Chapter 176
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A single arrow piercing the clouds brings forth a myriad of troops. Thousands of former subordinates are rushing from the battlefield in the Mist Village, not pausing for a moment.
When Lord Kyomu commands, they obey without question, whatever the order may be.
Kyomu has proven his worth through past deeds and victories; he deserves unconditional trust from everyone.
At the Cloud Village battlefield, only tent pegs used for camping remain; everything else has been cleared away.
Leading the charge is Kyomu, followed by Fugaku, then the Uchiha ninjas, and lastly, the Leaf Genin who have been on the battlefield for less than six months.
Perhaps the latter can be overlooked; becoming a Chunin from a Genin in just six months is a sign of exceptional talent.
However, the Uchiha are a force that cannot be ignored.
Thirty-one Uchiha ninjas with the three-tomoe Sharingan are among the elite of the elite, an increase of fourteen people from six months ago.
The Uchiha are born for battle, their combat talent honed to perfection.
Advantage is ours!
Sharing this confidence is Danzo, who believes he has secured his victory.
Kakashi has been swayed by him and agreed to join the Anbu as a root member, with the promise that Shimura will restore Sakumo's honor in return for Kakashi's eternal loyalty to the root and to him.
As for Kakashi changing his mind? The Tongue-Tied Jutsu is not just for show.
"Hiruzen, you are decayed, and my era is finally coming!"
Excitement fills Shimura's eyes; he can't wait to return to the village, oust Hiruzen, don his Hokage robe, and deliver an inauguration speech at the village center.
Advantage is ours!
Simultaneously, still holding power in Leaf Village, Hiruzen, Homura , and Koharu are convinced this operation will definitively remove Kyomu and cut off his support.
The trio, still in their prime, regards Hiruzen as 'the strongest Hokage,' rightfully considered the foremost among the contemporary Kages.
Homura and Koharu are slightly weaker but still of Kage-level strength; although they haven't actively fought in years, they emerged from intense battles in their youth.
Furthermore, the Anbu directly under the Hokage, unaffected by the war, consists of four squads totaling 280 ninjas.
Of these, the lowest rank is Special Jonin, totaling 208. Anbu squad captains and vice-captains are Jonin, amounting to 64, and the elite Jonin are eight in total, including the squad leaders.
Apart from this elite force, Hiruzen's personal guard is also formidable, with the lowest rank being Special Jonin.
The families of Homura and Koharu, though not very powerful, can still muster a considerable force of elite ninjas.
Additionally, the Uzumaki clan, loyal to the Hokage and the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans, also stand with the Hokage.
Lastly, the village's Jinchuriki, Kushina, remains in the village as a powerful trump card for Hiruzen.
"Just waiting for Jiraiya and Minato to return," Hiruzen puffs on his pipe, the smoke veiling his face, "If Kyomu shows any sign of repentance, we may consider reducing his punishment; if he continues on his current path..."
Hiruzen stands abruptly, "Kill!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
The Anbu leaders leave, and in the office, Shikaku, Choza, Inoichi, Homura , and Koharu also depart to arrange various matters.
Soon, only the leaders of the Leaf's sealing squad and Kushina, standing in a corner, remain in the office.
"Sealing squad, disperse throughout the village by teams; if there's any disturbance, act immediately without hesitation!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
After the sealing squad departs, Hiruzen then turns to Kushina.
"Kushina, you know the situation now, so you..."
"I will follow the orders of the Hokage."
Nodding, Hiruzen dismisses her, "Minato will be back in two days, get ready."
Kushina exits, and at the moment she closes the office door, she can't help but sigh.
What a mess.
As Hiruzen makes his arrangements, expecting Kyomu and his followers to fall into his trap, the Uchiha clan quarters also begin their preparations.
"Hokage-sama." A ninja from the Hokage's guard reports, "The Uchiha are preparing."
"They really want to side with Kyomu against the village?!"
Hiruzen taps the ash from his pipe, refills it with tobacco, lights it, and leans back in his chair, "What does the Hyuga say?"
"They are forever loyal to the village."
"Good, that's already very good," Hiruzen relaxes, "What about the Inuzuka and the Aburame?"
"They also express eternal loyalty to the village."
Nodding, Hiruzen is neither particularly pleased nor disappointed; the neutrality of the Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans was expected.
"Keep monitoring the Uchiha; I want to know everything they do."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Once alone, Hiruzen stands and walks to the floor-to-ceiling window in his office, gazing silently into the distance.
"Kyomu, do you really think I have no way to deal with you?" Hiruzen's gaze is profound, "You know nothing of the village's core strength. With just you and your allies, you can't withstand it.
Although it may damage the village's foundation, if we cannot secure internal stability, the village's morale will never be unified."
Hiruzen has planned thoroughly, believing his victory assured.
But his focus on 'securing internal stability' may be misdirected.
Danzo is the true calamity.
Danzo's clan.
A humanoid creature with white body and pitchers on its shoulders emerges from the ground.
It's Zetsu, and notably, it's the original.
"Danzo-sama's latest order." Zetsu holds a sealed scroll, handing it to a member of the Shimura clan.
After delivering the message, Zetsu vanishes.
He has been here no less than ten times, and since Kyomu caught the attention of Madara, Zetsu has been conspiring with Danzo.
A convoluted conspiracy of the mantis stalking the cicada, with the oriole behind, is already unfolding.
Hiruzen views Kyomu as his prey, Danzo sees Hiruzen as his, and Madara views the entire ninja world as his.
But who will ultimately win or lose cannot yet be determined.
...
—Mist Village Battlefield.
