Two elite squads, led by 'Kojima-kun', surged into the Hokage's office through the hole created by the explosion.

...