Although Ao's words had a hint of flattery, they weren't entirely wrong. The Kirigakure had recently undergone a change in power, with the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama overall command.
Furthermore, even if Kirigakure hadn't become a weapon in Konoha's hands, the Four Great Villages alone were far superior to Yugakure! His boasting of being a king's army was perfectly justified.
Shimura Danzō smiled, then patted him on the shoulder with approval. This kid is ambitious, capable, idealistic, obedient, hardworking, and pragmatic. He's practically another version of Uchiha Kō.
However, Shimura Danzō this person could not reach the level of Uchiha Kō, because that was reality. He once thought that as long as he worked hard, he could surpass legendary ninjas like Uchiha.
However, ever since Uchiha Kō sealed the One-Tail- Tailed Beast Shukaku into Shimura Danzō's body, Shimura Danzō's thinking changed. His limited mindset was shattered, and he realized that not everything in the Ninja World is equal.
Talent is innate; being born into the right family is a blessing. If you're born into a good family, you can even surpass someone's entire life without any effort. Wasn't Shimura Danzō hardworking enough in the original story?
But facing a novice like Uchiha Sasuke, and a second form of Susanoo, he was unable to break through, Kunai pierce Susanoo —how ironic!
"Well said, Ao, from now on you'll follow me!" Shimura Danzō said, then turned and walked towards the front of the group. The Mist Ninja he encountered all obediently made way for him, none daring to challenge him.
Shimura Danzō did not speak, but walked forward, staring ahead without uttering a word, and began to march. Ao was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed. He followed Shimura Danzō humbly and respectfully.
Yugakure
At this moment, the gates of Yugakure were tightly closed, and it was pitch black. Compared to Konoha, it was far inferior. On the one hand, Yugakure's technological strength was lagging behind, and it still enforced the curfew that had been in use throughout the entire Ninja World twenty years ago.
On the other hand, ever since their messenger Hidan wreaked havoc and killed indiscriminately in Konoha, the Kage of Yugakure had been silent. He immediately ordered that the village gates be closed at night, and that no one in the village be allowed to go out.
By adopting a policy of isolationism, the Yugakure instantly became tense and hostile.
Shimura Danzō and his group stopped about ten miles outside Yugakure. Shimura Danzō out Konoha's thermal imaging telescope and looked over.
Eight ninjas stood atop the two towers in front of Yugakure Shimura Danzō. "Holy crap," he thought, "Are the towers in Yugakure really that sturdy?"
Ahem, just kidding. The fact that Yugakure has sent eight ninjas to keep watch at night means they've entered a state of combat readiness.
In other words, Yugakure anticipated that Hidan would die after this Hidan, so they prepared precautions in advance. However, although these precautions were very cautious, Danzo regarded them as child's play!
He began, "Ao, do you see those two watchtowers?" Shimura Danzō pointed to the watchtowers, and Ao quickly replied, "Yes, sir!"
"Yes, there are four patrolling ninjas on that watchtower, a total of [number missing]. We must kill them all immediately, otherwise we will be caught in a siege!" Shimura Danzō slowly.
Qing nodded, then cupped his hands and said, "My lord, I am willing to lead men to take these eight to..." As he spoke, Qing made a throat-slitting gesture.
Shimura Danzō nodded, then said, "Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, you work with Ao to kill the guards on the watchtower. Remember to be quick!"
"Yes!" The seven men bowed. This was an order personally given by Shimura Danzō, who represented Senju Tobirama the Mist Division. His words were Senju Tobirama's words, and no one dared to disobey.
Shimura Danzō nodded. "Move." With that, he ordered the army to advance slowly, and instructed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and Ao to sneak up under the cover of night and quickly eliminate the eight ninjas who had run upstairs.
He would occasionally take out his thermal imaging binoculars to observe the situation.
To prove himself, Ao rushed to the front, a scene that left Suikazan Fuguki looking at Ao's retreating figure with a complicated expression.
Ao's strength just now was already that of a Jonin! And he was almost at the Kage Level. Everyone misjudged him, thinking that Ao could only reach the Jonin level by relying on Jonin Byakugan.
But after losing his Byakugan, he didn't give up on himself. He focused on training and is now a Kage Level expert, though perhaps a little weaker than the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
However, if the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist the Ninja Blade, they would most likely lose to this young man. Suikazan Fuguki sighed. Now everything was set in stone, including the Mizukage Karatachi Yagura, who had now become Konoha's dog.
Kirigakure has become Konoha's sword; what's the point of thinking about these things now?
Ao glanced at the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, then immediately Hand Seals and unleashed Water Release: Hidden Mist Assassination Technique! Instantly, a large amount of mist appeared out of thin air, causing the already tense guards of Yugakure to pull out signal flares.
The next moment, he took out a signal flare with his left hand and prepared to pull the fuse with his right hand. A flash of cold light appeared, and his arm fell to the ground with a thud. Then, a wave of pain surged through him, and he wanted to cry out.
