[Naruto Grandfather] Chapter 161 - 165

Chapter 161: The Shin-Konoha Leaders with Disagreement

If it weren’t for the distinct anger he had clearly felt before, Hyuga Neji would have thought that it was just his own illusion.

Uzumaki Chito waved his hand, signaling for Hyuga Neji to leave.

"Yes," Hyuga Neji replied, preparing to say his goodbyes and head out.

However, he was stopped by Uzumaki Chito, who seemed to have just remembered something. Hyuga Neji looked at him in confusion.

"Get ready," Uzumaki Chito said, his voice soft. "In a little while, you'll be able to see your father."

Hyuga Neji froze. Chito’s words caught him off guard. What did he mean by that? Was he truly about to see his father, Hizashi, again?

Chito, sensing his confusion, added with a small, knowing smile, "Don't be too surprised when you see him. It'll be a bit... overwhelming."

Hyuga Neji stood motionless, processing the words as they echoed in his mind. His father? Was it possible?

Before he could gather his thoughts, Hyuga Neji felt the world around him shift. By the time he became aware again, he found himself outside the house, standing in the open air.

Uzumaki Chito had used his control over natural forces to create an effect akin to teleportation.

Hyuga Neji stood outside, still in a daze. Chito’s words repeated in his mind: My father?

Was it truly possible that the "reincarnated Hyuga Hizashi" he had sensed earlier meant that his father was resurrected? If so, then the rest of the names—

The joy that had bloomed in his heart quickly faded as the reality of the situation sank in. This was no simple matter.

He needed to inform everyone immediately. There were still many questions left unanswered, especially about Senju Nawaki, whose origin he couldn’t trace. But as for Hatake Sakumo, his connection to Kakashi was clear. And Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Fugaku—those were names everyone in Konoha was well aware of.

Hyuga Neji hurried away, determined to alert everyone to the coming threat.

The Five Kage Alliance had set a dangerous plan in motion.

It wasn't just Konoha at risk—other ninja villages would likely see their own warriors reincarnated. They needed to stop them before it was too late.

Later, in the Shin-Konoha conference room—

The leaders of Shin-Konoha gathered for an emergency meeting.

"What's going on?" Kakashi asked, his voice slightly distracted. He had been busy looking for his beloved ninja dog, and notices about his missing dog had been posted all over Shin-Konoha.

"I don't know. I was still in the middle of training my students when I was called over," Might Guy added, scratching his head, equally confused.

"Neji, if there's something important to discuss, just tell us already," Uzumaki Naruto said, sensing the urgency in the air.

Hyuga Neji glanced at the door. "Wait. There's one more person who hasn't arrived yet."

Just then, the door opened, and Tsunade entered reluctantly, looking irritated.

"Seriously," Tsunade muttered. "I was just getting into a good streak at the casino."

She had been dragged away by Shizune to attend this unexpected meeting. What could be so urgent?

"Neji," Tsunade called out in her usual threatening tone, "If you don’t give me a good reason for dragging me here, I swear I’ll make you feel the full force of my super strength."

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Hyuga Neji’s forehead.

"Don’t worry, Tsunade-sama," he said quickly. "I’ll make sure you’re satisfied with the details."

With the last member present, Hyuga Neji took a deep breath and stood tall, placing his hands on the table.

"Now that everyone’s here, we can start the meeting."

A tense silence filled the room as everyone sat up straight, their expressions turning serious. Even Tsunade, who had been complaining just moments ago, had quieted down.

"My Byakugan was developed with Orochimaru’s assistance," Hyuga Neji began, his tone grave. "He left something within it, something I wasn’t aware of at first. Orochimaru passed a message to me, and through me, to Master Chito."

He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in.

"The message is about the Impure World Reincarnation," Hyuga Neji continued. "It mentions Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Fugaku, Hatake Sakumo, Hyuga Hizashi... and Senju Nawaki."

A shudder ran through the room at the mention of these names.

"The Five Kage Alliance is set in the Land of Iron," Hyuga Neji continued, his eyes locking with each of the leaders present. "Konoha has a spot for Impure World Reincarnation, so the other villages will likely have one as well. We need to act quickly."

The tension in the room was palpable as everyone processed the gravity of the situation.

"We’re facing the greatest crisis Shin-Konoha has ever encountered," Hyuga Neji said, his voice now filled with resolve.

As he spoke, he looked to each person, noting their expressions. Hatake Kakashi and Tsunade’s faces changed at the mention of Hatake Sakumo and Senju Nawaki.

