Scorching

Just as the entire shinobi world focused on Konoha and the Uchiha, the Bounty Hunters of the black market taught Konoha a lesson

in what it meant to strike with lightning speed.

Itachi left Konoha during the day, and the bounty was posted that afternoon.

By nightfall, Konoha had come under attack.

Around ten people had used the intelligence Itachi provided to bypass Konoha's outer patrols directly.

Following the Anbu patrol routes, they infiltrated the Root base.

If the barriers within the Root base had not been recently reset, whether Danzo was still alive would have been a question mark.

There was some division between Root and Konoha's Anbu. After the intruders were discovered by Root personnel, three still managed to escape despite being surrounded on all sides.

Hokage's Office.

Already anxious, the Third Hokage found himself even more unable to sleep after reading the report in his hand.

"Uchiha Itachi put a five-hundred-million bounty on Danzo's head!? He even leaked the patrol routes!?"

Only after the village was attacked did the delayed news from the black market arrive.

The Third Hokage's political acumen was exceptionally sharp. The moment he saw that bounty, his mind went numb.

The Uchiha's poor relationship with the village had always been a known fact.

As long as the details remained unknown, the outside world would not react much.

But now, the Uchiha had directly announced to the outside world: Konoha and the Uchiha were about to go to war.

That five-hundred-million bounty on Danzo was merely bait to draw out bigger fish.

It served two main purposes: one, to create trouble for Konoha; the other, to have Bounty Hunters probe Konoha's true strength.

What truly worried the Third Hokage was that the other Four Great Shinobi Villages would certainly seize this chance to assess Konoha's condition.

Right now, forget the Uchiha openly retaliating—even if they wanted to rebel, the Third Hokage would not dare fight them.

If Konoha and the Uchiha went to war, Konoha would be in danger.

The Third Hokage was already thinking that people from the other shinobi villages were probably on their way.

Since when had the Uchiha produced someone so clever!?

Could it be that the other party had already considered all this when they attacked Danzo?

"Bring me Root's doctor."

"Yes!"

The Anbu accepted the order and left.

Because of Uchiha Shihu's earlier attempt to sow discord, Root had refused to let Konoha's doctors treat Danzo, relying on their own people instead.

After all, Root could only rely on Danzo. If anything truly happened to him, their lives would naturally become difficult.

Danzo was an extremely suspicious person. Could his subordinates possibly be honest men?

Not long after, a Medical Ninja wearing a white cap arrived.

The Third Hokage gave him a brief look. This person should be called Tōgo.

He was one of the main people in Root's medical team and had also participated in the modifications to Danzo's body.

"How is Danzo's condition? How long until he wakes up?"

The Third Hokage did not exchange pleasantries and asked directly.

After Root was attacked, Tōgo had also received news that a bounty had been placed on Danzo.

He was thoroughly confused. With Danzo unconscious, Root did not even have anyone in charge.

"Reporting to the Hokage, Lord Danzo's mind suffered a severe blow, and physically... physically, he is not doing well either."

"He will probably... probably need a week before he wakes up."

When Danzo's arm had first been modified, the Third Hokage naturally had not known about it.

But the modifications had been in place for two years now, so the Third Hokage had long since learned of them.

Thus, Tōgo told the truth.

The Third Hokage took a drag from his pipe. "Is there any way to make him wake up in three days?"

Tōgo did not actually know much about Konoha's situation, but under the Third Hokage's piercing gaze, he still sensed the severity of the matter. "Third Hokage-sama, it's not that I don't want to find a way."

"It's that Lord Danzo's mind was struck by a special genjutsu."

"He is already at his limit. Waking up in seven days would already be an extremely ideal outcome."

As the Ninjutsu Doctor, the Third Hokage was undoubtedly exceptionally knowledgeable. He knew perfectly well just how badly Danzo was injured.

He was merely laying the groundwork for what came next.

The Third Hokage tapped the table with his pipe. "You saw the bounty on the black market, didn't you?"

"The Uchiha now want to perish together with Danzo."

"This matter can only be dealt with once Danzo wakes up."

The Third Hokage's words were half true and half false, but his purpose was to put pressure on Tōgo.

Tōgo had only just survived the attack, so he knew the Third Hokage was not lying.

Still, he revealed a troubled expression.

"Hokage-sama, I understand that the situation is urgent, but Lord Danzo truly cannot wake up right now."

The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes. "Root's medical facilities are not very good. Transfer Danzo to Konoha Hospital, and he may recover faster."

Tōgo looked embarrassed. "Hokage-sama, this... this is not something I can decide."

"After all, I'm only medical personnel."

It was not that Tōgo had no say at all. He simply did not want to shoulder the responsibility.

If something happened to Danzo at Konoha Hospital, the other Root members would certainly not let him off.

The Third Hokage seemed to have anticipated Tōgo's response.

So he took the initiative and said, "Then I'll send some Anbu to help you defend the place."

Upon hearing this, Tōgo looked troubled and stammered.

The Third Hokage's expression darkened. "It's decided, then."

"I'll send four squads over shortly. If necessary, I'll send more."

"Yes, Hokage-sama. Then I'll take my leave."

The Third Hokage waved him away.

Tōgo left the office with a bitter expression. The Third Hokage was forcefully inserting his own people, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Mm, that was it.

Tōgo maintained his helpless expression, but he had already devised a countermeasure in his mind.

After Tōgo left, the Third Hokage returned to his desk and continued reviewing the intelligence constantly being sent back by the Anbu.

After Konoha was attacked, Konoha's intelligence agents who had been protected by the black market were able to leave it as well.

After all, Konoha had already been attacked, so there was no longer any need for secrecy.

Once the intelligence agents returned, they reported all the more detailed information.

Seeing how many people on the black market had accepted this mission gave the Third Hokage a terrible headache.

News spread so quickly through the black market that people from the other countries would likely come to join the excitement as well.

"Someone."

"Yes, Hokage-sama." An Anbu pushed open the door and entered.

"Go invite Hyuga Hiashi here."

"Yes."

After the Anbu left, the Third Hokage took a troubled drag from his pipe.

As he walked to the window, his expression suddenly shifted.

Just as expected.

The next moment, a white-haired figure climbed in through the window.

The Third Hokage felt relieved, but he also cursed, "So you still remembered to come back!?"

The figure wore wooden clogs and had a burly build. The forehead protector on his head bore the character for "oil."

It was none other than the Third Hokage's disciple, Jiraiya, known as the Sage of the Toads!