Personnel Arrive / The Resonance of Humming and Chidori

He couldn't react. He still had no idea how things had gotten to this point, or who was behind it all.

What he found most unbelievable was that Aburame Tatsuma had actually rebelled!

His first thought was that the Aburame Clan had turned against him and was trying to drag him down with them!

But a moment's consideration told him that couldn't be right.

It would have made sense if the powerful Hyuga Clan had wanted to rebel, but the Aburame Clan? Compared to Konoha's overall strength, their clan was far too weak. They had no chance of rebelling.

Unless they had defected to Sunagakure and planned to act as guides.

But that made even less sense. Sunagakure was dirt poor. What could they possibly hope to gain by joining them?

Was Konoha's rice not good enough?

Did they really have to run off to some godforsaken backwater and eat sand?

Besides, if that were the case, they wouldn't have failed to prepare a way out. The old folks, women, and children at home should already have been ready to move to Sunagakure at a moment's notice if things went wrong.

But the Aburame Clan had shown no signs of doing anything, even now. Clearly, this wasn't a clan-wide action.

That left only one possibility: it was Aburame Tatsuma acting on his own. That made even less sense to Danzo.

He had entrusted the man with important work because he trusted him. Danzo had never been wrong about people.

Besides, Tatsuma had the Cursed Tongue Seal Danzo had placed on him. Danzo could kill him in an instant. There was no reason for Tatsuma to gamble with his own life.

And yet the impossible had happened, catching him completely off guard.

If even the Cursed Tongue Seal couldn't be trusted, then who could?

So who was using Tatsuma to orchestrate all this?

The moment the operation began, it had struck precisely at the heart of the matter. Such a ruthless move was beyond the reach of an ordinary person.

Then Danzo wondered what the person controlling Tatsuma was trying to achieve.

Judging by his actions, the first thing he had done was drag Root into the mess. Danzo certainly hadn't given the order.

The problem was that, although Tatsuma was only one of Root's officers, Danzo valued him highly. The men under his command made up a third of the entire organization.

Before launching the operation, Tatsuma had probably told his subordinates that he was acting on Danzo's orders. Now Danzo couldn't prove otherwise, even if he had the truth on his side.

What made it even more infuriating was that Tatsuma had picked up plenty of underhanded tricks from watching him. He even knew how to wage a war of public opinion, using Danzo's name to spread all kinds of rumors—as if Danzo were plotting a rebellion.

Damn it! Even if I wanted to rebel, I wouldn't choose this moment, and I'd never collude with Sunagakure!

No—that wouldn't be rebellion. It would be purging the villains and clearing the Hokage's side!

I, Danzo, love Konoha with all my heart!

There had to be some vital piece of intelligence he didn't know about. Maybe Tatsuma had withheld it...

The best thing for Danzo to do now was undoubtedly send out his other subordinates to swiftly crush the rebellious forces led by Tatsuma and show Hiruzen that he had no intention of rebelling.

But just as he was about to act, he remembered something. He could only let out a deep sigh and sink helplessly back into his seat.

He remembered that a month ago, Hiruzen had summoned him and also mobilized the Nara Clan's Shadow Unit. Clearly, Hiruzen already suspected him.

Now that Root had rebelled, Hiruzen would only be more convinced that Danzo really was plotting a coup.

Even if Danzo started correcting this "mistake" now, would Hiruzen believe him?

Besides, the rumors had already spread. Anyone with even a little sense would think that Danzo was plotting a rebellion. Could he really clear his name?

Only when the weapon of rumor was turned against him did he feel how terrifying it was. It had nearly left him surrounded on all sides, unable to defend himself.

So this was what it felt like to be falsely accused?

He suddenly understood.

Someone had once told him that manipulating public opinion was like a boomerang: it hurt your enemies, but sooner or later, it would hurt you too.

He hadn't cared back then. Now he realized there was some truth to those words.

