Chapter 96: Aftermath of the Ambush, Konoha High-Level Emergency Meeting, Sunagakure & Iwagakure Reflections, and Madara's Laughter
Sarutobi Hiruzen's group encountered no further incidents on the second half of the journey and returned safely to Konoha.
As soon as the three arrived at the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. These two managed Konoha's finances and served as Hokage advisors, so they needed to know about certain matters.
Akimichi Torifu knew another meeting was coming and excused himself citing his injuries.
Before Utatane Koharu could even ask, Sarutobi Hiruzen explained the full situation.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura both glanced at Danzō. According to Sarutobi Hiruzen's description, Danzō first severely injured Chiyo and then suppressed the Third Kazekage.
They were quite familiar with Danzō's strength—after all, they had come up in the same team.
This time they gained another clear understanding of the power of Teigu.
Danzō's Hachifusa could control 8 corpses—these corpses could coordinate directly. Moreover, they were immune to certain poisons and ordinary bleeding damage.
And as Danzō controlled stronger and stronger corpses, the power might become even more terrifying.
Their greedy desire for Teigu remained high, but they knew it wasn't obtainable right now.
Uchiha Naraku's Teigu production rate was still too low, and Teigu also chose their masters.
They shifted the topic back to the great war. After learning that Sarutobi Hiruzen had persuaded Kumogakure and Kirigakure to stand down, both breathed a huge sigh of relief.
They only felt heartache when Sarutobi Hiruzen mentioned preparing to give away two Teigu.
At this moment Uchiha Naraku still didn't know his yet-unfinished Teigu had already been sold.
The meeting concluded with a summary: Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura would go to the Daimyō to demand funds. Shimura Danzō's Root would intensify intelligence collection. Sarutobi Hiruzen would once again dispatch the Sannin to guard the borders and strengthen border defenses.
The Third Kazekage brought the injured Chiyo back to Sunagakure. At this time Chiyo's younger brother Ebizō and her son and daughter-in-law all gathered around.
Looking at this family, the Third Kazekage sometimes felt quite lonely—the entire upper echelon of Sunagakure was basically this one family.
Chiyo dismissed everyone. Ignoring her injuries, she began reporting intelligence on Danzō: "That ninja sword of Danzō's should be the Teigu Hiruzen mentioned. Danzō first used the sword's power to activate the puppets. No—calling them puppets feels wrong. I felt they were more like corpses!"
The Third Kazekage nodded in agreement: "Correct. After my Iron Sand pierced them, I saw flesh beneath the black clothes, but the contents definitely weren't living people! My Iron Sand nearly turned their internal organs into mush, yet they continued moving afterward!"
Chiyo continued: "Using that weapon should have drawbacks. From my observation, Danzō never simultaneously used 8 puppets at once, indicating that although his puppets don't require chakra threads, they still consume something. Perhaps when using a large number of puppets, Danzō's main body is at its most vulnerable!"
After a few words of discussion, the group identified some characteristics of Hachifusa. When the topic turned to the war, however, they all fell silent.
Because Konoha had put out the word: if Konoha faced focused fire, they would target Sunagakure first—beat them until Sunagakure was crippled.
Finally the Third Kazekage set the tone: continue waiting for the right moment. He didn't believe the other ninja villages would sit idly while Konoha grew stronger. Danzō already possessed one Teigu and his combat power had become so terrifying. If in the future Konoha's powerhouses all had Teigu, and a few more broken monsters like Senju Nawaki appeared, then they could stop playing.
Such a simple truth—the others could see it too. The Raikage was thinking of first securing one Teigu, then starting the fight.
As for the so-called three-year agreement—for these ninja villages it was just a piece of waste paper. No—there wasn't even a signed contract this time, so it wasn't even worth waste paper.
Ōnoki tapped the table with his fingers, reviewing the previous events. After thinking, it seemed he gained nothing from this Five Kage Summit. But at least he no longer had to worry about his rear being stabbed by Kumogakure.
Because as long as Kumogakure hadn't received a Teigu, they would always worry Konoha might refuse to deliver. So as long as other ninja villages waged war against Konoha, Konoha—fearing Kumogakure's entry—would give it.
But if only Iwagakure fought Konoha alone, they would definitely suffer losses.
Yet after thinking for a while, Ōnoki suddenly laughed. In his view, Konoha's promise to give Kumogakure a weapon was absolutely drinking poison to quench thirst. Whether they gave it or not later, there would be serious consequences.
So right now what was most needed was to wait.
Ōnoki stood up and walked out of the office. He planned to focus on training the village's ninjas this year.
Incidentally, he would also properly train his son Kitsuchi—see if he could cultivate a powerful successor for Iwagakure's future.
Then take good care of his health. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west.
He believed that as long as he maintained his health properly—unlike those taijutsu ninjas who squandered their bodies and chakra recklessly—he could preserve his precious combat power.
Somewhere underground in Kirigakure, Black Zetsu had newly possessed another White Zetsu body.
He reported to the aged Uchiha Madara the news brought back by the Third Mizukage.
"Oh? Konoha will send Kirigakure one Teigu forged by Uchiha Naraku in the future? When the so-called Teigu arrives, bring it to me—I want to see what mystical power this Teigu has that makes an Uchiha busy forging instead of developing his Sharingan! By the way, has Obito (Afei) gathered any information?" Uchiha Madara asked.
Black Zetsu was silent for a moment. This silence wasn't because he was thinking of a lie to deceive Madara—but because Obito had brought back a mountain of useless shit, piss, and fart information along with other garbage.
Finally Black Zetsu extracted something slightly useful from the shit mountain: "Uchiha Naraku has recently been focused on forging and training. 1/3 of the time in the Uchiha clan grounds, 1/3 in the forging room, 1/3 in the Senju clan grounds. Obito said he saw Uchiha Naraku and Tsunade hugging, kissing, and being intimate many times!"
A while ago when Tsunade returned, Naraku had shown great filial piety as a disciple—often staying by Tsunade's side and fulfilling his duties to the fullest.
When Uchiha Madara heard the news, black lines first appeared on his forehead. What kind of intelligence was this idiot Obito gathering—making him, Uchiha Madara, sound like a gossiping old woman.
It wasn't until Black Zetsu mentioned the abnormal relationship between Naraku and Tsunade that—
Tsunade—Uchiha Madara still knew her. She was Senju Hashirama's granddaughter. Back then Hashirama had bragged in front of Uchiha Madara about having an adorable granddaughter.
Later he would occasionally share updates about Tsunade's growth with Madara, which thoroughly disgusted the lonely, unmarried, childless Uchiha Madara.
The next time Madara heard about Tsunade, she had become a powerful medical ninja. After that came "Konoha's Ferocious Tiger."
The corners of Uchiha Madara's mouth curved into an irrepressible smile. He didn't suppress it—releasing the aura of the unrivaled leader of Uchiha's Four Mad Laughter Kings right there underground: "Hahahaha, Hashirama! I never expected an Uchiha would fall for a woman of your Senju clan—your own granddaughter!"
At this moment Uchiha Madara imagined how wonderful that damned white-haired Senju's expression would be if he could see this scene.
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