What Do You Know About Forbidden Techniques?

The same situation playing out in Hidden Sand was also unfolding in Konoha.

After receiving the intelligence Jiraiya had sent back, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, immediately convened a high-level meeting.

"Yotsuki Sora... that fellow has completely exceeded our expectations!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, his expression exceptionally grim as he passed the scroll in his hand around to his three old companions.

The three Hokage advisors' eyes shifted slightly. Once they saw the detailed battle report, their expressions became equally vivid.

"H-How is that possible?!"

"Fighting a thousand alone and even defeating Onoki—how could such a thing be possible?!"

"Is that guy a monster?!"

"Do not doubt the authenticity of this report. Jiraiya personally delivered it to me from the battlefield."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. Compared with Yotsuki Sora's strength, he was more worried about the current situation.

"...This time, our attempt to help Hidden Stone deal with Hidden Cloud has failed. Before long, we will likely be forced into fighting on two fronts."

Ever since the war had begun, the last thing he wanted to see was Konoha fighting on multiple fronts and falling into the same situation as during the Second Shinobi World War.

Thus, when Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud had been locked in a desperate struggle, he had ordered Jiraiya's unit to intercept Hidden Cloud's reinforcements, hoping Hidden Stone would thoroughly crush Hidden Cloud.

But who could have expected that, after they had intercepted over a thousand Hidden Cloud shinobi—

Yotsuki Sora, who had long since left the Land of Earth, would suddenly storm onto the battlefield and accomplish something like this!

A space-time ninjutsu capable of operating across extreme distances.

A ninja body technique comparable to that of the Third Raikage.

A unique bloodline ability capable of directly withstanding Dust Release!

Hiruzen Sarutobi only felt an immense headache coming on as he heavily kneaded his temples.

If someone like that appeared on Konoha's front-line battlefield...

He did not believe Konoha could have done any better than the Hidden Stone shinobi.

"Since we have already done it, there is no point regretting it. Besides, those Hidden Cloud shinobi already wanted to fight us!" Danzo, seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's concerns, said coldly. "The Hidden Cloud elite stationed in the Land of Hot Water have not moved this entire time. You and I both know what those dark-skinned bastards are planning!"

"That is true..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.

Hidden Cloud's intentions were obvious, but intentions were still merely intentions.

Though the two sides had clashed before, those clashes had remained limited and had not escalated into a full-scale war.

But in this affair involving Hidden Stone, Konoha had deployed forces to obstruct them. That had completely brought the conflict between both sides into the open!

"There is no point dwelling on such things, Hiruzen. What we truly need to consider is how to deal with those Hidden Cloud shinobi!" Danzo slammed his cane hard against the floor, producing a series of heavy thuds. "Especially Yotsuki Sora!"

"That fellow is nothing but a battle-crazed lunatic. Look at the intelligence yourself. His mission was clearly to cover the retreat. After the Third Raikage and the Hidden Cloud shinobi withdrew, he could have left long ago. Yet he forcibly fought the Hidden Stone shinobi for three days and three nights, even deliberately using his body to withstand Dust Release..."

"Ordinary methods will not work against someone comparable to a Tailed Beast." Homura Mitokado, who had remained silent until now, slowly spoke. "We need special methods."

"Special methods?"

At those words, the four men exchanged glances, and the tension in their brows eased somewhat.

As the most powerful ninja village in the shinobi world, if there was anything Konoha possessed that overwhelmingly surpassed every other ninja village in all respects, then aside from its brain-dead higher-ups, it was its assortment of bizarre forbidden techniques and secret arts!

Leaving aside the secret arts of the major ninja clans, the forbidden techniques officially recorded and held by Konoha alone were enough to fill an entire room.

What do you know about the [Book of Seals]?

What do you know about a [Forbidden Technique Master]?!

Who could understand the joy of having a Second Hokage who loved researching and stirring up trouble?

"However, forbidden techniques go against the natural order and cannot be used recklessly."

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly shook his head.

One knew one's own affairs best. If Konoha casually revealed even a few of the forbidden techniques it kept hidden away, it would be enough to cause a massive upheaval across the shinobi world.

The Reaper Death Seal.

Impure World Reincarnation.

If the shinobi world learned of these techniques and Konoha openly used them, Konoha would probably be besieged by the entire shinobi world tomorrow, with enemy forces at its gates!

"Do not worry, Hiruzen. I will carefully select suitable forbidden techniques."

Danzo naturally understood his old friend's thoughts and immediately patted his chest.

"Besides, the forbidden techniques we possess are not limited to those created by our teacher."

"Wouldn't the techniques Lady Mito left behind also be well suited for dealing with someone like Yotsuki Sora?"

"Lady Mito's techniques!"

At those words, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes immediately lit up.

"Since that's the case, I'll leave this mission to you. Also, the eastern front must reinforce its forces next. Your Wind Release happens to counter their Lightning Release, so I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you as well."

The eastern front?

Military authority?

Danzo's eyes lit up. "Don't worry, Hiruzen. Leave it all to me!"

With Sora covering their retreat, the remnants of Hidden Cloud fled at full speed while carrying the severely wounded Third Raikage, successfully rendezvousing with the Hidden Cloud forces within the Land of Hot Water.

By the time they had regrouped and were preparing to support Sora, news had already spread that Hidden Stone had been defeated and White Stone Gorge had been flattened.

The whole world was shocked!

Hidden Cloud's shock was even greater than that of the other ninja villages.

"Since when did we have such an awesome big shot?!"

"What, you don't know about Blood Wrist? You must be a greenhorn fresh out of the academy."

"But it's normal that you haven't heard of him. Back when Lord Sora had just made a name for himself, he shattered the fighting spirit of the Tsuchikage's son with one slap. With his heaven-defying talent, he suppressed the entire ninja world until no one dared compete with him. He was hailed as the Land of Lightning's greatest genius in a century. Later, he found it all too boring and went into seclusion on an overseas island to train!"

"Holy shit, he's that badass?!"

Even though he had not returned for more than ten years, Sora's reputation swept through Hidden Cloud like a tornado, spreading across the entire village in an instant.

At the same time, the A-B Combination stationed on the Land of Hot Water's defensive line also received the intelligence that had been deliberately sealed off.

Bang!

A smashed the desk in the command tent with a single slap. The genuine son of the Third Raikage rose to his feet with fury written across his face, glaring at the messenger before him. "Why wasn't I told about everything that happened in the Land of Earth? Why wasn't this information sent to me?!"

Cold sweat streamed down the messenger's forehead. "Th-this... the Third Raikage specifically instructed us before he departed..."

"Father... he..."

A's fists clenched until they cracked. His heavy breathing resembled that of a wounded lion, his chest heaving violently.

His anger was not directed at the messenger, but at his father, who lay in the rear on a hospital bed with his fate unknown, and at the advisory council that had sealed off such crucial intelligence and only informed him after everything had been settled.

He understood his father's intentions—his father had not wanted him distracted, and had wanted him to hold the Land of Hot Water's defensive line against Konoha.

But that understanding could not extinguish the humiliation and rage in his heart.

He was the Raikage's heir, the future leader of Hidden Cloud!

His father had been driven into a desperate situation on the front lines and had nearly died, yet he, as his son and heir, had been kept completely in the dark, without even the chance to rush to his aid.

And in the end, his father had been saved by that... that "brother" who had vanished without a trace for more than ten years and had a strained relationship with both the family and the village!