Konoha Village. Nara Rokaku hurriedly entered the Hokage's Office.
He saw the Third Hokage-sama, who seemed to have aged many years in an instant, and his heart was filled with sympathy.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke was far from reaching his peak. Given another three to five years, he would have become a true pillar of Konoha Village.
Unfortunately, Konoha suffered heavy blows one after another, forcing Sarutobi Shinnosuke to the front.
Such an excellent son had died tragically in the Land of Hot Water.
For powerful figures, the issue of a successor was always a headache.
Even figures as strong as the First and Second Hokage had no one in the next generation who could match them.
It was only because Tsunade emerged that the Senju clan avoided having two consecutive generations of mediocrity, with no one reaching the Kage level.
This was also why every village placed such great importance on Tailed Beasts.
The emergence of Kage-level shinobi involved a significant element of chance. Whoever controlled a Tailed Beast maintained a standing Kage-level combatant.
The future of the Sarutobi clan had been destroyed by the joint efforts of the Kumo-nin and Iwa-nin.
Nara Rokaku knew the Third Hokage-sama was deeply grieving, but he had to report official matters:
"Hokage-sama, the messenger shinobi went to the Land of Fire border, ordering Sarutobi Yamatori and Nara Kyoichi to organize a defensive line there.
However, a new situation has developed at the front lines."
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly looked up, his gaze shifting away from the intelligence scroll in his desk drawer.
This scroll contained the intelligence report of Shinnosuke's death.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes turned cold: "What? Have the Kumo-nin and Iwa-nin jointly breached the Land of Fire's border?"
No Great Shinobi War had ever been started by Konoha, but Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't mind being the one to initiate the Third Great Shinobi War.
"No!" Nara Rokaku said:
"It's not that the Kumo-nin and Iwa-nin jointly broke through the fortress outposts on the Land of Fire's border.
According to intelligence, the Iwa-nin have already left the Land of Hot Water and returned to the Land of Earth.
Additionally, Fox successfully assassinated the Fire Temple's Abbot, Kaigyō. Kaigyō died suddenly.
Fox returned to the front lines, gathered Konoha's fleeing troops, and fought a major battle with the pursuing Two-Tails.
Fox..."
Nara Rokaku looked down at the intelligence scroll sent by Kyoichi and said:
"Fox killed the Two-Tails! Not just defeated the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, but used a secret technique reminiscent of the First Hokage-sama's, the Top Transformation: Buddha, to frontally blast the Two-Tails to death.
Kumogakure has paid the price; they won't be able to utilize the Two-Tails' power for the next few years.
Fox says he wants to avenge Advisor Shinnosuke and is currently pursuing the remaining Kumo-nin."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback. Hearing the name 'Top Transformation: Buddha' again made his expression distant.
Sarutobi Hiruzen asked: "Top Transformation: Buddha? Is it related to the Fire Temple?"
Nara Rokaku nodded and said:
"It's a new secret technique Fox has mastered. He didn't mention its origin in the scroll.
However, similar to how the First Hokage-sama attained sudden enlightenment at the Fire Temple and experienced a sudden surge in strength, Fox has clearly also gained something remarkable at the Fire Temple."
Sarutobi Hiruzen lowered his head again: "Since Fox has already mastered the Top Transformation: Buddha, matters in the Land of Hot Water are to be handled entirely at Fox's discretion."
Nara Rokaku wanted to discuss further, but seeing the Third Hokage sink back into grief and withdrawal, knowing he hadn't yet overcome the pain of losing his son, he decided not to press the matter and left the Hokage's Office.
—
Dodai fled in terror to the outskirts of the Land of Hot Water's capital.
The Two-Tails was beaten to death... How could a Tailed Beast, a natural disaster of a creature, be killed?
Dodai remembered when he was still a Special Jōnin, his unique abilities led to him being summoned by the village to help seal a rampaging Two-Tails.
Ryūjin wasn't a perfect Jinchūriki back then.
