Starting from the roots of Konoha, they were the masterminds behind the scenes.

Chapter 129 Nagato! (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

The battlefield of the Cloud Ninja.

Danzo took the information from Aburame Ryoma, quickly glanced at it, and then fell into deep thought.

This was sent by Xingxiaxiu.

The most important of these were establishing an orphanage in Amegakure and setting up a ninja academy.

By promoting these two things, Root can select and train people to strengthen its power, while infiltrating and controlling Amegakure, regardless of how the situation in Amegakure and the Land of Rain may change in the future.

That is indeed a very good suggestion.

Moreover, Danzo believed that Hiruzen Sarutobi would not refuse such a method.

"Go back and tell Jia that I have agreed to the matter, and that he should do his best to carry it out."

Danzo said to Aburame Ryoma.

Aburame Ryoma nodded quickly, "Understood!"

Danzo waved his hand, and Ryoma Aburame bowed before disappearing.

"Hiruzen's prestige will surely increase greatly after this war, but what if he abandons the Land of Rain, which he has already gained..."

Danzo thought to himself, "But even so, it's still not enough."

"A's strength..."

Evil thoughts surfaced, and Danzo became somewhat agitated.

"Lord Danzo!"

Suddenly, a Root ninja appeared: "Lord Danzo, the Third Raikage has appeared on the battlefield!"

Danzo's mind jolted, and his anxiety vanished instantly: "Let's go!"

After a while.

Danzo arrived at the front line and saw Akimichi Torifu leading a small team to clash with the Third Raikage.

Akimichi Torifu had already used the Expansion Technique to transform himself into a giant. The Nara clan in the squad attempted to control the Third Raikage using the Shadow Technique, while the Yamanaka clan was responsible for perception, and there was also a Jonin skilled in Earth Release assisting him.

The four of them joined forces, but they still couldn't touch the hem of the Third Raikage's clothes.

The Third Raikage was so fast and his attacks were so astonishing that even the Jonin's Earth Release techniques couldn't slow him down in the slightest, and his Shadow Techniques were also unable to catch him.

Akimichi Torifu's attacks were not weak, but he was unable to land a single blow.

Danzo frowned as he looked at him.

Suddenly, the Third Raikage broke through the defenses and went straight for Nara Hajime, a Jonin of the Nara clan.

"Too fast, too late..."

Nara was sweating profusely, but there was no way to avoid it.

Just as the Third Raikage was about to kill Nara Kazuki with one hand, a huge ball of true energy slammed into the Third Raikage with a loud bang, blasting him away.

"The Third Raikage!"

The Cloud Ninja who were watching the battle stepped forward one after another.

"fine!"

The Third Raikage steadied himself, then looked at the person who had suddenly attacked him without any regard for martial ethics: "Danzo!"

Danzo leaped to Akimichi Torifu's side, whose body had shrunk in size.

"Be careful, this guy is incredibly fast, much faster than he was back then, and his attacks are extremely powerful."

Akimichi Torifu whispered a reminder, and there was a charred wound on his right hand.

It was left over from a previous head-on clash with the Third Raikage.

He was still injured despite the Multiply spell.

"I know."

Danzo's gaze never left the Third Raikage.

This guy withstood his wind-style attack without breaking through his defenses.

Even if it was a hasty attack.

But this is enough to show that the Third Raikage was not only fast and had fierce attacks, but also had amazing defense.

It's important to know that Wind Release is effective against Lightning Release.

"This guy's wind release technique is much more powerful than it was back then."

The Third Raikage's secret passage.

This wasn't the first time he had fought Danzo or Akimichi Torifu.

They had already fought each other during the First Shinobi World War.

……

"Raikage, I didn't expect you to come."

Tuanzang opened his mouth.

The Third Raikage scoffed, "Your Konoha has gone too far."

"Hand over that Wood Release user!"

Danzo said calmly, "The Raikage is being too unrealistic. Konoha doesn't have the habit of betraying their comrades."

"Moreover, it was you Cloud Ninja who did wrong."

"We have already exercised great restraint by not pursuing this matter further."

The Third Raikage was very displeased: "Do you still want to take the Eight-Tails?"

Danzo remained adamant: "The Eight-Tails was originally allocated by the First Hokage; it's only right that it be taken back!"

The Third Raikage's expression immediately turned sour, and he felt a bit nauseous.

They didn't get the Eight-Tails and the Two-Tails from Kumogakure for nothing.

But the Third Raikage can't be mentioned, since Konoha isn't short of money.

If Konoha were to capture them, it would become a plausible excuse for Konoha to directly demand the tailed beasts, or even to take action against them.

The Third Raikage, too lazy to engage in verbal sparring, stared at Danzo and said, "You are no match for me. Let Hiruzen Sarutobi fight me!"

After saying that, he led his men to retreat temporarily.

Danzo frowned as he watched the Cloud Ninja leave.

Akimichi Torifu said, "It will indeed be difficult for us to stop him."

Danzo said, "I will inform Hiruzen about this."

That evening, Hiruzen Sarutobi received the information sent back by Danzo.

After pondering for a moment in his office, he gave orders to his secret service.

Heading north tomorrow!

Whether for strategic reasons or for the sake of morale at the front, he had to go to the Third Raikage's invitation.

After giving the order and considering the overall battle situation, Hiruzen Sarutobi thought to himself, "In that case, the breakthrough lies with the Sand Village ninja. Or..."

"Or the Land of Rain."

If we give up some of the interests of the Land of Rain, we can negotiate with the Iwa ninja and end the war with them first.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew very well that this was a decision that could only be made when absolutely necessary, and that some interests could be sacrificed.

That time hasn't come yet.

……

Inside the wooden house in the Land of Rain, Hoshino Shu couldn't help but feel a little regretful as he listened to Aburame Ryoma's report.

