Two days later, at Kannabi Bridge, dark clouds blanketed the sky.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stood alone atop the broken bridge. His aged face was as calm as still water, but deep within his profound eyes flickered an almost imperceptible chill.
"Well now, we're late, Lord Hokage. We didn't keep you waiting long, did we?"
A teasing voice came from afar as the Third Kazekage, Third Raikage, Third Mizukage, and Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki slowly approached.
All wore the same gloating, mocking expressions.
"No. The cooperation is complete. Let's exchange the hostages." The Third Hokage spoke calmly, as though discussing some trivial matter.
The Third Kazekage narrowed his eyes, his smile playful. "Lord Hokage, more than half of the Uchiha Clan's fighting force is still confronting us. Are you sure you don't want us to finish our final cooperation and wipe out those Uchiha shinobi?"
It was mockery, naked and undisguised.
The Third Hokage did not even raise his eyelids. "No need. Konoha will handle it ourselves."
"Oh, what a pity." The Third Mizukage chuckled, taking a sealing scroll from his robes. "Then let's begin the exchange."
The Five Kage raised their hands at the same time. The sealing scrolls unfurled, and white smoke burst forth!
In an instant, two hundred and fifty Jonin appeared at once—Konoha, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure's hostages all returned to their respective camps.
The hostages had returned, and the situation changed abruptly!
Almost at the same moment, the Four Kage drew signal flares from their sleeves. Ōnoki chuckled. "My apologies, Lord Hokage. From this point onward, we're enemies again." With that, he fired his signal flare without hesitation!
"Whoosh—bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Four fireworks of different colors exploded in the sky, like the savage grins of a conspiracy fulfilled.
The radio-sensory shinobi in the