บท 259: Chapter 259
Those in favor were naturally Kaito and Hyūga Hiashi. After all, Hyūga Hiashi hadn't forgotten the old grudges.
The one opposed was Jiraiya, who didn't want to finish fighting Iwagakure and then start a war with Kumogakure.
However, the final decision had been made, leaving him with no choice but to accept the outcome.
Of course, Nara Shikaku's maneuvering played a role in this decision. Although he abstained, he pointed out the Fourth Raikage's vengeful nature.
Letting him go might risk a future war, but his death could prevent many potential issues.
However, there was a condition: Konohagakure must achieve a complete victory at the front lines.
Otherwise, Kumogakure might seek revenge, which would be less than ideal.
And now, Kaito has caused another major incident.
Using the excuse of fighting fiercely with the Akatsuki organization, he gathered everyone through Orochimaru.
Then, through that battle, he directly disrupted Iwagakure village's logistical routes!
Moreover, the damage they caused resulted in the death of a significant portion of the ninja defending Iwagakure.
Such terrifying combat power, impressive results, and an incredible boost in morale.
All of this greatly motivated Konohagakure. In all seriousness, Jiraiya should be pleased.
However, Kaito's actions accelerated the war's progression. It's likely Ōnoki wouldn't be able to sit still once he heard the news.
Now, under Tsunade's command, Konohagakure is on the offensive, while Iwagakure is on the defensive.
But once Ōnoki arrives, the final battle will likely erupt.
"So, what do you all think?"
Jiraiya, tiredly rubbing his forehead, was genuinely exasperated by Kaito's actions.
Wasn't the plan just to scout and then destroy Iwagakure's morale during the final battle?
Although Kaito did indeed strike a blow to Iwagakure's morale by attacking now, he also disrupted the planned strategy!
"Hokage-sama, I believe we don't really need to worry about this matter."
Though Nara Shikaku also felt a bit fatigued by these events, he remained calm.
He looked earnestly at Jiraiya and said slowly,
"Minister Kaito's actions might seem inappropriate, but we cannot conclude that he did it on purpose.
During battles, many things can't be taken into account, and minor accidents are quite normal.
Moreover, didn't this incident show us Minister Kaito's strength? I think this could be seen as a good thing."
"You think this is a good thing? Aren't you giving him too much credit?"
Jiraiya chuckled in exasperation, leaning back in the Hokage's chair.
"He indeed demonstrated his strength to us, but no matter how powerful an individual is, can they single-handedly take on an army?
The nature of warfare has long changed. Being too powerful can also lead to unintentional harm. Even if Kaito were to join the battle, he must be cautious in his attacks.
Given such circumstances, how much of his true strength can he actually exert?"
Jiraiya wouldn't deny Kaito's prowess, but war isn't a one-versus-many kind of fight.
There are formidable individuals everywhere. Remember how powerful the Third Raikage was?
Yet, in the end, wasn't he surrounded by countless Iwagakure shinobi, becoming overwhelmed and eventually perishing at their hands?
Furthermore, Jiraiya was confident in his own strength and was adept at large-scale combat.
But once he enters the battlefield, he must consider one thing: not harming his own teammates.
Could Kaito really take on a large group all by himself?
While it's not impossible, the damage Kaito caused wasn't done solely by him.
The information from Konohagakure was detailed. The supply route of Iwagakure was disrupted due to the impact of a battle between two individuals.
If Kaito were to try this alone, it would be challenging to replicate such results.
Therefore, based on individual combat abilities, Jiraiya finds it difficult to gauge Kaito's true strength.
Moreover, when facing thousands of enemies, what you need to consider isn't just offense, but also the capability to defend.
The defense of Susanoo is indeed powerful, but no matter how strong, there are limits; otherwise, why would Kaito be lying in the medical room now?
Iwagakure might not possess such immense power, but with so many people unleashing ninjutsu on you, an entire nation could be leveled!
Moreover, Ōnoki possesses a Kekkei Tōta, which is even more formidable than a Kekkei Genkai. If he takes the field, I'm afraid Kaito would be even less able to withstand it.
"These matters aren't our concern. Hokage-sama, do you trust Lady Tsunade or not?"
Nara Shikaku didn't refute Jiraiya's words but instead shook his head and earnestly inquired.
"Of course, I trust her, and I have the utmost faith in her!"
Facing this question, Jiraiya didn't hesitate at all, speaking with firm conviction.
"There's no doubt about her abilities, otherwise, I wouldn't have appointed her as the commander. She's one of the best choices I could think of!"
"Then why doesn't Hokage-sama maintain that trust?"
Hearing this answer, Nara Shikaku couldn't help but smile and replied in a leisurely manner.
"Lady Tsunade is at the front lines, and she has a clearer and more precise understanding of everything happening there.
We are her support, providing everything she needs. Hence, we should trust all her decisions.
