Naruto: Hiding in the Anbu Until I Became a Super Kage

Chapter 501 501: Let Me Go Instead

"What? The Daimyō was assassinated?!"

On the border of the Land of Hot Water, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly heard this terrible news, startling him so much he choked on the smoke from his pipe.

Uchiha Kane beside him suddenly had a bad premonition that the favorable situation might take a turn for the worse.

Deputy Commander Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Kane exchanged a glance, both seeing the concern in each other's eyes.

The situation in the Land of Hot Water was very favorable; Konoha held a significant advantage. They mustn't let some unexpected incident ruin this hard-won advantage.

The Kumo-nin forces numbered 8,000, while Konoha only had 3,000.

Whether it was the Uchiha clan or other Konoha ninja, they had fought with great determination, paying a heavy price to keep the Kumo-nin pinned at the Land of Hot Water's border.

After the Third Hokage arrived at the front, they had shifted from defense to offense and had already pushed into the Land of the Moon.

Uchiha Kane cautiously probed the Hokage's attitude. He said, "Hokage-sama, if we press the advantage, we might be able to wipe out the main Kumo-nin force in one go, completely ending the Land of Hot Water war."

After a slight hesitation, Sarutobi Hiruzen said with great determination:

"The one-country-one-village system is the foundation of Konoha Village. The assassination of the Daimyō of the Land of Fire is a despicable tactic used by the enemy to delay us. Regardless, Konoha must ensure the safety of the Daimyō of the Land of Fire."

"Clan Head Kane, you and Minato will continue to be responsible for the front line. The assassination of the Daimyō is too serious; I must personally return to handle it."

Uchiha Kane frowned and said, "Hokage-sama, if you return to the Land of Fire, wouldn't that be exactly what the enemy wants? Their goal is to create chaos in the rear, forcing Konoha to disperse its forces."

"The whereabouts of the Third Raikage are unknown. Ōnoki is dead, and the Raikage wasn't injured in the surprise attack on Konoha. Perhaps once you return to the Land of Fire, the Third Raikage will appear on the battlefield."

"Hokage-sama, you've met the Raikage's son. He is very outstanding, already possessing some of the Raikage's strength. The Raikage's son and the new Eight-Tails Jinchūriki cooperate seamlessly and are difficult to deal with. If the Third Raikage himself also arrives, I fear..."

Uchiha Kane didn't continue. He truly feared a terrible collapse on the Land of Hot Water battlefield.

"Enough, Clan Head Kane," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, his attitude even firmer. "I leave this to you. I believe in your strength."

Namikaze Minato was young and didn't wish to defy the Hokage and other higher-ups, but this matter was too important; he had to speak up.

"Hokage-sama, Lord Fox seems to have a different perspective on the Daimyō and nobility. In Lord Fox's plans, after the war, Konoha ninja wouldn't need to rely on the Daimyō and nobles; Konoha ninja could appear in any town. Shouldn't we ask Lord Fox's opinion?"

"Ask Fox?" Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head. "I can already guess what Fox would choose. He would definitely say that since the enemy is creating chaos by assassinating the Daimyō of the Land of Fire, Konoha should also send elites to assassinate the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth. There's no need to ask Fox. He has prejudices against the Daimyō and nobility. After the war, I will persuade him to let go of his grudges. I will leave tonight. Clan Head Kane, Minato, you continue the command."

Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly left the frontline command camp.

Namikaze Minato tried to console the frowning Uchiha Kane. "Commander, there is a Transport Altar established by Uzumaki ninja in the capital of the Land of Hot Water. The Hokage-sama will return quickly."

Uchiha Kane sighed, then thought of Fugaku.

The Kumo-nin vastly outnumbered the Konoha ninja. The initial battles against them had been brutal. Fugaku's teacher, Uchiha Tōka, had sacrificed himself, yet Fugaku had failed to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Fugaku's talent was somewhat weaker than he had imagined.

Uchiha Kane made a decision. "If the Third Raikage arrives in person, I will hold off the Third Raikage. Minato, you use your extraordinary speed to kill as many Kumo-nin as possible, kill until they collapse."

Minato quickly said, "Commander, I am fast. I am confident I can delay the Raikage!"

