Naruto Online: Hyuga Branch Family? Let's go all out!

Chapter 161 The Third War Begins

For two whole months, from June to August, Sunagakure searched for the Kazekage.

Police have a saying about the golden 48 hours when searching for someone. Although there is no such saying in the ninja world, if someone cannot be found within a month, everyone will already have a guess in their hearts.

By the second month, the search had become a mere formality.

The Sand Village ninjas were more concerned about who would be the Fourth Kazekage after the Third Kazekage was gone.

Currently, there are three options that are most popular in Sunagakure.

First is Jonin Rasa, who is 21 years old this year.

His strength wasn't top-tier, but he possessed the ability to use Magnet Release.

Given that the Second and Third Kazekage both possessed Magnet Release, this secret technique has essentially become standard equipment for the Kazekage.

Although Rasa was not the only Magnet Release ninja in the village, the other Magnet Release ninja happened to be her girlfriend.

Now, becoming a candidate for Kazekage is a foregone conclusion.

Second is Jonin Yekura, who is 19 years old this year.

Although she is young and a woman, she is very powerful.

She possesses the bloodline limit of Scorching Release, is a great beauty, and always wears backless dresses, and doesn't mind giving benefits to the villagers.

It is also very popular in the village.

Thirdly, Elder Chiyo.

Chiyo was highly respected and, unlike some old codger in a certain village, was not power-hungry.

Once someone comes to power, Chiyo and her younger brother Ebizo will not hesitate to give up power and find a place to live in seclusion.

With his strength, prestige, and popularity, he is undoubtedly the perfect candidate for Kazekage.

Although Chiyo is not young, isn't Onoki from the next village also an old man?

The selection of the Fourth Kazekage initially remained just talk, but after searching for people in the desert for two months, everyone was very angry, and the argument quickly turned into a quarrel, and then into a fight.

Within a week, dozens of clashes occurred on the front lines, and four ninjas were even killed in battle.

One of them was even a Jonin!

Chiyo realized something was wrong and immediately called off the mission, choosing to recall all the ninjas.

Unfortunately, the chaotic situation in the Land of Wind during this period made it easy for spies to carry out their work.

The order was barely issued when it reached Onoki's hands.

Onoki had been preparing for two months, and seeing that the time was perfect, he no longer hesitated.

No sooner had the Sand Village ninjas returned to their village than the Stone Village ninjas crossed the Land of Bears and the Land of Birds and reached the Land of Wind.

Chiyo was shocked and hurriedly mobilized her troops. Three thousand Sand Villagers marched to the border and drove out the Iwa Villagers.

However, they only drove them out of the Land of Wind. The Iwagakure ninja built a wall of earthen flow that stretched for thousands of kilometers along the border between the Land of Bears, the Land of Birds, and the Land of Wind.

The ninjas of Sunagakure are formidable in the desert, but they are helpless against the towering city walls.

However, the strength displayed by Iwagakure was formidable in the mountains, but they immediately became easy prey in the desert.

Neither side could cross the border.

After a stalemate lasting half a month, the leaders of both sides exchanged views and signed a ceasefire agreement.

The agreement requires both sides to withdraw some of their ninjas, leaving only a small number of ninjas to guard the border, and prohibits either side from launching any further invasions against the enemy.

The Land of Wind suffered a huge loss in this battle, but Chiyo was helpless. The pillar of the nation, the Third Hokage, was dead. Although Yekura and Rasa were not bad in strength, they were old after all, and their command experience and combat experience were far inferior to those of the other side.

However, it's not a big problem. As long as we take Konoha, Sunagakure's strength will increase significantly, and we'll be able to fight back sooner or later!

No wonder Sunagakure and Iwagakure both underestimated Konoha, because Konoha had caused the death of Sakumo Hatake and lost one of the legendary Sannin.

Although there are still two left, it's not a problem for Yosuke Rasa to handle one by himself.

What? There's also a ninjutsu expert, Hiruzen Sarutobi?

Would he dare to leave the village?

Konoha is at a disadvantage in terms of top-tier combat strength, and it also has fewer lower-level ninjas.

By all accounts, the advantage lies with Sunagakure!

Who would have thought that Minato Namikaze would emerge from this war!

April 28, Konoha Year 44.

The peace agreement had just been signed, and without stopping, the Sunagakure army marched south to attack the Land of Rivers.

And what is Konoha doing?

Konoha is still watching the show.

Hiruzen Sarutobi already knew that Sunagakure was looking for something, but he didn't care at all, nor did he think it was a sign that a war was about to break out.

After all, he himself is a pacifist, and by extension, he naturally feels that others are too.

What benefit does it bring to the Hokage if his subordinates achieve merit? Isn't he afraid that his subordinates will become too prestigious and he will lose his position as Hokage?

After the villages of Iwagakure and Sunagakure went to war, Hiruzen Sarutobi was even more delighted. He sent two letters overnight, one to Chiyo and one to Onoki, advising the two families to value peace and to sit down and talk about what could be wrong.

Then, instead of receiving a reply, they received news that the Land of Rivers had been breached by the Sand Village ninjas, the border outposts had been captured, and the Sand Village ninjas had already invaded the Land of Fire.

April 1, Konoha Year 44.

This was the opening day of the Konoha Ninja Academy, and as usual, the Hokage gave a speech here.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't even show his face; he was busy in a meeting.

The Hokage's office building, conference room.

Apart from the Jonin who are on missions elsewhere, all the other Konoha ninja are here.

In addition, there were the heads of various ninja clans.

Some clan leaders were older and brought their successors with them. For example, the Hyuga clan brought Hyuga Hiashi, and the Uchiha clan brought Uchiha Fugaku.

"That's the situation now!" Hiruzen Sarutobi distributed the battle report, giving a copy to each Jonin and clan leader.

