He could be called old but still vigorous, sure.
If I'd known, I should have said three years back then...
Wait, did the Third Shinobi World War really last three years?
"Are you accusing my brother-in-law of lying? Who do you think cleaned up after that disgrace you call Lord Danzo? Get lost!!"
Nawaki barked at them.
Whenever he saw ninjas from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, the two old faces of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō automatically sprang to mind.
Disgusting!
"You!"
Several Sarutobi Clan ninjas nearly drew their swords.
Damn it, where did a mere Chunin get the nerve to act so arrogant?
Then they glanced at Xuan Zhe, who stood beside Nawaki, perfectly composed.
Fine.
They could only swallow their anger.
The southern camp erupted.
Five days later, at the Konoha military camp in the southern Land of Fire.
After hearing the returning Sarutobi Jonin relay Xuan Zhe's words, Utatane Koharu flew into a rage and started cursing.
"A whole year?! That bastard Hatake Xuanzhe is making fools of us!!"
By contrast, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō remained quite calm.
They had already expected Xuan Zhe to refuse to release them.
"Anything else to report?"
Shimura Danzō's expression was dark.
The Sarutobi Jonin kneeling before the four leaders hesitated for a long while before finally gritting his teeth and speaking.
"Clan Head N-Nawaki heard that Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo, and both advisers were safe. He said, he said..."
Halfway through, he lost his nerve.
"Just say it!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was growing impatient, too.
"He said-'Is the Third Mizukage any good at all? He couldn't even take one of them down with him.'"
The Sarutobi Jonin forced himself to repeat Nawaki's exact words.
The instant those words landed, fire blazed in the eyes of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura