286-290

Chapter 286: The Collapse of the Tenshukaku, Iwagakure Takes Action!

On the other side—

In the heart of Yunming City, the capital of the Land of Lightning, lies a luxurious area surrounded by towering inner castle walls.

The residence of the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, known as the Tenshukaku, stood there.

This structure, the largest and tallest of Japanese-style castles, served as both a lookout and a command post, while symbolizing feudal authority.

The Tenshukaku was located at the highest point of the castle and consisted of a main tower and three auxiliary towers.

At this moment—

A burly, round-faced man, resembling a giant bear, clad in the red uniform and brown flak jacket of Iwagakure, with a red forehead protector tied around his head, stood atop an inner castle wall strewn with bodies. He appeared to be waiting for something.

He gazed coldly at the main Tenshukaku tower in front of him, which was being pierced by a crimson beam of light and collapsing with a thunderous crash.

The ashen-gray walls and stone foundations crumbled;

the top-level watchtower crashed into the lower structures, crushing the gabled roofs;

timber beams toppled, tiles shattered, and wooden splinters flew in all directions,

kicking up a massive plume of dust.

For a long while,

As this most revered structure in the hearts of the people of the Land of Lightning fell,

the sounds of hurried footsteps echoed within the inner castle.

Before the samurai and ninja responsible for guarding the Daimyo’s residence could arrive,

the crimson beam that pierced the Tenshukaku and dyed the sky blood-red gradually faded away.

Then—

A man with short red hair, wearing a tattered purple monk’s robe that exposed his muscular, reddened chest and sporting a thick beard, emerged silently from the ruins of the collapsed Tenshukaku. With a leap, he landed effortlessly on the high castle wall, standing beside the burly man.

These two were none other than the Iwagakure envoys sent to Yunming City for this mission:

Kitsuchi, the son of the Third Tsuchikage,

and Roshi, the Jinchuriki of the Four-Tails.

After entering the city and settling at the embassy, they immediately set their plan in motion. Splitting off a shadow clone, they proceeded to the Tenshukaku, where Roshi demolished the revered structure in one decisive strike.

At this moment—

Kitsuchi turned his head to the dust-covered Roshi, his expression tense and serious.

“So? Was the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning inside?”

“Did you manage to kill him?”

Though Kitsuchi appeared calm, he felt a bit uneasy inside. What they had done was nothing short of treasonous—a crime punishable by seppuku in earlier times.

Roshi shook his head and frowned.

“The Tenshukaku only housed a decoy.”

“The real Daimyo of the Land of Lightning likely relocated after the first failed assassination attempt by those heretical followers, as indicated in the intelligence we received.”

“Now, it’s anyone’s guess where he’s hiding.”

At this, Roshi let out a derisive snort and said,

“A person once so exalted, someone we had to bow and scrape before, now reduced to running like a stray dog, constantly pursued.”

“And yet, the old man still treats the Land of Earth’s Daimyo with such reverence—it’s ridiculous.”

“Pathetic!”

After easily dispatching the so-called dignitaries within the Tenshukaku, Roshi felt as though he were dreaming. His voice carried an uncharacteristic air of detachment.

“Watch your words!” Kitsuchi frowned, shooting Roshi a stern look.

“Don’t forget our true objective!”

“This mission is to incite the ninja of the Land of Hot Water and others to assassinate the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, to light the spark and apply pressure. We’re not actually here to kill him!”

“After all, he’s still useful to us.”

Roshi was silent for a moment. He lifted his head and looked at the now chaotic ruins of the Tenshukaku before asking,

“So what’s next? Killing a decoy—what good does that do? Do you really think this will provoke that man? You’d better understand that people like him, steeped in power, wouldn’t flinch even if their wives and children died in front of them.”

Fixing Kitsuchi with a cold stare, Roshi continued, as if insinuating something,

“They’re no longer human—they’re cold-blooded machines consumed by their lust for power.”

Kitsuchi shook his head and chuckled confidently.

“I told you, this is just to light the spark.”

“By killing the fake Daimyo, we force the real one to come out of hiding.”

“If he doesn’t emerge to take control of the situation, his reputation will be shattered, and his authority greatly diminished. At the upcoming Five Kage Summit, we’ll hold the upper hand.”

