Just as Uchiha Yoru integrated the three major countries, the Land of Fire, the Land of Water, and the Land of Wind, as well as the three major ninja villages, the military power had begun to exert pressure on the entire ninja world.
The entire ninja world was in panic, thinking that their next target would be to wage a war to unify the ninja world. However, at this time, Uchiha Yoru released a message to the outside world.
"The three major ninja villages of Konoha, Mist, and Sand aspire for peace and will not initiate a great ninja war. However, if anyone starts a ninja world war, for the sake of peace! Then Uchiha Yoru will lead the three major ninja villages to unify the ninja world and completely end the turmoil in the entire ninja world."
This statement spread throughout the ninja world, making some people happy and others worried.
Some people thought this was just an excuse by Uchiha Yoru to paralyze others, currently just to assimilate the newly conquered Sand Village of the Land of Wind. Once that's done, with Uchiha Yoru's domineering nature, how could he just watch?
Smart people didn't believe in Uchiha Yoru's statement, which was just a deception to the ordinary ninjas and civilians.
However, the ninja world remained silent, for this was in everyone's best interest.
As Uchiha Yoru integrated the three major countries and the ninja villages merged, the ninja world was filled with an oppressive sense of an impending storm, and many people began to hoard supplies secretly. The economy of the ninja world was instantly turbulent.
With this statement, at least the turbulent economy of the ninja world could be temporarily stabilized and return to its once peaceful state.
The Third Tsuchikage, Ohnoki, shook his head and sighed. He would believe these words if they were said by Hashirama, but Uchiha Yoru was too much like Uchiha Madara, even surpassing him in domineering nature and strong methods, especially in winning people's hearts.
He could only pray for Uchiha Yoru and Tsunade to turn against each other and start a great war, just like Hashirama and Uchiha Madara once did, to relieve the pressure on the ninja world.
Konoha.
Standing on the Hokage Rock, Uchiha Yoru looked at the peaceful village with a somewhat confused gaze.
"War!"
His words were also to stabilize the turbulent economy, as only a stable economy could accelerate development.
As for who would start the war first!
Heh, there was always Akatsuki. He had the perfect excuse to wage a unifying war for the peace of the ninja world.
Even without Akatsuki, a fabricated excuse could appear anytime.
"Obito, you'll be surprised by what I do in three years."
Under a sinister smile, Uchiha Yoru's figure disappeared from the Hokage Rock as if he had never been there.
Within the Land of Fire.
The buildings filled with the aura of the Sarutobi clan were now silent.
This was once a shrine of the Sarutobi clan within the Land of Fire, now exuding a sense of desolation, as if foretelling the demise of the Sarutobi clan.
The once lively annual Sarutobi clan shrine worship ceremony was now only accompanied by the sound of the wind.
"Asuma, your choice!"
Masked Obito, dressed in Akatsuki attire, spoke indifferently, while the more haggard Asuma in front of the shrine had a cigarette in his mouth.
Under the cloud of smoke, his eyes, filled with blood and twisted madness, exuded a terrifying aura.
Taking a deep breath, Asuma blew smoke in front of Obito's mask. With a twisted and insane smile, Asuma slowly took out his Chakra weapon, the Flying Swallow.
"I'll join."
Sarutobi Asuma chose to join the mysterious Akatsuki organization, partly to atone for his clan's sins and partly to earn merits so that Konohamaru of Konoha could have a better life.
"Heh, then let me see your resolve."
Masked Obito revealed a sinister smile, and his Mangekyo Sharingan suddenly rippled, causing a spatial distortion. After a moment, three bound figures appeared before him.
Their chakras were sealed, their hands and feet tied, and even their mouths gagged, only able to make muffled sounds.
Seeing the three, Asuma's pupils involuntarily shrank.
And at this moment, the masked man revealed a smile, "Asuma, you should know them – Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, and Yamanaka Inochako, the clan heads of the three great clans of Ino-Shika-Cho."
"You're wrong, they should be called the small clan heads of three withering clans. Guess where I found them? Hehe, you would never expect it. The three clan heads were secretly following their own younger generations, who also happen to be your disciples, trailing behind them."