"Report came from the second line of defense outpost half a day ago that the Sand Village army has already reached us, and is only 480 kilometers away from Konoha!"

480 kilometers—at a ninja's speed, they could reach the doorstep in a day!

"Such a thing is happening!" A Jonin slammed his fist on the table in anger. "How dare a mere Sand Village attack Konoha! We should immediately assemble our forces and drive them back!"

"Yes!" another Jonin nodded. "I think they've forgotten how badly Konoha beat them in the last war!"

Many knowledgeable Jonin smirked. "It was Sakumo Hatake who fought well in the last war. What's it to you?"

Some people turned to look at the boy sitting in the ninja clan's ranks. Hatake Kakashi was only a Chunin, but because he was also the head of his clan, he was also there to participate in the meeting.

He was wearing a mask, so no one could see his expression, but Shihiro Aburame, who was sitting next to him, felt that the boy seemed a little happy.

What's there to be happy about?

Kakashi was happy that he had gained a younger sister.

After faking his death, Hatake Sakumo joined the Ning organization and took charge of oversight matters.

Then, for some reason, he took a liking to one of his subordinates.

This subordinate was of noble birth, but he showed no mercy to nobles. He was upright, advocated fairness and justice, and was also compassionate. He was completely different from other nobles that Hatake Sakumo had met.

He didn't know that this was a normal reaction after being marked with a curse; he just felt that this nobleman was a bit unusual, and then inexplicably fell in love with him.

However, given Sakumo Hatake's personality, even if he were truly moved, he would only suppress it.

But the girl also took a liking to him and then launched her offensive.

Hatake Sakumo, an old-school ninja, was no match for the young man's attacks and was easily defeated.

Two days ago, Kakashi Hatake received news that his stepmother had given birth to a younger sister for him.

Kakashi wasn't angry about having a stepmother. His mother had been dead for almost eight years, so it was perfectly reasonable for his father to find another one.

He was just angry. Why couldn't the meeting be held today? He was originally planning to take on a mission to leave the village and see his sister!

"Ahem, quiet down!" Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped the table and nodded to the few Jonin who had spoken. Konoha still needed Jonin with this kind of drive!

However, he was not very satisfied with the performance of the heads of the major families.

He just sat there, not saying a word, showing no expression even when the Land of Fire was invaded.

What do you mean? You're not from the Land of Fire?

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew the truth. The simple-minded commoner ninjas might not be able to see what he was doing, but they couldn't hide it from these clan ninjas.

But there are some things I can do, and you can't just look down on me!

"A counterattack is inevitable!" Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped the table, setting the tone: "Since the founding of Konoha, there has never been a precedent of our village being attacked!"

Sky Country: Huh?

"Now this mere Wind Kingdom dares to invade! If we don't teach them a lesson, won't other countries follow suit and invade us too?"

The ninja clan chief also began to nod.

The logic is this: although they look down on Hatake Sakumo, it doesn't stop them from looking down on Sunagakure as well.

A stinky outsider has come to Konoha to beg for food!

However, the younger generation of clan leaders, such as Hyuga Hiashi and Uchiha Fugaku, looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with considerable approval. "Our Hokage is quite domineering. No wonder he is the professor of ninjutsu."

"Now, I order the Jonin teams 1 through 4 to form an advance force, along with your teammates, to halt the advance of Sunagakure. Jiraiya, I appoint you as the commander-in-chief of the front lines against Sunagakure, leading the advance force. The main force will arrive shortly after!"

"Should we recall Tsunade?" Jiraiya raised his hand and asked. "Sunagakure is a village skilled in using poison. Without a top-tier medical ninja to oversee things, the casualties could be enormous!"

"This..." Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment, then shook his head: "Not for now!"

I refuse to believe it. The medical ninja system has been developed for so many years, and we can't fight a war without Tsunade?

but

If Tsunade weren't around, who would lead the medical ninja squad?

Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment, then looked at Hiashi Hyuga: "Could the Hyuga clan provide some members to oversee this matter?"

"This concerns the safety of Konoha, and the Hyuga clan has an unshirkable duty!" The Hyuga clan elder immediately nodded.

In any case, the safety of the Hyuga clan is guaranteed, so the Hyuga clan is never afraid to go to the battlefield.

"Also, I've heard that the Hyuga clan has a genius member named Hyuga Hizashi?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked again.

"Yes!" Hiashi Hyuga nodded. "Hizashi Hyuga is my younger brother, and his strength is not much weaker than mine!"

Logically, the techniques of the Hyuga main family should not be passed on to the branch family, but Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi are on good terms.

As for whether this relationship is real or just an act.

This is not important.

"Very good!" Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "Then how about we appoint Hizashi as the Chief of the Medical Corps' Guard?"

This appointment wasn't chosen randomly.

First, the Hyuga clan excels at reconnaissance; if someone attacks a medical ninja, they can detect it from a great distance.

Secondly, the Hyuga clan excels at defense. Even if they are attacked, Hyuga Hizashi can hold out for a period of time until reinforcements arrive.

Thirdly, after Ning Yuan changed jobs, the Hyuga clan supported many clan members to join Konoha Hospital as medical ninjas.

It is only natural that your Hyuga clan members be protected by Hyuga ninjas!

This appointment was really not motivated by personal gain.

"I agree on behalf of my brother!!" Hiashi Hyuga nodded earnestly.

"Very good!" Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction. "Then, the meeting is adjourned. The advance team shall depart immediately, and the remaining ninjas shall organize supplies and await orders!"

"yes!"

Up until now, everyone still thought it was just a small conflict between Konoha and Sunagakure.

Who could have imagined that this was just the prelude to a major battle!

(End of this chapter)