From undercover in Konoha, to I am the Hokage!

Chapter 208: A Hidden Hand

On March 16th, the 48th year of Konoha, news of the invasion of Konoha during the Kirigakure Civil War spread throughout the ninja world.

On the 17th, the Daimyo of the Land of Water and his six successors were assassinated.

On the 19th, Konoha issued the "Declaration of Protection of the Water Country".

On the 20th, the remaining people of the Hidden Mist began to gradually migrate to the territory of the Land of Fire, setting up villages in batches and redefining their living areas.

On the same day, after several hours of discussion, the temporary noble delegations of the Fire Nation and the Water Nation decided to open a number of special duty-free zone safe trading points on the border islands between the two countries, transfer the original national mission projects, and assume the obligation of military denial of security within the Water Nation.

In just these few short days, a series of news that happened was like a series of heavy punches, slapping the entire ninja world in the face unexpectedly, catching everyone off guard except Konoha, even Kirigakure itself.

No one could have imagined that the Hidden Mist Village, which was one of the five major ninja villages like them, would be like the small ninja villages like the Hidden Whirlpool Village and the Hidden Rainbow Village, and would disappear suddenly and unexpectedly without even having time to leave a last word for help.

What is even more shocking is that Konoha would intervene in the chaotic political situation of Kirigakure at such an appropriate time and deliver this fatal blow accurately and steadily.

This result is absolutely unacceptable to the remaining three major powers.

Even the Three Kingdoms nobles and daimyo behind them could not accept this result.

However, due to the strategic deterrence of some people, no one dared to say these words openly, so they could only express doubts and dissatisfaction through other channels.

On the 21st, Konoha held a routine press conference.

"Second Nara, may I ask how you can explain Konoha's invasion of Kirigakure and occupation of several islands, forced relocation of Kirigakure villagers, and assassination of the Daimyo of the Land of Water?"

"It's completely false. Next one."

"Minister Nara, may I ask if the 'protectorate area' mentioned in the 'Water Country Protection Declaration' issued by Konoha the other day only includes the main island of Water Country or all other islands? Will the remaining islands be annexed by the Fire Country soon?"

"The declaration is only a draft. The specific plan is still being negotiated between the two countries. I have nothing else to say. Next one."

"Sir Nara, may I ask if it is true that the former Fourth Mizukage, Karutagi Yagura, betrayed Kirigakure and defected to Konoha, intending to instigate a mutiny within Kirigakure and facilitate the invasion of Konoha?"

"Kumatsura Yagura-sama is an old friend of Konoha. As a witness to the changes in the relationship between Fire and Water over the past ten years, Yagura-sama has made his efforts. The current ninja world needs more ninjas like Yagura-sama, who transcend national prejudices and take responsibility for history and the ninja world."

The Hokage's office was filled with the synthesized sound of an old-fashioned television with a slightly rustling interference.

Looking at Nara Shikaku who was reciting a script seriously on TV, Sawara Kiri couldn't help but shake his head helplessly. He felt tired just watching him.

So, he subconsciously turned his body and leaned his elbow on the other end of the sofa.

Before he could lie down, he saw Tsunade, who had just been working, had sat down in front of him.

Sahara Kiri paused for a moment, then even withdrew his elbow, lying on his side with his head on her soft thighs, continuing to watch the TV at the other end of the office, while muttering softly:

"It's really not easy for Shikaku. He has to memorize so many things to pay attention to in just a few days."

"With this, that kid Yagura is completely tied to our broken boat."

"What bad luck! It's the Fourth Mizukage."

But before he could finish his words, he felt someone poking his temple with a finger. Tsunade's tone was clearly not in a good mood:

"Whose village are you calling a wreck?"

"Besides, it was you, a stinky brat, who tied up Karuju Yagura!"

"As for Shikaku's manuscript, it's fine. He wrote all those precautions originally. He started writing it on the day you set out. He seems to have confidence in you."

"Of course."

Sahara Kiri moved his head towards Tsunade's lower abdomen, trying to rest his head on a softer cushion: "Don't you see who I am?"

"Who else do you want to be?"

Tsunade's tone became worse again, and her fingers moved from his temple to his cheek, pinching it again and again.

This woman's temper is unpredictable, sometimes good, sometimes bad, and Sawara Kiri doesn't know how to deal with it.

Fortunately, the bond level has not dropped, which makes him feel relieved.

But he still cooperated and yelled in pain:
"Hey, hey, hey—it's going to fall."

"Your voice is so dry, you can't even pretend." Tsunade cursed softly, but she loosened her hands and gently massaged his cheeks with her soft fingertips.

Sawara Kiri found that he sometimes enjoyed a little psychological comfort like this after the war, as if this small action could separate him from the bloody battlefield and divide him into two different worlds.

