“He couldn’t possibly still be alive, right?” Danzo laughed softly.
Of course, that was impossible.
Danzo had personally witnessed Tobirama presiding over Hashirama’s funeral, saw the body interred and buried. Even the initial samples for their Wood Release research with Orochimaru ca from Hashirama’s grave, stolen from Konoha’s cetery. Danzo even had Hashirama’s face growing on his chest due to the implanted cells. That couldn’t be fake.
“Perhaps it’s the issue with the body samples. The Hashirama cells you provided were modified products, deviating significantly from Hashirama himself. This could explain why we couldn’t summon him from the Pure Land,” Orochimaru calmly analyzed the reasons for the Edo Tensei failure.
Despite many attempts, every effort to summon Hashirama Senju through Edo Tensei ended in failure. The legendary Shinobi God could not be brought back from the Pure Land. Danzo found it regrettable but accepted Orochimaru’s explanation, as he did not fully understand the complexities of Edo Tensei.
“It’s a pity that Konoha’s cetery, which housed the identities of many, was destroyed by that traitor Neiki,” Danzo said, a murderous glint in his eyes as he touched the wound on his abdon. The scene of Neiki’s ambush in the forest, nearly killing him, was still fresh in his mind. The subsequent escape had been a humiliating and dangerous ordeal, almost costing him his life and dignity.
Orochimaru, his gaze flickering behind Danzo, shifted his eyes and said softly, “I heard Neiki was spotted in the Land of Waves.”
“You want Neiki’s body? That will have to wait until I beco Hokage,” Danzo reminded coldly. Their cooperation had never been equal, even in the past. Though Orochimaru was one of the Legendary Sannin, his status in Konoha was rely as Hiruzen’s disciple and a potential candidate for Hokage before Minato took the position. His power couldn’t compare to Danzo’s, who controlled the Root.
After Minato beca Hokage, Orochimaru beca disillusioned with Konoha and Hiruzen, which spurred his research into forbidden techniques. He needed vast numbers of human subjects for his experints, which Danzo’s Root provided, forming a mutually beneficial partnership where Danzo held the upper hand.
“I don’t an that,” Orochimaru shook his head, his expression unreadable. “I’m saying that along with the information about Neiki in the Land of Waves, there’s another piece of news.”
“Tsunade, huh…” Danzo pondered.
This was top-secret information. Konoha’s defenders were clinging to the hope of Jiraiya and Tsunade’s reinforcents. If news of Tsunade being captured by Neiki on her way back were to spread, it would crush the morale of everyone in Konoha.
Danzo didn’t know how Orochimaru had obtained this information. Even he had only recently learned it from Hiruzen, who shared it to prepare him for a last stand. Koharu and Homura had likely received the sa information.
Hiruzen knew their commitnt to Konoha ant they would fight to the last breath despite their differences. The information was kept from those who might prioritize family over the village, as their decisions could sway many others.
Before Danzo could question Orochimaru’s source, Orochimaru smiled and said, “This is good news.”
Danzo pondered for a mont and then realized… this guy…
“You’re going to leak the information?” He was both shocked and angry but then thought it might actually work.
“If we wait for Jiraiya and the others to return, it’ll be too late,” Orochimaru said, watching the distant battlefield explode with activity. “Let them fall into despair first. Then they’ll realize who the true savior of Konoha is.”
“Many will die…”
Orochimaru’s brows furrowed. Was this really the Danzo he knew, asking such a question?
“Do you care?”
Danzo’s chuckle restored Orochimaru’s confidence. Despite years apart, Danzo was still the man he knew.
…
Danzo was even more ruthless than Orochimaru had imagined.
“What?! Lady Tsunade was captured by Neiki in the Land of Waves? Lord Jiraiya is being blocked by Iwagakure ninja and can’t make it? And Sunagakure and Kirigakure forces are also approaching Konoha?”
Asuma was initially stunned when he heard this information from a comrade, causing him to lose his focus in the battle. He was repeatedly overwheld by Midare’s attacks, accumulating several cuts on his chest, face, and even his neck. If he moved any slower, Midare’s claws would have torn his throat.
“What are you doing?” Midare was unimpressed with Asuma’s lack of fighting spirit. “If you lack the will to fight, step back. If you don’t want to beco a rogue ninja, Kumogakure will accept your defection.”
Asuma remained silent, his mouth slightly agape.
Tsunade’s reinforcents were compromised. Jiraiya’s forces were delayed by Iwagakure. And now, Sunagakure and Kirigakure forces were approaching. anwhile, Konoha’s defenses were struggling to hold back Kumogakure’s assault. Their swift attacks had shattered three defensive lines within ten minutes. The frontline was collapsing, with more and more Konoha ninjas retreating, indicating that street fighting within Konoha might be their last resort.
But without the reinforcents, facing so many enemies, did they stand a chance?
Asuma didn’t know. He just felt a sudden urge to kill the person who had spread this information. That individual might not have done it intentionally, just seeking confirmation, but whoever leaked it did so deliberately. Even if the reinforcents were delayed, spreading such news at a critical mont was a malicious act.
