The other villages didn't react too much in the group chat.
Instead, their Kage each issued orders and began making preparations.
Hidden Cloud Village, Raikage's Office
"Right now, it's the time of the joint Chūnin Exams between Konoha and the Sand," the Fourth Raikage A said gravely. "And this footage is clearly happening not long after that."
"Mabui, you understand what needs to be done, right?"
Mabui, standing at his side, nodded to him.
"I understand, Lord Raikage. I'll go give the order now—have them gather all intel related to the events shown in the footage."
Similar scenes—
Were playing out in the other villages as well.
The footage continued.
[With internal troubles handled, only external threats remained: Orochimaru, who had his eyes on Sasuke, and the Akatsuki, who had their eyes on Naruto.]
[Tsunade and Jiraiya were never the conservative type. Tsunade, as Hokage, had to defend the village from within, while Jiraiya took the initiative to head out and gather intel.]
[But unexpectedly, Orochimaru—who had just been driven off by the two of them—made a move against Konoha once again.]
...
Group chat.
[First Hokage Hashirama Senju @ Orochimaru: You and my little Tsunade are both one of the Sannin. Why is it she became Hokage, while you choose to oppose Konoha at every turn?]
[Second Hokage Tobirama Senju @ Orochimaru: You attack Konoha again and again—what gives you the right to call yourself my grand-student? The day I'm revived will be the day I clean house and deal with you myself.]
[Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi @ Orochimaru: Was all this really necessary? You've already killed me—can't you let it rest?]
Others in the chat began speculating—
What was Orochimaru after this time?
Some even made bold guesses:
Perhaps he had killed another Kage in secret and infiltrated Konoha under their identity?
Orochimaru didn't answer anyone in the chat.
He only stared at Sasuke.
If his guess was correct, his move in the footage—
Was for Sasuke.
And it had apparently succeeded.
The footage continued.
[Orochimaru didn't use brute force. He only sent a few subordinates to sneak into the village and lightly tempt Sasuke. In the height of his thirst for revenge, Sasuke sought power and voluntarily followed them out.]
[This incident was a failure on Tsunade's record as Hokage—but her response was actually already quite good.]
[At that time, Jiraiya was away from the village. Kakashi, Guy, and the other jōnin were all out on missions.]
[All Tsunade received was a short report: "Sasuke has left the village."]
...
Seeing this—
Orochimaru thought to himself, As expected.
In the footage, he had indeed acted for Sasuke—
And succeeded.
Group chat.
[Uchiha Fugaku @ Orochimaru: You took Sasuke away because you planned to use him for your rebirth, didn't you?]
[Uchiha Mikoto @ Sasuke Uchiha: Sasuke, please don't let yourself be tricked again…]
[Uchiha Itachi @ Sasuke Uchiha: My foolish, inadequate little brother… You couldn't defeat me with your own strength, so you let yourself be used by Orochimaru just to get stronger?]
[Deidara @ Orochimaru: You tasteless snake, you wanted to steal Itachi's Sharingan and failed, so now you're targeting his little brother, yeah?]
Many people were shocked.
So Orochimaru had even tried to make a move on Uchiha Itachi before?
[Uchiha Madara @ Orochimaru: Looks like you really can't forget my clan's eyes, snake. I'm about to be revived—didn't you want Sharingan? I've got the best version right here. Come then, I'll be waiting.]
[Sasuke Uchiha @ Uchiha Itachi: Itachi! What's there to be proud of? I'm just younger than you. When I reach your age, I'll be able to kill you easily.]
[Uchiha Mikoto @ Sasuke Uchiha: Sasuke, don't be like this. He's your big brother…]
[Sasuke Uchiha: He slaughtered the Uchiha clan. You and father were killed by him too. Don't worry—I'll definitely avenge the Uchiha clan, and you and father.]
In the Pure Land—
Fugaku and Mikoto both sighed helplessly.
[Naruto Uzumaki @ Sasuke Uchiha: Sasuke! Before, I only knew you would defect from the village someday, but not why. So this is the reason…]
[Sasuke Uchiha @ Naruto Uzumaki: Naruto, are you trying to mock me like Itachi?]
