Meigetsu was already stunningly beautiful with a cold elegance, and coupled with her status as the legitimate young mistress of the Hozuki Clan, her glaring apricot eyes now carried quite an intimidating aura that kept people at bay.
She directly rebuked Yagura without showing any respect.
Normally, the hot-tempered Yagura couldn't stand being provoked. Being scolded by a woman for no reason would likely make him flip the table and turn hostile on the spot.
But now, seeing it was Meigetsu who was rebuking him, Yagura could only shake his head helplessly and smile wryly: "The current commander of the expeditionary force is Sora. If he gives any orders, how could I refuse to carry them out? But Hozuki, you don't need to worry too much. With Sora's strength, it's basically impossible for Konoha to pose any threat to him."
"In the current situation, rather than worrying about Sora, we should consider our own predicament more…"
After speaking,
Yagura lowered his head, looking at the war sand table before him with a worried frown.
After a long silence, he finally sighed helplessly: "Even with Sora's astounding performance before, our Kirigakure hasn't gained any clear advantage in the overall situation. The number of Ninja losses on the Konoha front has exceeded 400, which is over 20% of the expeditionary force. And…"
"Even greater losses have occurred on the Karra Island battlefield between the village and Kumogakure. The Kirigakure's forces there have suffered over 50% casualties after several head-on decisive battles. The situation is quite critical. Overall, we are even at a significant disadvantage."
Fuguki, standing nearby, also spoke: "Fortunately, Yuki exists. If not for that, the village's expeditionary force would probably have lost its foothold in the Land of Fire long ago. With bad luck, we might even face the danger of being wiped out by Konoha's forces."
As the head of the Intelligence Department, Fuguki naturally had a more objective and calm assessment of the war's situation.
In the current situation, if one were to compare overall strength, Kirigakure probably wasn't even fit to carry Konoha and Kumogakure's shoes.
The only reason Kirigakure could still stabilize the war situation was their superior individual combat power, or more directly, the invincible Yuki Sora.
Single-handedly defeating 2000 enemies, suppressing Jiraiya, Minato, and the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki… Sora's glorious and dazzling battle achievements were Kirigakure's only confidence to speak loudly before Konoha.
Apart from that, the entire Kirigakure was practically insignificant in front of Konoha.
Seeing that serious matters were being discussed, Meigetsu also collected her thoughts.
She gazed intently at the war sand table for a long time before slowly saying: "Indeed. Besides Sora, the village's Ninjas, both in quality and quantity, have a clear gap compared to Konoha. And the Land of Fire's territory is so vast, with extremely high defensive depth. If we want to attack the heartland of the Land of Fire, the village's Ninja Forces will definitely face attacks from all directions."
"At that time, facing Konoha's superior numbers, we will likely have a hard time dealing with it, especially if Sora isn't present."
Hearing Meigetsu's analysis, Yagura also nodded: "If we start another head-on decisive battle, we can rely on Sora to suppress and kill Konoha's main force. But once Konoha realizes this and stops engaging us in decisive battles, instead opting for raids, guerrilla warfare, and security warfare, stretching the battle lines, then we, with fewer troops, are destined to suffer losses."
"If we want to completely win this war, we probably can only start from the forces within Konoha Village itself. Konoha has always had a tradition of internal checks and balances. Although not as intense as our Bloody Mist policy, Konoha's higher-ups are not a monolithic bloc either."
"Based on current intelligence, they can be roughly divided into the Hokage Faction led by the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, Namikaze Minato, and Jiraiya, the Root Faction led by Shimura Danzo and Orochimaru, and the Clan Faction led by Uchiha Fugaku. These three factions, plus the wavering neutral faction, form a dangerous power balance within Konoha. If we can find an opportunity to disrupt this balance, Konoha might fall into internal chaos. Then…"
"Our opportunity will come!"
As Yagura spoke to this point, he planted the war flags representing Hiruzen, Orochimaru, and Fugaku on the location of Konoha Village itself.
