Uchiha Matriarch

Black Zetsu burrowed underground, then suddenly emerged again.

He quickly arrived at Black Zetsu's side, kicked the corpse several times, and then disappeared underground again before Kazashiro arrived.

Possessing the Mayfly Technique, he quickly headed towards the Land of Rain.

He wanted to retrieve Madara's Rinnegan before Yaowan did.

When Kazashiro followed the trail of blood to Shana's side, he only saw her gruesome corpse.

"Who did this?!"

The bloody hole in her eye socket proved that Setsuna had died at the hands of someone else. Kazashiro tried his best to use Sage Mode to explore his surroundings, but unsurprisingly, he found no one.

By the time Kazashiro dragged Setsuna's corpse to meet with Uchiha Hikari, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane had already cleaned up the bodies at the scene.

"Kazuma, the Twelve Guardian Ninja."

After a quick glance at the corpse's appearance, Kazashiro recognized the most famous one among them.

"The Twelve Guardian Ninja, they are not bodyguards of the Daimyo--"

Izumo Kamizuki's voice abruptly stopped; he had clearly realized the complexity of the situation.

"Even the Daimyo wants to kill you, you're really something as Hokage..."

Uchiha Hikari, as always, mocked Kazashiro.

"What do you know? Successful men are always the target of envy."

Kazashiro tossed his hair, striking a cool pose.

Uchiha Hikari narrowed his eyes, looking at Kazashiro's performance with disdain. "Just a smug brat."

"Yes, yes, I'm kid, and you're Uchiha Matriarch, right?"

After spending several days together, Kazashiro had figured out a way to retaliate against Uchiha Hikari.

"You're the one who's the great-grandmother!"

Uchiha Hikari's eyes widened, and he reached out to grab Kazashiro's collar.

"Hey, Grandma, take it easy, be careful not to strain your back."

I'll burn you alive!

Watching the two begin their chase, Izumo Kamizuki nudged Kotetsu Hagane: "I feel like they both look like brats."

"Keep your voice down, do you have a death wish?"

Kotetsu Hagane quickly covered Izumo Kamizuki's mouth, telling him to be careful what he said.

He didn't want to be sent to the Internal Affairs Department to work for Konoha at such a young age. He still had a bright future ahead of him, and he might even be promoted to Jonin before he turned fifty. He couldn't let it end like this.

Mount Kikyo Outpost.

Jiraiya frowned as he looked at Pakura not far away.

Scorching Release Pakura, the Sunagakure who fought against Kirigakure. Jiraiya had heard of her before; her appearance was indeed superb, but...

Because Pakura had been fighting against Kirigakure for many years, Konoha didn't have much information about them.

However, there is one thing that Konoha knows: Pakura was announced by Sunagakure Stone Ninja years ago.

This person not only suddenly reappeared after many years, but also coincidentally saved the daimyo from Rasa's clutches. This series of events forced Jiraiya to be on guard.

Noticing Jiraiya's gaze, Pakura remained completely at ease.

The talks with Konoha were handled by Chiyo and Ebizo, but the Konoha envoy made some excessive demands right from the start.

Chiyo naturally dared not agree, as the terms of the treaty were far more stringent than those during Rasa's time.

To put it bluntly, after the new treaty is signed, Sunagakure's status will probably really become just another roadside village.

Those bastards from Konoha, they want to make Sunagakure their vassal!

Chiyo initially wanted to expel the Konoha envoys, but considering that Iwagakure was still there eyeing them covetously, she had no choice but to patiently deal with them.

Unexpectedly, Pakura, who had been unwilling to negotiate with Konoha, decisively bypassed Chiyo and Ebizo after learning about the situation and spoke directly with Konoha's envoy, ultimately agreeing to most of Konoha's demands.

This incident caused an uproar among high-ranking officials.

Everyone thought that the new Fourth Kazekage must have some serious mental illness, otherwise why would he agree to such a request?

But Pakura's reply was also very simple.

She had already reported these treaties to the Daimyo's Mansion, and the Daimyo himself stated that the contents of the treaties were very fair.

"Of course the Daimyo thinks it's fair. He's long wanted to bypass Sunagakure and give the commission to the more reputable Konoha Ninja!"

Chiyo pounded her fist on the table, trying to persuade Pakura to change her mind.

Pakura's casual remark left her speechless.

"I am the Kazekage, Chiyo's advisor."

This explains why Pakura's expression was so calm, while Chiyo, Ebizo, and the others stood by with dark faces and remained silent.

Just as everyone was waiting for Kazashiro to arrive with various thoughts in their minds, a figure suddenly appeared beside Jiraiya in Body Flicker Technique.

Upon hearing the whisper in his ear, Jiraiya's expression changed, and he turned to search for Minato's whereabouts.

The commotion in Konoha was naturally observed by Chiyo and the others sitting opposite them. Seeing the solemnity on their faces, Chiyo darkly guessed that something might have happened to that annoying Fifth Hokage.

It would be best if that brat were killed like Rasa.

Just imagining that scene made Chiyo's Kakuzu curl into a smile.

Smiling.

"Surround them!"

With a sharp shout from Minato, the Konoha Ninja responsible for security swarmed forward, completely surrounding the Sunagakure forces.

"What are you trying to do? We're here to sign a treaty!"

Chiyo slammed her hand on the table, instinctively believing that Konoha was preparing to wipe them out in one Chiyo swoop.

"The Fifth Hokage was assassinated, and the culprit has been apprehended—a ninja from your Sunagakure!"

Minato stared coldly at Chiyo before him, signaling for someone to bring up the evidence.

Baki, who was beyond dead, was dragged out by Konoha Ninja and thrown to the ground.

"Baki?"

Chiyo's lips twitched; she had clearly recognized the other person's identity.

No, not at all.

After Rasa's death, Baki, who was highly trusted by the other party, also disappeared without a trace.

Chiyo initially thought that the other party, like Yashamaru, had fled the village, but she never expected that the other party had gone to assassinate the Hokage.

A few dishes, and you're this drunk?

Baki is at best an elite Jonin; it would take immense courage for him to choose to fight Kazashiro.

"The actions of Sunagakure are utterly shameless, and we will never tolerate them!"

Minato's expression was cold and stern; he looked at Sunagakure as if he were looking at a corpse.

"It's a misunderstanding, Baki has already left the village—"

Chiyo still wanted to salvage the situation.

In the shadows, Uchiha Hikari, holding a glass of lemonade, watched Chiyo's attempt at sophistry with relish.

"So, you foresaw this would happen, which is why you spared the life of that two-faced man back then?"

Glancing at Kazashiro, who was holding a glass of orange juice, Uchiha Hikari was surprised that the other party had such foresight.

"No, I just thought that guy might be useful, so I froze him to look for an opportunity to strike. I can only say that the assassination attempt by the Twelve Guardian Ninja was perfectly timed."

Kazashiro took a big sip of orange juice, patted his stomach contentedly, and let out a satisfied burp.

However, he didn't expect that this assassination attempt would target not only people from the Daimyo's Daimyo's Mansion, but also that unknown Uchiha.

He didn't receive any information about this either.

Speaking of which, I need to hurry back to the village and take the body to Fugaku for identification, to see if he recognizes this guy.