"Lord Third?" Minato's voice sounded again.
Sarutobi Hiruzen finally turned his head and looked at him.
In those eyes, the majesty and wisdom of the past were gone, only deep exhaustion and despair remained.
"Minato..." His voice was as hoarse as an old bellows, "Tell me... is this true..."
Minato opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
How much he wanted to say that this was a lie, that this was a dream, that none of this happened.
But he can't.
Because it's true.
He could only nod.
"Yes... it's true..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen Close your eyes.
Two lines of thick tears flowed down his wrinkled cheeks and dripped on the pillow.
Minato looked at him with his heart pounding.
He has never seen Third like this.
In the eyes of everyone, Third Hokage is the backbone of Konoha, the old man who is always calm, always reliable, and always able to shoulder everything.
No matter what happens, he can deal with it calmly and come up with a solution.
But now, that pillar has collapsed.
That old man was just an ordinary old man who had lost his son, his comrades, and his disciples.
"Lord Third..." Minato knelt beside his bed, his voice choked with sobs, "I'm sorry... it was me who was useless... it was me who failed to protect Teacher Jiraiya..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head.
"It's not your fault..." His voice was weak, "You have tried your best..."
He paused, opened his eyes, and looked at the ceiling.
"Boom, boom, boom."
A sudden knock on the door broke the dead silence in the lounge.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was lying on the tatami, looking at the ceiling with blank eyes, as if he didn't hear anything.
Minato raised his head and frowned slightly.
Who will come at this time?
"Lord Third." Anbu's voice came from outside the door, with a trace of undisguised nervousness, "There is someone outside the door... someone is looking for you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not respond.
Minato stood up, walked to the door, and opened it.
"Who?"
Anbu's face looked very strange, as if he had seen something incredible.
"It's... it's Kumogakure's person."
Minato's pupils suddenly contracted.
"What?!"
His voice was too loud, which alarmed Hiruzen Sarutobi who was lying on the bed. The old man slowly turned his head, and a glimmer of light flashed in his cloudy eyes.
"Kumogakure?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was hoarse, but not as weak as before, "You mean Kumogakure's person?"
Anbu nodded, sweat beads on his forehead.
"It's... a Kumogakure Jonin who calls himself Yuki Yuzuru, waiting outside the Hokage building."
Minato's face became extremely ugly.
He escaped using Flying Thunder God Technique, which is the fastest way to move Shinobi World.
No matter how fast Kumogakure's army is, it is impossible for them to catch up to Konoha so quickly. There is a long distance in between, and it will take at least a day.
Unless...
Unless they already know the ending.
Or, they have a way to contact someone inside Konoha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly sat up, his old face regaining its former majesty.
"Let him in."
At this time, Third Hokage, he must not show weakness in front of the enemy, otherwise, the opponent will pounce on him like a wild dog that smells blood.
Anbu was stunned. "Lord Third, your current body..."
"Let him in." Hiruzen Sarutobi repeated, his voice unmistakable.
Anbu gritted his teeth, nodded and left.
Minato walked back to Hiruzen Sarutobi and whispered, "Lord Third, Kumogakure's people coming at this time... definitely have no good intentions."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.
"I know," he said, "But there's no point in hiding. Now that they're here, let's listen to what they want to say."
After a moment, the door was pushed open again.
A man wearing a Kumogakure standard Jonin vest walked in.
He is about thirty years old, with a slender figure, regular features, and a faint smile on his lips.
That smile can't be called arrogant, but that calm demeanor and the self-confidence as if everything is under control are a kind of arrogance in itself.
Yuki Yuzuru.
Kumogakure Jonin, one of Uchiha Shaoyu's confidants.
He walked into the lounge and glanced around the room - Hiruzen Sarutobi lying on the tatami, Minato standing aside, and several nervous medical ninjas. Then he bowed slightly and made a polite salute.
"Master Third Hokage." His voice was calm, neither humble nor overbearing, "Kumogakure jounin Yuki Yuzuru, came here to pay my respects on the order of elder Shaoyu."
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at him without speaking.
Minato took a step forward and stood in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Kumogakure's messenger." His voice was cold, "Your army is still hundreds of miles away. How dare you come to Konoha alone? Aren't you afraid that we will detain you?"
Yuki Yuzuru smiled.
There was no fear in that smile, only a condescending calmness.
"Minato Namikaze, Yellow Flash, I have admired my name for a long time."
He said, "But don't worry, when I came, Elder Shaoyu said - if I don't go back within three days, he will know what to do."
Minato's expression changed, and he thought clearly that there was nothing he could do about it.
This is a threat.
A naked threat.
If I die, your people will have no chance of living.
Kumogakure is now so powerful that it is impossible for Konoha to completely offend Kumogakure.
Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his hand and signaled Minato to step back.
"Tell me." His voice was hoarse, "Why did Uchiha Shaoyu send you here?"
Yuki Yuzuru looked at him, the smile on his lips getting deeper.
"Elder Shaoyu asked me to give you a message - he wants to negotiate with you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned.
"Negotiation?"
"Yes." Yuki Yuzuru nodded, "About the war, about the prisoners, about...Konoha's future."
Anbu next to him couldn't help but say, "You want to negotiate after arresting someone? Do you think we--"
"This Konoha little brat."
Yuki Yuzuru interrupted him, his tone still calm, "Please calm down. I came here with good intentions."
He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Elder Shaoyu asked me to tell you that Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Shimura Danzō, Jiraiya--all are still alive."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's body shook slightly.
Although he had already guessed it, he was still relieved when he heard the news with his own ears.
alive.
At least still alive.
"Of course." Yuki Yuzuru changed the subject, "To live is to live, but how long you can live depends on your choice."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes became sharp.
"What do you mean?"
Yuki Yuzuru did not answer directly, but took out a map from his arms and spread it on the tatami in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
His finger pointed at a location more than ten miles west of Konoha. It was a small town, small in size, but with an important geographical location. It was the only way to Konoha.
"Three days later," he said, "Shaoyu Elders will be waiting for you to negotiate in this town ten kilometers away from Konoha."
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at that position and remained silent.
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