"Advisor Shinnosuke was killed?"
Yōkō's eyes first showed horror, then filled entirely with a fierce light.
I, Fox, am Shinnosuke's number one loyal hound! This puts me in a difficult position!
How should I act to make it just right?
Yōkō slowly raised his head, tilting it back at a 45-degree angle towards the sky.
At this moment, it was as if cold, icy rain was pelting against his mask.
Three parts grief, three parts remembrance, three parts resentment towards a merciless heaven, and ninety-one parts pure acting skill.
Nara Kyoichi couldn't see Fox-sama's face, but every bit of Fox-sama's body language expressed his sorrow.
After a long time, Yōkō let out a long sigh.
"Hippo! Where is Hippo!"
The fleeing group was in a sorry state. All Konoha shinobi in the Land of Hot Water – including the Guardian Ninja, the support troops Sarutobi Hinotama had brought, and the squads originally on missions in the Land of Hot Water – had all retreated into the Land of Fire's borders.
Hippo was fearfully covering the rear of the group, guarding against the pursuit of the vicious Kumo-nin.
Hearing that Fox-sama had returned, he hurried to Fox's side.
Yōkō asked Nara Kyoichi to step aside first; he wanted to hear Hippo's report.
From Hippo's fearful report, Yōkō gradually pieced together the situation.
Sarutobi Hinotama had brought five hundred Konoha shinobi to reinforce the front lines in the Land of Hot Water.
Orochimaru was secretly included as a contingency.
Konoha's preparations could not be considered insufficient.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke was a Kage-level shinobi. Sarutobi Hinotama was an elite Jōnin who had mastered the forbidden technique Five Elements Unrivalled Attack. Orochimaru was one of the Legendary Sannin.
However, the Kumo-nin, who superficially seemed like muscle-headed maniacs, often used their brains at critical moments.
This time, the Kumo-nin and Iwa-nin had actually formed an alliance, joining forces to deal with Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
The two villages sent six experts who, with overwhelming force, brutally killed Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
Even with Orochimaru intervening, even with Sarutobi Hinotama assisting, they couldn't prevent Shinnosuke's death.
"Raikage Advisor Omoi, Two-Tails Jinchūriki Ryūjin, Raikage Assistant Dodai...
Tsuchikage's son Kitsuchi, Five-Tails Jinchūriki Han, Explosion Release clan head Pakura..."
Hearing Fox-sama mutter the names of these perpetrators, cold sweat dripped from beneath Hippo's mask.
He had a vague feeling that he might have been the one responsible for Advisor Shinnosuke's death.
He had been vigorously spreading rumors – in the capital of the Land of Whirlpools, in Tōga Port of the Land of Fire, in the capital of the Land of Hot Water, in the towns along the front lines of the Land of Hot Water.
All the rumors promoted Advisor Shinnosuke's power.
The rumors claimed Advisor Shinnosuke was the next Third Hokage, the future of the Sarutobi clan, soon to be a top-tier Kage-level combatant for Konoha.
The only difference between Advisor Shinnosuke and the Third Hokage was the summon, Enma.
Once Enma was passed down to Advisor Shinnosuke, he would become the next Shinobi Monarch.
This propaganda seemed to have caused a certain misjudgment in the enemy villages.
In reality...
There was a bit of a gap...
Kumogakure and Iwagakure dealt with Advisor Shinnosuke with the determination reserved for the next Third Hokage, but it turned out not to be the case at all.
The combined force of six people tore through Shinnosuke-sama's Five Elements Unrivalled Attack.
Even Orochimaru-sama's defensive ninjutsu couldn't save Shinnosuke-sama.
Shinnosuke-sama's death led to a series of disasters.
Over three hundred troops on the front lines died tragically; only a little over a hundred escaped.
Sarutobi Hinotama, Sarutobi Hōbi, Sarutobi Enosuke – these core members of the Sarutobi clan – all died at the hands of the Kumo-nin.
The Guardian Ninja didn't dare stay in the capital of the Land of Hot Water and had to abandon the Daimyō.
Konoha completely lost its share of missions in the Land of Hot Water.
Whether in terms of shinobi casualties or mission share, it was a major defeat.
Hippo and Nara Kyoichi desperately wanted someone to take charge, but Orochimaru-sama had vanished early on, abandoning this remnant force of over a hundred people.
Hippo stared nervously at Fox-sama, unsure how he would handle the situation.
