The Backup Plan

As Yichen left the Hyuga Clan compound and headed towards the former residence of the Cloud Ninja envoy, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

Yichen ran into Tsunade, who was walking towards him.

Because his attention was drawn to Neji Hyuga, Yichen didn't notice Tsunade's arrival in advance. So he didn't have time to dodge, and by the time he realized what was happening, he had already entered Yichen 'Tsunade sensing range. At this point, running away would have been rather abrupt.

Meanwhile, Tsunade, who was in a bad mood because of what the Cloud Ninja had Cloud ninja, was heading towards Yichen at top speed, her anger palpable. It seemed that Tsunade intended to vent her anger on Orochimaru.

Because Tsunade was too fast, and Yichen was distracted, having just focused his Mind's Eye on observing Neji Hyuga, he failed to give an early warning.

When Yichen saw Fenghuo Tsunade, he didn't panic. Instead, he immediately and respectfully stepped aside, clearing the way in the middle of the street.

Tsunade paid no attention to Yichen and intended to walk past him.

However, at that moment, a fierce battle suddenly broke out in the direction Tsunade had come from, which was the former residence of the Cloud Ninja envoy.

The Hyuga Branch Family, who had just finished dealing with the Cloud Ninja envoy delegation with Hyuga Hiashi, had barely relaxed when a terrifying killing intent descended upon them.

In the basement of the Cloud Ninja envoy's residence, a large number of puppets suddenly sprang out. These puppets had clear targets and immediately launched attacks on some isolated Hyuga Branch Family members.

Their timing was also very clever, choosing the exact moment Tsunade left.

If she had acted earlier, Tsunade could have returned immediately; if she had acted later, the Hyuga Clan would have already left.

Hyuga Hiashi felt a chill run down his spine upon seeing this. In his Byakugan vision, these puppets hadn't existed just moments before; they had clearly been released from underground. But upon closer inspection, he couldn't find any human figures.

The person hiding underground also possesses the ability to block out Byakugan vision.

"Damn it!" Hyuga Hiashi trembled with rage. Had the method to suppress the Byakugan become so widespread?

The person underground watched the entire Cloud Ninja envoy be wiped out, clearly not on their side. Yet, he also possessed a method to block out the Byakugan.

But he doesn't have the energy to deal with these things right now; what he needs to worry about most is how to get out of there and how to break through the encirclement.

Indeed, he and the branch family members in the courtyard were surrounded, and suddenly many puppets appeared in the courtyard. Hyuga Hiashi felt that he was facing an army of ninja.

Previously, when dealing with the Cloud ninja, some members of the Hyuga Clan were embarrassed by their status as melee ninjas, but now their thoughts have completely changed.

Faced with such a sudden attack from so many puppets, the number of Ninjutsu- type ninjas in the entire Ninja World who could withstand it for even a minute could probably be counted on two hands.

Fortunately, the Hyuga Clan consists entirely of Taijutsu Ninja, and their Byakugan, to some extent, counters Puppet Master.

Although the Puppet Master had somehow concealed his form, the puppet's movements were no secret to Byakugan.

Aside from suffering heavy losses in the first wave of surprise attacks, the Hyuga Clan quickly managed to stabilize the situation.

But this was barely enough; members of the Hyuga Branch Family continued to be struck by the puppets' hidden weapons, then collapsed from poisoning. Hyuga Hiashi's condition was extremely dire.

Yichen didn't know what had happened to Hyuga Hiashi; all he knew was that things were going to get worse.

Sure enough, Tsunade, who was charging forward at full speed, heard the noise and came to an abrupt stop, which, coincidentally, stopped right in front of Yichen.

Tsunade quickly turned around and looked back in the direction she had come from.

Through the building, Tsunade couldn't see what was happening inside. But the occasional puppet figures peeking out from the roof, and the distinctive clicking sounds of the puppets launching their hidden weapons, told Tsunade that there was a puppet battle taking place.

The dense sound immediately told Tsunade that there were many puppets. Either there were many Puppet Master lying in ambush there, or someone could control a terrifying number of puppets.

But either way, the Hyuga Clan is in danger. Keep in mind that the two remaining Main Family of the Hyuga Clan are still trapped inside.

Tsunade and looked around, trying to find someone who could relay the order, and then she saw Yichen. After all, Yichen was the closest Anbu to her.

"Send the signal to evacuate the villagers." With that, Tsunade turned and charged towards the group of puppets.

Yichen was completely bewildered. Send a signal? What signal? How would I know your Konoha's signal?

After thinking for a moment, Yichen disregarded everything else, took out a Signal Scroll from Iwagakure), and launched it into the sky.

Tsunade, who was moving forward, didn't look closely when she heard the commotion, but simply added, "Come with me to support the Hyuga Clan."

Yichen was speechless, but not wanting to be exposed now, he had no choice but to quickly follow.

Following closely behind Tsunade and Yichen were Hizashi Hyuga and a group of the Hyuga Branch Family combat ninjas who were originally protecting their clan.

When these branch families saw that something had happened to Hyuga Hiashi, they didn't hesitate and immediately chose to support Hyuga Hiashi.

As Yichen ran, he pondered whether these branch families genuinely recognized the Main Family and the branch family system, or had become so numb that they had become accustomed to serving the Main Family to the death.

"Are you a Ninjutsu- type ninja or Taijutsu- type ninja? What kind of Area of Effect Ninjutsu do you know?" Tsunade asked Yichen. She had already judged from Yichen's speed and movement that Yichen was probably Ninjutsu- type ninja, and now she just wanted to confirm it.

