"That's not all!"
"I've also reviewed the meeting minutes."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi was also present at the time!"
"Democracy members from other small countries, as well as leaders of ninja villages, have also been invited to the Daimyo's residence!"
"The specific details were destroyed by my father before he died!"
"But it's not hard to guess that it's a conspiracy targeting the Land of Whirlpools!"
"Because the only country not on the invitation list is the Land of Whirlpools!"
Actually, we've arrived here.
Anyone who isn't an idiot knows what's going to happen next.
And this is precisely what explains it.
Why is a powerful nation like the Land of Whirlpools so strong?
It will perish overnight.
Even their sealing techniques and unpredictable sacrificial abilities could not prevent a single member of their clan from escaping.
It's very simple.
Other countries and villages have indeed launched an attack.
And the Land of Whirlpools is indeed helping Konoha resist.
Waiting for reinforcements.
They held out desperately on the front lines.
Reinforcements from Konoha arrived from behind.
And then... Konoha feasted to their heart's content!
Backstab!
They began to collect resources from the Uzumaki clan in large quantities.
Without reinforcements, the front lines were quickly breached, and they later joined the fight to divide up the Land of Whirlpools...
Konoha occupied one side and deliberately left behind a pre-selected Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
...
Even a powerful nation like the Land of Whirlpools couldn't withstand the betrayal of its most trusted ally.
What about the Uchiha clan members who are 'bound hand and foot'?
...
The large screen with its black border continues to display the image:
"Shortly after that."
["The major and minor powers, tacitly agreeing, have launched a surprise attack!"]
"Even if the Land of Whirlpools reacts quickly, it will still pay a heavy price."
"Then, someone was sent to inform Konoha and send a message to Konoha!"
"Under normal circumstances, this would absolutely not lead to the destruction of a nation!"
"Even if Konoha comes to their aid, they might actually turn the tables and defeat them!"
"Because that was the later Konoha, which, apart from Lord Hashirama and Lord Tobirama, was a complete Konoha!"
"However, what the Uzumaki clan never expected was..."
"Konoha was already prepared!"
"The message was intercepted, and they're waiting for the Land of Whirlpools to hold their ritual... From what I know, the Land of Whirlpools' rituals require a period of preparation, and the ceremony cannot be disrupted during this time, otherwise, the sacrificial spirits will turn against them."
"In short, based on my understanding of my father and that old bastard Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"They definitely chose this time to attack!"
"With inside help and outside attacks, the Land of Whirlpools... was destroyed overnight!"
As he spoke, the daimyo of the Land of Fire trembled all over.
He quickly looked at Kushina.
"You're Kushina Uzumaki, the 'survivor' from back then, right...? Your name is in the scroll!"
"Think carefully, wasn't the place you hid in back then a basement?"
"And then, the sounds of killing came from all directions?"
[Upon hearing this.]
Kushina remained silent for a moment.
[He clenched his fist, and blood seeped from his palm.]
["yes."]
"I stayed in the basement for three days and two nights before Tsunade found me."
[As soon as Kushina finished speaking, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire immediately looked at Tsunade.]
"Tsunade-nee, think back, among the ninjas who followed you back then, wasn't Hiruzen Sarutobi the only one you specifically mentioned, or were they all rather unfamiliar faces?!"
"It's very likely a former ANBU ninja or a member of the Sarutobi clan!"
Tsunade's eyes were slightly red.
But this was not the time for her to complain to her elders.
Because the story of the Uzumaki clan dates back even further.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her voice and prevent it from trembling with tears.
But he didn't turn back.
"That's correct."
[Tsunade responded.]
The daimyo of the Land of Fire let out a long sigh of relief.
Before he knew it, he was covered in a cold sweat.
[The pressure from the Senju Brothers is off the charts!]
Onoki: "Sigh... I hate to admit it, but the truth is right in front of me, that's really how it is."
Onoki: "If Konoha hadn't betrayed Uzushiogakure, Uzushiogakure would have been able to withstand such a surprise attack."
Onoki: "It's absolutely impossible for them to be completely wiped out."
The Fourth Raikage: "Hmph~!"
The Fourth Raikage: "If it were me, I would definitely do exactly as the Fire Country Daimyo suggested!"
The Fourth Raikage: "We lured them in to kill them. We had prior knowledge of the Land of Whirlpools beforehand. It seemed like an inside-outside attack, but in reality, it was like catching a turtle in a jar!"
Mabu-i: "Lord Raikage, you can't be so absolute."
Mabui: "However, I imagine that the Third Hokage, that beast, must have gone to great lengths, along with the previous Daimyo of the Land of Fire, to ensure this."
Mabui: "Of course, part of the reason is that the First Hokage and the Second Hokage are no longer alive."
The Fourth Raikage: "I've experienced the Flying Thunder God Technique firsthand."
The Fourth Raikage: "If we hadn't teamed up with that kid Killer Bee, it might not have been a draw back then."
Upon hearing this, Minato Namikaze gave a wry smile.
Thinking about it carefully, it was precisely because of that battle that he completely overshadowed Orochimaru.
Orochimaru's contribution...
Minato Namikaze still has some self-awareness.
One is the constant small-scale battles.
The other is to oversee the overall situation.
Simply put, it's about the distinction between generals and commanders.
Moreover, Orochimaru has been a veteran commander for many years.
No matter what, the Fourth Hokage could never fall to me with such a huge gap in status.
It's nothing more than... being very obedient.
...
The large screen with its black border continues to display the image:
"Nonsense!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were bloodshot.
However, it had barely finished speaking.
A thick tree root burst forth from the ground beneath their feet.
In an instant, it was firmly imprisoned, its mouth sealed shut.
The villagers of Konoha below witnessed this.
[He was about to speak immediately.]
However.
[It seems Hashirama Senju had anticipated this.]
[He turned around abruptly.]
"What I want to protect is Konoha, not you all."
[boom--]
[A massive amount of chakra surged forth from Hashirama Senju's reanimated body in an instant.]
Strange patterns appeared on Hashirama Senju's face, with particular emphasis on the area around his eyes.
"Sage Mode?"
Naruto's eyes flickered slightly.
Is this Sage Mode?
[Perceiving.]
Naruto could clearly sense that Hashirama Senju seemed to have entered some kind of mysterious state.
[They actually absorbed chakra directly from the air.]
"Perhaps... it's not called chakra?"
"It's just a different name now that it's the ninja era."
"Is this the true source of the three holy lands' confidence?"
"It seems I really should make a trip there... What was the ninja world like before the ninja era?"
"Where did the Sage of Six Paths come from?"
[Is the legend true...? Does the Goddess of the Rabbit really exist?]
Naruto's murmured voice rang out.
The interior of the moon.
Within the initial sphere space.
Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Goddess of the Rabbit, heard her name called out by Naruto in black.
Her white eyelashes trembled.
Then, for some reason, she suddenly put the photo album she had placed in her arms... and pressed it down on her body.