Movements Among the Major Shinobi Villages

Meanwhile, in Hidden Stone Village, they received intelligence from a traitor within Konoha that Uchiha Qingcheng had directly replaced Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Fifth Hokage and had exterminated the Sarutobi Clan.

Looking at this intelligence report, Ōnoki's face was filled with solemnity. He said directly, "Hiruzen Sarutobi was still played to death by this Uchiha Clan. He just committed suicide out of guilt. How shameful is that?"

Hearing this, Kitsuchi said with a serious expression, "Lord Tsuchikage, Konoha is currently in turmoil. Those Mountain Barbarians will likely target Konoha, and might even launch a major war. They love robbing other villages."

The Mountain Barbarians "Kitsuchi mentioned were actually the Fourth Raikage of Hidden Cloud Village. Their penchant for robbing other villages was also a Hidden Cloud Village trait; they even stole the Magnet Release developed by the Hidden Sand Village Hidden Cloud Village.

Upon hearing his son's words, Ōnoki said with a serious expression, "Don't act rashly yet. Let these Mountain Barbarians make the first move, then we'll plunder them. Let them exhaust Konoha's forces, ideally resulting in a draw. Maybe then we can even plunder all of these Mountain Barbarians."

Why did all the ninja villages want to invade the Land of Fire? Because when Hiruzen Sarutobi Hokage, he had already gotten into the habit of paying reparations. If they lost, they had to pay reparations to other ninja villages; if they won, they would pay less, all under the guise of "for the sake of peace."

The second reason is that the Land of Fire is a basin with an excellent geographical location and fertile land, suitable for growing various crops. Therefore, the people of the Land of Fire are relatively wealthy, while other countries have relatively harsh environments and are naturally poorer.

Therefore, if they were to rob someone, they would definitely choose wealthy countries. Konoha ninjas often fought multiple opponents at once, first battling one ninja village, then another.

Konoha was originally the strongest ninja village, but during the Third Hokage's second term as Hokage, Konoha was constantly embroiled in internal strife. After the Tenten Uchiha Clan was wiped out, there was a constant wariness of the Tenten Hyuga Clan, a feeling that some Konoha ninja might stage a coup. Furthermore, Danzo was allowed to run Danzo, turning the Root ninjas into Konoha's largest power, and he even nearly usurped Kakashi's Sixth Hokage, eventually becoming Acting Hokage.

Meanwhile, in the Hidden Sand Village, many houses were still under reconstruction. The Fourth Kazekage, looking at the nearly completed village, said angrily, "That damned Kakuzu dared to come to our Hidden Sand Village to rob us, and even Teuchi so many Sand ninja! This is outrageous!"

After saying that, the Fourth Kazekage slammed his fist on the table again.

Looking at the enraged Fourth Kazekage, Baki said with a worried expression, "Lord Kazekage, our village's finances are already in debt, and many villagers are still without houses and are living in makeshift tents."

Seeing this, the Fourth Kazekage said with a serious expression, "Every day I go to the desert to dig for gold dust, and then go to the Land of Wind to exchange it for money. The Daimyo of the Land of Wind is a vampire. Every time I go to him to ask for money, he scolds me severely. It's infuriating!"

Upon hearing this, Baki spoke up again, "Elder Chiyo and Elder Kaizo were Kakuzu and are currently recuperating at Moon Lake. Shall we go and see them?"

The Fourth Kazekage also greatly disliked the elders. Every time he issued a decree, it would be rejected by them, on the grounds that "our village is too poor, and we must be cautious in our actions."

During Kakuzu's raid on Hidden Sand Village, he looted the Sand Shadow Building and unleashed powerful Fire Release Ninjutsu, destroying numerous buildings and killing many Sunagakure Anbu Ninja. Kakuzu Hidden Sand Village's confidential documents and the Scroll of Seals.

In the end, it was the Fourth Kazekage who intervened, and with the help of Chiyo, Kaizo, and others, they defeated Kakuzu, thus preserving the confidential documents and the Scroll of Seals of the Hidden Sand Village.

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Kazekage said with a look of disdain, "Why bother with them? Why don't these old fogies of the elders just die? If I were to do what Uchiha Qingcheng and stage a coup to kill all these old geezers, that would be the best thing to do."

Upon hearing this, Baki said with a serious expression, "But Rasa, you are already the Kazekage. Even if you launch another coup, it's the end of the road."

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Kazekage said with a serious expression, "Have you found Kakuzu's whereabouts? That damned bastard has turned the village upside down like this; we can't let him leave alive."

Upon hearing this, Baki knelt down on one knee again, and said respectfully, "Understood, Lord Kazekage. I will intensify my efforts and find this damned fellow."

Amidst a desolate expanse of yellow sand, a figure flees in a disheveled state, running at breakneck speed. Kakuzu contorted with panic, curses again. "That damned Rasa, that damned Chiyo! They actually destroyed four of my hearts! Once I find a few more powerful hearts, I'll definitely take my revenge on you! You damned Sand Ninja, you're still chasing me! You all remember this!"

After saying that, Kakuzu started running again, thinking to himself, "Lord Shimada, I'm so sorry. I almost got the sealing technique of the Hidden Sand Village. If it weren't for that old woman Chiyo, I could have killed the Kazekage and escaped unscathed with the Scroll of Seals."

Meanwhile, in the Land of Water, Terumi Mei and her group gathered a group of Kirigakure (Hidden Mist Village) ninja, including Ao, a Jonin from Kirigakure, and a host of other Jonin. Due to the Bloody Mist Village Plan, almost all of Hidden Mist Village's Jonin had perished, along with a large number of Bloodstained Ninja, whose clans had been wiped out or who had fled Hidden Mist Village.

At this Terumi Mei's face was filled with anger, and she spoke again, "We also want to stage a coup and put this evil Yagura on the pillar of shame, just like Uchiha Qingcheng in Konoha, and directly elect a new Mizukage. We can't let Yagura continue like this, otherwise Hidden Mist Village will be finished."

Upon hearing Terumi Mei's words, Ao's face turned serious again. He said solemnly, "I suspect the Fourth Mizukage is being controlled by someone else. I want to use this Byakugan to examine the Fourth Mizukage's body."