Just as Danzo was growing more and more anxious, the latest news reached him: after returning to the Hokage's office, Hiruzen had fallen into a trap, and the Hokage Building had been destroyed. Fortunately, Hiruzen had taken precautions in advance and suffered only minor injuries.

After escaping danger, Hiruzen made it clear that he wanted to see Danzo and was willing to give him one last chance to explain himself.

Explain?

What was there to explain?

I didn't do it!

Even if I cleared your suspicions, would everyone else stop suspecting me?

When the major ninja clans, having suffered heavy losses, all turned against me, could you, Hiruzen, withstand the pressure for me again?

I might as well go all the way and follow Aburame Tatsuma's plan. Maybe then I'd still have a chance of succeeding!

Of course, he dismissed the thought as soon as it crossed his mind. That would only divide Konoha, and it was the last thing he wanted.

What he wanted most wasn't even the Hokage Position. He wanted to prove to everyone that he was more suited to be Hokage than Hiruzen.

The one person he didn't want to lose to was Hiruzen!

The only way to break the deadlock was...

Chapter 78: Personnel Arrive

Danzo thought of a way to turn around his current predicament, but he hesitated. He couldn't guarantee that it had much chance of success.

After all, even he couldn't say for sure whether a genjutsu like Kotoamatsukami would work on a Kage Level fighter. At that level, one's resistance to genjutsu was already formidable.

Yes, Danzo planned to meet Hiruzen in person—not to persuade him, but to cast Kotoamatsukami on him.

That way, he could control Hiruzen from behind the scenes and get himself out of this mess.

My old friend...

I'm sorry. I have no other choice. I have to do this!

When he stepped out of the office, he found his subordinates waiting silently outside for his orders.

"Aburame Tatsuma has betrayed me. This rebellion was not carried out on my orders."

"Root has a problem, but we don't need anyone else to get involved. We'll clean house ourselves."

"All of you, move out at once. Eliminate the rebels led by Aburame Tatsuma and every enemy who is throwing Konoha into chaos. Keep going until the rebellion is over!"

"Remember, this operation is not about eliminating rivals. It's about protecting Konoha. Do not let it spread beyond its proper scope!"

As soon as he finished speaking, all his subordinates vanished from before him and sprang into action.

Root had never cared to explain itself. They would prove everything through their actions.

Leaning on his cane, Danzo made his way up the winding passage, step by step. He was about to make another desperate gamble, and this time he was putting his life on the line.

"Lord Kazekage, that completes our deal."

In a small copse outside Konoha, dozens of giant snakes slithered out of holes in the ground. They opened their mouths in unison and spat out the Sunagakure ninja they had carried inside—more than a hundred of them.

To evade Konoha's patrols and smuggle the group into the village, the Kazekage had ultimately agreed to Orochimaru's terms.

And Orochimaru had kept his word, arriving at the agreed location on time.

"Orochimaru, does your Sound Village really have no intention of getting involved?" The Kazekage still wasn't satisfied.

"You flatter us, my lord. We're only a small ninja village. How much could we really contribute to the bigger picture?" Orochimaru replied with a chuckle.

The Kazekage nodded in agreement.

It was true. The Land of Fields was a small country. It was an achievement in itself that they had managed to establish a ninja village. How much fighting strength could anyone expect them to have?

It had only been a suggestion. If they couldn't do it, so be it.

Orochimaru took a scroll from the Kazekage and unrolled it. The words "One's Own Life Reincarnation" were written plainly on it.

It was exactly what he wanted, so he left the place, thoroughly satisfied.

Watching Orochimaru depart, the Kazekage gave a cold snort. For a trifling reward, that man was willing to betray even the village where he was born. If he had been a Sunagakure ninja, the Kazekage would have killed him long ago!

Because Hiruzen had been too softhearted, he had let a snake return to the forest. Now this disaster had come of it.

"Move out. Cause as much chaos and destruction in Konoha as you can. Ideally, leave them unable to recover for years!"

