"Hmph, Hatake Sakumo, is Hiruzen Sarutobi using you as a scapegoat again?"
"Do you really think you, a Kage Level ninja, can stop the Kumogakure army? I'll give you a piece of advice: get Hiruzen Sarutobi out here. It'll do you a good job."
Ziyun was delighted to see that the commander-in-chief of the Konoha camp was once again Hatake Sakumo.
Hiruzen Sarutobi is still such a coward. The army is already at his doorstep, and he still won't come out. Being the " Strongest Hokage " must be so easy.
" Yeyue Ziyun, don't be so arrogant. We don't need the Lord Hokage to take action against Kumogakure!"
Hatake Sakumo, having been thoroughly brainwashed by Hiruzen Sarutobi, refused to back down and retorted defiantly to Ziyun's challenge.
"Is that so? Divine Judgment?!"
Ziyun sneered, waved his hand, and a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, startling Hatake Sakumo so much that he used a Body Flicker Technique to run away.
In truth, Hatake Sakumo also wanted to trade 1 for 1 with Ziyun.
If it were possible to trade one Hatake Sakumo would have already sacrificed his own. Unfortunately, even if he gave up his life, he couldn't trade one life for one with Ziyun.
It's better to save your life; only a fool would choose a pointless sacrifice.
"Hahaha, Kumogakure Ninja, follow me and charge straight in!"
Seeing Hatake Sakumo escape in Body Flicker Technique, the Third Raikage laughed heartily and waved his hand, instantly unleashing 5,000 Kumogakure ninja into battle against the Leaf Konoha Ninja.
As expected, these Konoha positions were equipped with numerous traps and bombs, but for the Third Raikage and Ziyun, two Peak Kage Level shinobi, these Explosive Tag traps were as good as nothing.
After the trap was broken, under the unstoppable leadership of Ziyun and the Third Raikage, the Konoha was routed in less than half a day.
" Ziyun, should we give chase?" The Third Raikage asked Ziyun as he watched the Konoha flee in defeat.
"Go after them, Raikage! Konoha is already in complete disarray. If we pursue them now, victory is assured."
Judging from the battle, Konoha was defeated by Kumogakure in less than half a day. While Konoha's strength was inferior to Kumogakure's, the more important reason was that Konoha's morale was too low.
Although it is said that one should not pursue a desperate enemy, Konoha is far from being a desperate enemy; calling them mere bandits would be too kind.
If we chase now, we're guaranteed to win.
Upon learning of the great defeat Hiruzen Sarutobi by Konoha Konoha ninja, Konoha Sarutobi immediately went to the village entrance to greet them.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had already figured out how to avoid tarnishing his title as the " Strongest Hokage " while ceding territory.
The primary condition is that Konoha must lose this battle, and it must be a crushing defeat!
" Lord Hokage, I am incompetent. We have lost this battle to the Kumogakure. I am willing to accept any punishment!"
In this great battle, hundreds more people from Konoha died, Hatake Sakumo immediately went to the Third Hokage to apologize.
Hatake Sakumo is currently very loyal to Konoha and the Third Hokage.
In fact, Hatake Sakumo remained loyal to Konoha until his death; otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen suicide in the original story instead of rising up in rebellion.
" Sakumo, this isn't your fault, it's all my fault as Hokage. All the blame lies with me. I failed to lead Konoha well, leading to us being forced into this situation by Kumogakure."
Facing Hatake Sakumo, Hiruzen Sarutobi, his face full of guilt, began to display his masterful acting skills.
" Lord Hokage, no, it's all because my strength is insufficient! I am willing to request to fight Kumogakure once again!"
"Please instruct Lord Hokage, on what to do next, otherwise the main force of Kumogakure will definitely invade Konoha."
Hatake Sakumo Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As expected of the [ Strongest Hokage ], he takes the initiative to take responsibility for his subordinates. The Lord Hokage is indeed a leader worthy of my lifelong following.
" Sakumo, how many Konoha Ninja died in this battle?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the many wounded Konoha Ninja behind him, tears streaming down his face.
"Reporting to the Lord Hokage, we haven't had time to count them yet, but I estimate there are at least 800 people!"
Hatake Sakumo said sadly.
"Thank God, another eight hundred Konoha Ninja have died. I, the Third Hokage, am utterly incompetent!"
"More than eight hundred people! These are all martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Konoha. Their names must be engraved on the martyrs' tombstone so that future generations can forever admire them!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, his eyes brimming with tears, which made the Konoha ninja behind him look both grief-stricken and guilty.