“And if he does show himself, the assassinations that follow will eventually push him to make the right decision!”

Hearing this, Roshi lost interest in analyzing the schemes behind Kitsuchi’s words. He simply sighed while looking at Kitsuchi’s seemingly honest and straightforward face.

“Kitsuchi, you’re becoming more and more like the old man.”

“And that’s not a good thing.”

Kitsuchi’s expression remained unchanged, but there was a hint of melancholy in his gaze.

At this moment, he was much like the Shadow of the Leaf—having chosen to undertake such dirty work for the sake of the village, he had forfeited any chance of becoming the Fourth Tsuchikage he once dreamed of.

"Someone has to do this kind of thing," he muttered to himself.

His eyes darkened briefly, but Kitsuchi quickly composed himself and turned to look at Roshi.

"Enough of that. How about the boy I told you to watch over—the one who calls himself 'Uchiha Shinji'? How is he?"

"Capturing that kid and bringing him back to Iwagakure is the most crucial task of this mission!" Kitsuchi declared, his tone sharp. "Even if everything else fails, it doesn’t matter. The secret techniques of the Jashin cult are of vital importance. Whether we can wage war and seize the Land of Lightning depends entirely on him!"

At these words, Roshi took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and seemed to wrestle with his disdain for the situation. After a moment of silence, he spoke.

"I already gave that boy the choice he needed to make," Roshi said calmly.

"And, just as you predicted," he continued, "he chose to agree."

"Though all of this is for the sake of killing the Third Raikage, A—Kitsuchi, I won’t go through with something like this a second time!"

Roshi fixed his gaze firmly on Kitsuchi, his eyes reflecting a struggle within. Then he spoke in a softer, almost pleading tone.

"Trying to harness hatred with love will only backfire in the end!"

"If you fail to distinguish between good and evil, you’ll create an even greater chain of hatred!"

Hearing this, Kitsuchi’s gaze instantly turned cold. His voice became steely as he responded.

"This is war!"

"Victory justifies any means—no matter how despicable or dishonorable. If it leads to success, then it is worth it!"

For a moment, Kitsuchi noticed that Roshi simply kept his eyes shut, his disdain for their alliance evident. With a broad, seemingly honest grin, Kitsuchi concealed the sadness in his own eyes and chuckled.

"Well then, it’s time for us to take the stage!"

"By now, we should have arrived at this point to become—"

"The 'heroes' who defeated the assassins!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 287: Drawing the Sword in Confusion – Danzo Shimura’s Ruthlessness!

"Is it really Iwagakure who made the first move?"

At this moment, inside the inner walls of Yunming City,

Standing behind the towering city wall, looking at the chaotic ruins below,

Shinji wore a peculiar expression as he stared at the calm, confident Yellow Earth addressing the officials of the feudal lord's residence. Behind Yellow Earth stood an irritated-looking Roshi, his eyes closed in visible annoyance.

Beside him, Minato Namikaze looked equally surprised.

"I thought Sunagakure would strike first. After all, at this time, they should be the most eager to form a Wind-Lightning-Earth alliance to attack Konoha."

Shinji clicked his tongue in disbelief as he observed the shameless duo below.

Having arrived late several times before, Minato had developed the habit of marking teleportation points with the Flying Thunder God technique wherever he went.

With the assistance of the Flying Thunder God, except for a brief delay caused by Kakashi, he and Minato arrived on the scene almost instantaneously—a speed unmatched by shinobi from other villages.

However, when they got there, they found that the Iwagakure pair had arrived even faster. It was as if the moment chaos erupted, these two had already appeared at the demolished castle tower, claiming to the feudal lord’s officials that they had driven off the attackers.

This story might fool civilians unfamiliar with shinobi tactics, but both Shinji and Minato saw through the facade immediately:

The very ones claiming to be "protectors" were the ones who had caused this chaos—the Iwagakure duo!

Staring at the two below, Shinji pondered for a moment, piecing together the intelligence he had gathered so far, and couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.

During the original Third Shinobi World War, there was a legendary battle where one man fought against ten thousand. The Third Raikage, A, held off the Iwagakure army for three days and nights, ultimately dying of exhaustion.

At that time, the Third Raikage had gone to the battlefield to buy time for the Kumogakure forces to retreat.

But under what circumstances would Kumogakure need to retreat?

