A Bountiful Harvest

"Ah—!"

Orochimaru's voice echoed across the sky, announcing the news to everyone: Orochimaru had been defeated.

Without Orochimaru controlling it, the Eight Branches Technique slowly collapsed to the ground.

Jiraiya looked at Feng Yao, at a loss for words. By rights, Orochimaru was a rogue ninja, and killing him would benefit Konoha without doing it any harm.

But his feelings still drove him to demand, "What did you do to Orochimaru?"

To Jiraiya, Orochimaru was the friend he had failed to bring back in the past. In the original story, one reason he never took the Hokage Position was that he wanted to find Orochimaru. Their bond was much like Naruto and Sasuke's.

Feng Yao slowly rose to his feet and ignored Jiraiya. He turned his gaze toward the shinobi still fighting below. Orochimaru had yet to release Impure World Reincarnation, so the First Hokage, Kagami Uchiha, and the others were still battling.

"Lord Jiraiya, you don't need to concern yourself with what happened between Orochimaru and me. I still have a use for him, so I won't kill him just yet."

Setting aside Orochimaru's schemes, his intellect and breadth of vision ranked among the best in the Naruto world. As the only man in the series who believed in science, Feng Yao was willing to use up that Kotoamatsukami eye if it meant getting Orochimaru to work for him.

Apart from Jiraiya, the most agitated person on the field was Kimimaro. He knocked back the Jonin in front of him and charged toward Feng Yao without a second thought.

Bones protruded from his hand and gathered into a massive bone spear.

He roared, "What did you do to Lord Orochimaru? Give him back to me!"

Watching Kimimaro charge recklessly at him, Feng Yao was about to summon a spirit beast.

But just then, a masked giant with a gray bone club in his hand slammed into Kimimaro and sent him flying several meters away.

It was one of Tayuya's Three Ghosts. When Feng Yao had finished off Orochimaru, she had hesitated for a moment, but in the end she had chosen to stand with the Feng Yao she had always admired.

Tayuya raised her flute and entered Cursed Seal Level Two. Kimimaro had only attacked because he was worried about Orochimaru, but it was clear that her strength had improved considerably.

Her gaze stayed fixed on Kimimaro. She used to be afraid whenever she saw him, but not anymore. Now she had someone she wanted to protect.

"I won't let you hurt Lord Feng Yao. You'll have to kill me first."

Seeing the girl step forward to protect him, Feng Yao felt a faint stir in his heart.

He had never paid much attention to Tayuya before. In the original story, she had been rather unremarkable.

But she had surprised him again and again today. She had used a secret technique to control Danzo, who had sealed himself, and had blocked one of Kimimaro's attacks.

Feng Yao walked over and placed a hand on Tayuya's shoulder.

"You don't need to fight. Leave things here to me."

Tayuya's body visibly trembled when Feng Yao patted her.

She lowered her head slightly and spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito's. "Y-yes, Lord Feng Yao."

Then she covered her face and stepped behind Feng Yao, peeking at his profile through the gaps between her fingers.

Oh my~ Lord Feng Yao's presence is still so captivating. But I look so ugly in Cursed Seal Level Two. I'll never use it in front of him again, even if it kills me.

Feng Yao, of course, had no idea why she was covering her face.

His expression was impassive. "Kimimaro, Orochimaru is in my hands. You have two choices. First, watch me take him away, then go wherever you want on your own. Second, follow me from now on, and I'll make sure you get the chance to see him. I'll give you ten seconds to decide."

The bones throughout Kimimaro's body shifted and grew at a visible pace. He wanted nothing more than to kill the man before him and take Orochimaru back.

But reason prevailed, and the Cursed Seal on his body slowly faded until it had shrunk back into a small circle marked with three tomoe.

Kimimaro's choice brought a slight smile to Feng Yao's face. His first order was for Kimimaro to gather Orochimaru's forces and prepare to retreat.

Continuing the fight would only mean throwing their lives away. With Jiraiya guarding Konoha, all those expendable fighters would be no match for them.

Better to save their strength and put it to use for himself later.

The Sand shinobi below couldn't help showing their despair. "Now that Orochimaru's been defeated and I'm badly wounded, there's no way we can break through. We can't let the One-Tail fall into Konoha's hands. Baki, do it."

Rasa's eyes flashed with renewed resolve.

If the One-Tail fell into Konoha's hands, it would surely become a weapon, causing immeasurable losses for the Land of Wind.

Baki shuddered at the order, but he understood what would happen if the enemy got their hands on the One-Tail.

The next moment, he spread his arms as wide as he could, like a great bird opening its wings.

"Wind Blade!"

With a sharp crack, a gust burst from his palms. A gale swept up at once, filling the air with invisible blades of wind.

