Young Master, Please Become Hokage

Clinging to Ino Yamanaka's back, Ringo Ameyuri immediately understood everything.

It was... the Yamanaka Clan's secret mental techniques.

That woman was probably finished.

"Disband!!!"

Just then, a shout rang out.

After abandoning multiple corpses, the Mist Ninja began to retreat.

With absolutely no team spirit, the Mist Ninja, in this forest environment, facing the overwhelming advantage of Akira Sarutobi and Ruri Hyuga, would ultimately be eliminated one by one.

Therefore... "rethinking the plan" became the new order.

The Mist Ninja's formation began to contract.

Like sharks, they bit at the retreating formation, refusing to let go, constantly waiting for the opportune moment for a killing blow.

Thus, both teams slowed their pace, but still couldn't widen the distance.

After rejoining the group, Akira Sarutobi looked to his side, "Ruri..."

"There are... still 30 people remaining."

The Byakugan girl spoke calmly.

A team of 40, with 10 dead, the remaining number was still astonishingly large.

After all, in the original story, when Rin Nohara was abducted, sealed with the Three-Tails, and used to incite Obito's corruption, the Mist had only dispatched 50 experts.

It was clear the real intention was not what it seemed.

Ringo Ameyuri's illness had caused the Mist leadership to consider a change in succession.

They had formulated a plan with Kurotsuchi Raiga as the next successor.

And they were looking for an opportunity to kill Ringo Ameyuri.

Some might wonder why the Mist leadership didn't simply kill Ringo Ameyuri directly, but instead chose a roundabout approach.

The answer was actually very simple.

As the saying goes.

--They wanted to devour, yet acted virtuous, not daring to do so openly.

Chapter Thirty-Six. Five Seal Barrier!

With Ruri, whose eyesight was the strongest, tasked with constantly monitoring the enemy's movements.

Akira Sarutobi walked over.

On the grass, Ringo Ameyuri was laid down, and Nonō was treating her.

As Yang Release's Medical Ninjutsu Chakra entered her body and fed back the results, the situation was far worse than Nonō had imagined.

"What's wrong with her?" Akira Sarutobi asked.

"It's not an incurable disease..."

Nonō shook her head.

"It's just that the illness has been prolonged for too long... Mist Ninja are like this, they don't show weakness in front of their colleagues..."

Nonō didn't even use the word "comrades."

Because for the Mist Ninja, there were no comrades, only colleagues who worked together.

Backstabbing was commonplace.

However... their cannibalism also had rules; they had to operate according to the rules set by the Third Mizukage, otherwise, it was a crime of disobedience.

"In an environment like that, constantly being watched, I'm afraid... that's what caused her to delay until she was critically ill."

If Ringo Ameyuri had formed factions or was a high-ranking official in the Mist, it would have been different.

But according to the intelligence, Ringo Ameyuri had always been alone.

The consequences of fighting alone were clear, as seen with Kagami Uchiha.

"Mm," Akira Sarutobi nodded. "Miss Nonō, if possible, please heal her."

Nonō was slightly stunned, then thought of something, "Young Master Ryo, are you planning to exploit the infighting within the Mist?"

Ino Yamanaka: "???"

Unlike Ino Yamanaka, who didn't know much about the Mist, Akira Sarutobi and Nonō understood what this meant.

One of the Mist's rules: If the previous Seven Ninja Swordsmen was not dead, the next successor must kill them to truly inherit the title of Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

Nonō thought Akira Sarutobi intended to use Ringo Ameyuri as bait to incite internal conflict among the enemy.

Once Ringo Ameyuri was healed, she and Kurotsuchi Raiga would inevitably fight to the death.

Because for Ringo Ameyuri, reclaiming her sword was something she had to do.

And for Kurotsuchi Raiga, killing Ringo Ameyuri was necessary to ascend to the position of the next Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

They're tearing each other apart, and we'll profit from it.

Akira Sarutobi offered no explanation for Nonō's statement.

The current situation couldn't be openly stated: Because I can't stand to see the loyal harmed, I want to change this tragedy and save this woman.

The charge of colluding with the enemy was no small matter.

Besides...