Only if they had initiated the war in the first place!

While Iwagakure and Sunagakure joined forces to invade the Land of Fire through the Rain and Grass Countries to confront Konoha,

Kumogakure launched several invasions of Konoha through the Land of Fields but was thwarted by Minato Namikaze every time, achieving no results.

In desperation, they devised a risky plan to cross the sea and launch a surprise attack on Iwagakure.

To their misfortune, their rare moment of strategy fell into the cunning trap of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki. Kumogakure fell into a dire situation, with no room to retreat.

To save the Kumogakure forces, the Third Raikage sacrificed himself, using the Heavenly Transfer Technique—capable only of teleporting objects—to face the Iwagakure army alone.

In other words,

Iwagakure had long been wary of Kumogakure, just as Kumogakure had long harbored ambitions against Iwagakure!

Now, observing the actions of the Iwagakure duo—deliberately currying favor with the Land of Lightning—they seemed intent on setting a trap for Kumogakure even at this stage.

Considering the current situation:

Kumogakure's plans in the Land of Fields had been foiled by Orochimaru's "Kumogakure Collapse Plan," leaving them at an impasse.

If they still wanted to act against Konoha, they had only two choices:

1. Cross the Land of Fields and request passage through the Land of Iron to invade Konoha.

However, the Land of Iron is a neutral country that refrains from participating in shinobi wars. Requesting passage would likely be denied, and forcing their way through would provoke the Land of Iron’s formidable samurai.

2. Pass through the Land of Earth with Iwagakure’s help, attacking Konoha from the Grass Country.

This scenario would align with the interests of both Kumogakure and Iwagakure. Kumogakure could continue their original plan to strike Iwagakure, while Iwagakure might seize the opportunity to swallow Kumogakure’s forces.

With these revelations, Shinji understood most of the intertwined motives converging on the Land of Lightning’s capital.

Konoha’s inaction was likely because Orochimaru’s plan had allowed them to learn of Kumogakure’s intention to attack Iwagakure ahead of time.

Both Iwagakure and Kumogakure harbored schemes against each other,

Kirigakure was currently embroiled in internal strife under Uchiha Madara’s manipulation and had no time to intervene.

Only Sunagakure acted sincerely,

intending to assassinate the Land of Lightning’s feudal lord, frame Konoha, and provoke a Wind-Lightning-Earth alliance to win the Third Shinobi World War!

"Shinji, by now, you should understand,"

"The Land of Lightning’s feudal lord is clearly not here. Acting now would only alert the enemy."

At this moment, Minato turned to Shinji, calmly analyzing the situation:

"The person you’re searching for, the child named Hidan, isn’t here. Neither is the Third Raikage, A, whom you wish to kill for revenge."

"However," his gaze shifted to the scene below, and he continued calmly,

"If you want to act now—eliminate those innocent officials from the Land of Lightning and capture those two Iwagakure shinobi to interrogate them about the whereabouts of that child from the Land of Hot Water—"

"I’ll help you."

Hearing Minato’s words, Shinji fell silent.

He initially thought this would be a grand event, with members of five nations coming together to assassinate the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning.

He had planned to take direct action, appearing in his majestic form like a Gundam!

Challenging all of them to a duel—not necessarily killing them all, but at least taking out half—to force them into handing over Hidan. After that, he would help Hidan kill the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, wait for the Third Raikage to arrive, and then kill the Third Raikage to complete his revenge in one decisive move!

Even if this battle left him blind or turned him into a rogue ninja despised by all nations, he was prepared to accept that fate!

But after observing for so long, it turned out to be nothing more than a farce?

The ninjas from other villages were likely hiding in the shadows, keeping their heads down and avoiding exposure.

Taking action now, even if he managed to capture these two people, wouldn’t yield any useful information.

As Minato had pointed out, it would only alert the enemy to their intentions.

“I understand your point.”

UchihaShinji let out a sharp breath, rubbing his head vigorously as frustration surged within him.

“But where am I supposed to find Hidan?”

“Damn it, this is infuriating!”

With a furious punch, he shattered a section of the gray stone wall, feeling utterly at a loss.

In this massive city of Yunming, with a population likely in the hundreds of thousands, finding someone like Hidan was nearly impossible.

