allendalepharm Chapter 123 Even if I'm nailed to the pillar of shame, I won't let Konoha die by my hand.
Chapter 123 Even if I'm nailed to the pillar of shame, I won't let Konoha die by my hand.
Chapter 123 Even if I'm nailed to the pillar of shame, I won't let Konoha die by my hand.
The village handled the pufferfish demon incident quickly.
This is not just about dealing with the traitors, but also about giving an explanation to Makoto Kari, the hero of the Mist and the Blade of the Water Shadow!
According to the intelligence department's investigation, among all the information that Fuguki sold, the most important and the most confidential was that of Makoto Karatachi.
This included Makoto Karimoto's personal information, bloodline abilities, and even his hobby of dating fair-skinned, beautiful, and long-legged girls, all of which were summarized and given to Danzo.
This reveals that if this guy doesn't die, my brother Cheng's hatred won't be appeased!
After Makoto Karatachi returned to the village, everything that happened on the battlefield in Kirigakure, especially the battle between Kazama and Tani, was reported to the major powers in the ninja world.
The first to be affected is the Cloud Village, which is closest to the Hidden Mist Village!
"The Mangekyou Sharingan controls the Nine-Tails, crushing Konoha's defenses?!"
"Damn Konoha, I knew it was them!"
A, who had not yet inherited the position of the Fourth Raikage but had already inherited the name [A], gripped the intelligence in his hand tightly, his face extremely grim.
The elders and advisors around him were full of curiosity, and Ai simply tossed the intelligence scroll in his hand to Tu Tai next to him.
"See for yourselves!"
"This! This!"
With just two eyes, Tu Tai's one eye widened in disbelief.
The other elderly, dark-skinned PE students also gathered around, sticking their heads in, and soon gasps of surprise came from within.
"Konoha was actually destroyed by Makoto Karatachi all by himself?!"
"Mangekyou Sharingan, control the Nine-Tails, hiss—"
"The Hand of God?! There's actually such a terrifying bloodline limit in this world?!"
"Konoha has been defeated?!"
A brief silence fell over the conference room, broken only by heavy breathing.
Every high-ranking member of the Cloud Hidden Sect had a face filled with horror.
The intelligence on the battle between Kazama and Tani details how Makoto Karatachi single-handedly destroyed Konoha's rear supply lines and then used his Mangekyou Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki, to unleash the Armored Susanoo, wiping out the core position of Konoha's eastern front along with thousands of ninjas in a single, terrifying attack.
Although the most core secrets, such as Makoto Tachibana's replication of the Rinnegan, were not fully revealed, the Mangekyou Sharingan he displayed, his control over tailed beasts, his apparent mastery of space-time ninjutsu, and his earth-shattering attack methods were enough to terrify any ninja village!
"No wonder, no wonder Konoha's activities on the border of the Land of Hot Springs have suddenly become much less intense recently —"
An elder from the Cloud Village said in a shocking voice, "It's not that they don't want to fight us, it's that they simply can't spare the time."
That's not the point!
Ai slammed his hand on the table in front of him, shattering it into pieces: "Previously, when he was controlled by the Sharingan, those bastards from Konoha even said they didn't have that level of power. Where did Makoto Kotachi copy the Mangekyou Sharingan from?"
"Those damned Konoha scum are nothing but a bunch of filthy rats from the gutter! How dare they use their Sharingan to control Bee! They must pay the price!"
Tailed beasts are the ultimate strategic weapons of the major ninja villages, serving as a deterrent force to maintain balance.
Once a ninja village masters a method to reliably control tailed beasts, or even controls tailed beasts from other villages, it will have a revolutionary impact on the entire ninja world!
Kumogakure possesses both the Two-Tails and the Eight-Tails, making it one of the ninja villages with the largest number of tailed beasts among the Five Great Nations.
