Inside the opulent hall, the Land of Fire Daimyo sat on his high seat, his fingers drumming restlessly on the armrest.
Below, the nobles and high-ranking officials wore various expressions, and an uneasy atmosphere permeated the air.
Suddenly, the leader of the anbu burst into the hall, knelt on one knee, and said in a deep voice, "Urgent military report! The remaining 4,600-plus ninjas of Konoha are preparing to relocate."
The hall instantly erupted into chaos.
"What?"
"The ninjas of Konoha are really all going to defect to the Land of Water."
"How dare they?!"
The Daimyo abruptly stood up, his face terribly grim, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light.
He slowly walked down the steps, his voice bone-chillingly cold. "Shun, Tsunade, you have immense audacity."
An elderly minister tremblingly stepped forward. "Daimyo-sama, this matter is not trivial. If Konoha moves, the Land of Fire will lose its military pillar but if they harbor ill intentions..."
The Minister of Military Affairs added, "If they really leave, it might not be a bad thing. Konoha is only a hundred li from the Capital. If they suddenly turn on us, they could invade the capital overnight. The consequences..."
He didn't finish, but everyone understood. Konoha's threat was far more terrifying than imagined.
The National Ninja Army's Chief Instructor, Hiruzen, said in a deep voice, "Daimyo-sama, whether Konoha stays or leaves, we must act immediately."
The Daimyo slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his gaze was filled with murderous intent.
"Give the order: Immediately mobilize 7,000 ninjas to surround Konoha. Block all entry and exit routes, not even a fly is allowed out."
...
Soon, on the outskirts of Konoha, a massive force of National Ninja Army surrounded the entire village, making it impenetrable.
Hiruzen, the Chief Instructor of the National Ninja Army, used a Ninjutsu amplifier to broadcast throughout Konoha. "Ninjas of Konoha, the Land of Fire Daimyo has an order. All who are willing to surrender to the National Ninja Army will have their salaries doubled, their families will receive noble treatment and those who perform meritorious deeds can be granted land."
The guards on Konoha's walls looked at each other, and the eyes of some Genin began to waver.
Seeing this, Hiruzen continued to raise the stakes. "You grew up in the Land of Fire, you should know that the Land of Fire is the richest country in the entire Ninja World. Why go to that poor place, the Land of Water?"
...
Inside Konoha, civilians and some ninjas began to stir.
A Chunin murmured in a low voice, "Salary doubled. I still have my old mother to support at home."
Another member of a ninja clan hesitated, "I heard that the National Ninja Army's treatment is indeed good, and, do we really have to abandon the land where our ancestors lived?"
The elders of the Hyuga Clan gathered at the clan head's mansion, their expressions solemn.
A branch family elder said in a deep voice, "Some members of the branch family are wavering."
Hiashi closed his eyes for a moment, then suddenly opened them. "Order the entire clan. All who defect will be executed."
At the same time, the heads of the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans were also in urgent discussion.
Shikaku sighed, "This is an open conspiracy, using benefits to divide us."
Choza bit off a piece of beef jerky and said, "But some people, I'm afraid, will really be tempted."
Shikaku stroked his chin and said, "After we move to the Land of Water, the Land of Fire's military strength will weaken, and there will definitely be many wars in the future. Staying here will only make us cannon fodder."
...
In the Hokage Office, Tsunade slammed her fist, shattering the desk.
"Hiruzen, that scoundrel, how dare he poach Konoha's people?!"
Shizune said anxiously, "Tsunade-sama, more than a dozen Genin have already secretly slipped out of the village."
Shikaku leaned by the window, his eyes sharp. "We must stabilize morale immediately."
Tsunade took a deep breath, abruptly pushed open the window, and leaped onto the Hokage Rock.
Her voice, amplified by Chakra, spread throughout the village. "All Konoha ninjas, listen, I am the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade! If any of you want to leave, I will not stop you!"
"Today, if you choose to betray the village, you will surely be treated as a disposable pawn in the future!"
"Moreover, don't you still understand what kind of person Hiruzen is?"
Thinking of Hiruzen's time as the Third Hokage, corruption, deceiving Ninja Academy students into early graduation, then sending them to their deaths on the Kirigakure battlefield, sheltering Danzo's Root, conducting human experiments, causing the deaths of many children...
Now, Hiruzen's reputation in Konoha was terrible, causing many who had wanted to join the Daimyo to lose interest.
But still, hundreds of ninjas, and a large number of villagers, escaped from Konoha.
Tsunade, stood on the Hokage Rock, her expression grave. "Damn it! Why did so many people escape from Konoha? Is it because of fear, of being surrounded by 7,000 ninjas, or because of money?"
Hiashi frowned slightly, reminding her, "We need to ask Advisor Shun for help."
Tsunade ordered sharply, "Minato! You will immediately use Flying Thunder God to go to the Land of Water and inform Shun!"
"Understood!" Minato nodded slightly, then instantly vanished from the spot.
...
Inside the Land of Water Daimyo Mansion, Shun was listening to a report.
Suddenly...
Whoosh!
Minato appeared in a flash and said, "Advisor Shun, the Land of Fire Daimyo has sent 7,000 ninjas to surround Konoha, the situation is critical."
Shun's eyes turned cold. "Having a death wish."
The next second, his figure abruptly vanished.
Outside Konoha, seeing hundreds of Konoha ninjas run over to join them, Hiruzen was in high spirits.
He continued to shout, "If you follow the Land of Fire Daimyo, you'll be safe and out of danger. Why go to that poor place, the Land of Water? Didn't you become ninja just to earn money and enjoy life?"
Boom!!!
The sky suddenly ripped open, and a 200-meter-tall orange Complete Body Susanoo flew over from afar.
"What is that?!"
The National Ninja Army ninjas looked up in terror, only to see the sky-darkening giant spread its four wings, a Chakra storm sweeping across the land.
Shun stood in the crystal on Susanoo's forehead, looking down coldly. "Those who dare to touch Konoha... die!"
Slash!
Susanoo's giant blade swept across, instantly slaying hundreds of ninjas.
When Hiruzen was young, he had witnessed the battle between Madara and Hashirama, knowing how terrifying that combat power was, so as soon as the Complete Body Susanoo appeared, he turned and ran.
While fleeing, he roared, "Retreat! Scatter and run, quickly scatter!"
Shun controlled Susanoo as if entering an uninhabited land. In just one minute, he killed over 1,000 ninjas.
The remaining 5,000-plus ninjas completely collapsed, falling to their knees and surrendering.
"Mercy... mercy... we surrender..."