Chapter 275: A Pure Ninja
"Are you trying to threaten me with this?"
Things were not going smoothly on Hiruzen Sarutobi's side.
Looking at Hiruzen, whose expression had barely changed, Amemiya Kenichi had to admit he had a headache. Hiruzen was different from Danzo. He could not be pushed into agreeing through the same methods.
Moreover, as Konoha's Hokage, Hiruzen's way of weighing matters was naturally different from most people, so there were many points of conflict.
As for persuasion, Amemiya Kenichi's Shadow Clone had used the same bait here as well: the allure of the Sharingan. But considering Hiruzen's identity and personality, he also added that if Hiruzen refused, some unpleasant rumors might start spreading through Konoha.
For example, that the Uchiha Clan rebellion happened because Konoha's higher ups were trading Uchiha clan members to Orochimaru for Sharingan research, and so on.
"Not at all. Just a small reminder," Amemiya Kenichi's Shadow Clone said with a polite smile as he looked at Hiruzen.
In Konoha, once Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, was persuaded, most of the issue would already be settled. Danzo's side should not be too difficult. As long as the benefits were enough, Danzo would likely not object. He was the type who never got up early unless there was profit to be made.
Hiruzen smoked as he watched Amemiya Kenichi.
The latter had already stated that this was only a Shadow Clone, which meant that even if Hiruzen made a move now, he would not be able to keep him.
And in Hiruzen's view, the other party's request was not actually a major one.
Although Uchiha Fugaku's rebellion with his clan had once enraged Hiruzen greatly, that was already a year ago. For some time now, Hiruzen had felt very relaxed. The destruction of the Uchiha Clan had given him more time to focus on other matters.
The Uchiha Clan's disappearance had also intimidated many other clans. His teacher once said that being Hokage meant staying alert to hidden threats within the village, and now the village was very harmonious.
Besides, after most of Fugaku's remains had been eaten by wild beasts, Hiruzen had originally intended to take them down. The humiliation had already been obvious enough, and leaving them hanging there also harmed the village's image.
But that old man Danzo insisted that only by doing this could Konoha show that its anger was not something petty villains could test, so the remains stayed hanging there.
Hiruzen had never truly expected to use Fugaku's remains to lure out surviving Uchiha members. Konoha had a deep enough foundation that it was not afraid of retaliation from those people. It would be better to recuperate and let the village develop peacefully for a while.
As for Uchiha Mikoto, she was just a woman without her husband. Letting her go back would have little impact. But simply releasing her for nothing would not do, either.
Konoha's reputation still had to be maintained.
And the benefits offered so far were not enough to satisfy Hiruzen.
"These are Uchiha traitors. Do you know how much harm they caused Konoha? To the villagers? How many innocent children lost their parents?" Hiruzen did not address anything else. Instead, he began bringing up the events from a year ago.
Amemiya Kenichi's mouth twitched. He understood Hiruzen's meaning.
"I can promise that once the research yields results, the first transplant recipient will be you," Amemiya Kenichi's Shadow Clone offered the condition he had prepared in advance.
"Is that what I want?" Hiruzen slammed the table angrily. "Look! How many families in Konoha were torn apart? How many people lost their loved ones? All because of those Uchiha!"
Amemiya Kenichi took a deep breath.
It seemed Hiruzen was not satisfied with the price. But the fact that he was bargaining meant there was still room to negotiate. If he did not bargain at all, then there would be no room for discussion.
"Then..." Amemiya Kenichi's Shadow Clone began the back and forth.
"What is wrong with that old man?" Tsunade frowned as she looked into the distance.
Hiruzen still had not arrived.
That was not normal.
According to the village's layout, the Hokage Building stood at Konoha's center specifically so the Hokage could respond to any location as quickly as possible. That was part of the building's design philosophy, so Hiruzen should have already seen what was happening.
Yet he still had not come, which could only mean he was being held up by someone. And someone connected to Amemiya Kenichi who could stall Hiruzen...
"Orochimaru is here too? What exactly are you master and disciple trying to do?" Tsunade questioned Amemiya Kenichi.
She wanted to make a move, but with civilians nearby who had not yet been evacuated, she could only hold herself back.
"Guess?" Amemiya Kenichi was in no hurry. He stood with his arms crossed, watching the surrounding ninja evacuate the civilians. If the Shadow Clone on the other side reached an agreement, there would be no need to fight. If not, these civilians would at most make people hesitate for a little while before acting.
Neither Tsunade nor Hiruzen would go soft in a real emergency. When it was time to strike, civilians caught in the aftermath would simply become part of the casualty list under "Amemiya Kenichi's attack on Konoha."
Tsunade's expression darkened.
Soon, the surrounding civilians were cleared out, leaving only Amemiya Kenichi and Sasuke on the street, along with the Konoha ANBU facing them and a guilt ridden Uchiha Mikoto.
Just as the tension peaked and the Konoha ANBU were itching to attack, Amemiya Kenichi suddenly smiled.
"Sister Tsunade, let's meet again next time." Amemiya Kenichi smiled brightly. He had just received the memories transmitted when his Shadow Clone dispersed. Hiruzen had agreed to his conditions, allowing Uchiha Mikoto, Sasuke, and Fugaku's remains to leave Konoha in exchange for certain terms.
It was a reasonable result.
Those terms were real, tangible benefits for Konoha, while forcibly trying to keep Amemiya Kenichi and Sasuke would come at a significant cost. Hiruzen only needed to compare the benefits and risks to make a quick decision.
Tsunade looked a little confused, but soon several ANBU rushed over and relayed Hiruzen's orders to the others. The ANBU who had come with her exchanged glances, looked at Tsunade, then lowered their heads and released Mikoto.
