Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

everything is over.

No.

Sakumo Hatake's fingers, hanging at his sides, tightened almost imperceptibly.

He stared at the headless corpse lying on the ground, the fanatical smile still frozen on its head, and an indescribable sense of unease spread through his heart.

too easy.

As the executor of this series of conspiracies, the leader of this evil cult, even if he was just a minor figure, should not have been dealt with so easily.

The threat of self-destruction was more like a bluff, designed to provoke him into taking action.

Why?

The moment this thought flashed through Sakumo's mind, another change occurred!

Unlike the other cultists, the headless corpse was not torn into pieces by the sword energy. Instead, it seemed as if its bones had been removed, and it quickly went limp.

Then, in a way that defies the laws of physics, it transformed into a pool of viscous, oily black liquid, emitting an even stronger stench.

The liquid did not flow out, but was greedily absorbed by the ground, quickly seeping into the black and red material of the altar, leaving not a trace.

"Um?"

Huang Tu let out a muffled groan, and the Iwagakure ninjas behind him also showed expressions of surprise and uncertainty.

The next moment, the entire altar began to shake violently.

It wasn't the kind of tremors that came from chains piercing through and small-scale battles, but rather a muffled roar originating from the depths of the earth.

The ground beneath our feet seemed to come alive, trying to overturn everyone.

The huge, dried-up pool of blood in the center of the altar now seemed to be filled with scalding magma.

One by one, the twisted and blasphemous runes on the pool walls lit up, emitting an evil and chilling red light.

The light expanded and contracted like breathing, and with each flicker, it made the surrounding air thicker and colder.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar came from underground, and the altar began to collapse. The massive stones that made up the main structure crumbled and fell continuously downwards.

The ground was cracked open with deep, bottomless, dark ravines, from which a cold, humid wind, carrying the smell of decaying earth, poured out, as if some enormous creature was about to crawl out of hell.

"The trail must not be lost!"

Sakumo Hatake gave a low shout.

This is not just a destroyed altar; it is connected to biological weapons targeting Konoha's high-yield crops and the food lifeline of the entire Iwagakure Village and the Konoha Alliance.

Without the slightest hesitation, he flashed forward, heading towards the center of the collapsing altar. He had to find more before it was completely swallowed up!

"It's too late, Sakumo-senpai!"

A strong, powerful hand gripped his arm like an iron clamp.

Huang Tu's face looked extremely solemn in the flickering red light. He held onto Shuo Mao tightly and dragged him backward with all his might.

"This is a trap within a trap! This place is about to collapse! Evacuate now!"

This son of the third Tsuchikage displayed a decisiveness far beyond his years at this moment.

He had no desire for credit whatsoever; his mind was solely focused on minimizing losses and preserving his remaining strength.

He knew very well that even if it meant sacrificing all the Iwagakure ninja under his command, he could not let Konoha's White Fang perish here.

Otherwise, the newly established alliance will be cracked beyond repair in an instant.

"Everyone, heed my command! Evacuate this forest immediately!"

The sound of loess, like a resounding bell, drowned out the roar of the earthquake. "Earth Release Team, build a rock wall behind us to block their pursuit! Quickly!"

"Whoosh whoosh—"

Without further hesitation, the ninjas from Iwagakure and Konoha turned around and retreated rapidly towards the edge of the forest.

As the Iwagakure ninja retreated, their hands remained in hand seals, and their abundant chakra continuously flowed into the earth.