"Great Elder, these are the research personnel from the Hidden Sky Village." Uzumaki Jun pointed to the dozen or so nervous researchers beside him and said, "Please arrange for them."
"And these are the research technologies from the Hidden Sky Village." He formed a hand seal. "Summoning Jutsu."
He directly retrieved the items from his system backpack.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it." The Great Elder nodded with a smile. He understood Jun's intention—to keep a close eye on them.
After all, they were outsiders. For now, they couldn't be allowed to roam freely in the Land of Whirlpools.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Great Elder." Uzumaki Jun nodded. Seeing that everything was arranged, he immediately used the Flying Thunder God Technique to leave. He was still in the middle of filming and couldn't afford to be absent for long.
So...
He estimated that they should have reached Konoha by now.
...
Damn it!
Hatake Sakumo's heart was on the verge of collapse.
Why had Konoha been ordered to annihilate the Hidden Sky Village?
It was to intimidate the other villages and prevent them from acting recklessly.
Then, the Hokage would issue a statement declaring that the Mangekyō Sharingan did not belong to Konoha and that Konoha had not stolen their ninja tools. This would demonstrate Konoha's commitment to peace and its resolve. But if the other villages insisted on making unreasonable demands, Konoha was not afraid of war—as long as they were prepared to bear the consequences.
But now...
It was over. Everything was ruined.
Those two masked men were fleeing straight toward Konoha, and the entire shinobi world had seen it. By tomorrow, Konoha would be headline news again.
This was undeniable proof.
Didn't everyone see the Mangekyō users escaping toward Konoha?
No one would care whether the two masked men were doing it intentionally or not. As long as it benefited them, nothing else mattered.
The Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Cloud Village were probably laughing behind their backs.
Originally, they were the righteous side. Now, they even controlled the narrative. If they didn't unite with other villages to attack Konoha, force them to hand over the Mangekyō, and demand territorial concessions and reparations, it would be a miracle.
Hatake Sakumo couldn't help but suspect that these two were acting. Otherwise, why did he feel so strongly that he'd been set up?
"This is unacceptable!" Hatake Sakumo said with a grim expression. "Hurry up and stop them."
They had to intercept them on the road and capture them to bring them back to Konoha. Only then would Konoha have a chance to clear its name.
"Yes!" All the Konoha shinobi realized the gravity of the situation. This was no time to spectate. If they didn't handle this properly, Konoha would be fighting the entire shinobi world alone.
However...
Uchiha Shin and Pain ran while unleashing jutsu, their expressions filled with hatred.
But their speed never slowed.
As Konoha grew closer, Uchiha Shin and Pain frowned. It was about time. Why hadn't Zetsu arranged for reinforcements yet?
This act required Konoha's cooperation. Otherwise...
It wouldn't look convincing.
They glanced at the hidden Zetsu, who gave them a signal. Uchiha Shin and Pain knew everything was ready.
So...
"Do you think running back to Konoha will save you?" Pain said coldly. "All traitors to the organization must die!"
"Hmph!" Uchiha Shin replied indifferently. "Save your words for when you catch me!"
Meanwhile, Uzumaki Jun, who had teleported to White Zetsu's side using the Flying Thunder God Technique, sighed helplessly. He didn't want to do this, but for the sake of the Land of Whirlpools, Konoha had to take the blame.
In the end, he would save them, turning Konoha's solo fight against the shinobi world into...
A free-for-all.
And he had already decided on the winning side. As the righteous faction, how could Konoha not win?
This was the formula for movies.
Victory will always belong to the righteous side.
...
When Uchiha Shin arrived at the Hidden Sky Village...
"Lord Danzō, Captain Aburame needs to speak with you." A Root shinobi bowed respectfully to Danzō. "He's found some clues and requests your immediate presence."
"What is it?" Danzō frowned slightly at the subordinate's words and said coolly, "Lead the way."
"Yes!" The Root shinobi stood up and escorted Danzō out of Root.
However, shortly after...
"Lord Danzō?" A Root shinobi guarding the base looked at the Danzō before him in confusion. Why had he returned so soon?
Had he really discovered something and come back to assign a mission?
"Hm." Danzō nodded faintly and said coldly, "Take some men to the village outskirts immediately. Intercept the enemy and retrieve the Mangekyō."
"Yes, Lord Danzō!" Though puzzled—was the Mangekyō really the village's?—the Root shinobi didn't voice his doubts. He acknowledged the order and turned to gather the team for the mission.
After he left...
Danzō transformed into a white, sharp-toothed White Zetsu...
"Tsk, that kid really is your bad luck," White Zetsu muttered helplessly. "Now that the mission's done, I'll take my leave."
Even after living a thousand years, he was still running errands for that brat.
So...
As descendants of Hagoromo, consider this an honor!
With that, he sank into the ground.
"Where exactly are we going?" Danzō, accompanied by Root shinobi, frowned at the subordinate leading the way. "Are we there yet?"
"Please wait a moment, Lord Danzō. We're almost there," the Root shinobi said respectfully. "It's just ahead."
"Hm." Hearing this, Danzō suppressed his curiosity and nodded faintly. As a high-ranking Konoha official, he had to maintain his composure.
"We're here." The Root shinobi suddenly stopped in front of a forest. "Lord Danzō, please wait here. Captain Aburame said there might be danger inside, so let me scout first."
"Fine." Danzō nodded. He wanted to see what this was all about.
The Root squad leader turned and ran into the depths of the forest.
Then...
Out of Danzō's sight, he reverted to his white form...
"Whew! That was close," White Zetsu gasped. "Thank goodness my disguise skills are top-notch. Otherwise, I might've had to sacrifice myself for that brat."
"Time to get out of here. Let them wait."
Leading them this far should be enough...
His mission was complete. The rest was up to that Uzumaki brat.
...
"Lord Hokage, Lord Danzō isn't at Root." An ANBU shinobi appeared in the Hokage's office and reported respectfully. "I've already sent people to search the village."
"Gone again?" Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned upon hearing this. "Where has Danzō gone this time?"
He had wanted to summon him to discuss the war, but...
Now he wasn't even at Root?
"Go ask the Uchiha clan," Hiruzen said, taking a puff of his pipe. "Perhaps he's gone there again."
Lately, his old friend had been unusually friendly with the Uchiha. Had he forgotten the Second Hokage's arrangements?
The Uchiha were supposed to remain subdued in the village. Allowing them to go on missions was already a violation of the Second's orders...
"Danzō, what are you planning?" Hiruzen muttered, deep in thought.
...
"What exactly is going on?" Danzō stared at the forest ahead. The Root shinobi had secretly brought him out of the village, claiming there was danger and asking him to wait outside. But it had been so long.
Why hadn't he returned?
"Hmph!" Danzō's eyes turned icy. "If this isn't a serious matter, you'll be reporting to Root for punishment."
For now...
He would wait here and see what this was all about.
...
Meanwhile...
"What the...?"
Hatake Sakumo stared blankly at the ANBU shinobi who had suddenly appeared. There was something he really wanted to say right now.