The masked man revealed a mocking smile, patting the heads of the three who were tied up and kneeling before him.
"Asuma, you should hate them! If they had given their full support, how could the Sarutobi clan have ended up so miserably? And don't you want to know why every move of the Sarutobi clan is under the watch of Uchiha Yoru?"
"In the game of wits with the Third, why does Uchiha Itachi always seem to have the upper hand? Aren't you curious?"
As he said this, the masked man let out a mocking laugh, patting the head of Nara Shikaku, "This head, known as the brain of Konoha, might be able to tell you everything."
At this moment, the three struggled woefully, but on Sarutobi Asuma's face, a twisted and cruel smile gradually appeared as he listened to the masked man's instigation.
"It seems that the three of you wish to use my head in exchange for the future of your clans."
Asuma was not foolish; the three clan heads of Ino-Shika-Cho had secretly followed him, obviously intending to sacrifice him for the future of their clans.
Although disgraceful, it was for the survival of their clans.
And now, even if he were killed by a Konoha ninja, no one would say anything.
"The killer is always killed in return!" Sarutobi Asuma exhaled a puff of smoke, looking at the three with a grin.
"The three of you want to fight for a future for your clans, and I also want to fight for a future for Konohamaru."
Under the temptation of the crimson Mangekyo Sharingan of the masked man, Sarutobi Asuma revealed a fierce smile. Already mentally tormented these days, a bit of genjutsu easily brought out the desires in his heart.
Similarly bound, Nara Shikaku saw this scene with a face of utter despair, as if he had given up everything.
He knew that his plans had gone awry!
He had come in secret this time with a foolproof plan. With Uzumaki Naruto in the village, they couldn't just watch idly.
Strong ninjas would be sent out, and then the mysterious Akatsuki organization would naturally have someone to contend with. Regardless of success or failure, the Ino-Shika-Cho, despite bearing a bad name, had also shown their loyalty.
But because of this mysterious masked man, his plan failed.
The immense power of a ninja can change everything. He didn't expect to be discovered so soon, nor did he expect that the combined strength of the three would be so powerless in the hands of the enemy.
Only then did he realize with horror the vast difference between powerful ninjas.
…
"Teacher Asuma!"
In front of the Sarutobi Shrine, Nara Shikamaru and his group, who hurriedly arrived, saw the back of a figure showing signs of age and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, known for his wisdom.
However, the next moment, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Hi, Akimichi Choji, and Uzumaki Naruto, all four were shocked.
They saw three familiar figures bound in front of Sarutobi Asuma, kneeling on the ground, with explosive tags attached to their bodies.
At the moment when Asuma turned his head, his eyes were blood red, showing a hint of madness.
"Shikamaru, Choji, you're here!"
On the roof of the shrine, Masked Obito watched this scene with a playful smile, "After a mental breakdown, who knows what exciting things will happen."
Sarutobi Asuma, after killing his kin and escaping from Konoha, had been repenting in his family's shrine.
On the surface, he seemed fine, but the repressed mental torment was constantly torturing him. If it weren't for Konohamaru, he would have already broken down.
Asuma was not from the Uchiha clan, so intense emotional fluctuations could not be vented through the Sharingan.
Therefore, after Masked Obito used a little trick, the madness in Asuma's heart was completely unleashed.
"Teacher Asuma, what are you doing!"
Uzumaki Naruto shouted in shock, while everyone else realized the severity of the situation, but he was still living in his own world.
Under Asuma's crazed smile, he looked at his favorite student, Nara Shikamaru.
"Shikamaru, your fathers have been following behind you. I think your smart brain should have figured it out by now."
"Your father, Nara Shikaku, schemed against his own son, all for the sake of this teacher's head. But now, the teacher is also thinking!"
"You three families have so many people alive, but how many are left in my Sarutobi clan? For Konohamaru, I also want to do something."
The others still didn't know what happened, Nara Shikamaru was sweating profusely, staring at his captured father, furious and regretting his lack of strength.
"Teacher Asuma! Don't!"
"Shikamaru, what is going on?"
Naruto, still confused, didn't know what had happened, and even Akimichi Choji was stunned, filled with anxiety when he saw his bound father.
