"Have you heard what they're saying inside?"
Within the territory of the Senju Clan, Nawaki watched Kushina, who was lying across the barrier, scratching his head and chin curiously.
Kushina waved her hand in a disgusted manner towards Nawaki, as if asking him not to disturb her. She was trying to break through Uzumaki Mito's barrier, and any noise would affect her operation.
Inside the hall enveloped by the barrier, Uzumaki Mito glanced in Kushina's direction but didn't intervene. In front of her, another ninja was reporting something.
"Sakamoto Tatsuma actually killed two Jonin from the Hidden Sand Village. That's really impressive."
Outside the barrier, Kushina finally heard a bit of the conversation. Her face instantly became surprised, followed by a strong sense of dissatisfaction, and she even clenched her fists and waved them in the air.
Seeing Kushina's reaction, Nawaki approached again, curious. "How was it? Did you hear?"
"Hmph! Why don't you listen for yourself?!"
Kushina's tone was very poor, but Nawaki didn't mind. Instead, he scratched his head and said, "It's not like I can't learn. Did you hear it or not? What did Uncle Takama talk to Grandma about?"
"Tatsuma killed two Jonin."
Although her mood was somewhat bad, Kushina still spoke out what she had heard. Upon hearing this, Nawaki showed the same surprise as Kushina did earlier, followed by admiration.
He jumped in place, adjusted his tight-fitting clothes, and said, "Just as Big Brother Duy guessed, Tatsuma must have achieved something remarkable. This is the flower of hot-bloodedness nurtured by youth!"
Kushina ignored Nawaki, who had changed greatly recently, even his catchphrases and aesthetics were starting to change. Instead, she continued to feel dissatisfied, while the sense of urgency in her heart grew stronger and stronger.
She was already no match for Tatsuma and Minato. Now that Tatsuma has progressed to the point of being able to kill Jonin after going to the battlefield, and that blond one, I heard he's also on the battlefield. If he also grows up on the battlefield...
Inside the hall, Takama looked at the calmly composed Uzumaki Mito and couldn't help but ask, "Mito-sama, aren't you surprised? At his age, being able to do such things, in the future..."
Uzumaki Mito waved her hand and said, "I understand. It seems that the younger generation of the village is quite remarkable. Perhaps this war won't require my intervention after all. As for Tatsuma, he's just a child. Don't place too many expectations and pressures on him. That's my opinion. Inform Hiruzen on my behalf."
Takama nodded, only able to sigh inwardly at how Mito-sama, having experienced the turbulent Warring States period, could regard this incredible situation with such calmness.
Uzumaki Mito dispelled the barrier, allowing Takama to leave. She then looked towards where Kushina was outside and murmured, "If you envy his power, then train harder"
...
At the same time, other elders of the village's ninja clans, to varying degrees, also knew the details of this war. They were equally shocked by Sakamoto Tatsuma suddenly emerging on the battlefield.
However, everyone tacitly refrained from mentioning this matter because Sarutobi Hiruzen had not yet made a statement.
In this era of war, Konoha needs young heroes. The war seems to be fought in the present, but it's really about the future. Past conflicts erupt in the present, with various factions vying for the future. That's what war is.
And the emergence of young geniuses on the battlefield is a sign of the future. Therefore, Tatsuma's displayed talent is more than enough to make him one of the prospects of the future ninja world.
But the problem is that Tatsuma is too young, and both the village elders and the ninja clan elders are unaware of how Tatsuma defeated two Jonin. He shouldn't have that capability, but he managed to do it anyway.
If Tatsuma were now fifteen or sixteen years old, with his strength known to the village, then without Sarutobi Hiruzen's intervention, everyone would praise Tatsuma.
Just like Sakumo Hatake back then, and Sarutobi Hiruzen's three disciples.
Sarutobi Hiruzen is now also struggling with whether to publicize Tatsuma's deeds. He has confirmed Tatsuma's deeds with the frontline more than once.
However, it's precisely because he knows that Tatsuma really accomplished such a feat that he's so conflicted.
"Lord Third, a letter of condemnation has arrived from the Hidden Sand Village."
At that moment, Sakumo Hatake, dressed in full ANBU attire, appeared and handed two scrolls to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen took them directly, without much hesitation. He trusted Sakumo Hatake's abilities; anything that passed through his hands couldn't pose a danger.
The two scrolls contained a letter of condemnation, criticizing Konoha ninjas for being too brutal and for killing Hoshi of the Hidden Sand. The other scroll was a autopsy report for Hoshi.
As Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the autopsy report for Hoshi, he suddenly felt uneasy, a phantom pain emanating from a certain part of his body.
From the contents of the report, it could be said that Hoshi had experienced inhumane and brutal torture before death. The Hidden Sand Village's condemnation towards Konoha for this was a reasonable diplomatic gesture.
Of course, ninjas weren't truly benevolent enough to show kindness to their enemies. In Konoha, there were even methods of soul interrogation, which were more inhumane than physical torture. However, these matters couldn't be openly discussed.
However, Hoshi's experience was now out in the open. As a major ninja village, Konoha needed to maintain a positive image, so these matters absolutely could not be made public or acknowledged.
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was pondering how to respond to this, Takama arrived and relayed Uzumaki Mito's opinion to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
After listening to Takama's report, the worry on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face disappeared. He pushed the scrolls aside and said in a relaxed tone, "The condemnation from the Hidden Sand Village is simply absurd! Tatsuma is just an ordinary Genin from Konoha. How could he possibly do such things? It's laughable that the Hidden Sand Village is fabricating such accusations. Tell them that victory in war is not achieved through these underhanded tactics!"
