Tsunade glanced at the few people before her. "I don't know the specifics either, but the Daimyo requires Konoha to send people. It's not a large force, just a few squads."
"When the time comes, other hidden villages will also take action. None of them are allies except for Sunagakure. If they dare to attack you, strike back immediately."
"That's good. I thought we'd have to act together with them; we'd have to be on guard against them then."
Kurenai let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
"Lady Tsunade, why is the Daimyo so insistent on crusading against the Evil God Cult in the Land of Birds?" Aoki Yoru asked at the right moment.
He really couldn't figure it out. Wasn't it just occupying a small country? Was it really worth such a big reaction from the Daimyo?
Tsunade's expression suddenly turned serious as she slowly said, "I'm not clear on the specifics either, but I do know the gist of it."
"The Evil God Cult of the Land of Birds appeared there about three years ago. It took them a year to occupy half of the country."
"The leader of this cult is named Zhang Jiao. When they first appeared, they treated illnesses and saved people in the Land of Birds, gathering massive public support. Then, with the slogan 'The Azure Sky is dead, the Evil God shall rise; in the year of Jiazi, there shall be prosperity under heaven,' they launched a so-called Peasant uprising."
"Those commoners attacked the cities as if they didn't value their lives. The Land of Birds sent a large army to suppress them, but they were easily repelled."
Speaking of this, Tsunade paused, showing a grave expression. "Every time they occupy a territory, they carry out a so-called 'Land reform,' confiscating the land of nobles and large landowners to distribute it equally among the commoners. They also put them on trial; those found guilty are judged and hanged on the spot."
Hearing this, the Jonin present immediately became serious. Those who were more straightforward felt it was going too far, essentially challenging the rules of the Ninja World.
Smart people like Nara Shikaku saw the essence at a glance: the opponent wanted to subvert the order of the Ninja World and reshape the thousand-year rules established since the Six Paths Sage.
No wonder the Daimyos of various countries were so exasperated.
Then, stroking his goatee, he asked, "The Daimyo of the Land of Birds must have asked the Daimyos of the Five Nations for help, right?"
Tsunade nodded. "As early as a year ago, the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth sent trusted guard units to handle it. Those people returned saying the Evil God Cult had been contained."
"But recently, the Daimyos of the two countries discovered that the Evil God Cult has already occupied the Land of Birds, while their intelligence systems insisted the cult had been wiped out."
"Investigations revealed that those guards and spies sent to the Land of Birds were all controlled by genjutsu. Now, the Evil God Cult shows a trend of spreading to surrounding countries."
"Undoubtedly, there are experts in the enemy camp, possibly even Kage-level experts. Otherwise, ordinary genjutsu wouldn't be able to fool the Daimyos' guard units; after all, they also have Sensory ninja."
Kakashi looked serious after hearing this. "The enemy's genjutsu is not simple. Those who can achieve this level in the Ninja World are rare, comparable to Uchiha Itachi."
The others present were momentarily stunned. They knew Uchiha Itachi's strength; to be honest, he was considered a powerhouse even among Kage-level shinobi.
Aoki Yoru was also stunned at first. Back then, Yagami Light didn't seem to have developed such powerful genjutsu, and as a clone, his spiritual energy couldn't grow; his strength was almost fixed.
"Unless a Tailed Beast was sealed within him."
For over a year, because the clone Yagami Light had to digest the Evil God's energy, they had barely been in contact.
Aoki Yoru knew that if something major happened, he would take the initiative to contact him, so he didn't mind.
Speaking of genjutsu experts, a person really did come to mind—Uchiha Hikari.
Previously, Aoki Yoru had jokingly said that if he wanted experts, he could look for Uchiha Hikari to see if she existed.
"He couldn't have actually found her, could he?" Aoki Yoru thought, rubbing his chin.
"Exactly. That's why I called you here today; I'm worried about this."
At this point, Tsunade looked at Aoki Yoru. "This time, Aoki Yoru will lead the team. The members are Team Guy, Team Asuma, Team Kurenai, plus Team 7 led by Yamato."
Then she looked at Kakashi. "Kakashi, there's also an Evil God Cult in the Land of Hot Springs. The Daimyo requested it be wiped out as well. You will lead the Anbu to execute this; the Ninja of the Land of Hot Springs will cooperate with you."
"Remember, the enemy is not simple. If it's truly impossible, then retreat."
"Yoru, I'm leaving them to you."
Aoki Yoru nodded. "Don't worry, Lady Tsunade. I will bring them back."
He wouldn't dare guarantee other missions, but if it was fighting himself, wouldn't he be the one calling the shots?
"It seems I need to see what my clone has been up to this past year once I get back."
"Very well. Go back and prepare; we depart in three days."
Everyone nodded and then left.
Aoki Yoru went to the laboratory in the Forest of Death and contacted his clone.
Shortly after, a clone was summoned by Aoki Yoru. The two bumped fists, and a massive amount of memories was transferred.
...
After parting with Aoki Yoru, Yagami Light felt that what Aoki Yoru said made more and more sense, so he decided to search with a 'give it a try' attitude.
Uchiha Hikari was a member of the Uchiha Clan from the Warring States Period, several hundred years earlier than the era of Madara and Hashirama.
She came from an ordinary background and awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan in her childhood. In that era of war, this power was seen by her clansmen as a weapon capable of changing the course of battles.
When enemies invaded, they would release Uchiha Hikari, but when she was of no use, they would imprison her again.
She had her abilities developed through long-term high-pressure training; her spirit and will were on the verge of collapse, and she gradually lost control.
Because her power was too great and difficult to control, it caused many factions to be wary.
Ultimately, she was sealed by many Ninja clans, led by the Senju Clan and the Sarutobi Clan.
The Uchiha Clan, fearing her power and seeing her lose control, abandoned her and even contributed to her sealing.
Finally, the major powers sealed her and buried her in an underground cave.
Since then, this history of loss of control and sealing was deliberately downplayed by all parties, no longer mentioned publicly, and gradually forgotten by the world.
Although Yagami Light didn't know exactly where she was sealed, it was ultimately near the old lands of the Uchiha and Senju in the Land of Fire.
He'd look for her; whether he could find her depended on luck. If he didn't find her, Yagami Light wouldn't be disappointed.
Perhaps Yagami Light was favored by heaven; although he didn't find anything in those clan lands, while taking shelter from a rainstorm in a forest in the central Land of Fire, he discovered clues in a cave and eventually found the scroll sealing Uchiha Hikari.
"Who are you? Where is this?"
After being released, Uchiha Hikari looked at Yagami Light with a vigilant expression.
She remembered being besieged by the Senju Clan and other Ninja clans, eventually losing consciousness after her defeat.
Yagami Light looked at the girl, who appeared to be about fourteen years old, his eyes full of curiosity. "Uchiha Hikari, this is no longer the Warring States Period. Hundreds of years have passed since your era."
Uchiha Hikari's pupils constricted upon hearing this, but her face remained cold. "Is that so? Then what is your purpose?"
She had been used by her clansmen since childhood and no longer believed the words of others.
Approaching for no reason must surely have a motive.
She could feel that the opponent was very strong; otherwise, she would have dealt with this ill-intentioned man the moment she came out.
Seeing her disbelief, Yagami Light pointed casually. "I know you don't believe me. I can accompany you to look around and see the Ninja World hundreds of years later."
"As for the rest, I'll explain it to you on the way."