Chapter 229: Chapter 228: The Situation Changes Rapidly
Chapter 228: The Situation Changes Rapidly
The Land of Hot Water.
A wave of morale-boosting news swept through the Konoha ninja army's camp today—the long-missing Blue Cat of Konoha had finally returned!
During this period, under Danzo's command, the Konoha forces had managed to hold off the attacks from the Hidden Cloud Village.
However, due to Danzo's extreme methods and rigid policies, the entire camp had been weighed down by a heavy atmosphere. No one knew when they might be deemed disposable and abandoned by Danzo.
While his iron-fisted rule had produced results, it had also created an overwhelming sense of paranoia among the troops.
Upon arriving at the camp, the first thing Tonari did was not to report to the main tent and meet Danzo. Instead, he went straight to find his close friend, Namikaze Minato, and his perverted teacher, the self-proclaimed Pervy Sage—Jiraiya.
The moment Minato saw Tonari, his emotions surged. He rushed forward and gave Tonari a tight bear hug.
As he embraced him, Minato kept whispering softly in his ear, "Tonari, I'm sorry, I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
He repeated it over and over, his hands gripping the fabric of Tonari's clothes tightly, as if afraid he might vanish again. The strength of his arms reflected the turmoil in his heart.
Feeling Minato's emotional turmoil, Tonari patted his back lightly. "It's okay, Minato. I'm fine, aren't I?"
Standing behind Minato, Jiraiya watched with an understanding smile.
"This is what the old man has always talked about—true bonds."
It took a long time for Minato's trembling body to calm down, and when he finally let go, his eyes were slightly red.
Only he knew how much guilt and pain he had endured during Tonari's disappearance.
If not for his naturally gentle and composed personality, the self-reproach might have completely broken him.
Seeing the expression on Minato's face, Tonari felt a surge of emotion and patted his shoulder.
"Minato, you should have more faith in me. Even if every ninja in the world dies, I'll still be alive. My survival skills are top-tier!"
Tonari's confident words made Minato feel a little better.
At this moment, Jiraiya also walked up and patted Minato on the shoulder.
"I told you, didn't I? With this brat's abilities, there was no way he wouldn't make it back alive. You had nothing to worry about. He's just like his teacher, Orochimaru—his ability to survive is top-notch."
Hearing this, Minato nodded, gradually regaining his composure.
He had simply been overwhelmed by emotions when he first saw Tonari again.
After confirming Minato was alright, Tonari and him exchanged a genuine, joyful smile.
Jiraiya suddenly thought of something.
"By the way, Tonari, did you report to Danzo yet?"
No matter who it was, any ninja returning to camp had to report to the commanding officer. It was a sign of respect.
Tonari opened his mouth, about to reply, when an unexpected voice interrupted from outside the tent.
"He did not."
The three of them stiffened immediately.
They all recognized that voice too well.
Jiraiya exchanged a look with Minato and Tonari.
The moment they understood each other, the tent flap was pulled open by a masked ANBU operative, revealing Danzo Shimura in full combat attire.
His single visible eye swept across the three of them before locking onto Tonari.
Tonari did not look away. He met Danzo's gaze head-on.
Though Danzo had one eye covered, Tonari suspected that beneath the bandages, a Sharingan was implanted—likely a standard three-tomoe Sharingan, though not Shisui's yet.
Having experienced implanting a Sharingan himself, Tonari knew how intoxicating its power was. If one's will wasn't firm enough, they wouldn't want to give it up.
"Lord Danzo," Minato greeted politely.
Tonari, on the other hand, put on an exaggeratedly shocked expression, his face full of mock disbelief.
"Lord Danzo! I had no idea you were here! When did you arrive?! As a half-host of this camp, I truly regret not welcoming you properly… what a grave oversight!"
Danzo: "..."
In an instant, whatever serious speech he had prepared was completely thrown off by Tonari's over-the-top performance.
Even Jiraiya, standing nearby, found it hard to watch.
This brat… is so shameless.
"Tonari, before you returned, the *command of this camp had already been transferred to… well…" Jiraiya gestured toward Danzo.
Hearing this, Tonari's expression turned even more exaggerated—if he had covered his mouth with his hands in fake shock, it would've been a perfect theatrical act.
"Ohhh! So that's why Jiraiya-sama is still here! I was just about to go report in! Lord Danzo, my sincerest apologies… my deepest regrets…!"
Minato and Jiraiya: "..."
At this moment, they were both considering denying they even knew him.
Danzo's face twitched in frustration.
He had intended to assert dominance by scolding Tonari over an unspoken rule, but Tonari played dumb so well that he had no choice but to drop the subject.