...
Inside a conference room at the Kazekage's building in the Wind Country's Hidden Sand Village, there was now a heavy silence. Seated in the room were the elders of the Hidden Sand Village.
Not long ago, diplomatic correspondence from Konoha had been sent to the Hidden Sand Village. Konoha's refusal to acknowledge or take responsibility for the matter, and even their counteraccusations, had left the Hidden Sand Village elders extremely dissatisfied.
"Bang!"
A ninja with a white cloth wrapped around his head couldn't hold back any longer. He slammed the table with a hammer and angrily exclaimed, "Are we just going to let that brat continue to wreak havoc?!
Hoshi was the most promising Puppetry master in our village, on the verge of developing human Puppetry, even living Puppetry! With his death, the development of our Sand Puppet Jutsu will be set back by at least ten years! I suspect that some people deliberately let Hoshi die to maintain their own position as the village's top Puppetry master. Otherwise, how could Hoshi have ended up alone?!"
Hoshi wasn't renowned for his strength and achievements, but within the Hidden Sand Village, these elders knew of Hoshi's talent in Puppetry. He was a genius rivaling that of the Second Kazekage, Shamon. Moreover, Hoshi was the first in the village to combine Puppetry with the human body. Although this project had only just begun, with Hoshi's talent and age, he was bound to develop even more advanced human Puppetry in the future.
"Joseki! Are you trying to distort the truth just to tarnish my sister's reputation?! What do you mean by saying Hoshi was alone? It's clear that it was his poor leadership that led dozens of Chunin from our village into a dead end."
An middle-aged man burst out in a torrent of curses; he was none other than Ebizo, Chiyo's brother and the head of the Hidden Sand Village's Intelligence Department.
Upon hearing Ebizo's rebuttal, Joseki's face displayed a disdainful expression. He retorted, "The intelligence is compiled and submitted by your department. Who knows if you're not doing it for the sake of your sister?"
"That's enough!"
The youngest figure seated at the head table interrupted Joseki's speech. He was the Third Kazekage. As the village leader, he knew what could and couldn't be said.
Losing a disciple was indeed distressing for him, but at such a critical moment, he couldn't allow voices of division within the village.
Joseki's suspicions had already reached their limit. Any further remarks would amount to slander. If spoken aloud, it would cause internal problems within the village.
Words that undermine unity must never be uttered.
Although Joseki felt dissatisfied upon hearing this, he closed his mouth
Just a few years ago, he might have argued more, but now the Third Kazekage has established his position. He's not someone to be trifled with.
Ebizo gratefully glanced at the Third Kazekage and wisely remained silent. The Third Kazekage scanned the room, suppressing his anger as he said:
"What Konoha has done must come at a cost. They accused us of using underhanded tactics, didn't they? Then let them have it their way. Adjust the bounties for Tsunade, Orochimaru, Sakumo Hatake, and Sakamoto Tatsuma on the black market."
Upon hearing this, everyone understood the Kazekage's intentions. An elderly elder furrowed his brow and said, "Kazekage-sama, the village's finances..."
"Hoshi is Lord Second's only heir. I believe both Lord Second and Hoshi would be willing to give everything for the village."
The calm tone of the Third Kazekage stirred up the conference room. The Kazekage's intentions were clear: Shamon, the former Kazekage, had no other heir, so his estate...
This isn't exactly an ideal situation, but nobody explicitly opposed it. After all, the Hidden Sand Village's finances are extremely tight, and the estate of the former Kazekage Shamon will be a significant support for the village.
After all, the estate of the former Kazekage Shamon is not something that can be spent with just a few bounties, and what remains...
"For the rise of the Hidden Sand Village, I agree."
Finally, the elder in charge of finances in the village expressed his opinion, followed by others.
They kept saying things like "Lord Second cared for the village, and we are just following his wishes," or "We are only doing this to honor the village's heroes," or "Hoshi inherited the will of the Sand, and he would surely agree," and so on.
Seeing that the discussion was almost over, the Third Kazekage nodded and said, "Konoha's pretext for declaring war while using it as an opportunity for sneak attacks is truly shameful. It's time for our Hidden Sand Village to respond."
"He, Sarutobi Hiruzen, said he wanted to launch a full-scale war, didn't he? Then so be it. Gather all the Hidden Sand forces and march to the front lines to avenge our fallen commarades!
Expose Konoha's crimes to the world and let the ninja world know the true face of Konoha ninjas! Especially Sakamoto Tatsuma. He must be designated as a priority target for attack, and he must pay the price for his misdeeds!
Anyone who dares to invade the Land of Wind and Sand will be devoured by the winds of sand!"
"Anyone who dares to invade the Land of Wind and Sand will be devoured by the winds of sand!!!!"
Seeing this scene, Ebizo kept frowning. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, his sister probably wouldn't fare well with such public opinion.
Seeing Ebizo's worried expression, the Third Kazekage reassured him, saying, "Chiyo-sama's determination is beyond doubt. I won't change the frontline command as long as Chiyo-sama continues to serve the village. She remains a hero of the village."
Upon hearing the Third Kazekage's words, Ebizo nodded, but the worry on his face didn't disappear. After all, this was still conditional, and even if everything went perfectly, it would only mean reclaiming what they rightfully should have had.
----
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