Being invincible is naturally a wonderful thing.

But even if you are invincible, you will still not want to go to work when you don’t want to.

Forget about being invincible. Even if you are just the richest man in the world, your poor colleagues would get tired of showing off your wealth in front of them after a few years.

People always have to pursue other things.

"Now I am Sawara Kiri after completing my mission. My sloth nature is about to take effect. It is possible that I will stay in the office for more than ten hours without realizing it."

"If there is no reward from the Fourth Hokage himself, Watashi——"

"Boom."

Tsunade quickly bent her knuckles and tapped him lightly on the forehead, looking out the huge floor-to-ceiling window of the office with an obvious guilty look - as the Fourth Hokage, she was actually being so cautious on guard against her Anbu guards because of this guy, it was simply outrageous!

However, Tsunade still couldn't control her movements.

"Peace of mind."

Sahara Kiri reached out and gently held her fingertips, and said in a gentle voice: "You should know my eyes very well, right?"

"That's not OK."

Tsunade subconsciously lowered her voice, blushing slightly: "This is in the office, how can this be allowed!"

“Yes, yes~”

Sawara Kiri agreed to this, but his eyes glanced at the soundproofing barrier that had just been activated around the office, thinking to himself, aren't you just trying to cover up your mistake?
But he really didn't think about playing any office games. After a big battle, there was nothing more soothing than resting quietly for a while. Therefore, he just continued to hold Tsunade's fingertips and lay on her thighs to watch TV.

The 24-inch CRT TV in front of him was a new avant-garde product developed by Konoha's Research Department. Although the playback effect was completely incomparable to the various entertainment devices in his previous life due to various reasons such as signal and antenna, it was actually quite amazing that it had developed from nothing to this within seven years.

Sawara Kiri is looking forward to playing PS5 again in her lifetime.

While he was watching the news intently, Tsunade, who was lying on his lap, looked a little uncomfortable. She glanced towards the door and window from time to time and then looked back, her two straight and slender legs pressed tightly together.

However, she did not want to show her weakness in front of Kiri-kun and lose the initiative, so in this contest of courage (which Sahara Kiri did not notice), she believed that she must not speak first.

On the contrary, the more times like this, the more you need to maintain the composure and maturity of an elder... ahem, a superior.

"Have the arrangements with the Kirigakure survivors been completed?"

"Didn't you say that there were several suicide attacks on the way here?"

"Can Karuju Yagura still control those people?"

As Tsunade spoke, she raised her hand pretentiously and gently stroked Sawara Kiri's soft semi-long hair, with only her eyes wandering around.

"I can only say that the handover has been completed. The specific arrangements will probably take another one to two weeks."

Speaking of this, Sawara Kiri's face showed almost no emotion: "Seven of the people who launched the attack did so because they had no family members, and the rest had clan members and family members who died in previous battles, and the hatred was hard to resolve."

"Being able to burst out in one breath at a time like this is a good thing for both us and the Water Country."

"As for Karajima Yagura, he no longer needs to assume the responsibility of being a 'leader'."

"He is now just the valuable horse bone we have erected." Ninjas are also human beings. How many of them who are still alive would think about dying?
Even if the country is destroyed and the family is ruined, even if the mountains and rivers are broken, those who bow their heads and try to survive will always be the majority among the majority.

The real spark is just a little light in the night sky, barely noticeable, before it sets the whole field on fire.

Not to mention, Kirigakure is a place with so many internally conflicting factions that it is impossible to unite them.

Listening to his narration, Tsunade's attention gradually became absorbed, and she continued, "What about those children you raised in the village?"

She was referring to the three-man team of Mei Terumi and the other genius 'protons' of Kirigakure that Yagura had dropped into Konoha.

"I told them." Sahara Kiri's tone deepened, "Your home planet was destroyed by a giant meteorite. The only one who escaped was Ah, it hurts, it hurts!"

Tsunade pinched the flesh around his waist, and Sahara Kiri's face immediately twisted.

"What's the truth?"

The Fourth Hokage is full of majesty.

"You should trust me a little more." Sawara Kiri complained.

"Why? Because your lies are not true at all?"

Only when facing Sawara Kiri would Tsunade occasionally use this tone as if she was arguing with her childhood sweetheart.

"Just because."

Sawara Kiri had just said half of his words when his eyes suddenly flashed and his body abruptly straightened from the position of lying on Tsunade's thighs. At the same time, he quickly waved to their Fourth Hokage to signal her to go back to the desk. In his hand, he picked up a comic book from the coffee table and opened it. He changed his position and fell down, continuing to look lazy as usual.

After noticing his reaction, Tsunade's movements became as fast as if she were in combat mode. She returned to her desk with extremely skilled silent steps, put on her glasses, and looked at the documents on the desk attentively.

