When Uchiha Obito saw Ōnoki die, fear surged through his heart.
Ōnoki had been one of the most influential figures in the shinobi world for the past twenty years.
And now even he was dead.
A spatial vortex appeared in Uchiha Obito's right eye, and he vanished instantly.
When he reappeared, he was already beside the Third Raikage.
"Raikage, hurry and leave! Ōnoki was killed by Fox!"
The Raikage was currently facing off against Sarutobi Hiruzen and Princess Kushina.
Kushina was manageable. Her recovery ability was simply stronger than average.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen was extremely troublesome.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's Fire Release and Wind Release were both top-tier in the shinobi world. Not only was his taijutsu, combined with the Adamantine Staff, difficult to handle, he could also use Wind Release to counter Lightning Release, and Lightning Release to neutralize the Raikage's own Lightning Release.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's chakra reserves were enormous. Once he created distance, he could also use Five Elements Great Barrage to produce terrifying explosions.
The Raikage felt that he was clearly stronger than Sarutobi Hiruzen, yet he simply could not find an opportunity to severely injure him.
Hearing that Ōnoki was dead, even the lightning around the Raikage became unstable.
The core of the anti-Konoha alliance was Ōnoki. Though the Raikage was proud, he knew he did not have the ability to arrange so many affairs across the alliance.
"Ōnoki is dead…"
It was still hard to believe.
Uchiha Obito placed his hand on the Raikage's shoulder, and the two vanished with Kamui.
Sarutobi Hiruzen panted heavily, unable to stop the Raikage from leaving.
He quickly looked toward Kushina.
Kushina's shoulder had been pierced once by the Raikage's Hell Stab. The wound was deep enough to reveal her shoulder blade.
Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared beside her with Body Flicker Technique and asked worriedly, "Kushina, relax. Disperse the Nine-Tails chakra cloak. I'll treat you."
Green medical chakra appeared in his palm, repairing Kushina's wound.
Seeing that the Hokage could use medical ninjutsu, Kushina thought about it and realized there was nothing strange about the Professor knowing medical ninjutsu.
If…
If Kushina did not know the truth behind the Uzumaki clan's destruction, she would surely have thought the Third Hokage was a gentle Hokage.
Before long, Yako descended while carrying Ōnoki's corpse.
Sarutobi Hiruzen ended the medical ninjutsu, because Kushina's wound was already recovering at a visible speed.
He stood and stared at Ōnoki's corpse, feeling a heavy sorrow for one of his own kind.
This Tsuchikage, who had competed with him for more than twenty years, had died in Konoha Village.
There were more than twenty wooden spears through his chest. Filthy blood hung at the corner of his mouth. His expression was stiff and ferocious.
"Fox, preserve Ōnoki's body properly. After the war ends, return his remains to Iwagakure."
Yako nodded.
"That is only proper. Until the final moment before his death, Ōnoki was a respectable opponent.
Lord Hokage, what I want to say is that we should take advantage of Ōnoki's death and completely end the Third Shinobi World War. It is time to counterattack."
"Good. After more than two months of deadlock, the Third Shinobi World War should indeed enter the counteroffensive stage," Sarutobi Hiruzen said. "However, Fox, there is one matter on which I disagree with you. Let us discuss it carefully in the Hokage's office."
Yako's heart sank.
"What matter?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Kushina, then waved toward the distance.
ANBU Black Ant appeared with a squad.
"Black Ant, protect Princess Kushina for now. Commander Fox and I have matters to discuss."
Kushina lowered her head uneasily.
For that brief instant, she felt that the Hokage and Commander Fox were even more frightening than the Raikage.
It seemed the two of them had some kind of conflict, one that could not be explained in a sentence or two.
But shouldn't the village's leadership be united in working wholeheartedly for Konoha?
Why would there be conflict?
Kushina did not know the reason, but she decided she would tell Minato or Sister Tsunade about this.
In the Hokage's office, Yako sat on the sofa, waiting for Sarutobi Hiruzen to speak.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was waiting for someone.
Soon, Yamanaka Kari hurried into the Hokage's office.
Seeing Yamanaka Kari, Yako understood what Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to discuss.
Sarutobi Hiruzen signaled for Yamanaka Kari to hand the scroll to Fox.
