Hei took out a scroll and placed it on the Third Hokage's desk.
The Third Hokage looked at the scroll, his expression one of disbelief, and said:
"Someone created a diversion in the southeast of the Daimyō's migration camp.
Afterwards, smoke bombs appeared twice around the Daimyō's tent.
After the smoke bombs cleared, four Guardian Ninja were dead.
All four... are from the Shimura clan?
Three had their temples pierced by kunai, and Captain Shimura Kōhi was burned to a charred corpse by Fire Release.
Fire Release again..."
Shimura Gō, Sarutobi Yutaka, and Root members Tei, Ki, and others all died by Fire Release.
Everyone in the office sketched out a profile in their minds.
A Fire Release user, with extremely strong infiltration and Body Flicker skills, frequently targeting Konoha, especially Root and the Shimura clan.
His locations for committing a crime included the Land of Rivers, Land of Grass, Land of Iron, and other places, specifically choosing areas far from Konoha.
The higher-ups looked at Danzo, wondering why he was being targeted so specifically.
It was hard to determine which of Danzo's bad deeds had earned him such hatred; he had done too many.
The Third Hokage said: "This kind of assassination is seriously disrupting Konoha's normal operations!
With so many Guardian Ninja casualties, how can other Daimyōs continue to trust our Konoha?
What about the Land of Grass Daimyō? What did he say?"
Hei quickly said: "The surviving Guardian Ninja said the Land of Grass Daimyō has already written to the Land of Fire Daimyō, requesting his support.
The Daimyō suspects... suspects the assassin wasn't there for him, but to assassinate Guardian Ninja Captain Shimura Kōhi!
The Daimyō told Guardian Ninja Hyūga Shin that he intends to personally recruit two Guardian Ninja.
That means the number of Guardian Ninja stationed by Konoha will be reduced from eight to six."
Trust had already developed a crack; the Land of Grass Daimyō must be very anxious right now.
Sarutobi Hiruzen asked: "Danzo, what's your view on this matter?"
Everyone else looked at Danzo.
Orochimaru glanced at Copper Fox. His first thought was that Copper Fox possessed long-distance Reverse Summoning ability, meaning he could instantly appear in the Land of Grass and quickly return to the village.
But upon second thought, it didn't seem to fit.
Copper Fox was proficient in Earth and Water Release; surely his Fire Release couldn't also suppress a Jōnin, could it?
Shimura Kōhi's strength was decent; his Body Flicker, Wind Release, and combat experience were all above average among Jōnin.
Yōkō thought to himself, no one knows I can use Fire Release, so suspicion shouldn't fall on me.
Danzo said: "My Shimura clan sacrificing a few people is insignificant, but this matter has already affected Konoha's defense of the various Daimyōs.
I believe an investigation force should be established to definitely capture that Fire Release expert.
This matter is more important than the conflict with Kumogakure."
He looked at Orochimaru and said: "Orochimaru, you will command this. Root and the Anbu's Lynx Squad are under your dispatch."
Yōkō thought to himself, Orochimaru leading the team... that's a bit tricky.
He had planned to capture a Root member branded with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal and try to break Danzo's seal.
It seemed this matter would have to wait for now.
Orochimaru was very clever; acting recklessly in front of him could easily expose flaws.
Yuka and the others weren't suitable for further activity; they should hide deep in the Land of Rain forests and not come out for now, avoiding the sharpness.
Let them investigate. They won't find anything.
Having made up his mind, Yōkō listened indifferently as Danzo continued making arrangements.
When their discussion was almost over, Hatake Sakumo said:
"Hokage-sama, Advisor Danzo, the sacrifice of the four Shimura clan Guardian Ninja is regrettable.
However, how should the conflict with the Kumo-nin on the Land of Hot Water border be handled?
I request to lead a team to the Land of Hot Water border to deal with the Kumo-nin provocation."