Even locating the hiding spots of ninjas from other villages and interrogating them for information would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

At this point, he had his Gundam-like power but lacked a crucial target to attack!

It was as if he were holding a sword, aimlessly looking in all directions.

Seeing the frustration written on UchihaShinji's face, Minato patted his shoulder, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

“It’s alright. There’s still a chance!”

“You must have heard from Kakashi about Konoha’s stance on the current situation, right?”

Hearing this, UchihaShinji raised his head in surprise, looking at Minato with a confused expression.

“Konoha has chosen to remain passive, observing the situation unfold. What does that have to do with this?”

Minato’s expression turned serious as he said,

“The opportunity lies in the upcoming Five-Nation Summit!”

“This time, I wasn’t supposed to be Konoha’s envoy. After your fall from the cliff and disappearance, the Third Hokage worried I might act irrationally and lose control, perhaps even attacking the Third Raikage in public.”

“But—”

“During this critical moment, Danzo Shimura approached me!”

Minato’s face was grave as he spoke with great solemnity:

“He said,”

“Konoha must not sit idly by and do nothing!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 288: The Daimyō and the Raikage!*

The Five Nations Conference—

A meeting convened only when a nation must make a significant decision affecting its future.

Unlike the Five Kage Summit, which is held to resolve conflicts or make decisions that impact the entire shinobi world, this conference does not involve direct interaction between the Kage. Instead, each major nation sends emissaries to represent them.

The host nation uses this opportunity to gauge the attitudes of other powers before officially announcing its next major decision.

This time, the Land of Lightning's Five Nations Conference was convened for the purpose of finalizing the direction the country would take in the Third Great Shinobi War, based on the combined decision of the Daimyō and the Third Raikage.

However, the outcome of the conference was essentially predetermined. The meeting itself was called because—

For the first time, the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning and the Third Raikage had a disagreement.

At this moment—

In the under-construction Raikage Building of Kumogakure—

"Raikage, you must understand this is a rare opportunity to unite the nations of Wind, Water, Lightning, and Earth to strike against the Land of Fire!"

"A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

A middle-aged man with dark skin, wearing luxurious clothing and gold-rimmed glasses, leaned on the Raikage's seat. Resting his cheek on a propped-up fist, he stared deeply at the Third Raikage, who stood respectfully before him, his chest wrapped in bandages, exuding restrained ferocity.

This man was none other than the highest-ranking official of the Land of Lightning, its Daimyō.

*Ryuuzouji Nobu.*

Known as a strict and powerful leader, Ryuuzouji was a political genius with a strong grip on governance. His unwavering stance made him a formidable figure. Throughout history, he provided immense support to Kumogakure in its external wars.

In the original storyline, his backing enabled Kumogakure to launch the Second and Third Great Shinobi Wars, the invasion of the Land of Fields, the surprise attack on Iwagakure, the Battle of Kikyo Pass after the Third Shinobi War, and even the war against Konohagakure before Naruto's graduation (preceding the attempted kidnapping of Hinata Hyuga). He later supported the Fourth Shinobi War as well.

A man of deep thought and unyielding methods, he excelled in both domestic and foreign affairs, fostering technological and economic development at home while waging wars to plunder resources from other nations.

Even the formidable Third Raikage did not underestimate him.

The Raikage treated him with utmost respect!

Unlike Konoha or Kirigakure, which were home to numerous powerful clans from the Warring States Era, Kumogakure’s rise was built by a group of visionaries united by bonds of brotherhood. The village’s current prosperity was inseparable from the Daimyō’s unwavering support.

At this moment, seeing the Third Raikage playing dumb like a stubborn old man, Ryuuzouji Nobu rubbed his temples and frowned. He cast a sharp glance at the Raikage and sternly said:

"The Land of Fire cannot possibly withstand a united assault from four nations. You know this better than I do."

"But if you insist on following your original plan, you must provide me with a reasonable explanation. Otherwise, during the conference, I will make the decision for you!"

"Yes!" The Third Raikage took a step forward, bowing slightly. His aged face bore a solemn expression as he respectfully replied:

"General!"

"The Four-Nation Offensive against the Land of Fire is indeed the central theme of the Third Great Shinobi War. However, Orochimaru’s plan to destabilize Kumogakure has left us unable to push deeper into the Land of Fields to launch an attack on Konoha and divide the Land of Fire’s territories."