The two of them coordinated their movements extremely skillfully, and it was unknown how many times they had done this.

After a while, there was a gentle knock on the door of the Hokage's office.

"Tsunade, there is a batch of funds that I need to report to you."

After three knocks, the door was opened directly.

Orochimaru walked into the office.

The pair of golden snake pupils subconsciously glanced in the direction of the sofa, and landed on Sahara Kiri who was reading a comic, and said, "It's just right, Kiri-kun, you're here too."

"Lord Orochimaru?"

Sawara Kiri asked in confusion.

A smile slowly appeared on Orochimaru's face: "The sample you brought here has preliminary test results."

"By comparing the alienated bloodline network in his body, we have outlined the most basic 'Sacred Tree Configuration'."

"Hmm——?!" x2
Formerly the Hidden Mist Village.

A dark figure slowly climbed out from the boundary line between sand and sea, following the shadow of a coconut tree trunk cast on the ground, and walked towards the village where large amounts of blood and traces of battle were still left.

At this time, after the first and second rounds of sweeps and cleanups by Konoha, there were actually not many obvious traces left at the original address of the Hidden Mist Village. Only a large area of ​​empty buildings and blockade areas were left here - there were many addresses marked as high-density, all surrounded by multiple barriers to prevent intrusion by intelligence personnel from other villages.

However, all these obstacles were useless in front of this black figure.

With just a few probes and drills, he easily broke through the layers of barriers and entered the gap in the chakra.

Until he appeared in the battlefield area where Sawara Kiri and Kimimaro fought.

"Ahh, it's still this monster-like power."

Looking at the ravine that stretched straight for hundreds of meters, Hei Jue let out an insincere and even sarcastic sigh.

"However, compared to previous years, it seems that there is not that much progress - it seems that the reason why he was able to break through to that level in one go is indeed closely related to the thing called the 'Four Souls Jade'."

“Is the difference between intact jade and broken jade really that big?”

"besides."

As he was speaking, a White Zetsu who looked exactly like him emerged from the ground opposite him, holding a small piece of bone fragment in his hand - that was a part of Kimimaro's body that fell off when he was fighting with Sawara Kiri.

Just as the leader of the Kaguya clan and the Yuanshi knew, the Bloodline Faction launched the "Kimimaro Plan" because they got an opportunity to obtain the "Fragments of the White Sacred Tree" from a certain Kumogakure spies.

But unfortunately, that opportunity was not something they actively sought, but was stuffed into their hands bit by bit by Black Zetsu through various channels.

The reason why he did this was just to test the lower limit of Sawara Kiri's strength.

If he had a chance to use the lives of Uchiha Hikaru, Uchiha Madara, Nagato and others to kill the powerful enemy Sawara Kiri, he would never take the slightest risk.

After all, by that method, the mother is liberated
The stakes are just too high.

And the risk lies not only in the radical method itself, but also in the bastard Otsutsuki Hagoromo, who has been keeping an eye on the ninja world for a thousand years in order to seal his mother, but his real body is nowhere to be found.

Although they are sons of the same mother, the jealousy, hatred and fear that Kurozetsu feels towards the two idiots, Otsutsuki Hagoromo and Hamura, are simply beyond words.

Therefore, all his actions seemed to be extremely cautious.

"But even Sawara Kiri is still just an inferior creature after all."

As Black Zetsu spoke, he slowly placed the fragment into the heart of White Zetsu and whispered, "Let me feel what level your power has reached."

"puff."

Almost at the moment he stuffed the piece of bone into his body.

A great sense of fear suddenly arose in Black Zetsu's heart, as if his existence was being watched by some being thousands of kilometers away and locked onto him.

The next moment, he threw away the half fragment.

The chakra inside it had already entered his body in the brief contact just now.

At the same time, a gentle greeting sounded in his mind:

"I found you!"

If Black Zetsu knew what a tingling scalp felt like, his scalp would definitely be tingling now.

Even though he didn't know, he made the biggest choice at the fastest speed.

The body split into five or six pieces at the same time, and each body swam rapidly in different directions at the same time, and immediately tore apart the body part that had come into contact with the chakra, and cast a sealing technique to isolate it from the outside world.
That series of operations was so fast that it was bizarre. Even a master who had been immersed in the art of sealing for decades would probably only be able to perform at this level. After all, this thousand-year-old silver coin did not live that long in vain.

However, it was only for a moment.

“Boom, boom, boom, boom—!”

A series of violent explosions suddenly occurred, shaking the entire barrier.

After a while, several figures appeared here, looking down vigilantly, including several Hyuga ninjas.

However, apart from a few huge holes, there is still nothing
"Ok?"

"Captain, do we need to take this black mass back with us?"

"Take them all, and remember to seal them before touching them!"

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)