Hei glared hatefully at Hatake Sakumo. As soon as Lord Danzo suffered another heavy blow, Hatake Sakumo couldn't wait to demand power and credit. No wonder Lord Danzo detested him.
Danzo's gaze was unfriendly, 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 Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in the other's eyes.
Apart from Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo, there were no other Kage-level ninjas in the village who could hold their own independently.
Mitokado Homura couldn't go to the front lines as commander.
He was Konoha's foreign affairs advisor; his most important task now was to visit the Land of Grass as an envoy.
He needed to meet with the Land of Fire and Land of Grass Daimyōs, salvage Konoha's image, and explain to the various Daimyōs that Konoha's Guardian Ninja were absolutely trustworthy.
"Sakumo, then you will command several battalions and go to the Land of Hot Water border. As for how many battalions..." The Third thought for a moment and said:
"Four battalions. For now, don't escalate the scale of the war.
Exercise restraint. This is a limited conflict; don't let it turn into an arms race.
After a border conflict involving a few hundred people, it should be enough to make Kumogakure admit defeat."
Hatake Sakumo nodded, his expression noticeably more relaxed.
No matter how much the higher-ups disliked Hatake Sakumo, he was one of the only two powerful young ninjas in Konoha, and they had no choice but to rely on him.
Actually, Tsunade also possessed Kage-level strength now, but she hadn't主动 reported mastering the Yin Seal.
Orochimaru didn't have the spare time to inform the higher-ups about Tsunade's matters.
The high-level meeting concluded. Yōkō followed Yellow Dog back to the Anbu.
"Chief, with the Lynx Squad following Orochimaru to the Land of Grass, will the Anbu send anyone to the Land of Hot Water?"
"Yes." Yellow Dog said: "The Hokage needs intelligence on the Land of Hot Water border conflict; he can't completely trust Hatake Sakumo's mission reports.
You'll go then, Fox. Take your squad to the Land of Hot Water."
"Understood, Chief."
This was exactly what Yōkō had hoped for.
Late at night two days later, Yōkō received a notification via contract chakra.
He was Reverse Summoned to the foot of a low mountain.
Yuka and the other two had reached the destination.
The low mountain was the only mountain in the grasslands, also the Evergreen Sacred Mountain worshipped by the Land of Grass Daimyō.
According to the Land of Grass Daimyō, the Evergreen Sacred Mountain was the guardian deity of the grasslands.
The earth of the Evergreen Sacred Mountain formed the body of the first Land of Grass Daimyō, and the grass of the Evergreen Sacred Mountain became the hair of the first Land of Grass Daimyō.
These myths were quite fantastical. Who knew if others believed them, but the Land of Grass Daimyō firmly believed them.
Within the belly of the Evergreen Sacred Mountain, Yōkō discovered a secret laboratory.
This lab was far inferior to the Uzumaki laboratory Danzo had set up in the Land of Whirlpools; its scale was small, with only over a dozen test subjects.
Uzumaki Kaon's body was covered in bite marks, but she was not in life-threatening danger.
After rescuing Kaon, Yōkō said to Yuka:
"Danzo is panicking. He's sent Orochimaru, the Anbu's Lynx Squad, and new Root members to form a large-scale investigation force.
Both you and I need to be careful during this period and cannot act again.
Hide deep in the Land of Rain forests. Wait for this storm to pass before we proceed with new revenge plans."
Uzumaki Yuka nodded. Orochimaru was famously powerful and very formidable.
"You be careful too, Fox. You're in more danger within Konoha Village."
"My concealment is very successful." Yōkō said:
"All my actions against Danzo are packaged as a power struggle between Deputy Chief Yellow Dog and Chief Danzo. For now, no one suspects me."
After seeing off Yuka and the others, Yōkō quickly returned to the Izakaya's basement.
He carefully closed the door.
He wouldn't be coming to this basement for a while, at least not until Orochimaru's investigation force was disbanded.
***
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(End of Chapter)