Akira Sarutobi glanced at the weakened Ringo Ameyuri.

The System prompt was unusually clear.

[Mission Objective: Inject the Will of Fire into Ringo Ameyuri!]

[Mission Reward: Possibility of Ice Release!]

"About how long will it take to heal her?" Akira Sarutobi asked directly.

"At least three days,"

Nonō hesitated before giving an estimated time.

"But even with initial healing, her combat power will likely still be very weak..."

As she said this, she glanced again towards the other side of the jungle.

The enemy was watching covetously, ready to charge at any moment.

Once Kurotsuchi Raiga reacted, they would have to move, and the treatment would be delayed.

"Their target is Ringo Ameyuri, so have your people leave here,"

Akira Sarutobi said casually to Nonō.

On the surface, it was to prevent Root members from rushing to their deaths and wasting their lives in vain.

The actual intention was to drive away Root members to facilitate certain actions.

"Separate retreats..." Nonō nodded, raising no objections.

"As for us, I will use a barrier to seal this area..."

Akira Sarutobi took out five talismans.

He could set up the barrier before Kurotsuchi Raiga reacted.

With the barrier's defensive power, it would be enough to hold out for a long time.

Seeing these five talismans, Nonō's eyes lit up: "Five Seal Barrier?!"

On the other side.

Kurotsuchi Raiga, carrying the captive, slowly rejoined his subordinates.

After hearing his subordinates' report, Kurotsuchi Raiga nodded: "In the forest..."

He gazed into the distance, his sight seeming to penetrate everything.

Soon after, Kurotsuchi Raiga's body began to tremble.

This strange behavior caused the others to quietly begin backing away.

Because...

"Waa... waa waa waa..."

Kurotsuchi Raiga suddenly burst into tears, tears flowing from his eyes.

"Ringo Ameyuri, rest assured, I will hold a grand funeral for you!"

Saying this, Kurotsuchi Raiga suddenly began to sob and chuckle.

Everyone watched this scene of crying and laughing with mixed expressions.

This was Kirigakure, the Village Hidden in Mist.

Under the Third Mizukage's oppressive policies, the birth of lunatics and perverts was never uncommon.

For example, the Kaguya Clan were all battle-crazed.

Other ninja in situations similar to Kurotsuchi Raiga were also not uncommon.

"Lord Raiga, someone from Konoha has begun to retreat!"

At this moment, a subordinate responsible for reconnaissance reported.

Learning that Ringo Ameyuri remained in place, Kurotsuchi Raiga waved his hand, unconcerned about the small fry's escape: "Keep an eye on Ringo Ameyuri, let me interrogate this prisoner first!"

Several figures ran rapidly through the forest.

Among them were Root ninja and Akira Sarutobi's Shadow Clones.

Five Shadow Clones, each holding one talisman, headed in five different directions of the jungle.

Akira Sarutobi himself sat cross-legged on the ground, sensing the locations of the five talismans.

Once he confirmed that the five Shadow Clones had reached their respective positions, Akira Sarutobi began the jutsu.

The five Shadow Clones simultaneously sensed the change in Chakra flowing through the talismans in their hands.

Immediately, they all extended their hands and placed the talismans in spots they deemed most obscure and difficult to find.

"Barrier... Activate!"

Bzzzt!

Invisible Chakra fluctuations swept across the area.

This scene was immediately detected by Kumogakure's sensory ninja.

After all, the Chakra fluctuation triggered by the barrier's activation was an exceptionally obvious sign.

"Five Seal Barrier?"

Kurotsuchi Raiga frowned, his gaze directed towards the depths of the forest.

White ripples spread out, visible to the naked eye, eventually forming a transparent, invisible barrier.

A major reason for the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools back then was that the Uzumaki Clan's Fuinjutsu and barrier techniques were quite troublesome.

This was because barriers and seals, due to their special functions, typically allowed the weak to overcome the strong.

And more often than not, there was no good way to deal with them.

One could only wait for the barrier to disappear on its own, or spend ten, even dozens of times the power to forcibly break it, which was clearly not worth the effort.

Considering this, Kumogakure and Kirigakure tacitly annihilated the Uzumaki Clan during the last great war.