They didn't know much about the Mangekyou Sharingan's ability to control tailed beasts, after all, it had been forty or fifty years since Madara Uchiha's incident, and these outsiders remembered it little. But now, Makoto Karatachi has brought this matter back into the public eye, and the resulting ripples are undeniable.
The thought that Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, might be controlled by the Sharingan and turn against the Hidden Cloud Village sent a chill down everyone's spine!
"We must immediately strengthen the guard around Bee! We absolutely cannot allow those damned envious people to have a chance to get close to Bee!"
Ai practically yelled, "Besides, after this war is over, he's going to get the hell out of here on Turtle Island! He's always putting on concerts and wailing like a banshee, but he can't even get over his own conscience. What kind of rapper is he?!"
"Also, send over the elite troops. I'm going to beat these bastards from Konoha to a pulp! They dare to covet Kaibi; they'll pay the price!"
"yes!"
The senior executives nodded in unison.
They didn't believe that Makoto Karatachi was responsible for controlling Killer Bee. Although that guy possessed an almost bug-like ability like the Hand of God, there was no hatred between Kumogakure and Kirigakure.
Moreover, the God's Hand has great limitations, with only ten minutes of usage time. The Hidden Mist Village and the Hidden Leaf Village are locked in a fierce battle, and they don't believe that the Hidden Mist Village will direct its conflict at them.
All of this must be the work of the evil Konoha Inui!
The Land of Fire, Kikyo Castle.
Having just unearthed a gold mine using Magnet Release techniques and heavily rewarded his subordinate ninjas, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, frowned as he looked at the intelligence report from the distant East in his hand.
"Konoha—how could they have suffered such a crushing defeat?"
Luo Sha's voice carried a hint of disbelief, but more so a sense of solemnity.
Since the outbreak of the Third Shinobi World War, the Sand Village and the Leaf Village had been fighting for a long time, but the Sand Village had always won more often than it lost. He was well aware of just how strong the Leaf Village's foundation and strength were as the strongest ninja village in the world.
But now, the eastern front of Konoha has been completely crushed by a young ninja from Kirigakure, who, with his own strength and the Nine-Tails under his control, managed to do so.
The fact that the Sharingan could control tailed beasts terrified him even more!
Sunagakure also has tailed beasts. Makoto Karatachi was able to copy the Mangekyou Sharingan and control the tailed beasts. What about the other Uchiha clans?
Although Fugaku Uchiha is dead, who knows if a second Uchiha with the Mangekyou Sharingan will emerge!
"Karagi Makoto, the Hand of God—"
Rasa put down the intelligence and handed it to his advisors Chiyo and Ebizo, who were standing nearby.
"Sister, what do you think?"
Ebizo frowned and looked at Granny Chiyo beside him.
Granny Chiyo's face was deeply wrinkled, and her eyes gleamed with a complex light: "Konoha suffering a great loss is naturally a good thing for us in Sunagakure. Their attention is diverted to the eastern front, and the pressure on us at the border will be much less."
"However, we must be even more wary of the Hidden Mist!"
"This kid from Kirigakure is too dangerous. He can copy bloodlines. Today he copied the Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails and attack Konoha. Tomorrow, will he use the Mangekyou Sharingan to deal with our Sunagakure and control the One-Tails?"
Luo Sha felt a chill run down his spine.
Granny Chiyo's worries were exactly what he was thinking.
Their relationship with Sunagakure and Kirigakure is very bad, extremely bad.
There have been numerous conflicts between the two ninja villages, and countless ninjas from both villages have died at the hands of the other.
The seeds of hatred had already been sown.
If Makoto Karatachi were to turn his attention to Sunagakure in the future, and even use the copied Mangekyou Sharingan to control the One-Tailed Beast of Sunagakure—
The thought of that scene sent chills down Luo Sha's spine.
Something has to be done!
Be prepared and take precautions!
"Sister, you mean—"
Rasa looked at Chiyo, his voice low.
A cold glint flashed in Granny Chiyo's eyes: "We cannot wait passively. Makoto Karatachi's potential is too terrifying, and he also has that strange ability. If we let him grow, he will surely become a major threat to Sunagakure in the future."
