The Bad News! Mito's Death!

"Lord Shiyu, are you ready to return?" the Katsuyu asked.

"Yes. I've been learning Senjutsu for a while now, and I should hurry back." Shiyu was also somewhat anxious; he had no idea what had happened in Konoha.

"Okay, don't worry, Konoha will be fine," the Katsuyu reassured her, then added.

"I will have my clone in Konoha use the Reverse Summoning Jutsu to summon you back," said the Slug Sage.

"Wait a minute, how can you use Reverse Summoning if you don't have hands?" Shiyu retorted.

Unexpectedly, the Slug Sage directly fused his split form into his hand, saying, "If I can conjure a hand, my split form can naturally do the same."

Shiyu:".

"Never mind that, just get me back." The Katsuyu then said, "Get ready," and with a "bang," Shiyu disappeared into the Shikkotsu Forest.

When Shiyu returned to Konoha, he found that the surroundings were still filled with grief.

"How long have I been gone?" Shiyu asked the Katsuyu perched on her shoulder.

"About a month," the Katsuyu replied.

"Wait a minute, White Fang's memorial service was long ago, so whose is it this time!?" Shiyu also rushed to the Konoha Memorial Stone. The area was still packed with people dressed in black, and even the Third Hokage was there.

Shiyu also spotted Xiao Xing Minato and Kushina in the crowd.

"This is it." Shiyu then realized that the person who had died was none other than Mito Uzumaki, Hashirama's wife. However, what Shiyu found strange was that the Nine-Tails' power within Kushina's body was not complete.

"Shiyu, brother, Grandma is dead." Xiao Xing was very sad, and Shiyu didn't know how to comfort her. The last time was the first time she had experienced the death of someone close to her, and she never expected that Mito would die so soon after.

"Something's fishy." Shiyu immediately activated his observational skills and instantly discovered that the body inside Mito's coffin was not Mito's.

"Mito's potential was unleashed earlier, so her lifespan should have been extended considerably; she shouldn't be dead. Judging from this situation, could it be that Mito sealed half of the Nine-Tails' power into Kushina? But why would she do that?"

Shiyu was puzzled. He was certain that Mito was still alive, but he couldn't find Mito anywhere.

Therefore, Shiyu could only feign sadness and attend Mito's memorial service with everyone else.

Shiyu was immediately summoned to the Hokage's office by the Third Hokage.

"Shiyu? Have you discovered it?" the Third Hokage asked.

"I've found out. Lady Mito shouldn't be dead," Shiyu replied truthfully.

"Hmm, your perception is quite good, just like my teacher, Tobirama-sama."

The Third Hokage also saw many of the Second's traits in Shiyu.

"Why? I don't understand." Shiyu genuinely didn't know why Konoha was doing this.

"You predicted a Fourth Shinobi World War before, didn't you? I really didn't expect it. Your prediction might actually come true." The Third Hokage said very seriously.

"Has the war already begun? I feel like Konoha's defenses have become weaker." Shiyu sensed this as well and remarked.

The Third Hokage took a puff of his pipe, then placed it on the table and said, "The three villages of Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure are restless and their intentions are unknown. I have already dispatched a large number of ninjas to defend against them. The death of Mito the White Fang may very well lead the enemy to believe that it is a good opportunity to attack us."

"I see, so we prepared in advance? That way, if the enemy attacks us, we can catch them off guard, right? So that's the purpose of faking Lady Mito's death." Shiyu understood instantly.

"That's right. We've received information that Sunagakure has been quite active lately, and since their country is located in the desert, it's clear they're planning a large-scale military expansion. I estimate that a local war between Konoha Sunagakure will likely begin first," the Third Hokage said.

"So, is this my mission?" Shiyu asked, confirming the question.

"Yes! First, we'll head to the Land of Rivers, where our ninja forces have already assembled. We'll try to avoid fighting on our home soil as much as possible. I hope you can crush the Sunagakure's ambitions in one fell swoop. This time, you'll be the commander, and it's time for you to be active on the real battlefield. "The Third Hokage looked at Shiyu with great trust.

"Okay, but I'm too young and probably won't be able to command respect. I'd like to ask Teacher Sarutobi for a commander's token," Shiyu requested. Shiyu had just said it casually, but unexpectedly, there really was a token.

"With your strength, no one is convinced of your abilities? Fine, here you go." The Third Hokage handed the token to Shiyu.

"You are in charge of the war on the southwest front. Orochimaru is currently guarding the northwest to prevent Minato from launching Iwagakure attack. I have transferred Minato to the northeast to guard against the ever-watchful Kumogakure. I believe you can do it." The Third Hokage placed high hopes on Shiyu was well aware of.

"By the way, I need a few people," Shiyu said.

"Hmm, it's probably very difficult to Jonin right now; there are more Chunin and Genin," the Third Hokage said.

"That's enough. I need Kakashi Nao, Hinata Kurenai, and Hizashi Hyuga," Shiyu said. "That is, our original Team Seven."

"Sure!" The Third Hokage nodded; there was no problem transferring these people.

"I will inform them. You should assemble and prepare to depart in one hour!" the Third Hokage said.

"Yes!" Shiyu then vanished in a Body Flicker Technique.

Shiyu went to Konoha Bank and discovered that his bank had recently received three huge sums of money.

"What's going on?" Shiyu asked.

"The three of them injected capital into our bank; that's what the documents say," the staff member said.

"One family is the Amamiya Family of the Land of Fire, another is the Hidden Family of the Land of Water, and the third is a man named Shingen."

"The Amamiya Family is probably repaying me? The Hidden Clan must be that blue-haired little girl I rescued, right? Isn't Shingen just a henchman he recruited in Tanzaku Street? Did he return the money?"

"He's really an interesting person." Shiyu couldn't help but chuckle.

"Recently, we've stopped opening new branches for Konoha Bank and will temporarily halt lending. We'll resume once things have calmed down. By the way, what about Kakuzu?" Shiyu asked.

"Boss, you called me?" Kakuzu already has a new identity in Konoha, all arranged by Shiyu.

"There's a special mission, a business trip, and there will be travel expenses. You're going to the battlefield with me! Are you in?" Shiyu asked with a smile.

"Having more money would be best, of course! But the main thing is that I've been itching to do something lately! Let's treat it as a trip!" Kakuzu accepted Shiyu's invitation.