Chapter 253: Luxurious Investigation Team
Prop took out the scroll and delivered it to the Third Hokage’s office desk.
The Third Hokage looked at the scroll and said incredulously:
“Someone is using a diversionary tactic, creating a disturbance in the southeast of the daimyo’s migration camp.
Afterward, two smoke bombs appeared around the daimyo’s tent.
After the smoke bombs cleared, four Guardian Ninja were dead.
The four… are all Shimura Clan ninja?
Three of them had their temples pierced by kunai, and Captain Shimura Kabi was burned into a charred corpse by Fire Release.
Fire Release again…”
Shimura Koh, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Root’s Ding and Ji, among others, all died to Fire Release.
The people in the office sketched out a portrait.
A Fire Release ninja with extremely strong infiltration and Body Flicker Technique skills, repeatedly targeting Konoha, especially Root and the Shimura Clan.
His crime scenes include the Land of Rivers, Land of Grass, Land of Iron, and other places, specifically choosing locations far from Konoha.
The high-ranking officials looked at Danzo, wondering why Danzo was being targeted so heavily.
It was hard to determine which of Danzo’s evil deeds had earned him such hatred, as Danzo had committed too many.
The Third Hokage said: “This kind of assassination has already seriously disrupted Konoha’s normal operations!
With so many Guardian Ninja dead or injured, how can the other daimyo continue to trust our Konoha?
What about the Daimyo of the Land of Grass? Has the Daimyo of the Land of Grass said anything?”
Prop hurriedly said: “The surviving Guardian Ninja said that the Daimyo of the Land of Grass has already written to the Land of Fire Daimyo, requesting support from the Land of Fire Daimyo.
The daimyo suspects… suspects that the assassin wasn’t targeting him, but was targeting Guardian Ninja Captain Shimura Kabi!
The daimyo told Guardian Ninja Hyuga Shin that he will recruit 2 Guardian Ninja on his own.
In other words, the Guardian Ninja dispatched by Konoha will be reduced from 8 to “
Trust had already developed cracks, and the Daimyo of the Land of Grass must be extremely anxious at this time.
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked: “Danzo, what do you think of this matter?”
Everyone else looked at Danzo.
Orochimaru glanced at Copper Fox, his first reaction being that Copper Fox had long-distance reverse summoning ability, meaning Copper Fox could instantly appear in the Land of Grass and quickly return to the village.
On second thought, it didn’t seem likely.
Copper Fox specialized in Earth Release and Water Style; it couldn’t be that his Fire Release could also suppress jonin.
Shimura Kabi’s strength was decent; his Body Flicker Technique, Wind Release, and combat experience were not bad among jonin.
Yoru thought to himself that no one knew he could use Fire Release, so no one should suspect him.
Danzo said: “It doesn’t matter if my Shimura Clan sacrifices a few people, but this matter has already affected Konoha’s defense of the daimyo of various countries.
I believe we should form an investigation team to definitely catch that Fire Release expert.
This matter is more important than the conflict with the Hidden Cloud Village.”
He looked at Orochimaru and said: “Orochimaru, you will command this matter; Root and Anbu’s Lynx Squad will obey your orders.”
Yoru thought to himself that Orochimaru leading the team would be a bit tricky.
He had planned to capture a Root ninja marked with the Tongue-Cutting Flower Seal and try to break Danzo’s seal.
Now it seemed this plan had to be put on hold.
Orochimaru was very smart, and acting rashly in front of him would easily reveal flaws.
Yuka and the others should not act anymore; they should hide deep in the Land of Rain and not come out for the time being, avoiding the spotlight.
Let them investigate; they wouldn’t find anything.
After deciding this, Yoru indifferently listened to Danzo continue making arrangements.
When they had almost finished discussing, Sakumo Hatake said:
“Hokage, Lord Danzo Advisor, the sacrifice of the four Shimura Clan Guardian Ninja is lamentable.
However, how should the conflict between the Land of Hot Water border and the Cloud Ninja be handled?
I request to lead a team to the Land of Hot Water border to respond to the Cloud Ninja’s provocations.”
Prop glared hatefully at Sakumo Hatake; Lord Danzo had suffered another heavy blow, and Sakumo Hatake couldn’t wait to seize power and credit. No wonder Lord Danzo despised Sakumo Hatake.