The Kirigakure's higher-ups present all gazed intently at the flags on the sand table, remaining silent.
The logic made sense, but implementing it wouldn't be so simple.
Hiruzen, Orochimaru, Fugaku, Danzo… which of them wasn't old and cunning? Although the forces they represented often had friction, when it came to facing external threats, they were quite united.
For the past over ten years, the Kirigakure's Intelligence Department's efforts to divide and sow discord among Konoha's higher-ups had never stopped.
But after investing a great deal of manpower and resources, the results were practically nonexistent.
Sometimes, Hiruzen or Danzo would even seize the opportunity to counterattack, stirring up internal strife within Kirigakure, causing even greater losses among their own higher-ups.
"Trying to divide Konoha internally is a very difficult task. That old fox, the Third Hokage, isn't so easy to handle."
Meigetsu took a deep breath.
Having come from the Anbu, she naturally knew that Kirigakure's higher-ups had suffered greatly at Konoha's hands before.
Just then,
A Kirigakure's Intelligence Department's Jonin suddenly rushed into the command room from outside, extremely anxious. He knelt on one knee, his voice involuntarily trembling.
"Fuguki-sama, Yagura-sama, urgent report!"
"What is it?"
Hearing this, Fuguki's expression instantly changed. A sharp aura emanated from his ugly and fierce face.
"Speak!"
Yagura also snorted coldly beside him.
"It's… it's…"
The Kirigakure's Jonin was so excited he stuttered. He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turbulent emotions in his heart, before speaking: "It's Shimura Danzo! Shimura Danzo was beheaded by Sora-sama! His head is hanging at the entrance of Konoha's main camp!!!"
"Konoha…"
"Is in great terror!!!"
Saying this, the Kirigakure's Jonin still couldn't control his emotions. He simply couldn't believe that Danzo had suddenly died at Sora's hands.
This was simply too shocking!!!
Hearing this, the several Kirigakure's higher-ups present were all stunned. They couldn't help but look at each other, each seeing the disbelief in the other's eyes.
'Shimura Danzo…'
'Dead!??'
'And killed by Sora!?'
The impact of such news was too great. Even the ruthless Fuguki was left dumbfounded by this shocking news, unable to speak for a long time.
Shimura Danzo, a Wind Release Ninja unrivaled in the Ninja World, undoubtedly possessed Kage-level strength. More importantly, Danzo was a member of Konoha's Elder Council, a higher-up among higher-ups.
Controlling the Root's Ninjas, he was the unquestionable number two figure in Konoha!!!
Even famous Ninjas like the Sannin, Minato, and Fugaku were definitely below Danzo in status!
In Kirigakure's terms, Danzo was equivalent to the Elder, the highest-ranking existence besides the Mizukage!!!
And now,
Shimura Danzo was actually dead??
It's too shocking!
"Can the authenticity of this intelligence… be confirmed?"
The cautious Fuguki couldn't help but confirm again. Even as he asked, a trace of inexplicable fear flashed in his eyes.
It must be known,
He had some interest exchanges with Danzo behind the scenes. The previous intelligence on Jiraiya was also obtained by Fuguki from Danzo.
'If Sora learned about these things from Shimura Danzo's mouth…'
"Hiss!"
Fuguki couldn't help but suck in a cold breath, 'My head might part ways with my body then!!!'
"It's confirmed!"
The Kirigakure's Jonin said with absolute certainty: "Not only did Sora-sama kill Shimura Danzo and hang his head outside Konoha's camp as a warning, he also wiped out Konoha's Root Organization entirely. Even one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, is missing, presumed dead. And…"
"Based on current intelligence, it's highly likely Sora-sama killed Orochimaru too!!!"
When the Kirigakure's Jonin clearly presented all this, the atmosphere in the entire command room instantly became strange.
The expressions of the Kirigakure's higher-ups, like Yagura, Fuguki, Meigetsu, Ao, all became quite dazed. They couldn't hide a look of extreme shock and horror in their eyes.
