Chapter 87: When Have I Ever Feared Trouble?
"Hahahaha!"
In the Kumogakure territory, within the Konoha camp.
Aoyama Ryūun's boisterous laughter rang out from the simple conference room.
It seemed he had encountered something happy, which was why he was laughing like this.
"..."
However, looking at Aoyama Ryūun laughing, Hatake Sakumo and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio on the side were somewhat helpless.
"Ryūun, the message says that Kirigakure has also declared war on Konoha. Are you sure this is the time to laugh?"
Originally, it was a difficult one-against-three.
Great! Now it's directly one-against-four.
Even Kirigakure has come out.
Hatake Sakumo and the others couldn't feel what was funny about this matter at all.
Shouldn't they be facing this seriously?
"It's not that!"
Aoyama Ryūun waved his hand with a smile.
Of course, Aoyama Ryūun wasn't laughing happily because Kirigakure declared war on Konoha.
"Look, the Konoha F4 are actually going to the battlefield!"
"F4?"
It had to be said, this was the first time Hatake Sakumo and the others had heard such a title.
Aoyama Ryūun laughed for a good while before restraining himself slightly.
"That bunch of old guys actually wants to go to the battlefield. I'm afraid they've gotten used to throwing their weight around and forgot who they are!"
It wasn't that Aoyama Ryūun looked down on them.
If they were just yammering inside Konoha, that would be fine.
But letting them go to the battlefield?
Heh! They might just be the first to die.
They don't have much skill, but their heads are certainly hard.
"Uh!"
At this moment, Hatake Sakumo and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio understood what Aoyama Ryūun meant.
Hesitating slightly, Nara Shikaku said, "Lord Hokage has the title of 'Hero of Shinobi' after all, and plus Elder Danzō is also a Kage-level powerhouse!"
As for Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, Nara Shikaku didn't mention their names.
It was possible that even Nara Shikaku felt those two were useless.
"Ma! That useless trash Danzō probably can't even beat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"
Thinking about it, it made sense.
In this era, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had a resounding reputation.
They hadn't been kicked into a trio by Might Duy yet.
With Danzō's meager strength, it would be strange if he could beat them.
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen?
"You overestimate this Third Hokage too much. He might have been decent when he was young, but now? He really can't do it!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen in his youth barely lived up to the title of 'Hero of Shinobi'.
But now?
Not only weak, but also cowardly.
Anyway, having such a Hokage, Aoyama Ryūun felt it was quite embarrassing.
"..."
At this time, Hatake Sakumo and the others didn't know what to say.
So, essentially, you don't look up to a single one of our Konoha high-level officials.
"Then what should we do now? Do we dispatch ninjas to return for support?"
The message clearly stated that Sarutobi Hiruzen asked to dispatch some ninjas back.
Hatake Sakumo and Nara Shikaku looked at Aoyama Ryūun in unison.
After all, the only one who could make the decision was Aoyama Ryūun, the commander-in-chief.
"Are you sure about dispatching ninjas for support, and not dispatching ninjas back to die?"
Aoyama Ryūun was direct.
Hatake Sakumo and Nara Shikaku on the side did not refute him.
One must know the dangerous situation over at Kirigakure.
Dispatching ninjas there was basically sending them to their deaths.
Staying here, even though the opponent was Kumogakure, with Aoyama Ryūun present, there wouldn't be any danger.
"But, if there is no response at all, will it..."
Nara Shikaku hesitated and said a sentence.
That was the Third Hokage after all.
If they really ignored this request completely, wouldn't it be giving too little face?
"When have you ever seen me go out of my way to give someone face?"
"..."
Alright! Aoyama Ryūun's words left Nara Shikaku instantly speechless.
Truly.
"However..."
After thinking for a while, Aoyama Ryūun waved his hand and said, "Let the ninjas who were more seriously injured in the previous battle be sent back to Konoha!"
"Injured ninjas?"
Hatake Sakumo and the others were stunned.
But Aoyama Ryūun continued directly, "That's right. The level of the medical ninjas we brought here is only average. Are we supposed to let those severely injured ninjas wait here to die?"
Aoyama Ryūun didn't know Medical Ninjutsu.
"..."
Looking at the solemn-faced Aoyama Ryūun, Hatake Sakumo and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio exchanged glances and smiled faintly.
Sure enough, even though Aoyama Ryūun usually never spoke nicely, deep down, he cared about the Konoha ninjas.
"What if Lord Hokage asks about it?"
"If there's any responsibility, push it all on me. I don't believe that old guy dares to cause trouble for me!"
Aoyama Ryūun waved his hand impatiently.
He wasn't afraid of Sarutobi Hiruzen. Let him ask for accountability.
Let's see if this old master cares.
"You make it sound like I'm afraid of trouble!"
Hatake Sakumo couldn't help but roll his eyes at those words.
Looking down on people?
"I understand!"
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio also smiled faintly.
Without saying more, they turned and went out to organize the severely injured ninjas to return to Konoha.
"Shikaku!"
After waiting until they had left the conference room, Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza, the other members of Ino-Shika-Cho, looked at Nara Shikaku.
"Are we going to take a stand now?"
The Ino-Shika-Cho clans had been able to live peacefully from the Warring States Period until now.
It wasn't just because the three clans joined forces; their status in Konoha wasn't much worse than bloodline families like the Hyuga and Uchiha.
They relied on knowing how to take a stand, and the high intelligence of the Nara Clan.
"Lord Third won't be Hokage for much longer!"
Nara Shikaku saw everything clearly.
"Who do you think will be the next Hokage once Lord Third steps down?"
"..."
Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza hesitated.
Compared to intelligence, they were far behind.
Nara Shikaku didn't mind; he took the lead walking in front and muttered to himself.
"Lord Jiraiya is too undisciplined and not suitable for the position of Hokage."
"As for Lord Orochimaru, originally the chances were high, but now... it should be impossible!"
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