Chapter 285: Intel on the Last Day of Konoha Year 54
After solving the Nine-Tails problem, Kushina Uzumaki stroked her son's yellow hair and looked at Itachi Uchiha, saying in a low voice, "I'll be troubling you to take care of Naruto…"
"Come and visit often!"
Minato Namikaze smiled and squinted from the other side. The Nine-Tails, watching from its cage, couldn't help but bare its teeth.
The chakra of this husband and wife pair would probably remain in this sealing space until Naruto Uzumaki trained to become a perfect jinchuriki.
The little blond kid was probably very happy, but the Nine-Tails' mood was likely not so good. It had gained another annoying neighbor.
And the Nine-Tails only had a few mortal enemies in its lifetime, and this family of three, Minato Namikaze, was definitely on the list…
After leaving the spiritual sealing space, the little blond's mood had clearly recovered a lot. Naruto's recent troubles had mainly stemmed from the dispute with his father, but today, under his mother's comfort, it had eased a lot.
The matter was settled.
Itachi Uchiha grabbed the crow and placed it on his shoulder, then pressed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "If Naruto has nothing else to do, starting tomorrow, you can train with Sasuke…"
"No, thanks!"
Naruto Uzumaki quickly shook his head. "I still have to go take care of the Pervy Sage. And he's not badly injured this time; he should be out of the hospital before the New Year! After he gets home, he promised to teach me a new ninjutsu!"
"Oh? A ninjutsu from Jiraiya-sensei?"
Itachi ran through the ninjutsu Jiraiya specialized in… Hair Growth Technique, Hair Loss Technique, and the like. The Hokage candidate couldn't help but shudder…
The last day of Konoha Year 54.
In the Hokage's Tower, Hiruzen Sarutobi, for a change, was not playing with his crystal ball but observing the village through the window lattice. Whether it was civilians or ninjas, they were all in the midst of a New Year's countdown celebration. The taverns in the village had already hung up large red lanterns.
As the highest leader of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no holidays. Although the Hokage held supreme power, he also shouldered the life and death of tens of thousands of ninjas.
"Tomorrow is the ceremony for the Fourth Kazekage of the Hidden Sand to take over as the Daimyo of the Land of Wind…" The Third Hokage stuck his pipe in his mouth, pinching a match between his fingers, and asked softly, "I remember sending two ANBU squads. Has there still been no news from the Hidden Sand?"
At the Jonin Council meeting, when Hiruzen Sarutobi confirmed that Itachi Uchiha would be sent to the Daimyo's mansion to serve as a guard and a hostage, it already signified that Konoha had abandoned its ally, the Hidden Sand Village.
And given the meager resources of the Sand, once Konoha and the Sand broke off relations, it was basically equivalent to the two great ninja villages being in a state of opposition.
And the alliance treaty signed during the Third Great Ninja War—all those conditions favorable to Konoha would be null and void!
"Due to the major incident of the Fourth Kazekage usurping the throne, the Land of Wind's borders have been strengthened, and they have recently been strictly investigating ninjas entering the country…"
The only ones who couldn't rest at this time were the ANBU ninjas, who worked a 24/7 schedule. The person on duty protecting the Hokage this year was led by Kakashi Hatake.
The white-haired ninja looked up and continued, "The last piece of intelligence the ANBU received was news of the Fourth Kazekage suppressing a samurai rebellion in the western part of the Land of Wind…"
"I don't know if this step I've taken is right or not. After all, that little brat Rasa's successful usurpation has already made all the great ninja villages a thorn in the side of the Daimyo, and Konoha is no exception…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi blew out a huge smoke ring and sighed. "I can only hope that after Itachi arrives at the Daimyo's mansion next year, he will be able to resolve this problem!"
A series of knocks suddenly came from outside the office.
An ANBU ninja wearing an animal mask walked in and handed Hiruzen a scroll.
"Lord Third, there is an urgent intelligence report from the Land of Water!"
"Hmm, what important intelligence could there be at this time…" The Third Hokage waved his hand, signaling the ninja to leave, and opened the scroll in his hand.
