No more than three days after the floodwaters receded from River City, urgent secret letters began to travel across the river and through the dense forest, rushing towards Konoha, a thousand miles away. The ink on the pages still carried the traces of anxiety, distorting the shocking events that had occurred over River City into a different form, stirring up a huge uproar in the peaceful Konoha.
"Master! Something terrible has happened!" The messenger from the Utatane Clan stumbled into the clan's territory, the secret letter in his hand wrinkled and soaked with sweat. "The young clan leader... he was attacked and killed in the Land of Rivers!"
The head of the Utatane Clan slammed his fist on the table, shattering a teacup on it. "What?! Who did this? Isn't the White Tiger Corps in River City? Why didn't they protect them?"
"It's... a wild child of unknown origin!" The messenger trembled as he handed over the secret letter. "The young clan leader discovered that the child was trying to hide the ancient Water God Zhang. When he went to question him, the child killed him on the spot! Even the young masters of the Sarutobi Clan... did not escape!"
Almost simultaneously, the Sarutobi Clan's council chamber erupted in chaos. A secret letter bearing the clan crest lay open on the table. The member who wrote it, in his dying moments, twisted the facts—writing the clan member's provocation as "approaching to inquire about identity," describing Tsubasa's retaliation as "malicious assassination," and emphasizing the "rebellious act" of "high-ranking White Tiger Corps witnessing the entire incident, not only failing to intervene but also bowing and thanking the murderer."
"Outrageous!" The elder of the Sarutobi Clan slammed his fist on the table, his beard trembling with rage. "Our sons fought for their country, only to be slaughtered right under the noses of the White Tiger Corps! How dare those White Tiger Corps generals condone the murderers! They have absolutely no regard for the law!"
The news spread like wildfire among the major clans of Konoha. Clan members such as Utatane and Mitokado received secret letters with identical contents—their own members had been brutally murdered, and the White Tiger Corps had failed in its duty and condoned the crime. In an instant, discontent quickly fermented among the Konoha High Command, especially among the major clans led by Sarutobi, Utatane, Mitokado, who escalated the matter to the level of a "legion rebellion."
"We must give an explanation for the deaths of our children!" the head of the Utatane Clan roared at the family meeting. " The White Tiger Corps was clearly colluding with outsiders, otherwise why didn't they stop them? Why did they thank the murderers? Do they even care about Konoha?"
Soon, a series of embellished accusations were delivered to the desks of Konoha's highest decision-makers. The letters were extremely inflammatory, portraying Tsubasa as an "assassin sent by hostile forces in the Shinobi World " and the White Tiger Corps as "traitors who betray their principles for personal gain and condone foreign enemies." Every word urged Konoha to punish them severely.
The atmosphere in the Hokage's office in Konoha was so heavy it could drip water. The decision-making core, composed of the Second Hokage's disciples, sat on either side of a long table, with Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kagami Uchiha, who would become the Fourth Hokage, at the head, their faces full of seriousness.
"Gentlemen, you've all surely seen the secret report from the Land of Rivers." Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "A child of unknown origin slaughtered a member of our Konoha clan within the White Tiger Corps's territory, and the White Tiger Corps's higher-ups not only failed to stop it, but were actually grateful to the murderer. If this were to spread, what would become of Konoha's prestige? What would become of our clans' reputation?"
" Hiruzen is right!" Mitokado Homura immediately echoed, his brows furrowed and his tone filled with obvious anger. " The White Tiger Corps is outrageous! Hatake Sakumo, as the legion commander, actually condoned outsiders killing Konoha own people. This is not just dereliction of duty, it's betrayal!"
"I think they've forgotten who they are just because they won a few battles in the Land of Rivers!" Utatane Koharu slammed her hand on the table and stood up. Her nephew had died at the hands of Tsubasa, and now her eyes were red-rimmed, her voice trembling with sobs. "A hundred thousand troops were trapped in River City, almost wiped out, and they still have the nerve to call it a victory? Now they're even colluding with outsiders to kill their own people! What use are generals like that?"
A chorus of agreement immediately rang out in the council hall. Several family factions, led by Sarutobi, Utatane, and Mitokado, were already at odds with the merit-based faction of the White Tiger Corps. Now that they had seized the opportunity, they naturally wouldn't let it go easily. They ignored the illogical details in the secret letter and disregarded the devastation the White Tiger Corps had just experienced after the Suijin's Catastrophe. They were single-mindedly focused on using this incident to weaken the White Tiger Corps's strength.