“If you’ve made up your mind, throw down your weapon. While we in Kumogakure despise cowards who surrender, Raikage-sama might still acknowledge you,” Midare offered.
Chapter 103: The Bad News
Asuma was still silently contemplating, but Midare had lost her patience. She retracted her claws and, after speaking calmly, walked past Asuma toward Konoha.
Kumogakure had a notorious habit of coveting and seizing valuable assets from other villages, whether it was tailed beasts or kekkei genkai. They had attempted to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina, from Konoha, and even tried to kidnap Hinata Hyuga during a peace treaty ceremony with Konoha.
Asuma was a direct descendant of the Sarutobi clan, a clan that, while not possessing a kekkei genkai, had significant influence and resources. The Sarutobi clan’s traditional summoning contract with the Enma, the Monkey King, was a powerful asset that could fill the gap left by Kumogakure’s lack of formidable summoning beasts.
Just as Midare was walking away, Asuma acted.
“Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!”
“Fire Release: Fire Rat Bomb!” Midare quickly retreated, and then, turning around, she unleashed a blue fire rat bomb toward Asuma, which he deflected with his chakra blade.
They resud their standoff.
“Not backing down?” Midare asked, her interest piqued by Asuma’s sudden resolve.
“I said it before.”
“You’ll only get what I guard by stepping over my dead body,” Asuma said, his hair disheveled, his body bloodied, and his deanor bordering on madness.
…
“I’m sorry, Kakashi, but this information states that your reinforcents won’t arrive in ti. Tsunade was captured by Neiki, Jiraiya is held up by Iwagakure, and the Konoha high command wants you to fall back and prepare for street fighting to buy ti,” Darui said, tossing Kakashi a captured piece of Konoha intel.
“Fake.” Kakashi sliced the paper in half without even glancing at it.
Darui sighed, “It was retrieved from one of your ssengers. It should be true.”
“I said it’s fake,” Kakashi insisted firmly.
Darui was taken aback, scratching his head, “Could it really be fake? Were we deceived…?”
He wasn’t too sure, but it didn’t matter much for the bigger picture.
“But really, do we need to continue? Kakashi, it seems like the frontlines have reached Konoha’s gates. Aren’t you going back?”
“You make a good point… Let’s finish this quickly,” Kakashi said, placing a hand over his Sharingan. “This is a technique I just learned. It’s my first ti using it, so I might not control it well. I intend to capture you alive, but if you die, please understand.”
Darui was about to continue his persuasion when he suddenly felt a crushing force on his chest. Looking down, he saw a vortex forming, tearing at his flesh.
This…
The laziness vanished from his face, replaced by panic as he tried to dodge. In the next second,
A thick arm bearing the kanji for “Lightning” flew into the air.
…
anwhile, across other battlefronts, the news that Tsunade and Jiraiya’s reinforcents were delayed had begun to take its toll. So Konoha shinobi refused to believe it and sought verification, inadvertently helping the rumor spread. So believed it and, with their last hope extinguished, made desperate, self-sacrificing attacks. Others remained faithful to Konoha’s high command, retreating to the village for a final stand. And so, who pretended not to believe, secretly began arranging escape plans for themselves or their clans.
Regardless, the morale of Konoha’s forces had plumted.
…
A crow flew across the sky, landing on a power pole. It raised one claw, carefully cleaning off a red stain from its feathers. When it looked up again, its face was sared with blood. Shaking its head, it hopped away just as a flash of lightning struck, toppling the pole.
A panicked caw echoed in the thick air.
The Fourth Raikage, A, looked down at the Konoha ninja he had knocked into the power pole. The ninja was barely alive after A’s assault.
“You dared to ambush . You’re brave… What’s your na?”
The Konoha jonin did not answer, blood dripping from his mouth. He weakly placed his hands on A’s legs and smiled grimly.
The sll of smoke cut through the thick, bloody air, a faint flicker of fire beneath the jonin’s jacket.
“Kumogakure scum, die…”
It was an explosive tag, a weapon that had caused Kumogakure so many losses.
A’s eyes widened, and he tried to pull away, but the jonin held tight, his smile widening. With a loud explosion, a cloud of blood and dust erupted.
“Did we finally kill that monster?”
As the smoke cleared, no one erged. Konoha’s ninjas looked on with hope, until a voice sounded from behind them:
“If by monster, you an … I’m afraid not.”
Everyone turned, and there stood A, his massive fra casting a shadow over them, unscathed and surrounded by lightning.
In their anger, so Konoha shinobi threw kunai at him, but the weapons disintegrated upon touching his lightning armor.
A scoffed, casually reaching out and grabbing one by the throat, lifting him into the air.
“Iruka!!”
The Konoha ninjas launched their attacks, but A paid them no mind. He looked around at the nearly deserted Konoha streets, shaking his head in disappointnt.
“I went too far…”
While other Kumogakure shinobi were still dismantling Konoha’s defenses, A had fought his way straight to the village’s heart, far ahead of his comrades.
“You did well, evacuating civilians during the battle,” A noted. He was not one to slaughter indiscriminately and appreciated that Konoha had not used civilians as shields. Now, without any restrictions, Kumogakure could press their attack without hesitation.
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