"Father?" Kakashi murmured, his mind flashing back to the time when Hatake Sakumo was alive. The memories of his father’s tragic death—and the ostracization that led to it—came rushing back.

Hatake Sakumo’s death had haunted Kakashi for years, and now, the possibility of his father’s reincarnation brought both a sense of hope and a surge of anger.

Tsunade stood frozen, her thoughts darkening. She had thought she would never again have to remember that name. But now, with the mention of the reincarnation, the painful memories resurfaced.

"Is Nawaki to be reincarnated as well?" Tsunade asked, her voice laced with an odd mixture of joy and melancholy. "Will I finally get to see him again?"

The room fell silent as everyone absorbed the weight of the situation. Hyuga Neji turned to the gathered leaders, his expression grave.

"So," he said, "what should we do now?"

Kakashi’s voice broke the silence, cold and resolute: "Stop them."

"Let them reincarnate," Tsunade said, her tone laced with a hint of defiance. "We’ll deal with it."

Chapter 162: Naruto: I Have a Good Idea

As soon as the words fell, Tsunade and Kakashi exchanged glances.

Both had their own concerns, but there was no consensus between them, and the atmosphere became awkward for a moment.

Kakashi and Tsunade stood opposite one another, their expressions serious, as if silently weighing the situation.

"We can't let these people be reincarnated," Kakashi said firmly, his voice heavy with conviction. "I don’t know about the other things, but if they are reincarnated, they will certainly become our enemies."

Despite the possibility of seeing his father again, Kakashi could not support the idea of allowing the reincarnation to proceed.

"I’m sure everyone is familiar with Uchiha Madara's name. Unless Lord Chito steps in, defeating him will be nearly impossible for us." Kakashi’s tone darkened, a warning in his words. "And can you really bring yourself to fight your own relatives?"

Kakashi’s last sentence was directed at Tsunade, whose thoughts were likely clouded by the potential return of Senju Nawaki. It was clear that Jiraiya's intention to reincarnate Nawaki was to control Tsunade—something she definitely wouldn't want to do.

Tsunade remained silent, everyone in the room sensing her internal conflict. It was easy to see that her desire to see Senju Nawaki again tugged at her heart. But her feelings also clashed with the reality of what the reincarnation could cause. If Senju Nawaki was brought back, he would be just as powerful as the others, leading to inevitable chaos.

With a deep sigh, Tsunade stood up and walked toward the door, no longer able to stay in the meeting room. The emotional weight of her brother's loss clouded her ability to think rationally in this moment.

"I choose to stop the reincarnation plan," Kakashi declared resolutely. He had made his decision without hesitation.

"I also choose to stop it," Hyuga Neji added, his voice unwavering. Even though the possibility of his father’s resurrection lingered in his thoughts, his loyalty to Shin-Konoha came first. He couldn’t ignore the danger the reincarnation could bring.

Might Guy nodded in agreement. "I have no objections," he said firmly.

The group turned their attention to Uzumaki Naruto, the future Hokage of Shin-Konoha. His thoughts were valuable, and everyone awaited his input.

Naruto looked at Tsunade’s retreating figure, understanding her sadness. He also recognized the sacrifices Kakashi and Hyuga Neji had made for the sake of Shin-Konoha. With that, a new idea formed in his mind.

"Naruto, don’t do anything reckless," Kakashi warned, his tone sharp. "Uchiha Madara’s power is beyond your imagination. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment."

Naruto smiled confidently, his eyes narrowing slightly with determination. "I know. I’m not being reckless. I have a plan."

Meanwhile, in the Land of Rain, at the Akatsuki hideout—

Nagato received a message from Uzumaki Naruto, his expression darkening as he read the contents.

"Reincarnation of Uchiha Madara? The Five Kage Alliance really dares to take such a risk," Nagato sneered, showing the message to Konan.

Konan’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Uchiha Madara?" she asked, her voice full of concern. "This is... unexpected."

Nagato, however, wasn’t as surprised. He studied the sequence diagram, his gaze sharp as he processed the information. "This man’s first identity was probably Uchiha Madara," he mused.

"Tobi, come take a look at this," Nagato called. Uchiha Obito, a trusted ally of Uzumaki Chito, approached, intrigued by the message.

When Obito saw the name of Uchiha Madara, his eyes widened in shock. "Uchiha Madara is truly dead," he said with a mocking laugh. "I never thought I would see this name again."