Yako accepted the scroll and saw that it concerned the Daimyo of the Land of Hot Water resisting on multiple levels.
Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Fox, I know you privately established an organization called the Church of the Three Calamities.
A shrine of the Church has been built in the capital of the Land of Hot Water. Konoha Village can project a great deal of force into the capital through it, so you believe there is no longer any need to station Guardian Ninja with the Daimyo.
Among the Land of Hot Water Daimyo's Guardian Ninja, there are six jonin and six tokubetsu jonin.
Recalling such powerful forces for the sake of war can be justified.
But the war has reached a turning point. To discard the Guardian Ninja system so hastily—I do not agree.
And I am not the only one who disagrees. The Daimyo of the Land of Hot Water disagrees, and after learning of it, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire disagrees as well.
The shrines and temples are indeed convenient and will become a major aid for Konoha in the future, but the Guardian Ninja system cannot be thrown away.
Nara Shikakaku has had to command the frontline war while also handling matters in the Land of Hot Water.
After Konoha withdrew the Guardian Ninja, several rebellions broke out in a short time.
Many serfs and sailors dissatisfied with the Daimyo and nobles of the Land of Hot Water took up farm tools and oars after hearing the news and began resisting the nobles.
Without ninjas to suppress them, those serfs and sailors will bring bloodshed and chaos.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire is extremely concerned about this matter. He demands that Konoha withdraw its wartime policy, continue protecting the Daimyo of the Land of Hot Water, and under no circumstances interfere with the Guardian Ninja system of the Daimyo and nobles of the Land of Fire."
Yako frowned as he looked at the names appearing on the scroll.
The Daimyo of the Land of Hot Water, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, the Minister of the Interior of the Land of Hot Water, the Minister of the Treasury of the Land of Fire, and so on.
He had no feelings toward the Daimyo.
But after crossing into this world for so many years, Yako believed this was a deformed and sick world.
Ninja possessed ninjutsu capable of killing everyone outside the ninja villages. Nobles used missions to raise and control ninja, and also relied on those missions to violently suppress every dissenting voice.
The ninja villages were shrouded in death, filled everywhere with ninja suffering from trauma.
Outside the ninja villages, death shrouded the world as well. Death was so common that safely harvesting wheat was considered lucky.
Productivity was so terrible that even eating meat was a luxury for Konoha ninja.
However, Yako's views differed enormously from Sarutobi Hiruzen's.
What Sarutobi Hiruzen considered was maintaining the Guardian Ninja tradition, and the fact that the Sarutobi clan could not give up such a profitable piece of meat.
As a Yamanaka clan ninja, and because of Purple Cat, Yamanaka Kari could be counted as one of Yako's firm supporters within Konoha. Even so, he could not give up the rich benefits of the Guardian Ninja system and had been constantly working to restore the Guardian Ninja of the Land of Hot Water.
Yako believed he could not persuade them.
Nor was there any need to persuade them.
Sarutobi Hiruzen continued, "Fox, I know you have a good relationship with the nobles of the Land of Rivers, especially Kojii Chisa.
For her sake, you would not truly abolish the Guardian Ninja system, would you?
Konoha cannot be without the Guardian Ninja system. Fox, on this matter, you went too far."
Yako thought to himself that he had new arrangements for Chisa.
He hoped Chisa could adapt to the new order as quickly as possible, rather than cling to the so-called glory of the Daimyo family of the Land of Rivers.
But he felt there was no need to tell Sarutobi Hiruzen these arrangements.
Soon, the shinobi world would enter a period of violent change.
Not only would the Five Great Ninja Villages undergo dramatic upheaval, but the Daimyo and noble system would also walk toward death.
Yako said, "Lord Hokage, let us discuss the Guardian Ninja system later.
What I mean is that we should seize this opportunity and completely end the Third Shinobi World War.
I will go to the Land of Grass to deal with the Stone. You and Princess Kushina should go to the Land of Hot Water to deal with the Cloud."
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not hesitate.
"Good.
However, have an Uzumaki ninja accompany each of us. If Konoha is attacked, the two of us must be able to return to the village at any moment."
"Of course. I will arrange it, Lord Hokage."