"As things stand, this war would benefit other nations, not us!"

"However, if we follow the alternative plan, we can either strike Iwagakure’s rear or pretend to align with them while preparing to attack the Land of Fire through the Land of Earth."

"Now, we just need one thing—a perfect opportunity!"

"What opportunity?" Ryuuzouji Nobu’s sharp eyes locked onto the Third Raikage.

"The Five Nations Conference!" The Raikage declared firmly.

"We can unite the nations and, under the authority of their Daimyō, establish a binding alliance treaty to gain the trust of Ōnoki of Iwagakure!"

Hearing this, one of the guards standing beside Ryuuzouji Nobu, a protector ninja, turned pale. His eyes shot daggers at the Raikage as he roared:

"Kumome Castle is already in chaos! Raikage, are you suggesting the General risk his life?!"

The Third Raikage remained silent, lowering his head with a sigh.

Recently, intelligence about the third assassination attempt and the collapse of the castle tower had been delivered to Kumogakure through the Sky Transmission Technique. At this point, it didn’t matter who was behind it—everyone in Kumome Castle now knew the “Daimyō” residing there was an imposter.

To forge a credible alliance treaty among the nations, only the Daimyō himself could take the lead.

Chaos had erupted, and taking risks was unavoidable. However, the Raikage couldn’t force the Daimyō to act; the decision had to come from the Daimyō himself.

At this moment, Ryuuzouji Nobu merely narrowed his eyes, glancing at the Third Raikage with an inscrutable expression.

Unlike his guard, who was solely focused on safety, Ryuuzouji Nobu understood the deeper implications of the Raikage’s words.

On the surface, the Third Raikage's words seemed to suggest that he would personally face danger. However, with the formidable protection of the Third Raikage A, known as the "Fastest in the Shinobi World" and unmatched across the land, safety was hardly a concern. The Third Raikage would undoubtedly stake his life to protect him.

But the key issue lay elsewhere.

This move was essentially designed to have him, the Daimyo, sign an alliance agreement that was destined to be breached.

In other words, the Third Raikage was exploiting his authority as the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning to lend credibility to a deceptive promise.

Shinobi, by their nature, operate without constraints, willing to use any underhanded methods to secure victory.

However, as the ruler of a nation, he was not a shinobi!

This was what concerned Ryuzoji Nobu the most and what left him hesitating.

Perhaps this was the true intention of the Third Raikage standing before him?

Ryuzoji Nobu couldn’t determine for sure. He simply closed his eyes and pondered for a long time.

Finally, he opened them, and an imposing aura radiated from his gaze.

“I agree to this matter!”

Then, he turned to the Third Raikage, his eyes revealing a trace of struggle.

“Raikage, I have never interfered in matters of war and have always entrusted those decisions to you.”

“Because trust is the foundation of the original and deepest brotherhood pact between the Land of Lightning and Kumogakure. It is also the cornerstone that has allowed the Land of Lightning to grow from weakness to strength!”

“I only hope—”

“You will not forget this!”

Hearing these words, the Third Raikage A fixed his gaze on the Daimyo before him. For a moment, a look of deep emotion flashed in his eyes. Even his elderly body, bent in a bow of respect, trembled slightly.

Unlike the strained or mutually restrictive relationships between Daimyo and shinobi villages in other nations, Kumogakure truly had a wise ruler who offered them unconditional trust!

“Yes!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 289: Minato: I Also Want to Assassinate the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning!

The location of Yunming City is very similar to that of the Hidden Cloud Village. Built in an open area surrounded by towering peaks, its architecture often relies on the mountains as a base, rising straight into the clouds with an imposing grandeur.

From the towering inner walls at the city center—higher even than the peaks themselves—one can look down to see a breathtaking sight: countless peaks like blades and mist like banners, truly magnificent.

However, when Shinji, led by Namikaze Minato, stepped into the city, he realized something different.

Unlike the scene that made one want to wax poetic for another 300 words, the residents here mostly had tired expressions, their thin figures burdened with visible worries. They walked with heads lowered, resembling overworked salarymen debating whether the fuel tax or a drop in gas prices was more cost-effective.