In the distance, Nara Kyoichi watched Deputy Fox and Squad Leader Hippo with concern.
He had already sent the news of the disastrous defeat in the Land of Hot Water back to Konoha via Ninja Hawk.
Konoha Village, already in a precarious state, had suffered another heavy blow.
The Konoha forces were ambushed – Konoha was hurt internally.
The Guardian Ninja abandoned the Daimyō of the Land of Hot Water – Konoha lost face.
This would cause a terrible chain reaction. The Land of Fire and its vassal states would trust Konoha even less.
Other villages would continue to provoke Konoha, testing its limits.
Just as everyone was waiting for Fox to make a decision, a person climbed up from a stretcher.
Guardian Ninja Captain Sarutobi Yamatori had a leg injury. Staggering, he walked towards Fox.
He reached Fox and shouted hysterically:
"Counterattack! We must counterattack!
We cannot abandon the capital of the Land of Hot Water!
Fox! You are the Deputy ANBU Chief! Go assassinate the Kumo-nin commander, Omoi!
What are you wasting time here for?
Right now, the capital hasn't been under their control for long; there's still a chance to fix this!
Fox! You are responsible for Shinnosuke's death! You bear the greatest responsibility!
Why did you disappear! Where did you go! Why weren't you protecting Shinnosuke!"
Yōkō was taken aback. Had this guy been zapped stupid by the Kumo-nin's Electrotherapy?
I am indeed responsible for Shinnosuke's death, but would I admit it?
Even the Sage of Six Paths discussed things with me politely. You, a mere Sarutobi clan Guardian Ninja Captain, grew accustomed to being a local tyrant in the Land of Hot Water, seem to have forgotten your place.
He glanced at Hippo, who immediately understood.
Hippo was also responsible for Shinnosuke's death, and he was more proactive than Yōkō about it.
Hippo stepped forward and held Sarutobi Yamatori's shoulder: "Captain Yamatori, your injuries are too severe. You should rest first. Fox-sama will handle things from here."
Yamatori started to say he wasn't that injured, that it didn't affect him.
However, Hippo adjusted Yamatori's direction, turning his back to Nara Kyoichi and the others, then raised his hand and fed Yamatori a pill, causing him to choke and lose consciousness.
Then, Hippo waved, signaling for ANBU members to take Yamatori away.
Hippo said in a low voice:
"Fox-sama, I have already reported to the village that your absence was because Advisor Shinnosuke insisted you assassinate the Fire Temple's Abbot.
This Sarutobi Yamatori was previously in the capital of the Land of Hot Water; he knows nothing."
Yōkō nodded, disregarding this minor episode.
The Sarutobi clan had suffered heavy casualties. This Sarutobi Yamatori couldn't be killed for now, as it would seem too targeted.
Hippo cautiously asked: "Fox-sama, should we set up defenses at the Land of Fire's border to prevent a Kumo-nin raid, or..."
Yōkō looked north and said: "Defend the Land of Fire? Of course not!
Hippo, Shinnosuke-sama treated us quite well, didn't he?
Shinnosuke-sama promoted me to Deputy ANBU Chief, promoted you to ANBU Squad Leader.
With our superior murdered, how can you think about defending the Land of Fire?
You make me feel strange, you make me feel sorrow on behalf of Shinnosuke-sama.
Sorrow, such sorrow!"
Hippo hung his head in shame.
Having served in the ANBU for years, Hippo thought his heart was as hard as iron. But at this moment, his shame reached its peak.
The ears visible outside his mask burned bright red.
"My apologies! Fox-sama! I am trash! Then, Sir, what should we do?"
Yōkō pointed north and declared:
"We go back! We must avenge Shinnosuke-sama!
So what if it's the Raikage's Advisor Omoi? So what if it's the Two-Tails Jinchūriki Ryūjin? it's the Raikage's Assistant Dodai?
They all must die!
Daring to kill Shinnosuke-sama, to kill my most respected Battalion Commander Yellow Dog, to kill my most respected Chief Yellow Dog, to kill my most respected Advisor Shinnosuke-sama... They! All! Must! Die!"
Hippo, greatly agitated, quickly raised his head and said:
"Fox-sama is right! They all must die!
According to intelligence, the Iwa-nin, satisfied with killing Shinnosuke-sama, have left the Land of Hot Water. Only the Kumo-nin remain behind us now.
If we return now, we can definitely deal a heavy blow to the Kumo-nin!"
***
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(Chapter End)