In just a few short seconds, the old man's body began to tremble involuntarily, and the scroll in his hand fell to the ground!
Kakashi Hatake took a few steps forward, picked up the scroll, and supported his body. "Lord Hokage, did something happen in the Land of Water?"
"Notify the Konoha high council. Get them to the Hokage's Tower, fast!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed Kakashi's hand away and let out a light sigh. "Our other ally is certainly quick to act!"
The Hidden Mist Village's ANBU Captain, Kisame Hoshigaki, had led a force of ninja troops to attack and occupy the Land of Water's Daimyo mansion, announcing the complete abolition of the Daimyo system, with the Hidden Mist Village taking control of the Land of Water!
This move by Kisame Hoshigaki made it clear to almost everyone that he had completely seized power in the Land of Water. For reasons unknown, perhaps to appease the hearts of the Mist, this fellow had actually promoted Mei Terumi to be the Fifth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village!
Although this Fifth Mizukage felt like she was being pushed out to take the blame… the Konoha higher-ups who had met them were very clear about which of them, Mei Terumi or Kisame Hoshigaki, held the greater power.
It was truly unexpected. That shark-faced man actually possessed such audacity!
What he had done was even more radical than the Fourth Kazekage of the Sand. He had directly announced the abolition of the Daimyo system, which was tantamount to declaring war on every country in the ninja world!
And Kisame Hoshigaki's actions had directly placed Konoha over the fire to be roasted. What on earth was wrong with their two allies? Couldn't they have given their village a heads-up before staging a coup!
Both of Konoha's allies had initiated coups, one directly setting himself up as Daimyo, the other directly abolishing the Daimyo… And their alliance was centered on Konoha as the backbone. Would the Land of Fire's Daimyo not become suspicious?
Now Hiruzen Sarutobi had been caught completely off guard!
Especially since the geographical locations of the Land of Water and the Land of Wind happened to be to the east and west of the Land of Fire, respectively, and they had long had a large amount of foreign trade…
Of course, what Hiruzen Sarutobi could never have imagined was that the Kisame Hoshigaki he believed had just completed a power transition in the Land of Water was, at this very moment, arguing with someone…
Mizukage's Office.
The higher-ups of the Hidden Mist were all present.
However, in the Mizukage's seat, a shameless Hokage was currently sitting. "Kisame Hoshigaki, the organization did not demand that you announce the abolition of the Land of Water's Daimyo, did it?"
"Oh?"
Kisame nonchalantly played with a ninja sword, looked at him, and chuckled. "I just didn't like the look of that guy…"
"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking!"
Tobirama Senju snorted coldly and looked at him. "Are you trying to force Konoha to abolish the current Daimyo of the Land of Fire! Speak, did that little brat Itachi Uchiha make you do this?"
"No."
Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, revealing a mouthful of shark teeth. His grip on the ninja sword was like that of a strategist who had everything under control. "This matter, it should be said… was ordered by Lady Tsunade!"
"A while ago, the organization's Itachi-kun became Konoha's candidate for Fifth Hokage, but he was immediately sent to the Land of Fire's Daimyo mansion to serve as a guard…"
"During Lady Tsunade's communication with our intelligence personnel, she mentioned that she was rather worried that the Land of Fire's Daimyo might not recognize Itachi-kun's position as Hokage candidate, and asked us to think of a way…"
"We felt that this small matter shouldn't trouble Lord Tobirama. It just so happened that the Land of Water's Daimyo had recently been wanting to appoint one of his officials as the Fifth Mizukage. After some discussion, we decided to take the initiative and abolish the Land of Water's Daimyo system…"
"With Konoha's two subordinate allies staging coups one after the other, a rift will surely appear between the Third Hokage and the Land of Fire's Daimyo. Once the Land of Fire's Daimyo steps down, Itachi-kun will have no more obstacles and will surely be able to become the Fifth Hokage of Konoha!"
"You see, isn't this a happy ending for everyone?"
"Lord Tobirama…"
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