Another path

The fourth ring

< Hey, new chapter coming fast this time ! I mean, I did keep you waiting way longer than intended. I keep coming back to my earlier chapters on this trial to verify that my planning of everyone's movements makes sense and thirty shinobi is a LOT of planning so yeah. But good news, the next chapter will kickstart the last part of this arc and then we'll move onto the next part and I'm really excited, I hope you'll enjoy it as well !
With all this said, I don't own Naruto, only my OCs and I hope you'll enjoy this chapter ! >

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Triggers: none.
Topic : action.
Warning ⚠️ : mentions of the Sakura incident.

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The chaos wasn't subsiding and the room was more restless with each passing second. No one even knew what the other was screaming and for those trying to get a message across the confused audience, the only course of action left was yelling at the top of their lungs.
Suzuka sighed and gave the Kage an apologetic look - a genuine one. Tsunade almost missed it while she was attempting without much success to reign in the now feral councilors of her village. Gaara looked barely phased though the smallest hint of irritation betrayed is blank face. Mei and Ai seemed baffled by the current mess while Onoki looked mildly tempted to join in, the glare of Kurama being what mostly withheld him.
Said Kitsune was reaching the limits of her patience and the middle of this utter chaos, her voice, booming and commanding, rose to silence everyone.

The shrieks came to a halt and eyes turned toward her, anxiety clear in them.

" - Where on earth do you think you are ? Are you rabid animals that just scream at one another to assert dominance ? If there are any qualms with one of my shinobi, then I'm the one you should be addressing complaints to, not subjecting the entire room to your inane shrieking.

The councilors at least had the decency to look ashamed and then one coughed softly to gather attention to him.

- With all due respect, Uzukage-sama, this shinobi - Uchiha Higure - is one that was branded as a traitor by Konoha. We would advise you do not trust him.

Higure scowled at the elder, one of those who had wished to see him beheaded after he'd not so accidentally insulted the old man.
The councilors looked expectantly at the Uzushio nin only for their faces to contort in confusion when they noticed no reaction but more irritation directed their way.

- I suppose I should thank you for your concern. However, we know perfectly well of Uzumaki Higure's origins and the way he came to leave Konoha.

- But he is an outcast !

- So was my daughter until you realized what you'd lost after banishing her.

- That's different, Higure should have been executed !

- So was your plan with Suzuka.

- We never said that ! If she told you such a thing, then that's a lie !

- Are you saying our memories are faulty ?

The councilors stood in stunned silence, not understanding the implication. The other shinobi were watching the scene with bewilderment, the Konoha nin trying their best to disappear six feet under the ground.

- What you fail to realize is that I've seen the world through Suzuka's eyes for the entirety of her life. Even when she can't remember what happened to her as a newborn, I know of it. So do not bother pretending with me. I know exactly what each of you, each villager and shinobi in Konoha has told her. And how they've treated her. You'd do well to remember that.

The chance at peace and cooperation was slipping away quietly as the councilors realized the one they were trying to one-up was a Bijū, a millennial creature with tremendous knowledge and experience. She wouldn't forget and she wouldn't forgive.
So what were they to do now ?