They gathered into a single stream and hurtled toward the exhausted Gaara nearby.

"Captain Baki, what are you doing?" Temari demanded when she saw this.

At the same time, she sprinted toward Gaara. Whatever their differences, she was his sister, and she loved him.

But the Wind Blade was faster.

Just as it was about to hit, Feng Yao used Flying Thunder God to appear in front of Gaara and took the blow head-on.

"Mr. Feng Yao!" Seeing this, Gaara's eyes nearly burst with anguish. He struggled to his feet as fast as he could. A huge gash ran from Feng Yao's collarbone down to his waist, and blood poured steadily from the wound.

Jiraiya, who was helping the shinobi seal Impure World Reincarnation, frowned when he saw it.

"How strange. He shouldn't have been hit by an attack like that."

Feng Yao pretended to cough up blood twice. Gaara grew even more worried and hurriedly tore a piece of clothing from himself to cover the wound and stop the bleeding.

This was a self-sacrificing act Feng Yao had planned himself. He had been wondering how to take Gaara with him, and now Sunagakure had given him the opportunity.

He spoke weakly. "Gaara, the people of this village don't deserve anything from you. Would you come with me?"

Gaara's eyes were bloodshot. "I'll go with you, Mr. Feng Yao. Don't talk anymore. You're badly hurt."

Temari and the others had wanted to stop him, but on second thought, was staying in Sunagakure really the right choice for Gaara? In the end, they said nothing.

Rasa frowned deeply as well. His son was supposed to be extremely withdrawn. Why was he so concerned about Feng Yao?

After Gaara helped Feng Yao to his feet, Kimimaro had nearly finished gathering Orochimaru's forces.

Yakushi Kabuto was among them. He had just moved away from the battlefield and could hardly believe his ears when he heard Orochimaru had been captured.

Just then, three ghostly figures burst out and attacked Baki without hesitation.

At the same time, flute music rang out, trying to pull him into an illusion.

"You hurt Lord Feng Yao. I'll kill you!"

Tayuya entered Cursed Seal Level Two. Her skin changed, horns grew from her head, and her eyes brimmed with murderous rage. Every attack was aimed to kill.

Even Baki was forced back again and again, afraid to meet her head-on.

Feng Yao could only laugh helplessly and speak up again.

"I'm fine, Tayuya. It's over here. Come retreat with me." Tayuya froze.

In the end, she gritted her teeth and returned to Feng Yao's side. She gently supported his other shoulder, her eyes full of concern as she looked at the wound.

With everyone supporting him, Feng Yao stood up and looked at the Five Sound, Kabuto, Gaara, and the others beside him. His eyes shone brightly. He had truly gained a lot this time, and the mission would likely be completed soon.

Then he turned to Jiraiya.

"Sasuke and Naruto are at an inn three kilometers from here. Until we meet again, everyone from Konoha."

The Kamui Vortex opened in his right eye. The spatial vortex enveloped him and everyone around him, drawing them into the Kamui Dimension.

Konoha's battle dragged on for another three hours before it finally ended. The First Hokage, Kagami Uchiha, and the other reincarnated shinobi were all sealed. Rasa led the remaining Sand shinobi in surrendering to the Third. Jiraiya was appointed Acting Hokage, with the Third helping him manage Konoha's affairs, both within the village and beyond.

"War brings nothing but sorrow. Now that this incident is over, who knows how many families in Konoha and Sunagakure have been torn apart? And the neighboring countries probably won't stay quiet either!"

The Third stood beside Danzo's corpse, his eyes filled with guilt, sorrow, and helplessness. Jiraiya stood nearby with his arms crossed.

"I'll stay in Konoha for a while. Once things have settled down, I'll find someone to inherit the Hokage Position."

The Third paused, then realized what he meant.

"Ah, you mean Tsunade, don't you? She's certainly suited for it, both in character and by status. I'll have to trouble you during this time. And be careful of Feng Yao. His identity is far too mysterious."

Jiraiya laughed heartily.

"Don't worry. I've more or less figured out what he can do, and I can handle him. Besides, our cooperation with him didn't cost us anything this time."

Just then, a Chunin came rushing over.

"Something's wrong, Third, Lord Jiraiya! Something terrible has happened!"

Seeing how flustered he was, Jiraiya furrowed his brows. Sunagakure had already been defeated, so what else could have happened?

"Don't panic. Take your time."

The messenger took a deep breath and said shakily, "All the forbidden books and ninjutsu in the Konoha Library, along with the funds Konoha received from its commissions, have been swept away!"

"What—?! Who did it?" As soon as he asked, Jiraiya suddenly pictured a stunning face in his mind. He gritted his teeth.

"Feng Yao, you little brat! Just wait until I run into you again!"