The intense battle between Orochimaru and Tsunade pauses, both appearing quite disheveled.
However, Orochimaru's only significant issue is severe chakra depletion. His combat strength may not be the strongest, but his stamina and survival skills far surpass those of Tsunade, even if she were doubled.
"Tsunade, shall we continue fighting?" Orochimaru grins, "The Mist ninja have received the message and are preparing for their next attack."
Tsunade hesitates, torn internally.
She could leave, but Orochimaru blocks her way. She could force her way out, but what about handling the Mist ninja?
Biting her lip, Tsunade chooses Kyomu.
"Orochimaru, let me pass one last time!"
"It seems you've chosen Kyomu." Orochimaru grins, "Are you willing to abandon your comrades here?"
"It's the old men who've gone too far, how could they act against Kyomu, he's the future of the village!" Tsunade shouts, "And you, how can you watch the old men continue their mistakes!"
"It's the same choice, just a different approach," Orochimaru's eyes shimmer, "I just wanted to let Kyomu-kun's storm grow a bit stronger, decaying elements might just move under its influence."
"Let me pass!"
"I'll return to the village with you," Orochimaru licks his lips, "I have a gift for Kyomu-kun."
Tsunade glances at Orochimaru, "What do you mean exactly?"
Previously, when she tried to leave, Orochimaru stopped her, and after a fight, he now says he'll accompany her back. The inconsistency makes Tsunade suspicious.
"I stopped you initially following sensei's orders," Orochimaru shrugs, "But since I can't stop you, there's no need to try."
Without a word, Tsunade turns and runs towards Leaf Village, not looking back. She doesn't know what Orochimaru is planning, but she can't worry about that now.
Watching Tsunade's retreating figure, Orochimaru grins, gives a few orders, and commands a retreat.
"Let's deal with the Mist ninja after sorting out the village's affairs."
Orochimaru chuckles coldly and follows Tsunade.
—Mountain Graveyard.
Zetsu returns to report, and the aging Madara opens his eyes; the Gedo Statue is no longer visible behind him.
"The final step," he mutters softly, "Danzo shouldn't disappoint me."
Looking up at Zetsu, "How is Nagato doing?"
"Because of the information you left in the Rinnegan, he's already considering collecting the Tailed Beasts and is preparing for it."
"Ha, good!" Although Madara laughs, he lacks the strength; his life force has nearly run out.
The death of Yahiko has stimulated Nagato, allowing him to use most of the Rinnegan's power, and the Gedo Statue, which was summoned by Nagato at that time.
Without the Gedo Statue, Madara no longer has the means to continue living, whether spiritually or physically, deteriorating day by day.
"Zetsu, come here."
Madara calls Zetsu over, placing a hand on his shoulder.
In the next second, a black substance made of ultimate Yin Release chakra rapidly covers half of Zetsu's body.
"With my will, complete the remaining plans, I look forward to the day of my return."
Madara, his life dwindling, slowly walks to a stone chair in front, arranges a dominant pose, closes his eyes, and passes away without any more life signs.
Even in death, Madara doesn't want to appear ordinary, integrating the Uchiha style of arrogance deep into his bones.
After Madara passes, the black entity on Zetsu speaks grimly, "Let's go, Zetsu, we're off to the Akatsuki base to find Nagato."
Zetsu, uncomfortable with the black substance on his body but bound by Madara's last wishes, sinks into the ground. Zetsu and the entity vanish from the spot, leaving the Mountain Graveyard completely silent, with only Madara's body seated on the stone chair.
As Zetsu leaves to find Nagato, the Shimura clan, having received Danzo's secret order, also begins to act.
At the Fire Daimyo's, the Shimura clan takes the lead in winning support, secretly sending a large amount of negative information about Hiruzen.
Simultaneously, the Shimura clan also allies with the Aburame clan, planning to use their resources and power to spread negative news about Hiruzen extensively when the Fire Daimyo moves against him, hoping to bring him down.
Afterward, it's about setting the stage for Danzo to ascend as the Fourth Hokage.
Why so confident? Because Danzo indicated in his secret orders that he has controlled Kakashi and is confident in eliminating Kyomu, with more than one method at his disposal.
The Shimura and Aburame clans spring into action, though the former is a unified effort, the latter hedges their bets, not putting all their eggs in one basket.
"Mother, are we preparing to go to the battlefield?"
Three-year-old Uchiha Itachi doesn't possess the playfulness of a child but instead displays precocious stability and maturity beyond his years.
"Itachi, we're not preparing for the battlefield but to cleanse the village of hidden darkness."
"We... against the village..." Itachi widens his eyes, "Mother, why?"
"Because the Third Hokage and the three Hokage advisors have committed acts of slaughtering comrades."
"Impossible, this is nothing like the Will of Fire Shisui-niisan talked about, and the Hokage is the embodiment of the Will of Fire..."
"Itachi." Mikoto interrupts him, "The Will of Fire is correct; it's the people who interpret and use it that are wrong."
Itachi lowers his head, pondering deeply. Although he doesn't understand, he can ask his father Fugaku and his brother Shisui.
As Mikoto touches Itachi's head and moves with the few Uchiha left outside, the members of the Hokage's guard watching them simultaneously relay the information to Hiruzen.
For this, Mikoto and the rest of the Uchiha are aware but unconcerned.
Their intentions are not hidden, but everything still awaits the return of Jiraiya's, Minato's, and Kyomu's forces to the village before the true confrontation begins.
And Mikoto is supremely confident that the final victors will be Lord Kyomu and the Uchiha clan!
(End of Chapter)