Even as Shinji and Minato walked down the streets, dressed conspicuously in wide-brimmed hats and black cloaks—looking one step away from writing "terrorist" across their faces—

no one spared them a second glance.

Seeing this, Shinji felt a pang of melancholy.

The Land of Lightning is already at high altitude, and this city's architecture clings to the mountains. Vast flatlands below remain unused, leaving its roads steep and exhausting, reminiscent of the mountain city from his previous life. Walking even a short distance meant climbing a steep slope—it was tiresome beyond belief.

At his side, Namikaze Minato assumed Shinji was pitying the commoners of the Land of Lightning. After glancing at them himself, Minato sighed softly and said:

"The Land of Lightning is different from our Land of Fire. This country values martial prowess and aggression. Years of external conquests demand high military funding, leading to exorbitant taxes."

"Martial prowess and aggression?" Shinji smirked, watching an elderly man carry a basket of coal up the mountain just to deliver it to the lavish building at the peak. He thought to himself, "Quite the martial prowess here—fighting not only with the heavens and earth but with other nations’ shinobi and even among themselves."  

And what were the results of all this fighting? Apart from the portion absorbed by the Hidden Cloud for military buildup, where did the rest go?

Why were the buildings atop the peaks so extravagant? Why were people carried in palanquins to the mountaintops? Was this some new kind of tourism project?

Perhaps environmental factors and national conditions played a role, but the more Shinji looked, the more dissatisfied he felt.

Among the Five Great Nations of the ninja world, the Land of Lightning had the most advanced technology—they even built groundbreaking weapons like the chakra cannon. Yet their commoners still relied on human labor and pack animals, while their aristocrats indulged in primitive pleasures.

This world shouldn't be like this.  

These aristocrats should have their souls drawn into the gladiatorial arenas created by Ouyajo En, throwing money around in Roman-style combat arenas until they were milked dry!

As it stood now, what a waste.

Of course, Shinji only vented his thoughts privately—after all, none of this had much to do with a passing wanderer like him.

"Let's go."

His interest waning, Shinji followed Minato in silence as they left the bustling inner city, crossed the mountains via suspension bridges linking the peaks, and walked along mountain trails.

As the sky darkened and the sound of thunder grew louder above the clouds, they finally arrived at a decrepit, Baroque-style building that seemed long abandoned.

"This is the place?"

Shinji looked up at the desolate, run-down structure, which seemed like it hadn’t been lived in for years.

If he remembered correctly, such a building had indeed appeared in the original manga, during the fight where Hidan and Kakuzu captured Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails jinchūriki.

It was ironic—Hidan and Kakuzu were now his allies, while Yugito Nii had died by his hand. It was as though he’d stolen their mission ten years early, making him feel a bit like the villain here.

"This was originally part of a welfare project—housing for civilians. We have similar structures in the Land of Fire, but for some reason, they were abandoned here," Minato explained as he pushed open the rickety wooden door.

"I've been using this place as a base of operations recently. It's quiet here."

As Minato lit a small flame from his ninja pouch to illuminate the ghostly building, Shinji followed him inside, his curiosity piqued.

"What are you doing in a place like this?"

"And back in the inner city, you mentioned Danzo finding you. What did he say?"

Technically, Shimura Danzo was still Shinji’s boss. Though Danzo wasn’t particularly skilled at anything, his ability to stir up trouble and manipulate events in the ninja world was unquestionable.

That he would ally himself with someone as sunny and upright as Namikaze Minato was indeed surprising.

Minato’s blue eyes darkened, and he forced a weak smile. Instead of answering, he led Shinji into a room and felt along the wall.

Click!  

Bright white light illuminated the room, revealing its furnishings.

In the center was a large, detailed map marked with dense annotations, featuring delicate handwriting and seemingly cryptic lines. The Land of Lightning’s territory was particularly emphasized.

The room’s sides were lined with worn-out desks and chairs, scattered with opened letters and documents.

Looking at the detailed map—so precise it marked even mountain ranges and small towns—Shinji raised an eyebrow.

If he’d had such a map earlier, he wouldn’t have wasted half a day wandering Frost Country with two lost companions.

Just as Shinji was about to ask if he could make a copy, Minato turned toward him, his expression solemn.

"Listen, Shinji," Minato said gravely.

"You asked me earlier about the connection between Konoha's plans and the upcoming Five Kage Summit. Now, I'll tell you."