"In my opinion, they must be severely punished!" Hiruzen Sarutobi decisively, a hint of undeniable authority flashing in his eyes. "Dismiss Hatake Sakumo from his position as legion commander and transfer him to the logistics department to await further orders! All Jūni battalion commanders and three deputy legion commanders under the White Tiger Corps are stripped of their military posts and escorted back to Konoha for investigation!"
The decision was so sudden that even some neutral elders showed surprise. Dismissing so many high-ranking officers at once was almost equivalent to dismantling the White Tiger Corps's command structure, something that had never happened before in the history of Konoha.
" Hiruzen, isn't this a bit too much..." Kagami Uchiha was about to dissuade him when he was interrupted by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"In chaotic times, harsh punishments are necessary!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was resolute. "They have disgraced Konoha and caused their clan members to bleed; they must pay the price! There is no room for discussion; execute the order immediately!"
Mitokado Homura immediately stood up and echoed, "I agree with Hiruzen's decision! Furthermore, we must send someone to take over the White Tiger Corps; we can't let this main force be leaderless. At the same time, we must immediately issue a warrant and find that wild child who killed Konoha at all costs—living or dead!"
The meeting ended in a tense atmosphere. The dismissal order and the new appointment were quickly drafted, stamped with the vermilion seal of the Hokage's office, and sent to the Land of Rivers by the fastest messenger. In this storm triggered by the secret letter, Tenpei balance of power in Konoha quietly tilted in favor of these family forces.
Seven days later, a team directly dispatched by Konoha arrived at River City. Leading the team were Administrative Department Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mitokado Homura, both dressed in standard ninja robes and followed by twenty elite guards. They solemnly passed through the makeshift castle gate.
River City was still clearing away the ruins. Some soldiers were repairing the city walls, while others were burying the remains of their fallen comrades. The air was still filled with the faint smell of disinfectant. When Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared in the White Tiger Corps's council tent with the dismissal order, the atmosphere instantly turned icy.
Hatake Sakumo stood in the tent, leaning on his cane. His left arm was still injured, and although his face was pale, his eyes were resolute. Behind him stood Jūni high-ranking generals of the White Tiger Corps, each with an expression of anger and resentment, yet still maintaining the posture of soldiers.
" Hatake Sakumo, receive the order." Hiruzen Sarutobi the scroll, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "By decision of the Konoha High Command, you are relieved of your post as White Tiger Corps. Effective immediately, I will temporarily assume command of the legion. Your Jūni senior officers are to be immediately relieved of their military posts and return to Konoha with Lord Mitokado Homura for investigation."
A deathly silence fell over the tent. The lieutenant couldn't help but speak up, "My lord! What's going on? We just fought a month-long battle at River City, defeating the Suijin..."
"A fight to the death?" Mitokado Homura sneered, interrupting him. "Is this a fight to the death where you collude with outsiders and condone the murderers killing your own people of Konoha? You still have the nerve to mention the battle at River City? If it weren't for your dereliction of duty, how could the members of the Sarutobi Clan and Utatane Clan have died so tragically?"
"That's not true at all!" Hatake Sakumo abruptly raised his head, his chest heaving violently. "Those family scions were arrogant and domineering, they provoked us first, it was them..."
"Enough!" Hiruzen Sarutobi angrily, "Still trying to argue? How dare you question Konoha's decisions? Considering your past merits, I'll spare you from imprisonment for now, but you must immediately relinquish your military command without fail!"
Hatake Sakumo stared intently at Hiruzen Sarutobi, his fingers gripping his cane so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He knew that arguing was useless; Konoha's decision had already been made, and the so-called investigation was just an excuse. The real purpose was to strip the White Tiger Corps of its command. He slowly removed the White Tiger token from his waist, the token still stained with dried blood—the glory that countless brothers had earned with their lives.
"The token is here." Hatake Sakumo's voice was hoarse as he placed the token on the table. "But I must make it clear, that child Sage was the White Tiger Corps's savior. If it weren't for him, River City would have ceased to exist long ago. As for those family scions... they brought it upon themselves."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened. He ignored him and turned to the guards behind him, saying, "Take these dismissed generals into custody. We'll depart for Konoha tomorrow."
The guards immediately stepped forward, taking out ropes to bind him. The lieutenant behind Hatake Sakumo roared, "We are the illustrious White Tiger Corps, not prisoners!"
"Insolence!" Mitokado Homura stepped forward, a cold glint in his eyes. "Those who disobey orders will be punished as traitors!"
Hatake Sakumo raised a hand to stop his angry subordinate, his voice calm yet tinged with sorrow. "No need. We are Konoha ninjas, obeying orders is our duty. But I believe that one day, the truth will come to light."