What is there to feel guilty about?
Of course, it's because I failed to protect Konoha, causing the Lord Hokage to feel so guilty and in such a difficult position.
"Given the current situation, and to prevent further casualties in Konoha, I have decided to agree to Kumogakure's demand for territory."
Seeing that everyone was moved by his actions, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that the time was right and began to test the waters.
" Lord Hokage, Lord Hokage, please don't!"
"Under the rule of the First Hokage and Second Hokage, Konoha has never ceded territory to other villages. Lord Hokage, you must never have such thoughts."
"That's right! Even if it costs us our lives, we absolutely cannot cede the Land of Land of Fire to the Kumogakure!"
" Lord Hokage, please don't say such things again!"
" Lord Hokage, it's our incompetence that's the Lord Hokage!!"
Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, the Konoha Ninja present all offered their words of comfort, their eyes filled with tears.
In their view, this moment was not due to the Third Lord Hokage's incompetence that led to Kumogakure forcing Konoha to cede territory, but rather to Hiruzen Sarutobi to prevent further casualties among Konoha Ninja.
The more this happened, the more moved they became.
Ceding territory is Konoha's bottom line, and they must not back down, even if it means fighting Kumogakure to the last moment.
"I never expected this! I never expected this! The Will of Fire has always lived in everyone's hearts!"
"You are all heirs to the Will of Fire, the pillars of the village. But if we continue fighting like this, the casualties will only increase meaninglessly!"
"I will never allow the ninjas of Konoha to die meaninglessly!"
"I'm willing to give everything for this, even if it means bearing a bad reputation and ceding my land to Kumogakure!"
"Don't forget, everyone, where leaves dance, fire will never die. The Kakkō will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."
"As Hokage, I have to do this to protect the village's newly sprouted leaves!"
Even if it means sacrificing my reputation, even if it means being forever branded as a disgrace in Konoha!
After saying this, Hiruzen Sarutobi shed two lines of tears, and all the Konoha Ninja present were also moved to tears upon hearing this!
Only Koharu Utatane Koharu, who was following Hiruzen Sarutobi, was truly shocked by Homura Mitokado's reaction.
This?! You can play it like this?
Hiruzen, Hiruzen, you've really opened my eyes this time.
" Lord Hokage... I'm so touched!"
"No, Lord Hokage, you will never be nailed to the pillar of shame in the village; on the contrary, you are a hero revered by the people!"
"Yes, your glorious image will forever remain in my heart!"
" Lord Hokage... I will follow you forever!"
" Lord Hokage... thank you for letting me truly understand what the Will of Fire!"
What is the Will of Fire? What is the Strongest Hokage?
The Third Hokage taught the Konoha Ninja a profound lesson through his actions!
Just then, the Kumogakure army arrived, but the Third Raikage and Ziyun were both stunned by the atmosphere.
What's going on? Why are all the Konoha soldiers' eyes red? It's really strange.
"Damn it, the main force of the Kumogakure has actually tracked us here!"
"Damn Kumogakure, they actually tracked us all the way here! Do they really have to wipe us out completely?"
Are you even human?
Upon seeing the figures of the Kumogakure Village, the Konoha ninja present gritted their teeth, assumed battle stances, and prepared to counterattack at any moment.
"Wait, let me do it!"
Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi and finally unleashed the power of the Strongest Hokage.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he walked to the forefront of the Konoha Ninja, confronting the main force of the Kumogakure army.
"As expected of the Lord Hokage!"
"That's right, this is our [ Strongest Hokage ]!"
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's standing in everyone's eyes rose even higher.
The sight of Hiruzen Sarutobi standing alone against the Kumogakure forces that instilled fear in them made Hiruzen Sarutobi's figure appear tall and imposing in their hearts.
"Oh? Interesting."
Seeing this, Ziyun also reached out to stop the Kumogakure Army soldiers who were about to attack.
He wanted to see what was causing Hiruzen Sarutobi of strength.
Soon, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Ziyun the answer.
" Third Raikage, step down! Konoha is willing to accept the territory demanded by Kumogakure!"
"But you must also keep your promise!"
"From this day forward, you are forbidden from ever setting foot in Konoha again, and you are forbidden from harming anyone in Konoha!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's words were powerful and resounding.
Upon hearing this, Ziyun and the Third Raikage both widened their eyes.
Is Hiruzen Sarutobi serious?
It was clearly a matter of ceding territory and paying reparations, yet he described it as something so remarkable and righteous.