---

Minato Namikaze spoke with a serious expression,

"We’ve reached an agreement with Danzo Shimura."

"A decision and action that defies the will of the Third Hokage!"

Upon hearing this, Shinji slightly parted his lips in surprise.

That Danzo would oppose Hiruzen Sarutobi's views, or even make decisions contrary to his, didn’t surprise Shinji at all. In fact, he found it entirely expected.

But for Danzo to actually convince the "Little Sun," Minato Namikaze, to cooperate with him—that was truly puzzling!

At this thought, Shinji furrowed his brow. Instead of continuing to question Danzo’s intentions, he focused on a key point in Minato’s words and asked:

"You all... besides you, who else?"

Danzo had approached Minato to discuss matters related to the Land of Lightning because he knew Minato had close ties with him. He likely used this relationship to persuade Minato. Beyond that, the key participants in the Hell Valley incident were Danzo and Orochimaru, the master-disciple duo. Orochimaru was impossible for Danzo to manipulate, so who else could he turn to?

If Minato had an accomplice, an unsettling suspicion arose in Shinji's mind. He instinctively felt that person might be someone closely tied to him!

"It’s the captain of the Police Force, Uchiha Fugaku."

Minato let out a deep breath, his gaze focused and his tone solemn as he spoke:

"We intend to carry out an act of great rebellion!"

"In six days, the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, along with the Third Raikage, will undoubtedly attend the Five Kage Summit!"

"And there, we will act—assassinate the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning!"

"The primary executor of this plan, and the one who will bear all the responsibility for the entire incident—"

Minato exhaled heavily, his face grim as he stated bluntly:

"—is me!"

Hearing this, and seeing the solemn, martyr-like expression on Minato’s face, Shinji felt a chill run down his spine. He stared at Minato Namikaze in horror.

"What?! You’re going to assassinate the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning too?"

"That’s right!" Minato’s expression was resolute.

"If there’s anyone in this world who can truly assassinate the Daimyo of a nation right in front of the Third Raikage—"

"Then it must undoubtedly be me, the one who has mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 290: Minato’s Vision – The Land of Thunder and Fire!

"Are you serious?"

Shinji’s face turned cold as he stared intently at Minato Namikaze, whose expression was resolute and genuine. In a deep, firm voice, he demanded:

"Do you even understand the consequences of this?"

"Assassinating a daimyo is a grave crime, condemned by every nation! And doing it at the Five Kage Summit of all places?"

"Have you thought about what it means for you? You’ll be branded a rogue ninja!"

"Minato, wasn’t your dream to become Hokage?!"

"Are you really going to abandon that dream?"

Indeed, Minato Namikaze was the one person capable of assassinating the daimyo under the Third Raikage’s watch and escaping unscathed. Yet, Shinji desperately hoped this was just a reckless, heat-of-the-moment impulse—a rash act driven by revenge for his own death. Perhaps, seeing him alive now might change Minato's mind.

But unfortunately, it wasn’t a fleeting thought.

Minato didn’t wear his usual warm and confident smile. His expression was calm—a serenity born of deep contemplation and painful resolution. It was the kind of stillness only those who had reached a martyr’s clarity could possess, like the tranquil flow of the Naka River at sunset, shimmering with the determination of one who understands sacrifice.

"Shinji, you should know Konoha’s original plan."

"With Lord Orochimaru’s surprise attack as the precursor, all we needed to do was protect the daimyo, observe the chaos, and Konoha would stand unshaken, gaining the upper hand in this Third Great Ninja War."

"Konoha could easily reap the rewards of Lord Orochimaru’s Cloud Collapse Plan!"

"But even then, the outcome wouldn’t change!"

"The Land of Fire is abundant and prosperous—envied by all. The other nations won’t allow Konoha to grow stronger. Even if we survive this war, the next one, and the one after that, war will inevitably come knocking on Konoha’s door again."

Minato stood before the map, pointing to the central locations of Konoha’s four main battlefronts. His voice turned solemn:

"This is an unavoidable truth!"

Then, he looked directly at Shinji.

"Danzo Shimura, despite his faults as the Hokage’s advisor, has foresight that cannot be ignored!"

"To change this cycle, someone must make a sacrifice!"