Danzo’s gaze was unkind, but he didn’t say anything.
He didn’t want to deal with the Land of Hot Water matter right now; he only wanted to catch that Fire Release killer.
The Third Hokage and Mito Mon’en exchanged a glance, seeing no helplessness in each other’s eyes.
Aside from Orochimaru and Sakumo Hatake, there were no other kage-level ninja in the village who could take charge independently.
Mito Mon’en couldn’t go to the front line to serve as commander.
He was Konoha Village’s foreign affairs advisor, and his most important task at this time was to go on a diplomatic mission to the Land of Grass.
He needed to meet with the Land of Fire and Land of Grass daimyo, restore Konoha’s image, and explain to the daimyo of various countries that Konoha’s Guardian Ninja were absolutely trustworthy.
“Sakumo, then you command several battalions to go to the Land of Hot Water border. As for how many battalions…” The Third Hokage thought for a moment and said:
“4 battalions, for now don’t expand the scale of the war.
Exercise restraint; this is a limited conflict, don’t turn it into an arms race.
After a border conflict on the scale of a few hundred people, make the Hidden Cloud Village concede.”
Sakumo Hatake nodded, his expression much more relaxed.
No matter how much the high-ranking officials disliked Sakumo Hatake, he was one of the only two strong individuals among Konoha Village’s young ninja, and they had to rely on him.
Actually, Tsunade now also had kage-level strength, but Tsunade hadn’t even reported to the high-ranking officials that she had mastered the Shadow Seal.
Orochimaru didn’t have the spare time to inform the high-ranking officials about Tsunade’s matter.
The high-ranking officials’ meeting ended, and Yoru followed Kiiroinu back to Anbu.
“Vice Minister, Lynx Squad is following Orochimaru to the Land of Grass; will Anbu send people to the Land of Hot Water?”
“Yes.” Kiiroinu said: “The Hokage needs to grasp the intelligence on the Land of Hot Water border conflict and cannot completely trust Sakumo Hatake’s mission report.
You go then, Fox; take your squad to the Land of Hot Water.”
“Yes, Vice Minister.”
This was exactly what Yoru had been expecting.
Two days later, in the dead of night, Yoru received a notification of contract chakra.
He was reverse summoned to the base of a low mountain.
Yuka and the other two had arrived at the destination.
The low mountain was the only mountain in the grassland and was the Evergreen Divine Mountain where the Daimyo of the Land of Grass performed sacrifices.
According to the Daimyo of the Land of Grass, the Evergreen Divine Mountain was the guardian god of the grassland.
The soil of the Evergreen Divine Mountain formed the body of the First Daimyo of the Land of Grass, and the grass of the Evergreen Divine Mountain turned into the hair of the First Daimyo of the Land of Grass.
These myths were quite far-fetched; it was unknown if others believed them, but the Daimyo of the Land of Grass firmly believed them.
In the mountainside of the Evergreen Divine Mountain, Yoru discovered a secret laboratory.
This laboratory was far inferior to the Vortex laboratory that Danzo had set up in the Land of Whirlpools; it wasn’t large in scale, with only a dozen test subjects.
Kanon Uzumaki was covered in bite marks but had no life-threatening injuries.
After rescuing Kanon, Yoru said to Yuka:
“Danzo is anxious and has sent Orochimaru and Anbu’s Lynx Squad, as well as Root’s new recruits, to form a large-scale investigation team.
During this period, both you and I must be careful and cannot act anymore.
Hide well deep in the Land of Rain’s rainforest, and wait until this storm passes before we carry out a new revenge plan.”
Yuka Uzumaki nodded; Orochimaru had a great reputation and was very powerful.
“You be careful too, Fox; you’re in more danger inside Konoha Village.”
“My concealment has been very successful.” Yoru said:
“All my actions targeting Danzo have been framed as a power struggle between Vice Minister Kiiroinu and Minister Danzo, so no one suspects me for now.”
After sending off Yuka and the others, Yoru quickly returned to the izakaya basement.
He carefully closed the door.
He wouldn’t come to this basement for a while, until Orochimaru’s investigation team disbanded.