Kushimaru Kuriarare appeared behind him, covering his mouth with his left hand and making a "shh" gesture with his right. "Shh~" Then, amidst the panicked expressions of the Yugakure ninja, he pulled him up with both hands!
The patrolling ninja's head was silently removed, without even being noticed by his three fellow ninjas behind him!
Having completed his mission, Kushimaru Kuriarare captured the ninja and then hid in the thick fog.
Suikazan Fuguki, wielding Samehada, violently demolished a structure, smashing a person's head open before retreating.
At this moment, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist used their respective skills, making it incredibly easy for them to deal with the patrolling ninjas from Yugakure. Seven of them died in less than three seconds.
The eighth man on the city wall sensed something was wrong and hurriedly tried to call for help, asking the captain on another floor to fire a signal flare. Just as he was about to shout,
Qing struck him in the throat with a thud. The ninja clutched his throat, feeling a sharp pain in his neck. He tried to scream, but couldn't utter a sound.
Qing reached out, grabbed the ninja by the throat, lifted him up, and threw him over the tower.
No matter how much the ninja struggled, he was like a lamb to the slaughter in Qing's hands. After being thrown out, he crashed onto a rock, where the sharp rock pierced him.
Its eyes, filled with resentment, stared at the watchtower that had come from the direction from which it had flown, dying with its eyes wide open in disbelief!
After doing all this, he dispelled the Hidden Mist Technique, and Shimura Danzō had been constantly observing the movements of the watchtower, beamed with joy. "Everyone, charge!"
At a single command, over a thousand of the three thousand ninja from Kirigakure mobilized, employing various ninjutsu techniques to smash open the city gate.
Yugakure
In Tang Ying's office, he sat there, afraid to sleep, lest he lose his head if he fell asleep. He hated Hidan and couldn't understand why he did what he did!
There's a limit to madness. Going insane in Konoha is like an old man contemplating suicide. Just as he was lost in his chaotic thoughts, a ninja from Yugakure suddenly arrived at his office. "It's terrible, Lord Yugakure! Ninjas, a large number of ninjas are bombarding the village gates!"
"What! Where are the guards? What are they doing? Why aren't there any signal flares?" The Yugakure's Hot Spring Shadow immediately stood up and roared.
The ninja's eyes darted around as he asked, "Sir, do you think it's possible that they're already dead?" His gaze was tinged with embarrassment.
Don't they know their own village's strength? At best, it's just a small hilltop with the reputation of a hidden village; how can it compare to regular ninjas?
This outcome isn't surprising, is it?
Tang Ying's expression froze. He felt a little dizzy and didn't know what to do for a moment!
The ninja's eyes darted around, and he chuckled, "Sir, there's a way! Do you remember the Jashin?"
Tang Ying was stunned. He looked at the ninja in front of him with horror and slowly said, "Are you crazy! That guy has been sealed for thousands of years. If he is released, I don't know if the ninjas outside are dead or not, but I'm afraid not a single one of the people in our Yugakure will be left alive!"
The ninja sneered, "Sir, if we let those ninjas in, will our Yugakure survive?"
"Hidan assassinated Uchiha Kō's daughter this time. Who is Uchiha Kō? He's the most ruthless person in history, leading Konoha to unify the Ninja World even at the cost of rivers of blood!" the ninja continued.
"Do you think someone like that, whose daughter was nearly assassinated by ninjas from my Yugakure, would let us go? Would he care what other countries think of him?" the ninja continued to entice him.
The Yugakure's Yukage was speechless at this moment, but his expression showed some apprehension. If he were to release the Jashin today, he would surely become a sinner in the Ninja World, a title he absolutely did not want!
The ninja remained expressionless upon seeing this. "Think of your daughter, think of your son, think of your parents. They will all die under the blades of Konoha, and you will be left only in the Pure Land, unable to take revenge. Do you hate it?"
Tang Ying shuddered, then his gaze darkened. He took a deep breath and said, "Fine, let that thing out!" He sat down weakly.
The ninja's face lit up with joy, and he said, "Please give me a document, Lord Yukage, so I can send someone to carry it out!" He was both a ninja from Yugakure and a servant who worshipped the Lord Jashin!
However, the relationship between Yugakure and the Jashin is very complicated. Many ninjas in Yugakure worship the Jashin, but the Yugakure leader clearly stated that it is okay to worship the Jashin, but one must not be obsessed with it!
Gaining power is acceptable, but one should not gain too much, otherwise the power will erode one's consciousness, turning one into an avatar of Jashin.
This ninja was clearly not normal. Normally, Yukage might still be able to figure it out, but now that Yugakure was on the verge of extinction, his mind was also somewhat unclear.
Hearing the demonic whispers of the Jashin's avatar stirred evil within him. Rather than watch his family die, he decided to send his enemies to hell with him!