Obito's thoughts turned bitter as memories flooded his mind. He had once been persuaded by Uchiha Madara to carry out the Moon Eye Plan—to create a world where Rin was still alive. But that plan had been thwarted, and now, in the aftermath, Obito found himself under the control of Uzumaki Chito.

Seeing the name of Uchiha Madara again stirred hatred deep within Obito.

"We can’t let Uchiha Madara be resurrected. His power is the strongest I’ve ever encountered, second only to Master Chito," Obito said in a low, dangerous voice.

Nagato and Konan were both shocked at the weight of Obito’s words.

"Really?" Konan asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

Obito nodded grimly. "Compared to Lord Chito, Uchiha Madara’s power is like a firefly next to the moon. But apart from Lord Chito, Madara’s strength is the most formidable I’ve ever seen."

Nagato and Konan exchanged uneasy glances. They had always known Uchiha Madara was powerful, but this comparison to Lord Chito made them realize just how much more dangerous the situation was.

"We can’t allow the Five Kage Alliance’s plan to succeed," Nagato said, his tone firm.

"It must be stopped," Obito agreed, his voice as cold as ever.

Nagato furrowed his brow, a thought lingering in his mind. "But why do I feel like you’re hiding something from us? I feel like you have more reasons for wanting this plan to fail."

Konan nodded, her gaze shifting toward Obito. There was something off about his reaction—something more than just his hatred of Uchiha Madara.

"This is my private matter," Obito replied with a dismissive wave. "Akatsuki never questions its members’ private affairs."

He turned on his heel, preparing to leave. "Don’t worry about it," he added. "I’m doing this for the greater good."

As he walked away, Nagato and Konan exchanged looks of confusion.

Nagato sighed, knowing he wouldn’t get any answers from Obito. "Don’t mind him," he said with a small smile. "He’s Lord Chito’s man. He has his own reasons, I’m sure."

Chapter 163: The Akatsuki Organization's Ambush

Konan nodded and stopped paying attention to Uchiha Obito’s departure.

"Then I will start monitoring the other ninja villages," Konan said, her voice steady as she prepared to move forward with the mission.

Nagato hesitated for a moment, then spoke up. "No, the Rain Country doesn't have enough manpower. We should focus on monitoring Konoha and the Hidden Cloud Village."

Konan understood immediately. With a quick transformation, she turned into a piece of paper and swiftly retreated, issuing orders to the entire Rain Country to take action.

As a strategic location, the Rain Country had always found itself at the center of numerous conflicts. But after the Akatsuki organization eliminated Hanzo of the Salamander, the country began its slow recovery.

Konan’s leadership had been instrumental in this resurgence.

Moreover, the Land of Rain had become a haven for assassination-type ninjas and mercenary ninjas, making its military force almost comparable to the five major ninja villages. It was no surprise that Hanzo of the Salamander once dreamed of making the Land of Rain the sixth major village.

However, despite its growth, the efforts to monitor Konoha and the Hidden Cloud Village were, in the end, futile. The Land of Fire now stood with Shin-Konoha, indirectly cooperating with the Rain Country—making it easier for Rain ninjas to infiltrate and control Konoha’s movements.

The Akatsuki organization had essentially gained complete control over the whereabouts of the Konoha ninjas. But on the other hand, the Land of Lightning was a formidable war machine, with its own challenges for the ninjas of the Rain Country to face.

The Land of Lightning’s power was immense. Darui, wielding his lightning sword, cleaved through a ninja from the Rain Country with ease, but he was beginning to tire from the chakra fluctuations that seemed to ripple through the surrounding woods.

"These damn Rain Ninjas need to be wiped out. I swear, one day I’ll destroy the entire Rain Country, leaving no one alive," Darui muttered coldly, his anger building.

"Calm down, Darui. You're the Raikage now. You can't let these things affect you," Dodai said, his voice firm as he kept watch around them.

"I know," Darui replied with a sigh. "But these damn pests are so annoying." Though Darui had calmed down at Dodai's reminder, his frustration was still palpable.

The Rain Ninjas, though individually weak, overwhelmed them with sheer numbers. The Rain Country had thrown everything into this mission.

"Those bastards in the Akatsuki have completely taken over the Rain Country. Damn them," Darui grumbled, frustration edging his voice.

"Not to mention, Konoha has its own issues. They’ve lost the support of the Land of Fire, and now with the Land of Fire and the Rain Country working together, it’s going to be even harder to deal with the Rain Country." Samui stood beside Darui, her expression indifferent yet serious.

