Chapter 90

Experienced shinobi such as Akatsuchi and Kitsuchi were well aware of the broader significance of this order from the Third Tsuchikage. Is the fourth world war really coming?

But soon the Jounin suppressed their confusion, because they had already realized that sooner or later, a new world war would come.

They just thought that now was still a little early, but in a couple of years... when the new generation of shinobi comes, it will be the right time.

Now, in their opinion, not one of the great villages should start a world war unless it promises great benefits.

- Run! – he did not explain anything and exclaimed Ōnoki sternly, without waiting for a clear answer from the Jounin.

- That's right, Tsuchikage! – Kitsuchi and Akatsuchi finally responded in unison to the Tsuchikage’s order, after which they immediately left.

Soon after the Jounin left, Ōnoki’s former firmness and inflexibility gave way to doubt, and a worried whisper came from his wrinkled mouth: “I don’t understand why the cloud suddenly began to stir?”

And so, without even knowing it, the great shinobi villages began to dance to the tune of the First Mizukage.

As for the smaller shinobi villages, Yudao didn’t care about them, just as they didn’t care about the current situation.

To date, only five players sat at the chessboard called the shinobi world, and the rest had no say.

So far, even Akatsuki.

Mount Myoboku!

One of the three legendary Sage Regions.

Inside a spacious stone structure that resembled a temple.

On either a bathtub or a throne with the kanji for "sage" sat a giant, unusually sleepy toad with brown skin and a white belly.

It was the oldest and most respected toad among all the inhabitants of Mount Myōboku, commonly known as the Great Toad Sage, or simply Gamamaru.

Despite his senile and lazy appearance, no one dared to underestimate this toad, because inside this huge body hid a calm, but at the same time unusually powerful chakra.

- How long can you sleep? – Jiraiya sighed helplessly in front of the dozing Gamamaru.

The Sannin would have disappeared from here a long time ago if Fukasaku had not warned him in advance about the prophecy of the great sleeping toad.

It is important to note here that he was pulled out here using the reverse summoning technique in the midst of the creative process! Do you understand?!

Fukasaku answered Jiraiya's question with a silent look.

Which is why he sighed again and froze in dull silence.

And when the Sannin no longer hoped for anything, Gamamaru's huge eyelids began to slowly lift.

“You have come, Jiraiya,” a lazy old voice suddenly sounded in Jiraiya’s ears, tearing him out of his thoughts about the lofty and beautiful.

- Great Toad Sage, what kind of prediction is there, again about the child from the prophecy? – he raised his head and asked, suddenly becoming serious.

“No, this time I dreamed of Konoha, and in this dream it was engulfed in the flames of war...”, after a short silence, the sage answered lazily.

– Konoha?.. Flame of war?! – Having heard this, Jiraiya fell into deep shock and for some time simply could not find words, but soon he pulled himself together and wanted to clarify. - Great sage...

Unfortunately, he stopped mid-sentence.

Because Gamamaru fell asleep again.

It was unusual for him to go into details of his own predictions.

– When will the great sage wake up? – Jiraiya sighed and seriously turned to the toad standing next to him.

– I have no idea... maybe soon, maybe not, who knows? – Fukasaku shook his head.

“Well, as always, it would be better to return to Konoha right away,” Jiraiya frowned gloomily.

He always took the vague predictions of the Great Toad Sage seriously, but whatever one may say, it did not bode well. Konoha will be engulfed in the flames of war...

Pooh!

A few seconds later, the Sannin disappeared into a puff of white smoke.

***

Large entertainment establishment.

There was tense silence inside.

The eyes of all those present were focused on one gaming table in the very center.

There, a beautiful girl with blond hair tied in two ponytails was looking at a real mountain of playing chips in front of her.

And opposite her, a middle-aged man was pouring cold sweat.

"Opening!" – the dealer exclaimed.

And they simultaneously showed their cards.

A moment later.

There was a hubbub all around.

“Won again!”

“I’ve never lost, but that can’t happen!”

“I’ll punch anyone in the face who calls this woman a Legendary Loser again! Yes, she left us all without panties..."

The indignant crowd hurled all kinds of insults heartily, but no one had the courage to step forward and take the mountain of chips from the table.

After all, by this moment, more than a dozen mercilessly marked men of all stripes were lying under the feet of the fair-haired beauty.

- Tsunade-sama! We are rich, we are rich!! – Shizune shouted excitedly, looking at the huge mountain of chips in the middle of the table with shining eyes.

Even the piglet in her arms rejoiced.

But Tsunade herself was not particularly happy about the win; on the contrary, she frowned and became gloomy.

“Shizune, we were just lucky to take a couple of games,” she said with dignity.

– Isn’t it a couple of dozen or so? You have never lost since the moment you stepped through the threshold of this establishment... - the perplexed Shizune thought a little and hesitantly denied.

Bang!

After her words, Tsunade suddenly stood up and headed towards the exit.

- Tsunade-sama, our money, but what about our money! – Shizune exclaimed in shock and rushed to collect the chips, completely forgetting about her pig, at the same time she raised her head and growled angrily at the crowded onlookers. “I swear, I will finish off anyone who dares to extend their dirty little hands to our winnings!”

Soon she exchanged all the collected chips for two suitcases of money and, breathless, rushed after the departed Tsunade.

***

Meanwhile, the culprit of everything that was happening was no longer in Kiri, but on the crowded street of Konoha.

Crowds of people walked past him, shouting and laughing, and rows of stalls with shouting merchants lined both sides of the street.

It cannot be denied that Konoha has traditionally been the most developed and prosperous of the five great shinobi villages, in contrast to the same Kiri, whose affairs have only recently begun to improve.

“Our game has already begun...” Yudao smiled softly and whispered to himself, slowly looking around the prosperous Konoha.

At the same time, Ranmaru, who was following on the heels of the First Mizukage, looked around interestedly and from time to time glanced at the completely ordinary-looking turtle on his shoulder.

Apparently due to the influx of people on the occasion of the Chuunin Exams, Yudao and Ranmaru were able to easily and simply enter Konoha along with the trading cart, without any special inspections or searches.