Hokage-sama, Lady Tsunade's report did not show any dissatisfaction with Minister Kaito's actions.
So, why doesn't Hokage-sama continue to trust Lady Tsunade?"
While Konohagakure and Iwagakure were both troubled by the situation caused by Kaito, the higher-ups of Kumogakure were also filled with doubt and unease.
Their Raikage had been gone for a while, but up until now, there hasn't been any news from him.
Furthermore, their village's Eight-Tails Jinchūriki had also disappeared, seemingly having gone with the Fourth Raikage.
The two of them seem to have vanished, and they haven't even made any contact with the ANBU left in the Land of Grass.
Such strange and abnormal occurrences really make people feel puzzled and confused, especially as they recently received some unsettling news.
Battles have erupted at the borders of the Land of Iron, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Fire. The forest where the combat took place was entirely leveled, and they discovered octopus tentacles!
They can gather this information, but the ANBU couldn't retrieve any physical evidence.
However, this information was enough to alarm the higher-ups of Kumogakure. It's known that the Eight Tails has numerous tentacles.
Even with this information, they dared not jump to conclusions because they knew the full extent of the Fourth Raikage and his brother's strength.
Such immense power ensured that they could act without restraint in the ninja world. This was why, even if they were unhappy about it, they agreed when the Dodai brought the matter to their attention.
Yet, the current situation seems to surpass their expectations. No matter how much they trust the capabilities of these brothers, they can't help but worry.
If it weren't for the Dodai's esteemed reputation in Kumogakure and the trust he earned during the Third Raikage's era,
Others wouldn't be so restrained from speaking their minds, and the village wouldn't be so quiet now.
What others don't know is that the Dodai is currently feeling incredibly distressed inside.
Because he himself doesn't know what the Raikage brothers are up to, nor does he understand their current situation.
If not for his trust in their abilities, he'd probably be panicking by now.
Their strength is top-tier in the ninja world, and in one-on-one combat, they probably wouldn't fear anyone.
Even if they were to face an assault from Iwagakure, with the Eight Tails supporting them, there likely wouldn't be any significant problems, right?
Most importantly, they haven't received any news of Iwagakure making any large-scale ninja deployments.
After all, no significant troop movement can go unnoticed by the spies from various villages, so he can temporarily deduce that Iwagakure hasn't detected the movements of the Raikage brothers.
However, the two now seem to have vanished, which is genuinely perplexing.
It should be noted that it's not just Kumogakure ninjas on the battlefield; there are also Konoha ninjas.
Konoha would undoubtedly hold no fond feelings for Kumogakure. They didn't hesitate at all when they dealt a heavy blow to Konoha in the past.
The Hyūga incident is like a landmine they set in Konoha. Placing this trap not only allowed Kumogakure to obtain a pair of eyes that could shine brightly on the battlefield.
It could also significantly alter the relationship between the Hyūga and Konoha's top brass. Why wouldn't they be pleased with such a maneuver?
However, the end result was that they were played. Hiashi Hyuuga did not die; what they got was the eye of Hizashi Hyuuga, a member of the branch family.
And the eyes from a branch family member are essentially worthless. Nonetheless, the seeds of hatred have been sown, and the relationship between the Hyūga and Konoha's leadership will likely become increasingly strained.
In fact, events unfolded as they had anticipated. Although the Hyūga clan remained loyal, they were no longer as unquestioningly dedicated as before.
One could say their scheme was very successful, perhaps excessively so. Their trap not only blew up Konoha but the entire ninja world.
The impeachment incident involving Sarutobi Hiruzen is the result of their trap's explosion, and its effects spread throughout the entire ninja world.
Because of this event, the Hyūga clan has likely harbored deep resentment towards Kumogakure for some time. It's not just the Hyūga – probably the entirety of Konoha despises them.
Their actions caused a steep decline in Konoha's reputation, leading to a significant loss in mission shares.
Dodai believes that given the opportunity, both Konoha and the Hyūga would relentlessly seek revenge on them.
Especially now that the Hyūga have become one of Konoha's most powerful clans, they genuinely have the authority to take action and can garner considerable support.
Given this situation, Dodai genuinely hopes that Konoha doesn't encounter their Raikage.
He sincerely believes that such an encounter would be no better than if Iwagakure's people were to meet him.
"I hope nothing happens."
Dodai sighed deeply. He felt utterly helpless at this moment.
All he could do now is wait for news from the Fourth Raikage. Apart from that, he's powerless.
Could it be possible that they, Kumogakure, will have to dispatch a large army to the Land of Grass?
Doing so would reveal to everyone that their Fourth Raikage has gone missing, making them the laughingstock of the entire ninja world. The situation with Sunagakure is a testament to that.
Furthermore, once they deploy their forces to the front lines, Konoha and Iwagakure might cease their fighting, turning together to face Kumogakure instead.
Shaking his head slightly, Dodai felt a throbbing headache. Many things have now exceeded his expectations.
//
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