Watching this, Tsunade's eyes showed a trace of bewilderment, but she quickly understood what had happened.
Tsunade was politically sharp. She would become the Fifth Hokage in the future and manage the village well, even suppressing the restless Danzo. That alone was enough to prove she was no ordinary person.
So she quickly pieced it together.
Amemiya Kenichi must have reached some agreement with the old man, perhaps even with Danzo as well. That was why no ninja reinforcements had come to support her until now.
Not even the Konoha ANBU.
The realization made Tsunade feel amused, angry, and a little sad all at once.
When had Konoha become like this?
A missing nin entered their own village, made a huge scene, and in the end he could simply walk away?
But just as that thought crossed her mind, explosions erupted from both sides of Konoha, followed by towering flames. Then Tsunade saw people fighting in the distance.
"Oh, it seems my teacher is keeping Lord Hiruzen and Lord Danzo occupied," Amemiya Kenichi said with a 'worried' expression, though his tone dripped with mockery.
Tsunade heard it and took a deep breath.
These two...
Amemiya Kenichi smiled at her expression.
This had been part of what he discussed with Hiruzen. Even if he was allowed to take Mikoto and Fugaku's remains, he could not just leave openly. Konoha still needed an explanation, something that would let them save face.
So they put on a show.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen, was being held back by his renegade disciple Orochimaru, while others attacked the village from different sides, preventing him from intervening.
Was that not perfectly reasonable?
Amemiya Kenichi took Mikoto and prepared to leave Konoha in a cheerful mood.
There were always many ways to achieve a goal, and this time, he had simply chosen a method that was relatively easy and less tiring.
"Amemiya, do you find this way of achieving your goals very interesting?"
Just as he was about to leave, he heard Tsunade's voice, thick with suppressed anger.
Amemiya Kenichi frowned and turned around, while telling Mikoto to take Sasuke and leave Konoha first.
Mikoto glanced at him but said nothing. She quickly left with Sasuke.
She knew staying would only make her a burden, so it was better to leave immediately and let Amemiya Kenichi act without restraint.
"What do you mean by that, Sister Tsunade?" Amemiya Kenichi looked at Tsunade.
In his hastily improvised plan, the biggest variable had always been Tsunade.
Because Tsunade, in a way...
Was completely different from Danzo and Hiruzen.
Tsunade was a much purer ninja.
And Amemiya Kenichi hated dealing with pure ninja, because they often solved problems by fighting. The winner's words became truth, and the loser's words were worthless, unable to make anyone accept their ninja way.
Unfortunately, most powerful people had this tendency.
It was only because Hiruzen was old now and burdened by too many considerations that he no longer acted that way. Otherwise, if Hiruzen had also remained a pure ninja, Orochimaru probably would not look down on him so much.
"I mean this! Since when did you become a politician like that old man?!" Tsunade roared.
The next second, she vanished from Amemiya Kenichi's sight.
Amemiya Kenichi's pupils shrank. He felt a violent gust of wind slam in from behind him.
He stomped the ground and leaped onto a rooftop. Before he could even turn his head, another fatal threat rushed at him. He had no choice but to dodge Tsunade's attack again, and at the same time he heard a thunderous crash.
Broken roof tiles shot past his clothes like blades, tearing open the fabric.
The enraged Tsunade displayed the combat power of one of the Ninja World's top fighters. Her terrifying speed and monstrous strength made her seem overwhelmingly violent. Even though she was a woman, no one would dare underestimate her.
Amemiya Kenichi even wondered, if the Raikage fought Tsunade, who would win?
He took a deep breath and instantly entered Sage Mode.
Facing Tsunade, the pressure on him was immense. It was genuinely difficult to deal with her without Sage Mode.
At that moment, he finally turned and saw Tsunade throwing another punch at him. Her furious eyes and enraged expression made it obvious that the Sannin was in a very bad mood.
Amemiya Kenichi felt a little helpless.
He was not a politician like Hiruzen. He had chosen this solution because it was the only way to ensure Sasuke and Mikoto could leave safely. Otherwise, if Tsunade pinned him down and Hiruzen and Danzo joined in, how was Mikoto supposed to protect Sasuke?
With a miracle power up?
This was not some Saint Seiya world where a sudden burst of Cosmos could let someone defeat a stronger enemy.
In Naruto, ninja strength usually progressed step by step, except in special cases like the Uchiha awakening the Sharingan.
But based on Amemiya Kenichi's research on the Uchiha, unless Mikoto was pushed by the tragic sight of Sasuke dying in front of her, the chance of her awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan was extremely low. And even if she did awaken it, it still would not be very useful against Hiruzen.
Fugaku had the Mangekyo Sharingan, and he still lost.
From that angle, Hiruzen's combat power was not weak at all. He was simply more used to thinking like a politician now.
Amemiya Kenichi did not believe Mikoto currently had the Mangekyo Sharingan. She definitely did not. Otherwise, when she caused trouble at Konoha's gates, he would have seen a Susanoo, which was impossible to miss.
Of course, even if Mikoto could use Susanoo, it would be useless against Tsunade, who could smash one apart with sheer force.
Looking at the fiercely advancing Tsunade, Amemiya Kenichi inhaled deeply, then released a surge of flames from his mouth. At the same time, something flashed in his hand.
What appeared before Tsunade were green tinged flames radiating extreme heat, and even the smoke they produced made her instinctively frown.
Tsunade, who had fought Sunagakure and Hanzo in the past, immediately realized something was wrong with the smoke.
"You little brat, you mixed poison into your Ninjutsu?!" Tsunade's face darkened.
This little bastard was as vicious and ruthless as ever. He had actually laced a Fire Release jutsu with poison.
.....
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