Hiruzen Sarutobi went to the battlefield of Kumogakure, but unfortunately he couldn't witness the battle between the strongest Hokage and the Third Raikage.

However, it's estimated that it will be a close contest, with neither side gaining a clear winner.

Hiruzen Sarutobi is slower than the Third Raikage, his attack is inferior to the Third Raikage, and his defense is also inferior to the Third Raikage.

But he's incredibly skilled at all kinds of ninjutsu.

His ninjutsu, body, and illusion techniques—wind, fire, water, earth, and lightning—have no weaknesses.

There's also the ape demon who can transform into a golden cudgel.

It can attack, defend, and control; its skills are comprehensive.

"However, for me, someone like Hiruzen Sarutobi is actually easier to deal with."

Xingxia Xiu pondered to herself.

The latest novel is first published here!

If he wants to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi, he will probably need to rely on the Wood Shunshin.

Neither the Wood Dragon Technique nor the Wood Man Technique would be very effective.

After all, even the elderly Hiruzen Sarutobi was able to use his golden cudgel to push the fully-formed Nine-Tails out of Konoha.

We should never underestimate this Third Hokage, who doesn't seem to have any particularly outstanding abilities.

"However, with the Third Hokage gone to the battlefield, Konoha is now at its most vulnerable."

"The Cloud Ninja deliberately sent the Third Hokage to the battlefield; they were plotting against Kushina..."

A cold glint flashed in Xingxia Xiu's eyes.

Aburame Ryoma sensed the killing intent emanating from Hoshino Hide and immediately broke out in a cold sweat: "The pressure the captain is putting on is getting more and more terrifying. Just the killing intent alone is making it hard for me to bear."

Its aura is ethereal and intangible, yet it is undeniably real.

Hoshita Hide suppressed his killing intent and said to Aburame Ryoma, "Go back and report to Lord Danzo that with me here, there will be no problems in the Land of Rain."

"Even if the Iwa ninjas send reinforcements, they will not be able to break through the current defenses."

Aburame Ryoma nodded: "Understood."

"in addition."

Xingxia Xiu instructed, "Go back to the village, to the place outside the Death Forest where I often cultivate. There is a wooden house there. Awaken my clone."

Aburame Ryoma was taken aback, but then nodded.

After Ryoma Aburame left, Shu Hoshino became somewhat expectant.

If the Cloud Ninjas make a move against Kushina.

Should he try to steal the Eight-Tails or the Two-Tails from the Cloud Ninja?

"It is indeed a good opportunity, but it is too eye-catching."

Xingxia Xiu was still wary of Uchiha Madara: "If Uchiha Madara attacks, I'll have no choice but to run away."

"Unless I possess the power of the Nine-Tails, I am not confident in facing Madara Uchiha's clones."

"However, if this time is not enough, there is still the Third Shinobi World War, so there is no rush."

……

Amegakure Village.

The newly established orphanage.

Hoshino's Wood Release clone looked at the thin and short Nagato and tried hard to suppress the urge to gouge out his eyes.

To be honest, Nagato was forcibly brought to the orphanage.

Of course, it wasn't that Star Show deliberately sought them out.

It's not about policy.

Once the orphanage was established, it forcibly took in orphans from the Land of Rain.

Previously it was Yahiko and Konan, now it's Nagato.

They were all found by Amegakure while they were wandering, and then brought back to the Amegakure orphanage.

At this moment, Nagato lowered his head, his long red hair covering his eyes, as well as his timidity, fear of the Konoha ninja, and hidden hatred.

He will never forget the moment his parents died.

Those two murderers wore the same ninja headbands as those from Konoha.

"Nagato, is it? I heard you don't want to stay at the orphanage?"

Xingxia Xiu asked, "Can you tell me why?"

Nagato lowered her head and remained silent.

Hoshita Hideyoshi said, "Because you don't like us Konoha ninjas?"

"Did your parents also die in the war?"

"And even your parents died at the hands of Konoha ninja?"

Upon hearing this, Nagato suddenly looked up, her eyes wide with terror.

Hoshino Hide said calmly, "No matter the reason, surviving is the most important thing."

"Only here can you truly thrive."

"A ninja academy will be established in a few days. You can go inside and learn ninjutsu."

"In times of war like these, gaining power is either a means to protect oneself or to seek revenge."

Nagato was somewhat at a loss for words after hearing this.

Hoshino patted Nagato on the shoulder and then left.

Soon, Nagato was taken back to her dormitory by the female caregiver at the orphanage, looking dazed.

There are already two people here.

"Yahiko, Konan, this is the new Nagato. He'll be with you from today onwards, so please take good care of him."

The female caregiver turned and left after she finished speaking.

She has other work to do.

After the caregiver left, Yahiko and Konan went forward.

"Hello, my name is Yahiko."

Yahiko stretched out his hand and was holding a piece of bread.

Nagato swallowed hard.

He had actually eaten something, but not enough.

Xiao Nan chuckled softly from the side, "Eat up, but don't eat too much or too fast. You just arrived, you must have been hungry for a long time, and you've had some porridge, right?"

"Those ninja masters said that if you've been hungry for too long, you shouldn't eat too much at once, or you'll get a stomachache."

Nagato looked up, took the bread, and said, "Thank you, thank you, Yahiko, Konan."

Yahiko patted Nagato on the shoulder and said with a smile, "From today onwards, we are comrades."

"I just discussed with Konan about taking the ninja academy entrance exam in a few days. Why don't you come along? That way, we can look after each other and avoid being bullied."

After taking a bite of bread, Yahiko immediately remembered what Hoshino Hide had said earlier, and nodded: "Okay, let's go together."

(End of this chapter)