131: Chapter 131 The Beginning of the Great WarAt the largest training ground in Konoha Village.
A dense crowd of people filled the area, stretching all the way to the surrounding hillsides, their armor clearly visible, and utterly silent.
All eyes were fixed on the towering cliffs ahead.
Jiraiya stood there, his Hokage robes fluttering in the wind.
His usual carefree smile vanished completely, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity as his gaze swept over every ninja below.
He cleared his throat, his voice carrying immense weight, clearly echoing throughout the entire training ground.
"Brothers!"
Everyone unconsciously straightened their backs a little.
"Right next to us!That godforsaken place, the Land of Rain, where it rains all year round!"
Jiraiya pointed his arm towards the Land of Rain, his voice rising, "There's a rogue ninja organization called 'Akatsuki' hiding there!These scum have been terrorizing the entire ninja world for a long time, acting with complete lawlessness!"
He paused, then continued, "They attacked our comrades when they were out on missions!Anko, Kakashi, they almost died at their hands!Even me."
"I almost fell for their trick and lost my life out there!"
These words were like a fire thrown into a pile of dry wood that had been exposed to the sun for a long time.
The crowd below began to stir, with heavy breathing rising and falling.
Jiraiya's voice suddenly became even more impassioned, filled with overwhelming anger.
"Now!They've become even more brazen!They've sneaked into our Konoha, right inside our doorstep, and used the most cruel methods to murder our Elder Mitokado Homura!"
"They treat Konoha like it's their own backyard!"
He practically screamed, "Tell me!What should we do?"
"revenge!"
"Revenge!Revenge!"
On the training ground, 30,000 ninjas roared in unison, the sound waves rising into the sky like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami, shaking the surrounding leaves to the ground.
Countless arms rose like a forest, exuding a murderous aura.
Jiraiya looked at the boiling crowd below, said nothing more, his divine robes flipped in a sharp arc, and he suddenly waved his hand.
"Let's go!Destination: Amegakure!We'll raze it to the ground!"
With the order given, Konoha, this super ninja village, was fully mobilized.
Thirty thousand ninjas, like a flood bursting its banks, split into several streams and silently and swiftly surged out of Konoha, their forces heading straight for Amegakure.
Almost simultaneously, inside the Konoha command center.
Nara Shikaku picked up the long-range communication device, known as the "Big Brother," provided by the Chamber of Commerce, and pressed the call button.
"Sizzle.This is Konoha."
His voice traveled through the radio waves to the distant Sunagakure, the Kumogakure Reconstruction Command Center, and the Iwagakure.
At the same time, letters were sent to some important neutral forces in the ninja world.
"Konoha has officially declared war on the Akatsuki organization, which is entrenched in the Land of Rain.The army has set out and is determined to completely eradicate this villain and eliminate this scourge of the ninja world.This is hereby announced."
In Naruto's house in the Land of Waves.
The sky outside the window was already bright, but with the heavy curtains drawn, it was still a dimly lit place perfect for a good night's sleep.
Naruto was still fast asleep, cuddling with Samui.
I had insomnia last night and went to bed a little late, so this is the time when I'm sleeping soundly.
"Knock knock knock".
A soft, urgent knock sounded on the door.
Hibari's voice came from outside the door.He sounded like he had just finished his morning exercise and his breathing was still a little disordered: "President, I have important intelligence to report."
Naruto mumbled a "hmm" in his sleep, without even opening his eyes, and instinctively called out, "Come in.and say something."
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt the body in his arms suddenly stiffen.
Samui actually woke up the moment Lark knocked on the door.
The crazy thing she did last night, which she had mustered up the courage to do, seemed like a dream when she looked back on it after waking up this morning.She was so embarrassed that her toes curled up.
Hearing Naruto let people in directly, she was terrified!
Dressed?There wasn't even time!
Like a startled rabbit, she frantically pulled the blanket up and slid inside, clinging tightly to Naruto, not daring to show a single hair, feeling her face burning hot.
With a creak, the door was pushed open.
Lark walked in wearing a black, tight-fitting tracksuit that accentuated his muscular physique, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
She paused involuntarily as soon as she stepped into the room.
A rich and unique fragrance filled the air.
It's not perfume, but more like a warm, steamed mixture of other scents, with a sweet, cloying quality.
Her gaze unconsciously swept around and landed on the carpet, where a simple Cloud Concealment Battle Dress and a metallic belt gleaming with a dark light were casually tossed about.
The lark's lips twitched slightly.
She immediately focused her gaze and mind, forcibly shutting out those inappropriate images from her mind.
Their gazes were fixed on the president, who was still wrapped in a blanket, his eyes still sleepy.
She walked quickly to the bedside, bowed slightly, and spoke with the respect due to a subordinate, trying to ignore the bulging blanket.
"Chairman, the latest intelligence is that Konoha has mobilized on a large scale.Tens of thousands of ninjas have left the village and are gathering in the direction of Amegakure, forming an encirclement."
"Konoha has officially announced to the entire ninja world that it will completely eliminate the Akatsuki organization."
It is well-organized and contains a lot of information.
After he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.
Naruto rubbed his eyes, finally feeling a bit more awake.
He felt Samui, who was right next to him, tremble slightly and breathe noticeably hot when he heard the words "Akatsuki" and "Pain".
Even if a new path has been chosen, the deep-seated hatred of a destroyed village and the deaths of companions is not so easily dispelled.
Naruto didn't say anything, but gently patted Samui's shoulder to soothe her.
He frowned and began to think quickly.
Konoha is truly desperate and is ready to fight to the death.
Thirty thousand ninjas, led by Jiraiya himself—this lineup clearly indicates a fight to the death.
The chamber of commerce should get involved?That's too risky.
Not everyone is Itachi Uchiha, with sufficient self-protection capabilities.
Although he wasn't a good person either, he ultimately didn't want the families he was protecting to lose their husbands and fathers.
Moreover, with such a large-scale ninja war, the merchant guild's manpower wouldn't even make a splash.
But completely staying out of it doesn't seem like a good idea either.
After much deliberation, Naruto sorted things out and gave instructions to Hibari, as if speaking to the emotionally agitated woman who was hiding away.
"In the name of the Chamber of Commerce, express our stance to Konoha and all other ninja villages that may respond and participate in this operation."
"We, the Apocalypse Merchant Guild, express our strong disgust at the Akatsuki's long-standing cruel and harmful actions against the ninja world and their indiscriminate killing of innocent people."
He paused for a moment and then offered a practical support plan.
"Based on this, the Chamber of Commerce has decided to sell its latest advanced ninja tools, including but not limited to medical support, chakra protection talismans, and C5 tactical bombs, to all parties involved in the extermination of Akatsuki at cost price as a gesture of support."
"Consider this our chamber of commerce's contribution to the future of the ninja world."
Hibari immediately understood: "Yes, President, I'll take care of it right away."
She bowed again, left the room without looking to the side, and gently closed the door.
The room fell silent again.
Naruto looked down at the blanket that still wrapped him up tightly, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, tapping the bulging blanket with his finger:
"Everyone's gone, why are you still hiding?Aren't you afraid of getting bored?"
The ball twitched slightly, and Samui's muffled voice, filled with immense embarrassment, rang out.
"President.President.Could you.turn around first."
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