"We’ll cover the rear. Lord Raikage, you should return to the Hidden Cloud Village first. I’ll pick us up," Dodai said, preparing for their next move.

A faint layer of blue light began to emanate from the body of the wooden man, signaling the activation of chakra from the Two-Tails. Blue cat demon patterns appeared across his body, and his pupils turned white.

The intense chakra aura flooded out, forcing the hidden Rain Country ninjas to reveal themselves, scattering into view.

"Samui, let’s go," Dodai said, charging ahead without waiting for a response.

Samui followed suit without saying a word. Darui glanced at his guards, his anger simmering. He needed to get out of here quickly. This was still the territory of the Land of Sound.

It was the domain of that bastard Orochimaru.

Despite the chaos of the battle, not a single Sound Ninja appeared to intervene, making it clear that Orochimaru was ignoring the situation.

The Land of Rain was still far from here, but it was within range of the Land of Lightning. Darui suspected that there was an undercover agent within the Five Kage Council of the Land of Iron, and the collaboration between the Fire and Rain Countries was one of the key factors at play.

Darui had a few ideas about who could be behind this, and Orochimaru was high on his list.

Meanwhile, in the Land of Sound—

In the laboratory, Orochimaru was preparing for the ritual of Impure World Reincarnation. Originally, he had intended to use this forbidden technique in the future to control a large number of powerful figures for his own goals.

But now, it seemed that external forces were just distractions. What truly mattered was what he could control.

"Just like Uchiha Sasuke," Orochimaru muttered, glancing over at the young Uchiha in the training ground.

Sasuke’s aura had greatly improved in recent times. His power now rivaled several of the Five Kage, and with a group of Uchiha clan elders sparring with him, his growth was almost unstoppable. Sasuke’s genius was undeniable, especially considering his cold attitude toward his mentors.

Uchiha Tajima and Uchiha Kagami stood by, watching Sasuke with pride, pleased to see the Uchiha clan produce a genius of his caliber.

"Boy, tell me, what’s the Uchiha clan up to now?" Uchiha Tajima asked, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "They actually allowed you to take our bodies."

Sasuke’s eyes glimmered at the mention of his clan. "Nothing," he replied coolly.

Tajima’s expression shifted to confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

"The Uchiha are gone," Sasuke said, his tone flat but laden with meaning. "The clan was wiped out, and the only ones left alive are me and... a traitor."

A flicker of hatred passed through Sasuke’s eyes as he spoke, his gaze cold and hard as he thought of the clan's downfall.

Chapter 164: Sasuke, the Hope of the Uchiha

"Destroyed?" Uchiha Tajima asked in disbelief.

"How could they be exterminated?" Another elder spoke in confusion.

"The Uchiha clan is supposed to be invincible," a third added.

"Without the Senju, who would dare to challenge the Uchiha clan?"

The room was filled with murmurs of disbelief as the Uchiha elders discussed the shocking news. At first, many had been skeptical of Sasuke, but after learning more about him, they began to understand the depth of his pain and the burning hatred he carried within. His daily dedication to his training became apparent.

Even Uchiha Tajima, known for his severity, found himself a little reluctant to push Sasuke too hard. What Sasuke had endured, the trials he had faced, were unimaginable. Even Madara's training could not have been as harsh as this.

Tajima wondered to himself—could Madara have ever been as dedicated as Sasuke? Perhaps it was the Uchiha clan that had once founded Konoha. If Sasuke had been around back then, the Uchiha might have ruled the world by now.

But now, Sasuke had revealed a devastating truth. The clan that Tajima had hoped would restore the Uchiha's glory was gone.

"Who did this?" Tajima asked, his voice growing frantic. "Could it have been the Senju clan? Did they break the agreement and attack the Uchiha?"

Sasuke’s eyes glinted coldly as he looked at his ancestor, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "It was the Uchiha themselves who destroyed the Uchiha clan," Sasuke replied, his voice filled with bitter irony.

"All of the Uchiha clan were killed by my brother, Uchiha Itachi."

Sasuke’s words were heavy with emotion, and as he spoke, his teeth clenched so tightly that blood began to seep from his gums. The pain was nothing compared to the weight of the truth.

"What? Why? How could the Uchiha clan betray themselves?" Tajima’s voice quivered with disbelief.

"That’s impossible! The Uchiha should have had a sense of honor for their clan!" another elder protested.

"Was there a traitor among us?" Tajima’s mind raced, trying to make sense of the horror.

"This must be a conspiracy instigated by Konoha," Tajima muttered, his thoughts turning darker.