From a technical standpoint, Tonari had been gone for a long time, so it was plausible that he genuinely didn't know about the leadership change.
But Danzo knew better.
This brat is just messing with me.
Their personal feud had long passed the point of reconciliation.
Tonari still bore the Curse Mark of Root on his tongue, and his exile in the Land of Lightning had been Danzo's doing.
And most importantly—Danzo no longer wanted to see Tonari grow stronger.
If Tonari continued to rise, he would block Danzo's path to becoming Hokage. In fact, he already had.
This was why Danzo saw him as an enemy.
Once, Danzo thought he could control Tonari easily.
After all, even someone as talented as Orochimaru had fallen into his grasp.
But Tonari had grown too fast. Before Danzo could react, he had already become a threat.
The final straw had been the death of Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake.
That incident had solidified the divide between them, revealing to Tonari the true nature of both Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
With power in his hands, Tonari no longer feared Danzo.
And today's performance was proof of that.
Danzo glared at Tonari. He had intended to pressure him but ended up being humiliated instead.
Taking a deep breath, he lowered his voice.
"Tonari, do you realize the pressure Konoha's forces have been under while you were absent?"
"If we lost this war, do you understand the magnitude of responsibility you would bear?"
A massive accusation—if confirmed, it could lead to dire consequences.
But Tonari didn't even blink.
He merely smiled and said, "No way, right? Am I really that important? If I was gone, Konoha would lose? No way, no way—I didn't know I mattered so much!"
Danzo's face darkened further.
Used to ruling Root with absolute control, he found Tonari's defiant sarcasm utterly infuriating.
But he couldn't take action yet.
Instead, he gave Tonari an ultimatum.
"You have one day. I expect a full written explanation on my desk by then."
With that, he turned and left.
As soon as Danzo was gone, both Minato and Jiraiya looked at Tonari with concern.
They knew Danzo well.
Tonari had now become his primary target.
If he wasn't careful, Danzo would assign him to a suicide mission.
Jiraiya sighed. "Tonari, there was no need to provoke him like that."
But Tonari simply waved it off.
He knew—whether he provoked Danzo or not, the man would still try to get rid of him.
At least this way, he had some control over the game.
---
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Chapter 230: Chapter 229: Reentering the Hidden Mist
Chapter 229: Reentering the Hidden Mist
Crisis in the Land of Rain!
Crisis in the Land of Taki!
Crisis in the Land of Hot Water!
Almost simultaneously, three urgent battle reports were placed on Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk!
Neither he nor his advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, had anticipated such a situation. They had expected the three major villages to retaliate after discovering Konoha's deceptive tactics, but they hadn't expected them to launch their attacks at the exact same time, as if they had coordinated their movements beforehand.
This left Konoha completely unprepared, resulting in the current three-front crisis.
Given Konoha's present state, they simply didn't have the manpower to support all three battlefields at once. If they did, they wouldn't be in such dire straits to begin with.
The strategy of feigning weakness had granted Konoha's forces a brief respite. However, it seemed that the three great villages had grown wary of allowing Konoha any more breathing room. They had chosen to strike simultaneously, ensuring that Konoha would be overwhelmed.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was as dark as still water as he looked at his two advisors. Three intelligence scrolls lay open before him, detailing the battlefield situations.
Taking a deep breath, he asked, "The situation is grim. Do either of you have any ideas?"
At such a critical moment, he couldn't expect Koharu and Homura to offer empty words of praise.
Hiruzen continued, **"The Sand Ninja in the Land of Rain are not as big of a problem. Their numbers have always been relatively small, and with the Hidden Rain Village assisting us, we should be able to hold them off.
"But the Hidden Stone forces in the Land of Taki and the Cloud Ninja in the Land of Hot Water… no, it's even worse than that.
"Not long ago, the exact scenario that Nara Shikaku feared the most has come to pass. The Hidden Stone, already boasting the largest military force, has opened a second front in the Land of Grass!
"And based on intelligence reports, Onoki has likely dispatched several hundred, possibly even thousands of ninja to attack the Fire Country's interior from the Land of Grass. Their goal? To strike at the rear of our forces in the Land of Taki!
"Even though Nara Shikaku assigned Jonin commander Muraoka Yoshihide to set up defensive lines, it may not be enough to stop them.
"And on the frontlines in the Land of Taki, the Hidden Stone has amassed nearly ten thousand ninja.
"With such a vast army at his disposal, Shikaku cannot afford to make reckless moves. Our available reinforcements are limited, and it's uncertain whether we can hold the line.
"If the Land of Taki falls…"**
The pressure bearing down on Hiruzen Sarutobi, both mentally and physically, was almost unbearable.
"What about the Hidden Grass Village?" Koharu Utatane asked.
