Konoha Takes the Blame

Konoha Takes the Blame

During the stalemate of the Second Ninja World War.

A world-shaking event suddenly erupted across the ninja world.

On a certain day of a certain year, a Konoha Wood Release Ninja took advantage of the Kazekage of Sunagakure relaxing after work to launch a surprise attack on the Third Kazekage, Yunqing.

Fortunately, the Third Kazekage Yunqing was immensely powerful. The two fought through the night in the Land of Wind, leaving behind towering trees everywhere.

Legend had it that when the Third Kazekage Yunqing returned the next day, all of Sunagakure wept bitterly, filled with remorse.

They believed those battle scars left behind were a humiliation.

And the best way to remember humiliation was to preserve it.

At the urging of advisor Elder Ebizo, Sunagakure not only dispatched its only Water Release Ninja to diligently water those "Battle ruins,"

but also ordered Sunagakure's master architects to design, overnight, a network of River Channels stretching across the Land of Wind.

After receiving the news, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind publicly accused the Land of Fire of going too far and claimed that Konoha looked down on others.

He then allocated funds for the Land of Wind's construction teams to cooperate fully with Sunagakure and properly build the River Channels.

This humiliation had to be engraved in their hearts as a warning to future generations of the Land of Wind.

Within Sunagakure, Yunqing looked approvingly at the plan Ebizo had presented.

To ensure the feasibility of the River Channels, someone had even proposed cutting off a section of the Land of Rain specifically to divert water through it.

"Lord Kazekage, we have already sent a letter to the Land of Rain. Hanzo has agreed to our plan, and they will allow us to 'borrow' large amounts of water from the Land of Rain."

A Sunagakure Elder rose to deliver his report.

Several days had already passed since Yunqing's battle with Madara.

Sunagakure had already emerged from the "shadow."

"Merchants from the Land of Earth have stated that they are willing to sell us ordinary sand, soil, and stone at reasonable prices."

"Merchants from the Land of Fire have also agreed to sell us seedlings. However, they will only handle transportation; we will have to solve the survival-rate issue ourselves."

"Konoha has condemned our slander and demanded that we issue an explanation to the ninja world."

Inside the Sunagakure Conference Room, one Sunagakure Elder and high-ranking official after another reported the latest news.

"Very good. Keep the trade with merchants from every country going.

Suke, lead the army and make sure the trade routes remain open. Only with open trade routes can we continue improving.

As for Konoha's condemnation, treat it like a fart and ignore it.

They can barely look after themselves now."

Yunqing was very satisfied with the efficiency of Sunagakure's upper ranks.

He swiftly gave his response.

"Understood."

"Understood."

"Understood."

"If there are no more issues, then this meeting is adjourned. Everyone must guard their posts well.

There is no problem that cannot be solved. If there is one, come find me. Strength is not a problem."

Yunqing smiled as he encouraged everyone.

After this battle, Yunqing's position in Sunagakure had become unshakable.

That was a legendary Wood Style Ninja, yet he had been driven back just like that.

Those "Battle ruins" around the Land of Wind and Sunagakure truly showed them just how brutal the battle had been.

The towering trees told them that the First Hokage's Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence was no joke.

And the huge wooden rods and massive chunks of timber could only have been created by Wood Release.

Having such a powerful Kage was truly reassuring.

That was how Sunagakure and the Land of Wind felt.

Just as Yunqing had said, Konoha could barely look after itself.

The appearance of a Wood Release Ninja first made the major Ninja Villages calm down and send people to verify the news.

Sunagakure and the Land of Wind had no intention of hiding anything. They even sent people to put up signs telling them where the Battle ruins were so they could go see for themselves.

Our poor Desert country could never produce this much vegetation.

After confirming it, everyone went completely mad.

Fuck, after the two overpowered freaks of the ninja world died, we thought everyone had finally returned to the same starting line. But Konoha secretly produced a Wood Release Ninja.

You're trying to defy the heavens.

If the Third Kazekage had not been strong enough to stop your sneak attack, were you planning to wipe us all out in one go?

Hashirama Senju was an idiot who loved peace. Do you really expect us to believe that you, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and all your classmates also love peace?

As a result, Kumogakure and Iwagakure attacked Konoha with even greater desperation, even temporarily setting aside their hatred.

They both shared the same attitude: whether the Wood Release Ninja was real or not, they had to cripple Konoha.

You had to give them an explanation.

"An explanation, my ass! If I really had a Wood Release Ninja, I would've sent him to the battlefield long ago to beat the hell out of all of you."

Inside the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi stomped his feet and cursed.

Beside him stood his classmates, students, and the core high-ranking ninjas of the Hokage's faction.

Watching Hiruzen Sarutobi curse while stomping his feet, everyone chose to lower their heads and pretend they had forgotten everything.

I didn't see anything. You didn't notice me either. I'm just invisible.

No matter how much Hiruzen Sarutobi lost his composure, he was still Konoha's Hokage, their superior, and Konoha's strongest ninja.

After cursing for a long time, Hiruzen Sarutobi grew somewhat tired and sat back down.

"Hiruzen, what should we do?"

After exchanging glances, Utatane Koharu, a female ninja, was still the one who stood and spoke.

She was a woman and also Hiruzen Sarutobi's classmate, so he could not bring himself to curse at her.

"What should we do? Fight. Don't you know whether we have a Wood Release Ninja or not?"

The youthful Hiruzen Sarutobi was a man of great resolve. They were just two major Ninja Villages. Konoha was not without people—what was there to fear?

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words plunged everyone present into silence. Aside from Tsunade, there were other Senju Clan Members among them as well.

They truly knew whether a Wood Release Ninja existed.

Wood Release and the Mangekyō Sharingan—after Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had successively "died," had Konoha truly never researched these two bug-like powers?

If they claimed they had not, even Hiruzen Sarutobi himself would not believe it.

They had researched them, but they had never achieved results—or rather, never achieved good results.

"Then we can only fight."

Shimura Danzō said with a fierce gleam in his eyes. Everyone had a temper, didn't they?

"We definitely have to fight. The problem is that Sunagakure's 'Battle ruins' are not fake, especially the Wood Release Chakra. We have investigated it."

After hesitating, Mitokado Homura spoke timidly.

"Fight, and hit them hard. In the coming war, whoever sticks their head out gets knocked down. Let me see who dares to come forward.

As for the Wood Release Ninja, leave the Anbu to keep watch on him.

Handle the battlefield first."

Hiruzen Sarutobi bit down on his pipe and spoke in a tone even fiercer than Shimura Danzō's.

At a time like this, they absolutely could not show weakness. If they did, their end would certainly not be good.

The other Ninja Villages would absolutely push their luck.

They would stomp on Konoha without mercy.

"Yes, understood."

Everyone in the Hokage Office stiffened at Hiruzen Sarutobi's words and quickly answered.

A ninja who had risen to power during wartime and led Konoha out of war—how weak could he possibly be?

Hiruzen Sarutobi, in the prime of his life, had secured his position not merely through political means, but through his formidable strength and his way of doing things.

Fourth update. I suddenly realized that I have the potential to churn out chapters too.

The author has no stockpile. It all comes from sudden bursts of inspiration.

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