Yes. Besides the plan to take the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire hostage, he had another plan: to destroy as much of Konoha's military strength as possible, ideally reducing it to a level that would tempt the other great nations to make a move.

That way, Konoha would be too busy dealing with the other great nations eyeing them hungrily to look after itself. Sunagakure could seize the opportunity to grow and make up for the losses of the past decade.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The elite Sunagakure unit leaped onto the wall outside Konoha and looked down at the prosperous, beautiful village, their eyes full of bloodthirsty intent.

The debt for the Third Kazekage's death would be repaid today!

Just then, a white-haired man in wooden sandals ambled toward them, yawning as he walked. He didn't look nervous in the slightest.

Good. The people of Konoha really had grown used to peace. Then the slaughter of Konoha could begin with him!

"I never thought it would be you, Jonin Baki." Kakashi suddenly appeared in front of the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire and grabbed Baki's wrist.

The Daimyo, who had escaped disaster, scrambled away from the terrifying Sunagakure ninja. The others came to their senses too and began running away from Konoha, nowhere near as tired as they had been when they complained about being unable to walk.

That was terrifying!

So this was how frightening ninja could be?

At that moment, Naruto and Sakura appeared on either side of Baki, looking especially tense.

Kakashi had just said this man was a Jonin!

Images of Zabuza immediately flashed through their minds. They had practically made him their benchmark for Jonin strength.

"Copy Ninja Kakashi, is it? I didn't expect you to show up here..." Baki sighed. It seemed his mission would be difficult to complete.

He pulled a cylindrical object from his clothes and removed its cap. A flare immediately shot into the sky.

The person in charge would surely receive his signal and take steps to make up for the setback.

The young Konoha ninja who had been guarding the group gathered around too. Their eyes were full of awe as they looked at Baki. He was the one who had just beaten them soundly and left them unable to protect their charge.

They had now seen for themselves the overwhelming advantage a Jonin had over Genin.

Fortunately, Kakashi had arrived in time to stop the worst from happening. Now they had someone to rely on.

"Those of you assigned to the escort, continue your mission!" Kakashi ordered, glancing at them.

"Yes!" They didn't ask why. As professional ninja, obeying their superior's orders was their duty. They immediately ran after the fleeing crowd.

"Sakura, Naruto, go help Sasuke and the others. This isn't your battlefield."

"Understood!" The two turned and left. After their previous mission, they knew that they couldn't just interfere in a fight between Jonin. They'd only be a burden, not a help.

"A wise choice. They're seeds of Konoha's future prosperity. Protecting them is far more important than letting me, your great enemy, escape." Baki bared his teeth in a frightening grin.

"Who said I was going to let you escape? I'll finish you off right here!" Kakashi adjusted his Forehead Protector, revealing his Sharingan.

"Heh heh. Too bad your two... no, three students are all going to die. You sent them straight to hell yourself." Baki let out a series of cold laughs and took up a fighting stance.

Even if things went as badly as they could and Gaara went berserk, there were so many elite Konoha ninja to die alongside him. It wouldn't be a bad trade...

For the village, anyone could be sacrificed!

Chapter 79: The Resonance of Humming and Chidori

Half an hour had passed. Keiichi stood there, panting, as he stared at the expressionless Gaara, a sense of helplessness rising in him.

Gaara's sand was rock-hard when it hardened, yet flowed as smoothly as water when it softened. His control was so precise that every move hit with tremendous force. Keiichi could only keep dodging; he didn't dare turn around and strike back.

Besides, he couldn't fight back. The closer he got to Gaara, the harder Gaara hit. If he forced his way in, he might not make it out again.

If not for his Uzumaki Bloodline constantly working to give him superhuman stamina, he would have already run out of strength.

Sasuke was a classic case of poor stamina. Fortunately, he and Neji took turns attacking, managing to keep Gaara occupied and prevent him from focusing all his attention on Keiichi.