"Hokage… in light of the troubles that your villages will be facing from now on regarding Akatsuki, how about I propose you a deal?"
When the Hokage heard Yama's words, there was a hint of surprise on his face, but it was only momentary as he did not show it for more than an instant, and asked in a curious tone, "And what kind of deal are you proposing?"
Yama said, "As I have mentioned already, the raid of tri-Alliance or whatever you would like to call 'your group of idiots who rushed into the enemy's base without any prior understanding of what exactly is Akatsuki is capable of', was a big failure, you may try to deny it, but you people don't really have the ability to deal with the Akatsuki."
Raikage asked with annoyance, "What are you trying to get at?"
Yama looked at Raikage with a condescending look and said, "Raikage, has anyone ever told you that it's a bad habit to interrupt others while they are speaking… no wonder a Jinchuriki of your village was so easily captured by Akatsuki…"
Musubi said, "Yama, please don't provoke Raikage intentionally, if you are so interested in playing with him, we can just capture him… it wouldn't be a big deal anyway…"
Raikage was currently being held down by Jiraiya and some Kumo shinobi, otherwise, he would have already rushed towards Yama.
Yama said to Musubi in disappointment, "But that wouldn't be fun…"
Musubi sighed helplessly, and said to Raikage, "Raikage, I hope you can ignore Yama's mocking… he likes to play around with those beneath him… so…"
Raikage's face twitched in anger one after another both of them are mocking him… he had to restrain himself here.
Yama said, "Hey… you don't-…"
But Yama's words were cut short by Musubi, "Stay silent for now, I will be the one doing talking here…"
Yama said, "But I…"
Musubi scolded with a dark tone, "I said… silent!"
"Yes sir!" – Yama hurriedly nodded.
With Yama quiet, Musubi turned towards Hokage and said, "I apologize for Yama's behavior… Anyway, as he said, the tri-Alliance that the three villages formed was incapable of holding their own against Akatsuki much less defeating it… and as everyone here already knows, we are somewhat of a part-time mercenary organization… so what we propose is simple, if the villages can afford the price, then Amatsukami would be willing to fight the Akatsuki Organization in your stead."
When they heard Homusubi's words suspicion was clearly evident on their faces. Nobody expected that Amatsukami would make such a proposal here.
Sandaime had a thoughtful look, he chose to stay silent for now… Although he is in much agreement with Homusubi, he still needs time to consider this, 'Money can be a motivation for manipulation, but it is not strong enough… and as mentioned by Homusubi Amatsukami is a mercenary organization, although his use of part-time is something doubtful, anyway, what happens if Akatsuki realizes that they can't defeat Amatsukami and tries to buy Amatsukami with much more money? Will Amatsukami forget their enmity with Akatsuki and work with Akatsuki? Or will they not?'
Seeing everyone's silence Musubi said, "No need to be so hurried, you can consider the deal we have proposed… alright then, until next time."
After saying this he did not wait for any reply and Musubi's body turned into thousands of crows covering both him and Yama. When the feathers of crows fell, both Yama and Musubi had disappeared.
Looking at the sky where Yama and Musubi were previously Jiraiya said, "That Jutsu is really incredible…."
Now that both Yama and Musubi had gone, everyone could finally heave a relieved breath.
Hokage immediately instructed everyone, "Search the entire village… it may have turned into ruins but we will definitely find something useful… also find and rescue those still alive or injured…"
Raikage also instructed the Kumo ninjas, "Search for Samui… maybe we can get some kind of information from her…"
Upon Hokage's and Raikage's orders, everyone immediately dispersed, inspecting and searching through the entire Amegakure, inspecting everything and collecting all the information that Akatsuki Organization may have left, while also searching for the survivors and rescuing the wounded.
Jiraiya sighed looking at the now ruined Amegakure.
At this time, Hokage walked next to him, Jiraiya lifted his head and asked, "Sensei what about the others following you?"
The number of shinobi including the Ino-Shika-Cho Patriarch led by Hokage in this raid counted to around fifty, but now he can only see around a dozen (including the now injured Ino-Shika Cho Patriarch) left, so Jiraiya can't help but ask.
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head sadly.
Jiraiya was taken aback and asked with a serious expression, "How could so many have died? Just who exactly were you fighting against?"
Anger flashed on his face when he remembered Tobi… suddenly he coughed…
Jiraiya saw his sensei vomiting blood, he anxiously asked, "Sensei… are you… injured?"
"Don't worry, it's nothing too serious." – After a pause, he calmed himself by taking deep breaths then said, "Remember the one-eyed spiral masked individual?"
"The one who was acting like an idiot?" – Jiraiya questioned in a confused tone.
Hiruzen nodded, "Yes, that's him, he calls himself Tobi." After a pause, his tone became gloomier as he said, "Tobi has mastered some sort of space-time Jutsu that is even superior to that of Nidaime-sama's and Minato's Hiraishin no Jutsu. He can teleport without the use of any Seals, Summoning, or Markings… moreover, he can make all the attacks just pass right through him…"
"What?! Even superior to Minato?" – Jiraiya was taken aback.