[Naruto Uzumaki @ Sasuke Uchiha: No, you're wrong. I'm not mocking you—I want to help you. Don't let Orochimaru trick you. Don't defect from Konoha, okay?]
[Sasuke Uchiha @ Naruto Uzumaki: Don't worry, Naruto! I'm not going to defect now. I mean, I'm going to be the Seventh Hokage in the future—if I defect, then you might get a shot at the job. I'm not losing to a dead-last like you.]
[Kushina Uzumaki: You brat! Who are you calling dead-last?!]
[Minato Namikaze: Hahaha…]
[Naruto Uzumaki @ Kushina Uzumaki: Mom, Sasuke's right. I am dead-last right now. But I'm not giving up. I'll definitely work hard and become Hokage.]
[First Hokage Hashirama Senju @ Naruto Uzumaki: Go, go, go! You're the one I've pinned my hopes on as Konoha's future.]
[Second Hokage Tobirama Senju @ Naruto Uzumaki: Work, work, work! You're the one my big brother has pinned his hopes on as Konoha's future. @ First Hokage Hashirama Senju — Big bro! Big bro! Big bro!]
[First Hokage Hashirama Senju @ Second Hokage Tobirama Senju: Otōto! Otōto! Otōto!]
Rain Country, Akatsuki Base
Itachi's feelings were complicated.
He didn't know whether to be relieved or worried.
Why had he annihilated the Uchiha clan, and been so cruel to Sasuke?
All so Sasuke could hate him—
And awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
But now—
If Sasuke didn't defect from Konoha and couldn't continue to deepen his hatred…
Wouldn't everything Itachi had done be for nothing?
At the same time—
He was genuinely happy that Sasuke would become the Seventh Hokage.
Up to this point—
Even Itachi believed:
The Seventh Hokage must be Sasuke Uchiha.
"Forget it…"
"Whether Sasuke stays in Konoha or leaves, as long as I don't slip up and keep acting my part, he'll continue to hate me. The result will be the same."
But then again—
That Orochimaru bastard—
After failing to get his eyes, he was really eyeing Sasuke now?
Should he kill Orochimaru first?
The footage continued.
[But Tsunade quickly sensed that this was Orochimaru's doing. She ordered the calm and resourceful Shikamaru to lead a team of Konoha's most outstanding genin to pursue Sasuke, and simultaneously sent a request for aid to the neighboring Sand Village.]
...
Group chat.
[Shikaku Nara @ Shikamaru Nara: "The calm and resourceful Shikamaru gathered Konoha's most outstanding genin"! Hahaha! Lady Tsunade really has an eye for talent.]
[Shikamaru Nara: I'd have to say that's definitely me. Being able to serve Konoha and assist Lady Tsunade is just what I should do as a Leaf ninja.]
Konoha, Chūnin Exam Arena
Ayame frowned slightly and turned to her husband Baiyan.
"Dear, why were only genin sent to pursue them?"
Baiyan chuckled and lightly brushed Ayame's nose.
"Because Konoha's most terrifying force… is the genin."
The footage continued.
[Once Kakashi returned to the village, he immediately organized a medical squad to support them.]
[Tsunade's arrangements should have been enough to handle this crisis. The Sound Five who came to attack were completely wiped out.]
...
Group chat.
[First Hokage Hashirama Senju @ Sound Five: You dared to go after Konoha when it was wounded?]
[Second Hokage Tobirama Senju: Sigh… Looks like I'm going to be very busy when I'm resurrected.]
[Kimimaro: We are Lord Orochimaru's subordinates—it is only natural we do his bidding.]
[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki: How dare you! Who allowed you to bear the surname Kaguya? Who allowed the Kaguya name to exist?!]
[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki @ Black Zetsu: Another mission for you. Kill that "Kaguya Kimimaro"! No—kill everyone with the surname Kaguya.]
[Tayuya: Lady Kaguya, isn't that a little too tyrannical?]
[Jiraiya @ Tayuya: Not only did you attack Konoha, but your name also annoys this great Jiraiya-sama!]
Kimimaro and Tayuya were both members of the Sound Five.
The other three, seeing how Kimimaro and Tayuya had spoken up only to get roasted—
And for such weird reasons (their names!)—
Very wisely chose to keep their mouths shut.
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