Outside Kumogakure.
Yōkō stood on the peak of a mountain, watching the direction of Kumogakure through binoculars.
The Eight-Tails was too tough; it had been getting beaten for half the night and still wouldn't calm down.
Around the Eight-Tails, there were always small dots flying around like mosquitoes; those were the Kumo-nin gritting their teeth and charging forward against the odds.
The one among them emitting blue light and impacting rapidly was the Third Raikage.
Yōkō glanced sideways at Hei, who was also observing Kumogakure with binoculars, and thought, you're quite lucky to still be alive.
The battle finally ended just before dawn.
The southwestern area of Kumogakure was completely destroyed.
Fortunately, Kumogakure's residential areas were on various mountain peaks with low population density. If destruction on the same scale had occurred in Konoha, at least one-fifth of the villagers would have died.
At noon, Yakushi Nonō came to the mountain where Orochimaru and Yōkō were, bringing the most accurate post-battle intelligence.
This time, Yakushi Nonō was disguised as a youthful maiden, even her eyes clear and sweet, without a single flaw.
If Yakushi Nonō didn't say anything, no one would know who she was.
Yakushi Nonō came before Orochimaru:
"Lord Orochimaru, Kumogakure lost 8 Jōnin!
The Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, B, is also dead. Kumogakure has already begun selecting a new Jinchūriki today.
Besides that, including the Anbu platoon guarding B, Kumogakure lost over 60 ninja in total."
Orochimaru nodded repeatedly, very satisfied with this result.
Yakushi Nonō added:
"Lord Orochimaru, Kumogakure is like an explosive tag about to detonate; everyone is shouting about declaring war on Konoha. Shouldn't our Konoha make preparations early?"
"Heh, are they that angry? That proves my operation was very successful." Orochimaru said:
"Things like war are for the Hokage to consider. Unless I'm appointed as the supreme commander, war has nothing to do with me."
Having said that, Orochimaru left, thoroughly satisfied.
Yakushi Nonō watched the retreating figures of the three, feeling somewhat anxious inside.
Was the village really not afraid of Kumogakure declaring war? That was war, a war that could kill thousands of ninja at a time.
And Fox... this time she tried to make eye contact with Fox, but Fox still refused her, seeming very resistant to her.
The three of them weren't in too much of a hurry on the way back, arriving outside Konoha village 18 days later.
Orochimaru said to Hei: "Hei, have the Root ninja spread rumors that I caused the Eight-Tails rampage in Kumogakure, and that Kumogakure suffered heavy losses."
After Hei nodded, he cautiously added: "Lord Orochimaru, with Ki, Kō, and the other four sacrificed, I'm afraid I can't deploy many people to help you spread the word."
"That's Root's business. I only want the result."
Yōkō thought to himself, Orochimaru was cold, cruel, but fair to everyone. Good, at least he wasn't being singled out.
"Fox, come with me to the Hokage's office."
"Understood."
Hei watched as Fox left with Orochimaru, and could only go find Lord Danzo first.
Inside the Root base, Hei met Danzo.
Danzo asked first: "Hei, according to the plan, after Ki, Kō, and the others found the target, they would lead the perpetrator to Orochimaru, and Orochimaru would help you deal with the perpetrator together. Why did Ki, Kō, and the others eventually lose contact?"
The news of Ki, Kō, and the other four going missing had already reached Root earlier.
Hei said: "Sir, I received Ki's messenger hawk and immediately went to find Lord Orochimaru."
"But by the time I found Lord Orochimaru and tried to confirm Ki's location again, the messenger hawk could no longer find Ki."
"I suspect that during the two nights of the full moon, Ki, Kō, Shin, and Jin were sacrificed, no match for the perpetrator."
"A mysterious Fire Release expert killed our four Root ninja."
"I wanted to go to the Land of Iron to search for the bodies of Ki and the others, but Lord Orochimaru... he wasn't willing to waste time on such matters."
Danzo frowned. He hadn't sent anyone to the Land of Iron to search for the bodies either.
Because...
At this moment, Root only had Hei and Ki left.
The once powerful Root, full of elites, had weakened to such an extent.
Kō was Orochimaru, counting as half a Root ninja. Orochimaru didn't participate in Root affairs except to go to the laboratory.
Otsu was Aburame Ryoma, who died early in the Land of Whirlpools.