No one had expected Sora's counterattack to be so swift and fierce. With just one move, he had killed Konoha's number two figure, Shimura Danzo, and hung his head outside Konoha's camp as a public display.
This truly vented a great deal of Kirigakure's pent-up anger!!!
"This is indeed something Sora would do!"
Yagura, having reacted, suddenly laughed heartily: "If that old fox Shimura Danzo is dead, I imagine the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression must be quite spectacular, right?"
"The whole process must have been legendary and thrilling."
Meigetsu's beautiful eyes also shimmered with radiant light. She could already imagine the scene of Sora's graceful figure effortlessly taking Danzo's head.
This was something only Sora could accomplish so easily.
"Single-handedly penetrating Konoha's defense zone, killing Danzo, killing Orochimaru, annihilating the Root Organization… Such news is simply astounding."
Fuguki was completely stunned.
Sora's battle achievements were glorious and dazzling. His growth speed far exceeded everyone's expectations.
A few months ago, he was just an unknown Kirigakure's Anbu Captain. Now, he had become a powerful Ninja beyond description.
"Kirigakure…"
"Is about to change!"
Yagura suddenly had a feeling. The position of Mizukage in Kirigakure had always been about the strongest taking all. As long as you had the power to suppress everything, you could sit in the Mizukage's seat.
And now,
In Yagura's eyes, Sora's strength had far surpassed that of the tyrant Third Mizukage. Perhaps the time to change Kirigakure had matured.
…
When the news spread that Danzo had been beheaded and his head displayed outside Konoha's camp, the entire Ninja World erupted.
Every Ninja who received this news showed an expression of disbelief. No one could imagine that Danzo, who had dominated the Ninja World for decades, had died so easily in the war.
Many even felt the news was completely unreal.
After all,
Since the start of the Third Great Ninja War, after the disappearance of the Third Kazekage and the death of the Third Raikage, Danzo was the highest-ranking Ninja to die.
Then,
When these Ninjas learned that Danzo had died at Sora's hands, all doubts completely vanished. Many even felt it was only natural.
Kirigakure's Yuki Sora, that demon-like man… any terrifying deed he committed would only cause awe, never doubt.
Because…
He possessed the power to do so!!!
"Danzo!"
"Danzo is actually dead!!!!"
Konoha's Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, exploded upon hearing the news. Originally, he was still planning how to suppress the news of Danzo's mysterious disappearance.
But before he knew it, the news of Danzo's beheading had spread throughout the entire Ninja World.
"Sorry, Sensei… By the time we realized something was wrong, Elder Danzo's head was already hanging on the camp's flagpole. Too many people saw it, and public opinion couldn't be controlled at all."
This matter was truly too significant. Even Jiraiya, who is stationed at the front lines, had to return to Konoha Village specifically to explain the circumstances surrounding Danzo's death.
To be honest, Jiraiya's impression of Danzo was quite poor.
He deeply disliked this man with his gloomy personality and ruthless, unscrupulous methods. But even so, he had to admit that Danzo had made many sacrifices for Konoha.
Sacrifices that even he, Jiraiya, fell far short of.
Silence.
Deathly silence.
Hiruzen gripped his smoking pipe tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
His aged face intermittently flashed with anger, sorrow, pain, and collapse. Hearing the news of his old friend's death, even with all their conflicts and friction, his heart felt immensely heavy.
The Darkness of Konoha had vanished.
"Jiraiya, this matter isn't your fault, but my mistake."
After a long silence, Hiruzen finally spoke, his tone resolute: "It was my underestimation of the enemy that led to Danzo's death. So…"
"I will definitely make up for my mistake."
Hearing this, Jiraiya was taken aback: "Sensei, do you mean…"
"Jiraiya, it's time to decide the candidate for the next Hokage. If I die on the battlefield, then Konoha will need a new Hokage to inherit the Will of Fire!"