End of the Chaos
Yichen had dealt with Sasori of the Red Sands three times, and each time he gained a lot.
The first time, Yichen's Anbu Squad captured Sasori, who was causing trouble on the border of Iwa ninja. Not only did they gain a lot of Contribution Points, they also got a chance to learn B-rank Ninjutsu. Yichen remembered that he seemed to have chosen B-rank Sword Technique back then.
Although Yichen did not achieve much in swordsmanship, his disciple Kawakita perfectly made up for Yichen's regret.
From the very beginning, Sasori of the Red Sands's contribution to the rise of Kawakita to the Kage Level is indispensable.
The second time, Yichen obtained the Third Kazekage Puppet. During the subsequent Fourth Ninja World War, Konoha suffered a major defeat on the battlefield because of the Third Kazekage Puppet. This laid the foundation for Iwa ninja to withdraw from the Third Shinobi War early on.
The Iwa ninja were able to compete with the Konoha economically starting from that time. If Sasori of the Red Sands were Iwa ninja, Yichen said that he could at least add an S-rank mission record to his resume.
This is the third time, Yichen is eager to see if there are any other good things hidden on Sasori of the Red Sands's body.
The happy time spent picking up corpses ended quickly.
Since Sasori had no intention of lingering in the fight, Orochimaru naturally chose to retreat after seeing that the battle on Sasori's side had ended.
With these two sources of chaos gone, Konoha gradually returned to peace.
The chaotic Konoha was relatively safe for Yi Chen, as few Konoha ninjas would specifically target him. However, a peaceful Konoha was somewhat dangerous.
Especially when Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi calm down and analyze what happened, the Yichen will more or less pose a danger to him.
Seeing that Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi were about to be free, Yichen took advantage of the opportunity to leave Konoha.
Of course, before leaving, Yichen didn't forget to take the base of the Heavenly Transfer Technique.
After casting a regretful glance at the Hyuga Clan's territory, Yichen left Konoha through a secluded corner.
Yichen's primary target for this trip to Konoha was Neji Hyuga.
However, Hyuga Hiashi is still alive and well, and Hizashi Hyuga is also showing a willingness to die for his older brother. Yichen felt that he could not take Neji Hyuga away, neither physically nor mentally.
Arriving at the place where they had agreed to meet Ōnoki, they indeed found Ōnoki anxiously looking towards Konoha.
Yichen quickly stepped forward and said, "Third Hokage, the matter in Konoha is over. Let's go back."
Seeing that Yichen was unharmed, Ōnoki breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't rush to ask Yichen if he had gained anything, but simply nodded. The two then flew away from Konoha together.
"Lord Hokage, the Barrier Team just reported that the ninja with the unfamiliar Chakra who infiltrated the village a couple of days ago has also left the village after Orochimaru and Sasori of the Red Sands." An Anbu quickly arrived at the Hokage Building to report to Tsunade.
Neither Orochimaru Sasori of the Red Sands inflicted a devastating blow on Konoha this time. Even in the chaos, the various organizations in Konoha continued to function.
The same goes for the Barrier Team; instead of relocating, they continued to monitor the village. Therefore, the moment Yichen left Konoha, the Barrier Team sensed it.
Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this; Yichen, that jinx, was finally gone.
After confirming that there were no problems within Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked one of the Anbu, "When Orochimaru was causing trouble, did the Uchiha Clan make any unusual moves?"
An Anbu member responsible for monitoring the Uchiha Clan stepped forward and said, "Third Lord, there has been no unusual activity from the Uchiha Clan, and Clan Leader Fugaku has not appeared."
"In addition, some Uchiha Clan ninjas are helping to evacuate civilians."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, then said, "You may all leave."
After the Anbu left, only Tsunade and the three advisors besides Danzo remained in the Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "The internal issues of the village have been resolved, but the Cloud Ninja envoy was completely wiped out in the village. I'm afraid the Cloud ninja won't let this matter rest easily."
Utatane Koharu said, "Hiruzen is right. The Fourth Raikage probably sent this delegation here with the intention of them all dying in Konoha."
"The Fourth Raikage might already be leading troops to stir up trouble at the border. Hiruzen, you'd better prepare early."
Hiruzen Sarutobi certainly knew what Utatane Koharu meant by making preparations. Utatane Koharu was obviously not referring to war preparations; war preparations shouldn't be discussed so subtly with him, but rather with Tsunade, the current Hokage.
Utatane Koharu refers to the Hyuga Clan. The purpose of the Cloud ninja's mobilization is now clear to the Konoha High-ranking officials: it's for the Byakugan.
The Cloud ninja will likely use war as leverage to force Konoha to hand over Hyuga Hiashi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi understood Utatane Koharu's meaning, but he glanced subtly at Tsunade, who was reviewing the list of casualties. After all, Hokage was now the Tsunade of Konoha.
Given Tsunade's personality, it's impossible for her to do something like trading the lives of Konoha ninja for peace.