The rampaging Two-Tails easily blasted apart mountain peaks; its Fire Release and Tailed Beast Balls were utterly despair-inducing.
If not for the Third Raikage-sama containing it head-on, all of them Kumo-nin would have been wiped out within minutes.
The Two-Tails' roars became nightmares that haunted Dodai for years afterward.
Now, the Two-Tails was dead, and who knew where it would resurrect in a few years.
The Land of Hot Water's capital was built at the foot of a mountain slope, surrounded by walls on three sides, with the mountain itself forming the fourth side.
Hot springs flowing from within the mountain made this city a famous hot spring resort.
On the city walls, the samurai saw the Kumo-nin headbands and didn't dare to stop them.
The flag on the city wall changes. Just a week ago, it was Konoha shinobi serving as the Guardian Ninja. After the Konoha shinobi were driven out, it was now the Kumo-nin's turn.
Dodai rushed towards the Tenshu Castle where the Daimyō resided and found Advisor Omoi chatting leisurely with the Daimyō in the main hall.
Seeing Dodai's utterly disheveled state, Omoi sensed that something bad had happened.
"Daimyō-sama, I must attend to some matters of Kumogakure."
The Land of Hot Water Daimyō's hand paused, and the knife he was using to cut meat accidentally nicked his finger.
The cut on his finger healed unnaturally fast.
The Daimyō quickly withdrew his finger into his sleeve and said, "By all means, Advisor Omoi."
The Daimyō watched Omoi leave, but the two Kumo-nin behind him continued to stare intently at his back.
He felt a surge of displeasure.
With his back to the two Kumo, the Daimyō's eyes instantly became bloodshot, completely red. After blinking a few times, his eyes returned to normal.
Just freed from the control of the Konoha shinobi, and now controlled by the Kumo-nin...
"Great Evil God...Grant me power, let me kill all shinobi..."
Once outside the main hall, Dodai urgently said:
"Advisor Omoi! We must leave! The Konoha shinobi are pursuing us!"
"Pursuing us?" Omoi said, "We just secured the position of the Land of Hot Water Daimyō's Guardian Ninja. We need to consolidate this significant gain. How can we leave?"
"Advisor, Ryūjin has been killed!"
Hearing this, Omoi's pupils constricted sharply from the intense shock.
"Ryūjin? Killed?"
Dodai said: "Fox wasn't there when we killed Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
Now Fox is back. His Wood Release is comparable to Senju Hashirama's; he used the legendary Top Transformation: Buddha.
That Wood Release ninjutsu directly pummeled Ryūjin and the Two-Tails to death. The Two-Tails' chakra dissipated, vanishing between heaven and earth.
Maybe the Two-Tails will resurrect sometime in the future, but we won't be able to use its power for the next few years!"
Omoi frowned, thought for a few seconds, and immediately agreed with Dodai's assessment.
"Let's go! We cannot hold onto the Land of Hot Water's Guardian Ninja position or its mission share!"
Omoi gathered the 100-plus Kumo-nin within the Land of Hot Water's capital.
The 12 temporary Guardian Ninja were surprised, unsure what Advisor Omoi intended to do.
Advisor Omoi had just appointed them as Guardian Ninja; they were supposed to stay by the Daimyō's side without leaving.
Seeing only 20-plus Kumo-nin following Dodai, Omoi felt as if his heart was bleeding.
Kumogakure had suffered heavy losses – nearly 400 Kumo-nin dead, plus the Jinchūriki.
Omoi said: "Abandon the Land of Hot Water capital! Withdraw to the Land of the Moon!"
A Guardian Ninja asked: "Advisor-sama, are we withdrawing too?"
"Everyone withdraws. Konoha's Fox is coming. If we don't leave, we'll all die."
Omoi designated two Guardian Ninja and said:
"You two are familiar with the Tenshu Castle's defenses. Later, amidst the chaos, assassinate the Land of Hot Water Daimyō!