One by one, the generals were stripped of their swords and escorted out of the council tent. The soldiers outside the tent stopped what they were doing and glared angrily at the men brought by Hiruzen Sarutobi, but dared not retaliate due to military discipline. The entire River City was shrouded in a suffocating atmosphere. The once mighty White Tiger Corps had become lambs to the slaughter in the blink of an eye.
Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the White Tiger Token, walked to the map, and his gaze fell on the location of the West Water River, a complex look flashing in his eyes. He said to Mitokado Homura, "Pass down the order: the entire army will rest for three days. After three days, we will begin a full-scale search for that child called the Sage. Anyone who has seen him must be brought back for interrogation. We must not let any clue slip by."
The bounty poster from Konoha spread to every corner of the Shinobi World three days later.
On the specially made parchment, a blurry portrait of a child was drawn in cinnabar—a hasty sketch based on descriptions from surviving family members. The child had innocent features, wore a coarse cloth jacket, was barefoot, and held a shimmering golden rune in his hand. Below the portrait, in bold font, was the bounty:
"A bounty is offered for an unidentified child, approximately six years old, dressed in a coarse cloth jacket, who can manipulate golden runes, suggesting he possesses ancient secret techniques. This individual murdered several members of the Land of Rivers Konoha's Sarutobi and Utatane clans in River City the River, using cruel and heinous methods. A reward of five million taels of gold is offered for his whereabouts. A reward of ten million taels will be given to the person who captures him alive, along with the rank of a Konoha Jonin; a reward of five million taels will be given to the person who kills him, along with a major merit. Anyone who harbors or conceals him will be punished the same as the murderer, executed without exception!"
The bounty poster was stamped with the bright red seal of the Hokage's office in Konoha, and next to it were the joint signatures of Kagami Uchiha, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu, which showed the seriousness of the matter.
The bounty was posted on the bulletin board in Konoha, sparking much discussion among the villagers.
"A six-year-old child? Can he kill someone?" The vegetable vendor stood on tiptoe to watch the spectacle, her face full of disbelief.
"Didn't you see it says 'suspected of possessing ancient secret arts'? He's definitely a monster!" The blacksmith next to him clicked his tongue in amazement. "Five million taels! That's enough for us to earn for a lifetime!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down, those are people from the Sarutobi Clan and Utatane Clan, who dares to mess with them?"
Not only in Konoha, but the bounty notice quickly spread to neighboring countries through merchants, messengers, and ninjas. Every ninja village, every market, and every post station in the Land of Fire was plastered with images of Tsubasa. Countless greedy eyes were drawn to the huge bounty, and both wandering ninjas and bounty hunters began searching everywhere for the whereabouts of the "six-year-old child."
The soldiers of the White Tiger Corps were enraged when they saw the bounty poster.
"These bastards! They've turned black into white!" An old soldier tore the wanted poster in his hand to shreds. " The Sage is our savior, and they're putting a bounty on his head? Is there no justice in this world?!"
"Keep your voice down!" His companion quickly pulled him back, glancing warily around. "The legion is now under Sarutobi's control. If anyone hears us, we'll lose our heads!"
The veteran trembled with rage, but could only stomp his feet in frustration. These ordinary soldiers were powerless to defy Konoha's decision and could only suppress their anger, silently praying that the little Sage who had descended from the sky would be safe and sound.
In the council tent of River City, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned as he watched the endless stream of intelligence reports arrive. Three days had passed, and they had searched every village along the West Water River, questioning everyone who might have seen Tsubasa, but they hadn't found a single clue. The child seemed to have appeared out of thin air and vanished just as suddenly, leaving no trace.
"Expand the search area and trace upstream West Water River," Hiruzen Sarutobi to Mitokado Homura. "Notify the nearby Anbu and have them cooperate fully. Remember, find him alive or dead, even if you have to dig three feet into the ground!"
Mitokado Homura bowed and accepted the order, then turned and walked out of the tent. Only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained inside. He gazed at the ruins of River City outside the window, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table. The bounty was issued both to give his family an explanation and to find the mysterious power that could so easily subdue the Suijin. He had a feeling that the child was far more than just a child with secret techniques.
The turmoil in the Shinobi World world was stirred up by the appearance of a child. The clans of Konoha used this incident to consolidate their power, while the White Tiger Corps Chunin. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Tsubasa was holding his little water dragon, catching fish in a clear stream, completely unaware of the towering waves behind him.
Although the flood that ravaged the Land of Rivers has passed, the turmoil caused by the Suijin and the child has only just begun. The bounty posters of Konoha are like a vast net, cast across every corner of the Shinobi World, and at the center of that net is a child who doesn't even know why he is being hunted. The wheels of history roll ever onward, sweeping countless destinies along with them, and sailing them toward an unknown Mirai.