Sandaime nodded and continued, "And as if that wasn't enough… he can even use… Shodaime-sama's Mokuton."
"Even Mokuton?!" – If previously Jiraiya was shocked, then now he was out of his mind. Mokuton, the very foundation of Konoha is now being used by someone who is ruthlessly using it to destroy Konoha.
It was really hard for him to imagine how someone from Akatsuki could have both of these two Jutsu.
"Just who exactly is he?" – Jiraiya muttered with a solemn look.
However, Hokage had no answer, he shook his head slightly, "While fighting with him, I tried to probe his identity several times, but to no avail… he obviously noticed my intentions and deliberately used Uchiha Clan's Katon Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Shurikenjutsu… probably to intensify our suspicions on the Uchiha Clan."
Jiraiya nodded.
Someone who is known as the 'Professor', it wasn't hard for Sarutobi Hiruzen to see through the other party's use of Uchiha Clan Jutsu.
But because of Tobi's last attempt to harm Uzumaki Naruto and blame Uchiha Shisui for it to eventually start a civil war within Konoha, Sandaime subconsciously believed that he was not an Uchiha. Therefore, he eliminated the possibility of Tobi being an Uchiha.
Jiraiya thought and said, "Perhaps he is from the Senju Clan?"
Sandaime nodded and said, "Could be… There is also a possibility that he is someone who was transplanted with Shodaime-sama's Cells… and survived…"
"But aren't those experiments suspended for a long while now? Moreover, all of them died." – After a pause here, Jiraiya said, "How can someone successfully transplant Shodaime-sama's cells and awaken Mokuton when everyone in Konoha failed-…" – Halfway through Jiraiya stopped, because he remembered Hiruko and Orochimaru and Shinno…
Hiruko and Orochimaru and Shinno are part of Akatsuki.
The most important here is Hiruko's Chimera Jutsu, using which he has already done the impossible possible, he has perfectly assimilated five Kekkei Genkai including Sharingan. It doesn't seem impossible if he somehow managed even make others use Mokuton by successfully transplanting Hashirama Cells.
Thinking of this, Jiraiya said, "Tsunade must be informed of this."
As the last known descendant of the Senju Clan and the granddaughter of Senju Hashirama, Tsunade must be notified of the reappearance of Mokuton in the Shinobi World."
Hiruzen nodded, "Tsunade can no longer be allowed to freely wander throughout the shinobi world, it's dangerous for both her and Konoha. If she were to be attacked by Akatsuki or Amatsukami then given her condition she would die or probably be taken hostage, we can't afford either… moreover, now Konoha needs her more than ever… she has to come back there is no other option."
Jiraiya nodded, and said with a doubtful expression, "But something has been bugging me Sensei."
Hokage knew what exactly Jiraiya was talking about, "Orochimaru did not show up for the entirety of time… which is contrary to his character, he should have confronted you or me."
Jiraiya nodded and continued, "At the same time, Suna's side did not appear here either… Sasori of the Red Sand, the Immortal Kakuzu, Shinno, and Orochimaru… neither of the four appeared here, is it possible that all four of them stopped the Suna unit?"
Hiruzen's brows tightened, because if the four of them really stopped Suna's side, then the losses Suna might have suffered would have been much greater… "Jiraiya… take Akimichi Choza, Hyuga Kuroto, and Might Guy with you to the Suna side… I have a bad feeling about them…"
…
Somewhere at the border of Amegakure.
Kabuto said as he watched hundreds of snakes gathering into Orochimaru's sleeves, "Orochimaru-sama, what kind of Jutsu was the leader of Amatsukami using? I have never heard of anything like that… moreover, he was also capable of overpowering the leader of the Akatsuki Organization who bears the Rinnegan."
"I wonder…" – Orochimaru muttered with a thoughtful expression… This incident did remind him of a certain something… but he is not so sure if that is truly possible…
'Could it be a coincidence? Or is it possible that my guess is correct?' – Orochimaru thought.
Kabuto questioned, "Are you not curious Orochimaru-sama?"
Orochimaru questioned, "What do you think?"
Kabuto pushed his spectacles to the bridge of his nose and said, "You are… there is no need to guess."
Orochimaru said with a sly smirk, "Indeed I am… but even I understand that it's not yet time to offend Amatsukami… With this incident, Akatsuki will pursue me more than ever… Konoha is already after me… I wouldn't want Amatsukami to also come after me…"
Kabuto was surprised and said, "That is so unlike you Orochimaru-sama…"
Orochimaru said, "Perhaps that is indeed the case, but Amatsukami is a mystery even as per my understanding… offending an enemy about whom you know nothing is not my cup of tea… a snake must always be cautious…"
Kabuto nodded and said, "So what now Orochimaru-sama?"
Orochimaru looked one last time in the direction of now ruined Amegakure and said, "Now we will be on our way to our new home… prepare for the time Akatsuki will come after me… at the same time wait for a good opportunity…"
"Certainly." – Kabuto nodded and followed Orochimaru to their new destination… that being, the Land of Sound, or more specifically Otogakure.
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Read up to Chapter - 623 on P.a.t.r.e.o.n. Page: p-atreon.com/Milta_translations