Being stuck in the barrier with Danzo made Yōkō extremely uncomfortable.
As one of Konoha's antagonists, being near him meant danger.
The entire Anbu's style bore Danzo's distinct personal characteristics.
Ruthless, disregarding subordinate casualties, extremely emphasizing loyalty and the Will of Fire.
Squads or squadrons continuously left the barrier, sent on unknown missions.
Yōkō was lucky. After waiting a few days, the Black Gorilla Squadron was also dispatched.
At this critical moment of monitoring Uzushiogakure, the Black Gorilla Squadron arrived at the port at the mouth of the Nakano River.
Finally, he didn't have to stay with Danzo.
While assigning the mission, Squadron Leader Black Gorilla said that for the next few days, they must strictly monitor all ships coming from the Land of Waves and the Land of Water, especially those carrying Konoha ninja.
The squadron members hid scattered among the cargo piles at the dock, carefully observing the Konoha ninja.
A Konoha squad disembarked, their faces showing the relief and joy of returning to the Land of Fire.
Performing missions in other countries was much more dangerous than in the Land of Fire; returning to the Land of Fire felt like coming home.
Such Konoha squads were perfectly normal and not the Black Gorilla Squadron's targets.
After staking out for three days, they finally saw a special Konoha squad disembark.
Two Konoha ninja looked panicked, hurriedly jumping onto the pier.
The two fled recklessly, knocking over several dockworkers, and ran towards Konoha's direction.
Squadron Leader Black Gorilla moved, and Yōkō and the others quickly followed.
In the forest outside the port, the two Konoha ninja sped along the Nakano River.
A Konoha ninja stood on the path ahead, blocking their way.
Yōkō had already removed his mask and put on a Konoha forehead protector, disguising himself as an ordinary Konoha ninja. His shoulder was wrapped in bandages, with traces of blood visible, and he shouted:
"Hello! I'm a Konoha ninja too! Could you help me change my bandages? My shoulder and arm are injured, I can't manage it myself."
An older Konoha ninja said:
"Sorry! We have important intelligence to deliver back to the village this time!
We spotted several ships at sea carrying large numbers of Kumo-nin and Kiri-nin! They are heading towards the Land of Whirlpools!
Uzushiogakure is our ally, they might be...
Ah!"
Several ninja suddenly burst out from the Nakano River, their ninja swords glinting coldly, flicking off strings of water droplets as they cut down the two Konoha ninja.
Yōkō inwardly clicked his tongue. Truly the Anbu, controlling Konoha's dark side, even killing their own comrades for secretive purposes.
The large-scale mobilization of Kiri-nin and Kumo-nin couldn't happen silently; inevitably, some ninja would see it by chance.
The Anbu wouldn't allow this news to reach the village, nor would they detain those ninja, lest something be investigated later.
After clearing three waves of Konoha ninja who might pass on intelligence this way, Squadron Leader Black Gorilla was finally satisfied and said, "Let's go! Back to the Land of Whirlpools! Find Lord Danzo!"
Yōkō estimated the distance from Konoha to the Land of Whirlpools. Given the location of the Kiri-nin and Kumo-nin fleet, even if Konoha received the intelligence today, it would be too late to send reinforcements.
By the time the Senju clan's reinforcements reached Uzushiogakure, the village would have already been destroyed.
By the time the Black Gorilla Squadron rushed back to Uzushiogakure, it was already the middle of the night.
The direction of Uzushiogakure was lit by raging flames.
Yōkō was about to charge forward but suddenly stopped.
Common sense dictated that the alliance treaty between Konoha and Uzushiogakure included mutual defense obligations.
Whichever village encountered danger, the other village had a duty to assist.
But now, common sense couldn't be applied.
"Where are you going! Halt!"
An Anbu ninja, acting on instinct, accelerated towards Uzushiogakure but was called back by Squadron Leader Black Gorilla.
Squadron Leader Black Gorilla led the squadron in a different direction, returning to the mountaintop barrier where they had lain in wait before.