"But we are currently engaged in a fierce battle with Konoha, and our main force is tied up in the Kikyo Mountain area. It is impossible for us to send troops to target Kirigakure, let alone directly attack Makoto Karatachi."
Ebizo interjected, his brow furrowed: "Besides, Makoto Karatachi has just achieved unparalleled merit, and his prestige in Kirigakure is currently at its zenith. To touch him would be tantamount to declaring war on Kirigakure. We don't have the resources to do that."
"Then let's try a different approach," Granny Chiyo said slowly. "Since we can't eliminate the threat directly, let's ease tensions and at least temporarily stabilize Kirigakure, keeping them preoccupied, or divert their attention elsewhere."
"To ease tensions?"
Rasa's eyes flickered slightly. "Lady Chiyo, are you referring to reconciliation with Kirigakure, or even—cooperation?"
"Reconciliation is easier said than done." Chiyo shook her head. "The animosity between the two villages runs deep and cannot be resolved with a few empty words. But we can show some goodwill, or rather, make some gestures," to let Kirigakure see our sincerity and thus appease them.
"Of course, since it's a gesture of sincerity, the quantity must be sufficient."
Granny Chiyo's eyes were deep: "We need a 'gift' that is substantial enough to both quell the anger of some in Kirigakure and demonstrate the sincerity and determination of Sunagakure."
"If sending this gift can alleviate the situation in the village, thus achieving multiple benefits, that would be even better."
1
Rasa remained silent for a moment, his mind flashing quickly through some people and events within Sunagakure.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, as if he had thought of something.
"Lady Chiyo, are you saying—"
"Ah, Yekura."
Grass and fire on the border, rocks and hidden battlefields.
Onoki floated in mid-air, holding a scroll of information about the battle between Kazama and Yagaya, his eyes fixed on the words in the information.
Kaleidoscope Sharingan!
Susanoo!
Control the Nine-Tails!
The shock he felt far surpassed that of others.
This pillar of Iwagakure can confidently declare to the entire ninja world that no one in the world today understands the weight of these words better than him.
Back when the Warring States period was first established, he personally witnessed this power, and almost lost his mind and will in the face of it!
That being, like a ghost or a god.
"Uchiha Madara."
Onoki's lips moved silently, as if that demon-like figure had once again crossed time and space to appear before him.
That complete Susanoo, blotting out the sky, that terrifying power that swept away everything, and those cold, indifferent eyes that seemed to regard all living beings as ants—
Even after so many years, even after he had become Onoki, the "Two Scales" who ruled Iwagakure, that tremor from the depths of his soul was still clear.
And now, a kid from the Hidden Mist, a young man named Makoto Karatachi, has actually brought this terrifying power back to life through that strange divine hand!
"Copying bloodlines, they can even copy the Mangekyou Sharingan and Susanoo—"
Onoki's voice was filled with deep apprehension and a hint of disbelief: "This ability is simply a monster born to disrupt the balance."
He put down the scroll and looked at Huang Tu, Wen Ya, and other high-ranking members of the Rock Hidden Sect, who also had solemn expressions in the command post.
"Konoha has really bitten off more than they can chew this time."
"The core of the eastern front was destroyed in one blow, and thousands of elite troops were killed or wounded. Even Konoha would be considered to have suffered a severe blow from such a loss."
"Father, this might be an opportunity for Iwagakure," Huang Tu said in a deep voice. "With the collapse of Konoha's eastern front, we will inevitably have to draw troops from other fronts to fill the gap. The pressure on our battlefield in the Land of Grass may be relieved, and we may even be able to attempt a larger offensive."
Onoki nodded slightly, but then shook his head.
"The opportunities exist, but the risks are greater."
"This Makoto Karatachi from Kirigakure is the biggest variable. He can replicate the Mangekyou Sharingan and control the Nine-Tails, so does that mean—he might also be able to replicate my Dust Release?"