Those who came with them were all from the Hyuga Branch Family. Without a doubt, these people were all Taijutsu -type ninjas. If they wanted to quickly wipe out the terrifying number of puppets over there, they wouldn't be able to do it.

Coincidentally, Tsunade herself was Taijutsu Ninja, and the other Anbu had not yet arrived, so Tsunade could only place her hopes on Yichen.

"Lord Hokage, I am Fire Release user, and I know some B-rank Fire Style Jutsu," Yichen replied respectfully.

"Alright, you use Ninjutsu to clear the way, and we'll charge into the puppet horde. Hizashi, you guys protect him. By the way, what's your name?" Tsunade gave the order directly, and didn't forget to ask Yichen at the end.

Yichen's heart tightened. There were many members in the Anbu, so it was normal for Tsunade not to recognize everyone, especially since Yichen was still wearing a mask. Tsunade for a short time.

However, no matter how busy Tsunade is, she must have seen the Anbu roster. If Tsunade Yichen, then it would be awkward.

If the code name Yichen mentioned happens to be one of those in Konoha Anbu, and Tsunade happens to know that person, then Yichen is in trouble.

After hesitating for a second, Yichen said, "My name is Ji."

Tsunade's forward movement was slightly stagnant, and then she did not look back, but chose to continue moving forward. Ji, A, B, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Rengui, these are the code names of the root members.

A few seconds later, Tsunade said, "I am the Hokage. Even if you are Root ninja, you are still a member of Konoha. Execute orders."

Tsunade's tone was much harsher this time than before.

"Yes," Yichen replied.

That's right, Yichen was planning to impersonate Root of Root at this time. Root and Anbu don't dress the same way, but given Pot King's nature, it was perfectly normal for a member of Root to impersonate Anbu.

This was the only way Yichen could think of in a short time that wouldn't expose him.

As they continued forward, seeing that Tsunade didn't notice anything amiss, Yichen breathed a sigh of relief.

Tsunade is not on the Root's list, and the Root member' code names are not fixed. If someone from the Root unit dies, Danzo will bring up the next member.

So even if Tsunade has seen the real Yomi, it doesn't matter, because that person may already be dead, and Yomi's title has been taken over by Yichen.

It's also possible that someone died before, and the original Ji's ranking rose. Yichen was promoted to become the new Ji.

Soon, the group arrived at the densely packed Puppet Army. The area within dozens of meters of the courtyard where the Cloud Ninja envoy had been located was filled with puppets.

Yichen glanced at the room where he had previously hidden the base of the Heavenly Transfer Technique. Fortunately, it wasn't surrounded by the Puppet Army.

Tsunade glanced at Yichen but said nothing.

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique." Because the goal was to rush into the Puppet Army to support Hyuga Hiashi and his group, Yichen chose a B-rank Fire Style Jutsu Ninjutsu with the greatest straight-line damage.

Yichen didn't hold back too much. Root could use a codename like "I" was at Jonin. It wasn't an exaggeration for Yichen to show the strength of Elite Jonin.

This B-rank Great Dragon Fire Technique was performed by Yichen after he increased his Chakra output. Its power far exceeds that of a normal B-rank Ninjutsu.

A thick fire dragon rushed straight into the group of puppets, blasting a narrow passage through them.

Seeing this, Tsunade, who was prepared, immediately called for Yichen, Hizashi Hyuga to rush in.

Hizashi Hyuga was in charge of the rearguard, the other members of the Hyuga Branch Family were responsible for the left and right flanks, and Tsunade led the way. Yichen, the only Ninjutsu -type ninja, was protected in the middle by the others.

The group continued to advance, and once the passage blasted open by the Great Fireball Jutsu was filled with puppets again, Yichen would Great Dragon Fire Technique once more.

As Yichen and his group charged inward, more and more Anbu and regular ninjas joined the ranks of those besieging the Puppet Army.

Originally, these ninjas had not received orders and chose to observe from a distance when faced with the clash between the Cloud ninja and the Hyuga Clan. After all, at that time it was just a conflict, and even if it involved the diplomacy between the two countries, that would be a matter for later.

But the situation is different now. If this dense Puppet Army were to be fully deployed, its impact on Konoha might not be any less than that of the Nine-Tails' disturbance.

This already qualifies as war.

Suddenly, Sasori of the Red Sands, who was lurking underground, felt the pressure.

Sasori of the Red Sands came to Konoha after accepting a mission from Nagato within the Dark Akatsuki Organization.

His mission was to cooperate with Orochimaru to seize the Byakugan.

Nagato himself doesn't care much about the Byakugan, but Byakugan reconnaissance abilities can sometimes complement those of White Zetsu.

The Byakugan is especially effective in identifying Jinchuriki.

Furthermore, Orochimaru encouraged him, saying that he had subordinates acting as informants who could infiltrate Konoha undetected. So Nagato finally agreed to Orochimaru's request.

There's nothing we can do about it. The Dark Akatsuki Organization is actually a relatively loose missing-nin organization. The relationship between Nagato's Dark Akatsuki and its members is more about cooperation than a superior-subordinate relationship.

As a newcomer, Orochimaru put forward his conditions for joining the organization, Nagato had to consider.

For example, Sasori of the Red Sands's condition was that the Dark Akatsuki Organization provide him with the resources and environment to research puppets. Juzo Biwa's requirement was that he be protected from being killed by the Mist ninja assassination squad.

Obtaining the Byakugan was Orochimaru's condition.