"Hokage-sama! Something terrible has happened!!!"
A Jonin from the Konoha Intelligence Division had just pushed open the door to the hospital room, only to find the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, not asleep but half-sitting on a hospital bed. He also noticed a small ninja dog in the Hokage's arms. The ninja dog spoke in human language, "This is what Kakashi asked me to bring back. The detailed information is in that scroll."
"Hm, I understand," Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes revealed an unprecedented gloomy expression, completely different from his usual kind demeanor. The aura of a ruler began to emanate from him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't expect that a ninja dog from Kakashi would bring such bad news just as he was about to recover. He originally thought that Whitebeard taking Naruto away from Konoha was the extent of what could happen. He never imagined that Whitebeard would take Naruto out of the Land of Fire! This crossed another line for Konoha!
And to make things worse, that Whitebeard was a pure pirate. He had taken over two towns in the Land of Fire and openly declared that those towns were now under the protection of the Whitebeard Pirates. From then on, those two towns had to pay a "protection fee" to the Whitebeard Pirates.
How is this different from conquering territory? How is this different from starting a war? Does that pirate scoundrel even consider Konoha or the Daimyo and nobles of the Land of Fire? Such audacity! Such audacity indeed!
Trying to steady his turbulent thoughts, Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at the Jonin from the Intelligence Division and asked, "What happened?!"
The Jonin immediately handed over the translated telegram to the half-sitting Sarutobi Hiruzen and added, "Hokage-sama, this is a telegram from Kusagakure."
"Kusagakure?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's grim expression froze. Why would Kusagakure send an urgent message in the middle of the night?
Unfolding the paper, his old face turned vibrant with changing colors, flushed red to blue, indicating his emotions: "Is this how Kakashi manages Whitebeard and Naruto? He... actually followed Whitebeard to invade Kusagakure?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned: "Wait! Whitebeard is taking Naruto to invade a ninja village?!"
This is bad! If it were just Whitebeard, it would be one thing. But Whitebeard brought along Hatake Kakashi and Uzumaki Naruto. The former is an Anbu Jonin of Konoha, and the latter is Konoha's Jinchuriki.
This could make Kusagakure suspect that Konoha is behind this invasion. If word gets out, would the entire ninja world think that Konoha harbors ambitions to start the Fourth Great Ninja War? Whitebeard's actions could lead Konoha to bear the consequences.
"Whitebeard!!!" Sarutobi Hiruzen almost couldn't catch his breath, grinding his teeth as he squeezed out this nickname, wishing he could tear Whitebeard apart!
However, he quickly realized that in the face of such a potential war-triggering event, Konoha truly did not know how to stop it. Although the Land of Grass is a neighbor of the Land of Fire, would sending people there now be in time?
The Land of Grass. Kusagakure.
With a fierce and powerful slash from Whitebeard wielding Murakumogiri, no one in Kusagakure could resist! The terrifying whirlwind created by Murakumogiri's slash swept through everything. In an instant, the high walls of Kusagakure's main gate were shattered by Whitebeard's slash, the unmatched impact sweeping in all directions! The Grass ninjas standing atop were hit with unprecedented force, their faces turning pale as they spat out blood.
Grass ninjas were sent flying, falling like scattered flowers. The wind pressure from this fierce slash resembled a grand swordsman's strike, a blinding white light flickering in the sky above Kusagakure.
Slash!!!
Within Kusagakure, all buildings taller than five meters were cut down, the upper floors flying upwards. The entire village appeared to have been shaved clean!
Boom!!!
A Chunin from Kusagakure was blown away by the whirlwind, crashing heavily into a house. Already spitting blood in mid-air, he couldn't help but vomit more blood upon impact, looking extremely miserable.
"Monster!" Struggling to get up, his face was full of fear. The leader of Kusagakure was one of the few not blown away, having narrowly avoided the attack with his Anbu members.
He couldn't believe his bad premonition had come true. It would have been disastrous if he hesitated for just one second longer! Landing on a rooftop within the village, the fierce wind made his face tremble slightly. Everywhere he looked was in ruins.
Gulp!
He heard the sound of swallowing saliva coming from an Anbu member beside him. He didn't scold him because even he, the leader of Kusagakure, had a horrified expression.
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard's bold laughter echoed in every Grass ninja's ears: "Ninja brats, didn't you want my head?!"
Undoubtedly the most terrifying death signal! With this fierce slash, he terrified an entire village!
"You're the leader of this village, right?" Whitebeard's domineering gaze swept over the Kusagakure leader, whose hair stood on end. Cold sweat instantly dripped from his forehead and back.
Whitebeard suddenly smiled: "Since you want my head, let me see your village's strongest force!"
What? This giant is coming for me?
"Wait! Wait a minute!!!" the Kusagakure leader shouted in panic. We have hostages! Don't act rashly!!!"
He glared at the Anbu beside him and urgently shouted: "Bring that red-haired kid here! No! Bring all the children in the village here! Use them as hostages!!!"
A ninja village leader using his village's children as hostages to threaten invaders. This was unheard of, breaking the limits of human decency. But realizing what kind of "monster" was invading, the Kusagakure leader couldn't care less about morals. After all, he had no morals to speak of.
"Hey hey hey, isn't this too much?" Kakashi's eyes narrowed: "Using your village's children as hostages to threaten outsiders, what's wrong with this village's mindset?"
"Karin!" The Uzumaki Sealing Clan member immediately thought of her daughter, shocked by the leader's immorality. Naruto's eyes widened, and his young mind was greatly impacted.
"Evil villain!!!" Naruto gritted his teeth.
Sensing the impending disaster, the Kusagakure leader couldn't care less, and the Anbu members, influenced by their corrupt leader, didn't find anything wrong with his actions. This village's mindset was completely skewed, none of its ninjas were normal.
"Giant! If you dare take another step, we'll kill a child!" the Kusagakure leader shouted, trying to sound fierce but clearly panicked.
"Wait! Why are you still advancing?!"
The Kusagakure leader's eyes widened in panic. He admitted he was scared.
"Ninja brat, are you threatening a pirate with your villagers' lives? Even pirates have their own code of honor! You're worse than a pirate!" Whitebeard's eyes narrowed.
His aura was like that of the King of the Underworld, distorting the surrounding air, and his killing intent permeating all of Kusagakure!
"Do you think such a ridiculous threat will make me retreat? I am a pirate!" Murakumogiri suddenly sparkled with black lightning.
The legendary Conqueror's Haki appeared in the ninja world for the first time!
"I am Whitebeard!"