Koharu, the Utatane Koharu, knew Tsunade's personality, and could only sigh almost imperceptibly. Tsunade would never act according to her wishes.
"Sigh, if Danzo were here, that would be great." Utatane Koharu couldn't help but miss her companion who was willing to take the blame for everything.
Konoha suffered relatively few losses this time; the number of ninjas who actually died in battle was not large, mainly consisting of members of the Hyuga Branch Family. There were also some civilians who died in the crossfire during Sasori of the Red Sands's first use of the Hundred Puppets Technique.
The number of casualties on both sides has little impact on the overall Konoha.
The property losses in Konoha were not significant, and could not be compared to the night of the Nine-Tails' Rampage.
However, the Hyuga Clan suffered enormous losses; not a single intact house remained in their clan's territory.
However, Tsunade doesn't need to worry about this; the Hyuga Clan will handle it themselves. The wealth possessed by the Hyuga Clan is something even she, the Hokage, envies.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said to Tsunade, "The Iwa ninja delegation will be arriving soon, Tsunade. Please arrange for someone to receive them."
Tsunade had a headache. A Cloud Ninja envoy had just been wiped out in Konoha, and now an Iwa ninja delegation had arrived. This gave her a very bad feeling.
Tsunade nodded and said, "Let Iwa ninja Shikaku handle the reception of the Shikaku Nara delegation."
"Teacher, during the rescue of Hyuga Hiashi, a Root ninja codenamed 'Ki' contributed significantly. However, he also caused trouble at a crucial moment, almost inciting Sasori of the Red Sands to fight to the death within Konoha."
"Furthermore, this person is quite strong. He is proficient in both Fire Release and Earth Release techniques, and his strength is at least at the level of Elite Jonin. Do you know that there is such a person in Root?"
"I heard that many of the old members of Root died in battle, and now these are all former Orochimaru's subordinates?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi taken aback, then began to recall the Orochimaru's former subordinates who had been Danzo.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't have a list of Root, so he didn't initially consider it. Besides, Danzo was given to him by Danzo. Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi never thought of investigating Root ninjas.
However, Tsunade was different; she was very displeased with the fact that there was a ninja organization in Konoha that was not under the Hokage's control.
She wanted to take this opportunity to obtain the list of Root member.
Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated for a moment, then said, "I don't have the Root list, but I do have a list of Orochimaru's subordinates from back then."
After saying that, Hiruzen Sarutobi went to his office and retrieved the list.
This is the list of all the ninjas related to Hiruzen Sarutobi that Danzo gave to Orochimaru back then.
Half of it includes Anbu, and the other half includes Root.
Tsunade carefully examined the list, beginning to determine her own identity.
The more Tsunade looked, the more her brows furrowed. What was going on? Why wasn't any of them meeting the criteria?
Tsunade told Hiruzen Sarutobi everything she knew about him, then asked, "Sensei, can you confirm this person's identity?"
After saying that, Tsunade handed the list back to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the list with a puzzled look, then carefully compared it with the list, and found that there was no such person.
This was a serious matter. Sarutobi Hizashi carefully analyzed all the possibilities and came to two conclusions: either this person was not Root at all, but a ninja from another village in disguise; or Danzo, and his Root had powerful subordinates in addition to Orochimaru's group.
The second possibility is unlikely.
Danzo's Root had been secretly recruiting war orphans, a fact known to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Danzo had also taken in many ninja clan members over the years.
However, these people are still young, and it's impossible for Elite Jonin to emerge so quickly. Moreover, although this person is strong, he doesn't have the family secret techniques passed down like the ninja clan members.
Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi expressed his guess. "This person is probably a ninja from another village in disguise."
Upon hearing this, Tsunade unconsciously clenched her fists, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on her back.
If that "self" isn't the real Root, then who is it? The answer isn't hard to guess; just think about who's been in the village these past few days.
"The Fourth Tsuchikage, Yichen?" It was Mitokado Homura who spoke, his voice tinged with lingering fear. "Tsunade, didn't you notice anything?"
Tsunade a deep breath and slowly calmed herself down.
As the Fourth Tsuchikage, Yichen's intelligence was constantly updated in Konoha. The intelligence indicated that Yichen might have mastered the Kekkei Tōta.
The thought of a ninja with Kekkei Tōta standing right behind her, harboring murderous intent towards her, sent chills down Tsunade.
Upon careful recollection, it seems that at the moment when I was severely injured by Sasori of the Red Sands's high-pressure water gun, my hands were about to Hand Seals.
But the more I think about it, the more it resembles the hand gestures of Ōnoki when he used Dust Release?
"Kekkei Tōta!" Tsunade. Could her Creation Rebirth Technique, which she used after releasing the Yin Seal, withstand Kekkei Tōta?
Thinking of the information recorded about Dust Release's power to instantly turn everything to ashes, Tsunade shuddered again; there was absolutely no hope.