Entering the barrier, it was still crowded with many Anbu ninja.
On the mountaintop, Danzo still sat on the rock, unhurried and unperturbed, coldly watching the direction of Uzushiogakure.
From this vantage point on the mountain, the entire scene of Uzushiogakure was laid out before them.
Looking from afar, half of Uzushiogakure was shrouded in water mist, while the other half flickered with lightning like dense swarms of fireflies.
Fires were everywhere in the village; someone was systematically setting the village ablaze from the outside in.
What the intercepted and killed Konoha ninja had seen was true: large numbers of Kumo-nin and Kiri-nin were attacking Uzushiogakure.
Yōkō pondered the situation on his own.
The current Konoha faced its biggest crisis since the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, took office: the change of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
This was during the Second Shinobi World War. The conflicts in the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Rain were all less important than the change of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Losing a local war would, at worst, cost Konoha the mission allocation from a small country, and there would be plenty of opportunities to reclaim it later.
If something went wrong with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, the entire village could be flattened.
In the original story, when the Nine-Tails went on a rampage, countless people in Konoha died, including the Fourth Hokage and many villagers.
That disaster also marked the beginning of the original plot.
Uzumaki Mito was too old, frail, her bodily functions declining, her chakra reserves diminishing, and the seal unstable.
For safety, Konoha planned to select another Uzumaki clan genius, like Uzumaki Mito, to become the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
However, the Uzumaki clan had its own plans.
After two Shinobi World Wars, Konoha grew weaker, suffering heavy losses, no longer dominating the shinobi world single-handedly as it did during the First Hokage's era.
Continuing to entrust the village's safety to an alliance with Konoha was becoming increasingly dangerous.
For the safety and continuation of the Uzumaki clan, they planned to use their powerful sealing techniques to seal a Tailed Beast.
This way, the Uzumaki clan would have a lasting deterrent against the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Therefore, Uzushiogakure refused Danzo's demand and did not send the Uzumaki Princess to Konoha.
The crack in the alliance between the two villages started from here.
Uzushiogakure sent its Sealing Unit, taking Uzumaki Kushina to seal the wild Three-Tails.
It was true the Three-Tails had no Jinchūriki, but the Three-Tails had always belonged to Kirigakure, it just temporarily lacked a Jinchūriki.
It was all the fault of the idealistic First Hokage, who distributed the Tailed Beasts to the other villages but didn't give one to Uzushiogakure.
Kirigakure, learning of Uzushiogakure's attempt to seal the Three-Tails, promptly dispatched several members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and thwarted Uzushiogakure's operation.
Kirigakure wasn't to be trifled with; not only did they stop Uzushiogakure's operation, but they also retaliated angrily against Uzushiogakure.
Kumogakure also meddled.
The Third Raikage was very strong. On the Land of Hot Water battlefield, Konoha was at a disadvantage; otherwise, there wouldn't be so many Kumo-nin here.
The number of Kiri-nin and Kumo-nin coming to besiege the Uzumaki clan was too large; the two villages had prepared for a major battle against Konoha.
If the two villages won, they could obtain the sealing techniques they desperately needed from Uzushiogakure to control their Tailed Beasts.
The Nine-Tails was one of Konoha's foundations; the Tailed Beasts of the other two villages were also their foundations.
Unfortunately, Konoha would not send reinforcements at all.
What Konoha wanted was only Uzumaki Kushina.
Konoha would absolutely not allow the most talented Uzumaki genius princess to become the Three-Tails Jinchūriki.
Uzumaki Kushina was Konoha's chosen next Nine-Tails Jinchūriki; this matter brooked no failure.
For the Nine-Tails, Konoha was willing to pay any price.
With no Senju clan members in Konoha's leadership, no one cared about any damn alliance anymore, no one cared about the Uzumaki clan.
Yōkō watched Uzushiogakure through his telescope, witnessing many scenes of disaster.
...
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(End of Chapter)