When Tajima heard the truth, however, his mind seemed to clear, and he calmed himself. "Is this why you train so hard, Sasuke? Are you seeking revenge?"

Sasuke’s gaze hardened. "I must find Uchiha Itachi and kill him," he said, his voice low and filled with resolve.

Tajima nodded, a rare understanding in his eyes. "I understand. During this time, I will teach you everything I know. How much you can learn depends on you."

The elder Uchiha had come to accept it—Sasuke was the future of the Uchiha clan. While they were not all terribly powerful, each of them had their own unique abilities and special skills.

The other Uchiha elders stood and voiced their agreement, all acknowledging Sasuke’s potential. The Uchiha clan’s hope now rested solely on his shoulders.

Sasuke glanced at them all and spoke in a calm, measured tone. "Let’s begin the training."

Meanwhile, in a corner of the training ground...

A small white snake observed everything silently from the shadows.

"These fools really have their secrets," Orochimaru muttered with a sneer. "But it doesn’t matter. Konoha already has Uchiha Madara prepared for reincarnation. These guys are truly useless."

Orochimaru had originally reincarnated the Uchiha clan members with selfish motives. Not only did he want Sasuke to cause trouble for Naruto, but he also sought to learn from the ancient Uchiha ancestors, hoping to further strengthen himself.

But now, with the imminent reincarnation of Uchiha Madara, the previous plans seemed obsolete.

Still, it wasn’t all a waste. At the very least, Uchiha Tajima was Madara's father. Orochimaru now realized that the individuals he had brought back from the dead were all fathers and sons. A thought struck him—what if the upcoming Fourth Ninja World War would be filled with battles between fathers and sons?

Orochimaru licked his lips, a wicked smile spreading across his face at the thought. It was a truly interesting possibility.

In the laboratory of the Land of Sound...

A Sound Ninja approached Orochimaru with news about the battle between the Rain Country Ninjas and the Hidden Cloud Village Ninjas. However, Orochimaru didn’t even look up from his work.

Despite controlling the Land of Sound, Orochimaru’s influence over the country could only be described as mediocre at best. His control over the Land of Sound was not for governance, but to find more useful experimental materials. Managing a country was never his primary concern.

"All Oto-ninjas, don’t worry about any ninjas passing through the Land of Sound," Orochimaru ordered coldly. "Let them do whatever they want, as long as they don’t provoke us. If they attack civilians, let them. It doesn’t matter if some of them die."

His cruel orders were passed down without hesitation, and many of the lower-ranking ninjas found themselves uncomfortable with Orochimaru's detachment. However, no one dared to disobey.

Orochimaru was showing his favor to Chitō Uzumaki of the Land of Whirlpools. After all, the reincarnated Uchiha clan members had a special connection to Uzumaki Chito. This time, Orochimaru had no real loyalty to anyone but himself.

Uzumaki Chito, however, understood the situation, as Shin-Konoha needed to prove itself and display its strength to the rest of the ninja world. In such an environment, Orochimaru saw an opportunity to further his own ambitions.

Back in the Land of Lightning...

Darui had just returned to the Hidden Cloud Village, his body riddled with fatal injuries. If it weren’t for his exceptionally strong physique, he would have died halfway.

The Rain Ninjas had been relentless in their suicidal attacks, and even Darui couldn’t withstand the unending barrage.

In the sky, Deidara, perched on his explosive bird, observed Darui’s return to the village with a look of regret.

"Should we?" Deidara asked, eager to resume the fight.

Sasori, ever indifferent, simply nodded. "No…let’s go."

Chapter 165: Darui Fainted

Nagato had not instructed the Akatsuki members to kill the Raikage, as it would draw the center of the war to the Rain Country, creating a major crisis for them. The members of the Akatsuki organization could escape at any time, but the people and ninjas of the Rain Country had no such luxury.

On top of the explosive bird, Deidara observed the village below, a regretful expression on his face.

"It seems the art of explosions won’t be appreciated today," he muttered under his breath.

Deidara sat on the edge of the bird’s wing, his eyes scanning the Hidden Cloud Village below. Bored, he pulled out some explosive clay from his pocket and casually tossed it into the air.

"What are you doing?" Sasori asked, his voice indifferent as he watched Deidara’s antics.

"It would be too boring just to watch fireworks if there’s nothing else to do," Deidara replied with a carefree shrug.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from the ground below as one of the explosive clay pieces detonated, sending a burst of light shooting into the air.