The command center fell into a deathly silence.
Dust Escape!
This is a power above the Bloodline Limit, and it is the most powerful means that allows Iwagakure to stand tall in the ninja world!
If Makoto Karatari can truly replicate any bloodline limit and secret technique at will, then his growth potential and level of threat will be immeasurable.
Everyone felt a chill creep up their spines.
"We must reassess Kirigakure, especially the threat level posed by Makoto Karatachi." Onoki's voice turned serious and cold. "Notify the intelligence department to utilize all resources to gather all intelligence regarding Makoto Karatachi and the 'Hand of God.' Simultaneously, strengthen the protection and secrecy measures for Iwagakure's bloodline limits and those who inherit secret techniques."
"in addition----"
He paused, a shrewd glint in his eyes: "Perhaps we can try to make contact with this Gouju Cheng."
"At the very least, we need to figure out his stance and ambitions. The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend, but at least—we have the same enemy at this stage."
Onoki's gaze seemed to pierce through the battle lines and land on the Konoha's position.
He was certain that Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile at that moment must have been quite something!
Konoha's position.
The Naruto's tent.
The thick smell of smoke was almost tangible, mixing with the afterglow of the setting sun filtering through the window and casting dappled light and shadow inside the tent.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in military uniform, sat behind his desk. His usually straight back appeared somewhat hunched at this moment.
A cigarette roll lay before him, his left hand gripping the pipe tightly, his knuckles white from the force, his arm trembling slightly. His eyes, once wise and resolute, weathered countless storms, were now bloodshot, his rims red, as if he had aged ten years overnight.
Shinnosuke, Jiraiya, Zhiwei.
Now even Yandu—
There are also thousands of Konoha ninja.
Those names, one by one, were like red-hot irons, searing into his heart.
He received the information about the battle between Kazama and Tani earlier and in greater detail than Onoki, but it was precisely because of this detail that the description of the carnage and despair between the lines was all the more heart-wrenching.
The Mangekyou Sharingan controls the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, and the Susanoo equips the Nine-Tails to unleash the Beast's Triumph.
He could fully imagine the scene—a scene of despair and suffocation, where thousands of Konoha's elite soldiers fell like straw as they were slaughtered by wild beasts.
He wasn't the only one inside the tent.
Akimichi Torifu, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Choza, Orochimaru, the core members of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, and his most beloved disciple are all here.
But no one spoke.
Dead silence.
The only sounds were the suppressed breathing and the faint scraping of the scroll in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand as he gripped it tightly.
The air was thick with sadness and anger, but even more so with fear!
The battlefield in Kirigakure was extremely brutal. The entire battlefield was destroyed, thousands of Konoha ninjas died in battle, and with the death of Mitokado Homura, a high-ranking elder, the entire eastern front's fighting force was almost completely wiped out!
This is not only a loss of combat power, but also a devastating blow to the morale of Konoha.
Konoha has never suffered such a devastating defeat since its founding!
Hiruzen —
Akimichi Torifu spoke slowly. He looked at his old friend's face, which had aged considerably in an instant, and felt the same grief in his heart. However, as a high-ranking member and the only person in the tent who was qualified to speak, he had to remain rational.
"Now is not the time for sadness."
"We must respond immediately. The eastern front has collapsed, and Kirigakure's forces could easily advance deep into the Land of Fire's heartland. Iwagakure and Kumogakure will certainly not let this opportunity pass once they learn of this."
"Konoha—it's at a critical juncture of life and death!"
That last sentence struck everyone like a heavy hammer blow.
Yes, with the eastern front collapsing, Kirigakure could easily advance unimpeded. In addition, Konoha is currently fighting against Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure. If something really happens, then we're truly doomed.
Kirigakure doesn't even need to attack Konoha's home territory; they only need to attack the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Stone villages' Konoha positions, and the entire Konoha will collapse!
"Lord Qufeng is right."