Hearing this, Shinji could no longer hold back. It felt like Danzo had strapped the "Yellow Flash" to an electric chair and brainwashed him thoroughly. How else could someone so intelligent refuse to listen to reason?

He strode forward, grabbed Minato by the collar, yanking his head down to meet his own furious gaze. His eyes burned with suppressed frustration as he growled:

"Sacrifice?"

"What sacrifice? Minato, listen to me—you’ve been deceived by Danzo!"

"That old fox wants nothing but the Hokage’s position for himself. He doesn’t care about you or Konoha!"

"He’s using you to ensure you can never become Hokage—to strip you of your right to compete!"

"The daimyo is just a title!"

"Even if you kill the current daimyo, a new one will take his place the next day. The system will endure, while you—your dream will be buried, and you’ll become a rogue ninja!"

"You’ll regret this impulsive, foolish decision for the rest of your life!"

"You have no idea how insignificant individual power is in the face of societal systems. And you don’t have the strength to overturn the entire table and change everything!"

Shinji clenched his jaw, his face tight with anger. He slammed his forehead into Minato’s, glaring at him with despair over his naivety.

"Can’t you wake up already!"

Even though Shinji himself had resolved to change the world for the sake of those he cherished, he hadn’t acted rashly. He chose to bide his time, hide his true intentions, and build the power needed to truly upend the status quo.

Because he understood.

Yet, even after the headbutt left a bloody gash on Minato’s forehead—blood dripping down his Leaf Village forehead protector, over his nose, and onto his jawline—Minato didn’t get angry.

Instead, he smiled gently. It was an unshakable, almost joyful smile, and he looked at Shinji with unwavering determination.

"Just as I thought, this is exactly who you are."

"Shinji," Minato said, his voice resolute.

"You understand better than anyone else. You see it more clearly than anyone else."

"For a shinobi—"

"The daimyo is a cancer!"

Immediately, his tone shifted. Grabbing Shinji's arm, Minato led him to the large map nearby.

Pointing to the location of Yunming City on the map, Minato spoke solemnly:

“But, Shinji—”

“No matter how much you want to avoid it,”

“The unprecedented upheaval of the ninja world, unseen for a thousand years, has already begun because of you!”

“Now, Yunming City is a brewing storm, with all eyes set on the daimyo!”

“Some may hesitate, others may falter, and still others are weighing their options!”

“But—”

“The intent to kill has been ignited!”

“The daimyo is no longer untouchable!”

Next, Minato extended a finger, dipped it in the blood on his face, and drew a line across the map, directly connecting the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth.

The bloodline spanned the vast ocean chasm between the two nations, as if revealing a vision of countless ninjas from Kumogakure and Iwagakure locked in brutal combat. Blood flowed like rivers, mountains of corpses piled high, and haunting cries of anguish and despair echoed endlessly.

“This is the current situation!”

“A clash between Kumogakure and Iwagakure is inevitable!”

“At this moment, killing the daimyo and installing his son, Ryuuzouji Sugaya, to power would allow us to strike a critical blow to the Land of Lightning after the war between Iwa and Kumo!”

“And with the confidential intelligence obtained by Lord Orochimaru—information that Kumogakure hasn’t yet had time to fully update—”

Minato raised his finger again, pressing it to the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Fields.

With another stroke, he connected the territories of the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.

Then, with an invigorated expression, he shouted:

“At this moment—

“Konoha must push through the Land of Fields and seize the lands of Lightning and Fire!”

“We will subdue the three nations of Fields, Hot Water, and Frost!”

“Once this is accomplished, we will have a defensive barrier of five small nations—Iron, Waterfall, Grass, Rain, and Valley—to the north!”

“To the south, the Land of Water will serve as a reliable ally!”

“With this territory secured, we need only face the enemy to the west. At the very least, this will help Konoha establish a stable foundation for the next hundred years!”

Using blood to connect these vast lands on the map, Minato’s breathing grew heavier as his imagination took flight.

“Our next generation, and the one after that, will be able to live peacefully here,”

“They’ll no longer have to step onto such brutal battlefields at an age as young as yours and Kakashi’s!”

Staring at the blood-soaked, meticulously marked map in front of him, Shinji fell silent.

Even with his perspective, he had to admit—

This was, indeed, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

(Chapter End)