"Wow, look! It’s beautiful! Explosion is art!" Deidara exclaimed, grinning like a child showing off a toy.

Sasori, however, was uninterested. His art was in the eternal puppet, and his eyes were fixed on the battle below. When he saw Darui, a desire to turn him into a puppet stirred within him.

But due to the orders of the Akatsuki, Sasori refrained from acting. If he hadn’t been constrained by these orders, it wouldn’t have been Deidara doing the talking. Sasori would have been the one to make his move.

A slight sense of disappointment filled him as he looked at Darui. "Maybe later," he muttered to himself. "I’ll turn the Raikage into a puppet. I already have a Kazekage puppet; how about collection all Five Kage? The puppet art of the Five Kage sounds pretty good."

Meanwhile, in the Hidden Cloud Village—

The Hidden Cloud Village was in chaos. Darui, severely injured from the relentless attacks, was still alive, but blood poured from his mouth, his face twisted in agony. He never expected an attack on the Hidden Cloud Village at this moment. The audacity of it was enough to make his blood boil.

When he saw the explosive bird flying high above, he was struck with rage and frustration.

In a fit of fury, Darui coughed up more blood before losing consciousness entirely.

" Raikage! Raikage!" his subordinates called, rushing to his side, their voices filled with panic as they feared the worst.

Despite the chaos, Deidara paid them no mind. He simply rode the explosive bird away, no longer concerned with the mayhem unfolding below. The mission was complete for now.

In Konoha—

Meanwhile, the situation in Konoha wasn’t looking much better. The Land of Iron and Land of Fire shared a border, and Konoha had expected that the return journey to the village would be smooth. However, they were stopped at the border of the Land of Fire.

"Entry into the Land of Fire is prohibited," the guards at the Daimyo’s mansion announced coldly, halting Jiraiya and his companions from returning to Konoha.

No one in Konoha had anticipated this. They had assumed there would be no issues, given the territorial connection between Konoha and the Land of Fire. But to be stopped on their own land was an unforeseen betrayal.

Everyone in Konoha could feel the sting of the Land of Fire Daimyo’s betrayal.

"What does this mean?" Danzo asked, his eyes narrowing as he sized up the situation. His voice was calm, but there was a coldness to it that betrayed his true feelings.

Although Danzo’s face remained kind, no one could quite guess what the old fox was thinking beneath the surface.

Jiraiya’s patience was wearing thin. His hands clenched at his sides as anger bubbled within him. "What do you think, Danzo?" Jiraiya snapped, clearly annoyed.

He was frustrated with himself for not securing the Land of Fire’s support earlier. But even more infuriating was the fact that the Land of Fire had turned its back on Konoha and now seemed to favor Shin-Konoha.

"Impure World Reincarnation requires living corpses, and these people are perfect candidates," Danzo said with a smile, showing no hesitation.

He didn’t even view the Land of Fire’s guards as human shields. "We can use them. They may not be pure, but they’re still valuable."

Jiraiya’s face softened, and he looked hesitant. "This... this doesn’t feel right. After all, these are still the people of the Land of Fire."

The people of the Land of Fire were also the people of Konoha, Jiraiya thought. Konoha had a responsibility to protect them, didn’t they?

But Danzo cut him off without a moment's hesitation. "The Land of Fire that betrayed Konoha is no longer the Land of Fire we knew. They’ve turned their back on us."

"Instead of sitting here doing nothing, why not contribute to the Five Kage Alliance’s reincarnation plan? We could use more bodies for the cause, and these people might be strong enough," Danzo continued, his voice colder than before. "The Daimyo of the Land of Fire needs someone else to take the throne."

Danzo admired Uzumaki Chito’s approach. If she had the power, she would simply take what she wanted without hesitation. Strength was the key to everything.

"Everyone, what do you think?" Jiraiya asked, looking at the members of the Ino-Shika-Chou clan and Hiashi of the Hyuga clan who were with him.

"No objections," the group responded almost in unison.

At ordinary times, there might have been some hesitation, but in the face of this crisis, they understood the need for action. Good intentions could lead to self-destruction.

"Then it’s settled," Jiraiya said, his voice steely. "We act now."

Jiraiya was no saint. He understood what was at stake. The survival of Konoha came first, and he couldn’t afford to hesitate.

Under Jiraiya’s orders, Konoha’s high-ranking officials targeted the guards of the Land of Fire Daimyo’s mansion, launching a brutal attack. Impure World Reincarnation required living people, and those who fell would serve as the necessary sacrifice. The stronger the body, the better.