"No," Uchiha Kane said firmly. "You are more suited to expanding our gains. The Raikage is not only fast but also has strong defense. The Lightning Armor of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode is something ordinary methods cannot penetrate. If you face the Raikage, you can only use speed to interfere and delay, which would be very strenuous."

"Let me go instead."

Uchiha Kane stood up, his gaze calm.

"As the Commander of the Land of Hot Water battlefield, as the Head of the Uchiha clan, as the Chief of the Konoha Military Police Force, I also have a few trump cards. Say no more, Minato. Go all out against the other Kumo-nin."

Namikaze Minato walked out of the command tent and saw the Konoha ninja coming and going outside.

Kakashi, Rin, and Uchiha Yōmomo happened to be passing by. Yōmomo, who had always been lively, was now even more animated.

With the Hokage-sama personally at the front, everyone thought the war would end soon.

However, in the foreseeable future, once the Third Raikage arrived at the front, the war would take a sharp turn for the worse.

Behind Sarutobi Hiruzen followed staff ninja led by Yamanaka Kari and an Anbu squad led by Black Ant.

They quickly returned to the capital of the Land of Hot Water, used the Transport Altar there, and returned to Konoha Village.

This saved them at least nine days of travel.

Yamanaka Kari said, "The Transport Altar developed by Minister Fox is indeed convenient and fast. Minister Fox has also mastered Dust Release; he can truly be called a ninjutsu genius."

Observing Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression, Yamanaka Kari hastily added:

"It's a pity Minister Fox is too eager to change the Land of Fire according to his own ideas. After all, he's only twenty-five; his thinking isn't comprehensive enough."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and said, "Fox's strength is beyond doubt; he's just too impatient, too impulsive. Kari, you gather at least twenty reconnaissance ninja—elites from the Hyūga, Inuzuka, Aburame clans, and others—all must go to the capital of the Land of Fire. We depart in one hour."

Yamanaka Kari quickly left the Divine Hall to gather personnel within the village.

The large group left Konoha Village. After two more days of travel, they reached the capital of the Land of Fire.

Guardian Ninja Captain Sarutobi Shizutaka waited outside the capital early, welcoming the Hokage's party into the city.

At the gates of the Tenshu Castle, the anxious Crown Prince, awaiting succession, personally came out to wait.

Since the investigation into the Daimyō's death had yielded no results, he couldn't ascend immediately.

"Hokage-sama!" the Crown Prince said. "Please do not neglect the defense of the Tenshu Castle because of the war! Someone actually assassinated my father and the visiting Daimyō of the Land of Whirlpools. It's too horrifying!"

"Crown Prince, I share your grief," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.

"Since the First Hokage-sama established the one-country-one-village policy, this is the second vicious case of a Daimyō being assassinated. Please rest assured, Crown Prince, I will definitely find out who the culprit is."

The Crown Prince's face was grim. When Sarutobi Hiruzen succeeded as the Third Hokage, there was chaos within Konoha. Someone took the opportunity to assassinate his grandfather, the previous Daimyō.

Now his father had also been assassinated. Though the Daimyō was noble, he could be assassinated just like that.

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "I also have some guesses about the culprit's identity. Within the Akatsuki organization left by Uchiha Madara, there is an Uchiha rogue ninja who masters a Space-Time Dōjutsu. He can infiltrate anywhere silently and is extremely difficult to deal with. Don't worry, we will spare no effort to eradicate the Akatsuki to eliminate the threat once and for all."

The Crown Prince's expression improved somewhat.

Entering the Tenshu Castle, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately went to the Daimyō's bedchamber.

Two coffins were placed in the bedchamber. Inside were the bodies of the Daimyō of the Land of Fire and the Daimyō of the Land of Whirlpools, preserved by freezing.

Apart from the freezing, the bodies were kept completely intact. The kunai in their chests hadn't even been removed, solely for Konoha's investigation.

Black Ant stepped forward and turned over the Daimyō of the Land of Fire's body, revealing the kunai hilt inserted into his back.

At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes changed.

On the back of the Daimyō's neck, there was a cursed seal!

That is...

(End of Chapter)