Hiruzen shook his head slowly. He had no desire to discuss it. The Hidden Grass Village was not the Hidden Rain. They had no "Demi-God" like Hanzo to protect them.
There was no way the Hidden Grass would dare to intervene.
"What about the Land of Hot Water?" Homura Mitokado inquired.
**"The Hidden Cloud didn't open a second front, but the Third Raikage still dispatched an additional thousand ninja from the Hidden Cloud.
"Our already strained defenses are now stretched even thinner than before."**
Every word weighed on Hiruzen's mind like a boulder.
Hearing this, both Koharu and Homura's expressions darkened.
At this moment, the same thought surfaced in both their minds.
"If only Danzo were here."
Among the three of them, Danzo was the one most skilled in handling emergency situations. He could devise underhanded but highly effective solutions.
Hiruzen suddenly stood up.
"It seems I have no choice but to take the field myself!"
If the Hokage personally entered battle, not only could he stabilize the situation in the Land of Grass, but his presence would also greatly boost morale.
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
Koharu and Homura immediately rejected the idea.
**"As the Hokage, you are Konoha's final line of defense. If you personally take action, it will signal to the enemy that Konoha has exhausted all its options.
"This will only embolden them to press their attacks even harder.
"And if they decide to launch an attack on Konoha itself while you are away, we would be doomed!"** Koharu argued.
Hiruzen stood in place, silently staring at his two advisors.
Under his gaze, both Koharu and Homura felt a tinge of guilt.
Still, sometimes pressure sparks ingenuity.
"What about the 'Yellow Flash'?" Koharu suddenly suggested.
**"Namikaze Minato is stationed in the Land of Hot Water. His speed is fast enough to reach the Land of Grass in time.
"And his squad, which includes Hatake Kakashi, the son of Konoha's White Fang, has already made a name for itself on the battlefield.
"Since he was able to go head-to-head with the Third Raikage, that means he already possesses Kage-level strength!"**
Hiruzen considered this carefully.
Minato was indeed powerful enough to support the Land of Grass…
"Additionally," Homura added, **"since Hatake Kakashi has already become a Jonin, that means he must have remarkable talent!
"And didn't Danzo once tell us that he had been working on a plan against the Hidden Stone?
"I believe now is the time to relieve Danzo of his command and return control of the Land of Hot Water's forces to Jiraiya.
"The Hidden Stone's expansion of the war front is our biggest concern right now.
"If other villages follow suit, we will be overwhelmed."**
Their discussion quickly led to another idea.
"We should also reach out to the Hidden Mist Village."
**"If we can convince the Mist Ninja to attack the Lightning Country's rear, it would ease the pressure on our forces at the front.
"If we can neutralize the Hidden Stone and the Hidden Cloud, then the Sand Village—without a Kazekage—won't be a problem."**
Hiruzen's eyes gleamed.
**"The Water Country is isolationist. Reaching the Mist Village won't be easy.
"We've sent many ninja there, but they either fail or vanish without a trace."**
"Tonari can go!" Koharu proposed.
**"Before the Water Country closed itself off, he had successfully infiltrated it for a mission.
"And since the Land of Hot Water is the closest battlefield to the Water Country, he can travel there the fastest.
"His strength is more than sufficient—even if the negotiations fail, he will still be able to retreat unharmed.
"If we act quickly, he might even return before the Hidden Cloud launches its assault."**
Hiruzen nodded.
This was the first useful suggestion they had made in a long time.
When pressured, even they could come up with something good.
With no time to hesitate, Hiruzen immediately issued his orders:
1. Minato's squad is to be deployed to the Land of Grass to assist in repelling the Hidden Stone's sneak attack.
2. Danzo is ordered to return to Konoha and relinquish command of the Land of Hot Water's forces to Jiraiya.
3. Tonari will travel to the Hidden Mist Village to deliver a message from the Hokage and attempt to form an alliance. If unsuccessful, he must return to the battlefield immediately.
4. All Konoha ninja are to be recalled from leave. B-rank missions and lower are canceled, and all available ninja are sent to the frontlines.
5. All funding is redirected toward the war effort. The ninja clans are ordered to contribute financially, and the supply chains for explosive tags and kunai are reinforced.
6. The Ninja Academy initiates its wartime protocols. Any student who can proficiently use the Clone, Transformation, and Substitution Jutsu can graduate early. The Academy will also begin accepting adult recruits.
The full wartime system of Konoha had now been activated.
As the creator of the Ninja Academy, Tobirama Senju's foresight was finally proving invaluable.
Far away in the Land of Hot Water, Tonari had just received his mission orders.
Without hesitation, he set off toward the Water Country once more.
---
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