"Everyone, calm down. Asuma is no longer our former teacher, he is an extremely dangerous existence!"
Nara Shikamaru's intelligence, unsurpassed among the twelve young shinobi, quickly and calmly assessed the situation.
"Shikamaru! Why would Teacher Asuma capture our fathers!"
Akimichi Choji was still shocked and confused, while Nara Shikamaru grimly said: "Our fathers, for the future of the clan, chose to scheme against us and betray our teacher."
"Similarly, Asuma also wants to secure a future for his clan members."
Clap! Clap!
At this moment, Asuma from across showed a sinister smile and clapped his hands, "Not bad, Shikamaru, your brain is as sharp as ever."
"Choji, your father wanted to exchange my head for the future of your family in the village. Now, the teacher also wants to use your father's head for the future of the family. What should we do?"
"How about this!" As he said this, to everyone's shock, Asuma held the chakra blade Flying Swallow, and placed it behind Akimichi Choza's neck, with a trickle of blood already flowing.
"Choji! Exchange your head for your father's! How about that?"
Asuma's face wore a mad smile, and the opposite Inoichi Yamanaka already showed anger.
"Let go of my father!"
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio hadn't spent much time with Asuma, as in the original work, their bond developed over many years after the events of Shippuden.
Among them, only Shikamaru, with his early wisdom, had already established a bond with Asuma.
"Choji, don't be impulsive! Hi, look into Asuma's eyes! He's gone mad, don't believe his words."
At this moment, Asuma's eyes were filled with fierce blood, chilling and frightening to behold.
"No! That's my father!"
At this time, Shikamaru couldn't stop Yamanaka Hi and Akimichi Choji as they hurried forward.
However, just then, an anxious Shikamaru threw two kunai, shouting, "Naruto!"
"Teacher Asuma!"
Uzumaki Naruto roared and charged forward, while Shikamaru's kunai didn't hit Asuma.
But the scene froze!
The flying kunai transformed into Naruto's figure, while the other kunai pinned Asuma's shadow.
Shadow Mimicry Jutsu
"It worked!"
Cold sweat slid down Shikamaru's forehead, his face showing relief as he gasped for breath.
It was only a moment! But the two kunai, aided by his Shadow Mimicry Jutsu, and the Shadow Binding Technique, pinned Asuma's shadow as a double insurance.
And there was Naruto, triple insurance!
"Shikamaru succeeded!"
Naruto, still in mid-air, burst out laughing, shouting, "Shadow Clone Technique!"
Instantly dozens of Narutos appeared and overwhelmed Asuma, accompanied by Naruto's loud voice.
But the next moment! Shikamaru's smile froze, as the Asuma tackled by Naruto turned into a wooden log.
"Be careful!"
Shikamaru suddenly shouted, but Choji and Yamanaka Hi reflexively dodged, only to hear a splatter as blood sprayed.
Yamanaka Hi, in disbelief, looked at his abdomen pierced by a wind-chakra infused Flying Swallow.
Meanwhile, Choji was suddenly struck in the abdomen, his eyes bulging and his mouth wide open, vomiting all the undigested food from his stomach.
"Choji!"
At this moment, Naruto saw this scene and roared in anger. However, Asuma, who appeared, turned his head and showed a cruel smile.
Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning
"Naruto, run!"
Shikamaru screamed desperately, but it was too fast. From their attack to Asuma's counterattack, it was too quick, giving them no chance.
Asuma spat out a large amount of gray smoke from his mouth, his bloodshot eyes filled with madness. The flint hidden between his teeth gently scraped, and in an instant, a flame flickered.
Boom!
Suddenly, the high-temperature dust burst into flames, and from within the smoke, Naruto's screams could be heard, along with the sounds of his shadow clones dissipating.
Shadow Imitation Technique
At the critical moment, Shikamaru used his shadow jutsu to connect directly to Naruto, and then he ran wildly backward, pulling Naruto out of the smoke.
But it was a step too late. Naruto's face and arms had severe burns, with layers of skin peeled off, looking somewhat terrifying.
But for a ninja, these are just superficial wounds.
~~~
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