Tei and Bo died in the Land of Rivers.
Ki, Kō, Shin, and Jin died in the Land of Iron.
The Anbu downsizing was already a weakening blow for Danzo. Now with Root suffering massive casualties, it was almost a fatal blow to Root.
Hei looked carefully at Danzo, wondering if Lord Danzo would think that those who shouldn't have died were all dead, while the ones who should have died were still here being an eyesore...
He and Ki had limited abilities and absolutely could not complete the many complex tasks Root was responsible for.
What made Root most indispensable to the village was contacting spy leaders in various countries and managing the spy network.
Having Hei and Ki handle the combing of the spy system, a task that previously required several people, was too difficult.
"Lord Danzo, should we start recruiting Root ninja as soon as possible?"
Danzo didn't answer.
Root carried out many shady tasks for Danzo; where could he find so many absolutely trusted subordinates?
The Shimura clan had already suffered quite a few casualties because of him. Recruiting Shimura clansmen into Root wasn't realistic.
Danzo thought to himself that replenishing Root still relied on the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal mentioned in the Second Hokage's notes.
It was a pity that the Uzumaki laboratory in the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed before they could obtain that technique. They could only try to get it from Tsunade.
Danzo's eyelids drooped, his expression grim.
Who was it?
He had previously suspected Tsunade, White Fang, or one faction of the Uchiha. But now, it seemed the enemy's killing was so ferocious, exceeding the capacity of any of these three parties.
This kind of deep-seated killing intent, this series of assassinations, was completely aimed at a fight to the death, unlike the political struggles within Konoha village.
Whether it was Tsunade, White Fang, or Uchiha Kane, none of these three parties could possibly undergo such a drastic change in temperament and become so extreme in such a short time.
Tsunade hid the Senju clan within Konoha Hospital, seemingly conserving strength and avoiding conflict whenever possible.
Hatake Sakumo was indeed flamboyant, but he was clearly accumulating prestige and recruiting subordinates using open and aboveboard methods.
Targeting Root so intensely at this time wouldn't benefit him much, and Hatake Sakumo didn't seem like that kind of person.
The Uchiha clan...
The Second Hokage-sensei once said the Uchiha clan was the ninja clan that understood love the most, and also the most prone to turning love into hatred, undergoing drastic personality changes.
Could it be that an extremely murderous individual had emerged within the Uchiha clan?
Looking at it this way, the Uchiha clan seemed the most likely.
"Where is Orochimaru? Why didn't he come to see me?"
Hei quickly said: "Lord Orochimaru went to the Hokage's office with Fox."
Danzo asked again: "Fox didn't return to the Anbu first?"
"No, Orochimaru specifically told Fox to go with him."
Danzo frowned. Did Orochimaru really want to become Hokage? Why was he getting so close to the Anbu?
Danzo asked: "Based on this mission, what do you think of Fox's strength? Is he getting too close to Orochimaru?"
Hei said: "During this mission, Orochimaru caused the Eight-Tails' rampage. But..."
"But The Wandering Miko said that Fox withstood a direct hit from the Third Raikage!"
"It was the Raikage clad in Lightning Release Armor, in Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Fox took a direct hit from the Third Raikage, was sent flying dozens of meters, and then stood up again as if nothing happened.
The Third Raikage is very conceited and didn't conceal the details of that night's battle.
While Orochimaru's abilities certainly made Kumogakure wary, Fox's performance also caused much debate among many Kumo-nin Jōnin.
However, the general conclusion was the same: Copper Fox lived up to his name of 'Copper Sinews and Iron Bones,' with astonishing defensive power."
Danzo's expression changed, becoming exceptionally serious.
He had noticed Fox long ago, but previously only considered him a capable subordinate under Yellow Dog. Hearing that Fox had blocked the Third Raikage's blow, he realized he was wrong.
Fox's strength far exceeded that of other Anbu squad leaders.
Even Yellow Dog couldn't resist a direct hit from the Third Raikage.
Not to mention Yellow Dog, even he and Hiruzen would have to fight while dodging if they encountered the Third Raikage.
Like Orochimaru, Danzo had somewhat underestimated Fox before.
Danzo said: "Come, go with me to the Hokage's office."
Hei was happy inside. With so many Root members dead, he finally got the chance to follow Lord Danzo to the Hokage's office.
***
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(End of Chapter)