Nara Shikaku took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock and grief in his heart: "As for Iwagakure, once Onoki receives the news, he will definitely intensify his offensive. Although Kumogakure was suppressed by Minato before, their main force is still intact, and the AB combination still maintains a strong fighting force. Moreover, they have recently shown signs of making a comeback. Once they learn of our crushing defeat on the eastern front, they are very likely to launch another fierce attack!"
"Although the situation in Sunagakure has stabilized for the time being, Chiyo and Rasa are not easy opponents, and the pressure on the border remains."
He spoke quickly and clearly, but with each sentence he uttered, the expressions on everyone's faces grew increasingly grim.
Konoha is facing an unprecedented crisis, with enemies on three or even four sides!
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened silently, smoke rising from his pipe, blurring his tired and weathered face.
Silence fell again inside the tent, broken only by the heavy breathing of the group.
"teacher."
A soft, calm voice broke the silence.
It was Orochimaru, who had remained silent all along.
His golden vertical pupils stared at the silent Hiruzen Sarutobi, and his slightly hoarse voice was quite unique in the tent.
"Given the current situation, conventional tactical adjustments are no longer effective. We cannot conjure enough troops in a short period of time to simultaneously defend against Kirigakure, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and also guard against Sunagakure."
"We must make choices, or rather—we must find a key point that can break the deadlock."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at his most proud disciple.
"What do you want to say, Orochimaru?"
Orochimaru stuck out his tongue, licked his lips, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.
"The key point, of course, is Makoto Karatachi from Kirigakure."
"He is the root of all this. His power and his abilities have completely changed the balance of the Eastern Front, and may even change the course of the entire Shinobi World War."
"If we can get rid of him, or—obtain his power, then the crisis on the eastern front will naturally be resolved, and it may even deter Iwagakure and Kumogakure."
Akimichi Torifu frowned: "This is easier said than done! Even Jiraiya—Danzo, Fugaku, and Minato Kushina all suffered such crushing defeats. How much would it cost to eliminate him? Where do we find the extra resources to carry out such a decapitation mission?!"
"Conventional methods simply won't work."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a faint smile: "But what if it's unconventional power?"
His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Teacher, you should understand what I mean. Konoha's strength goes far beyond what it appears on the surface. It's time to use some of its power."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand holding the pipe trembled slightly.
He certainly understood what Orochimaru meant.
As the most powerful ninja village in the ninja world, Konoha's foundation is incredibly profound. Putting aside everything else, just a few items recorded in the Scroll of Seals could greatly reverse Konoha's current predicament.
The problem is that once those things are used, the risks and consequences are far too great. Risks like risking one's own life are the least of it.
Especially now, Konoha has already suffered heavy losses. If they use these powers again, one wrong move could lead to utter destruction!
"no."
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time before finally shaking his head: "Those things were placed in the Scroll of Seals only because the First Hokage explicitly forbade them. How can we tamper with them? Besides, now is not the time for risk. Konoha cannot afford any more turmoil and losses."
"—So what are you going to do?"
Orochimaru was not surprised by Hiruzen Sarutobi's rejection.
He knew his teacher's temperament well, but in the current situation, even someone as cold-hearted as him couldn't think of any other way to break the deadlock if he didn't use those forbidden techniques.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took long, long puffs of his cigarette.
The fire in the pipe had long since died out, leaving only cold ashes.
He slowly placed his pipe on the table and glanced up, his eyes sweeping over every familiar face in the tent.
"Konoha—must not fall."
"The first generation of adults and teachers entrusted the village to me, and I must not let it be destroyed in my hands."
"However, as Shikaku said, we cannot simultaneously cope with the pressure from Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure, and we also have to guard against the movements of Sunagakure."
"A direct confrontation will only lead to more Konoha ninja sacrificing themselves in vain, and the village shedding its last drop of blood."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, his voice hoarse.
"So I decided—"
"Make peace with Kirigakure!"
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