If we can't have the Land of Hot Water, then Konoha won't have it easy either. Leave them a mess to deal with.
Remember, do not expose your identities as Kumo-nin. If the Daimyō of the Land of Hot Water is killed openly, it will be difficult to explain to the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning."
The two received their orders and left.
At the same time, Nara Kyoichi led a team of elites on a forced march into the Land of Hot Water's capital.
Nara Kyoichi said: "Quick! Head to the Tenshu Castle as fast as possible!"
If he were the Kumo-nin, he would certainly destroy the Land of Hot Water before withdrawing, to create trouble for Konoha.
Therefore, he had proposed to Fox that they enter the capital a step ahead.
Omoi led the Kumo-nin out of the capital. However, as soon as they stood on the city wall, they saw a single person outside.
An ANBU shinobi wearing a fox mask...
Omoi's heart tightened. He hadn't expected Fox's sensory abilities to be so exceptional, perfectly intercepting them.
Omoi whispered to Dodai: "Disperse and break out. I'll hold off Fox."
Dodai said: "Let me cover the rear, Advisor-sama. I specialize in defense."
Omoi shook his head and said: "Against power capable of killing a Tailed Beast, all defensive ninjutsu are useless.
You are still young; you haven't been the Raikage's Assistant for long. Do not disobey my order now."
Dodai clenched his fist, then loosened it dejectedly, beginning to arrange for the Kumo-nin to disperse and escape.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
Lightning illuminated the city wall as a sharp Lightning Spear shot out, stabbing towards Fox out side the wall.
A massive wooden hand suddenly reached out from the ground, intercepting the Lightning Release: False Darkness.
The lightning crackled and popped within the wooden hand, emitting a dazzling light.
Omoi realized his Lightning Release was utterly useless against Fox's Wood Release.
This defensive power... truly worthy of a Wood Human that can catch a Tailed Beast Ball with its bare hands.
Omoi felt a sense of resolve. He prepared to stake everything to buy time for the others.
However, the next moment, he saw a fifty-meter-tall giant erupt from the ground.
The three-headed, six-armed Vidyārāja Wood Human stood thirty meters taller than the city wall.
Everyone within the capital saw the wooden giant outside the walls.
The people in the capital felt terror and despair.
A few days ago, the Kumo-nin defeated Konoha outside the city, and all Konoha shinobi within the capital withdrew.
Now, Konoha was fighting back.
They didn't know if Konoha would blame the Land of Hot Water, or if Konoha would seek revenge.
Inside the Tenshu Castle, the Daimyō stood under the eaves of the main hall with a gloomy expression, watching the colossal wooden giant outside the city.
Wood Release... the strongest secret technique of Konoha Village...
The Daimyō also knew it was over.
But, was any of this his choice to make?
Could he have stopped the Kumo-nin from defeating Konoha outside the city? Could he have stopped the Konoha Guardian Ninja from leaving?
Could he have stopped the Kumo-nin from becoming his Guardian Ninja? Could he stop the Kumo-nin Guardian Ninja from leaving now?
He could do nothing. All he could do was wait, wait for the shinobi's judgment.
The Land of Hot Water Daimyō stopped looking at the distant wooden giant.
The outcome of the battle on the city walls was irrelevant. Whoever won, the one to suffer would be him, would be the Land of Hot Water.
He turned and went back into the main hall. A servant opened a door to a secret chamber.
Steps led downward into darkness, endless darkness.
The Daimyō walked alone into the darkness.
After walking for an unknown length of time, the Daimyō reached the end of the darkness.
Two candle faint flames illuminated a blood-covered divine statue.
The bright red blood emitted a strong, pungent smell of blood.
In the corners of the underground palace were stacked cages, containing the remains of sacrifices offered in death.
The Daimyō fell to his knees before the divine statue.
"Great Evil God, your servant is guilty! Your blood has dried up!
I shall replenish it for you now!"
***
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(Chapter End)