Naruto: Konoha’s Kanpu

Chapter 913: Minato's Arrangements

Thud!

Thud!!

Kunai slashed throats, blood splattered, and droplets stained Uchiha Obito’s orange mask, making him appear as sinister as a blood demon.

“Oh my, this is quite something, Madara-sama, killing so many people.” A frivolous voice came from the ground. Obito looked down to see Zetsu had returned.

“How are things at the Land of Sky?” Obito sheathed his kunai and asked coldly.

For the past few days, he had stationed himself at one end of the forest, killing all passersby to prevent any information from leaking to Konoha. Unconsciously, the death toll by his hands had surpassed a hundred!

Emerging from the ground, avoiding the corpses, and White Zetsu said cheerfully: “Land of Sky’s Shinobi were furious upon learning their leader died in Konoha. They’ve decided to mobilize completely and join us in attacking Konoha!”

Black Zetsu glanced at the dense forest nearby and asked: “Is this Orochimaru’s doing?”

Obito nodded grimly, “Orochimaru awakened Wood Release after injecting the last vial of Hashirama’s cells… Black Zetsu, have you ever seen Senju Hashirama’s Wood Release?”

“Orochimaru’s Wood Release probably doesn’t compare to the Shodaime Hokage’s, right?” White Zetsu asked with a smile.

‘The difference is substantial…’ Black Zetsu didn’t want to delve deeper into this topic, so he changed the subject, “The final matches of Konoha’s Chunin Exams is about to start. Is Orochimaru not ready yet?”

“My apologies for keeping you waiting.”

At this moment, an unfamiliar voice came from the forest. Obito and Zetsu turned to see the Yondaime Kazekage, Rasa, walking towards them with an imposing presence. Countless specks of gold dust swirled around him, resembling a golden nebula!

“Magnet Release, you’re the Yondaime Kazekage…”

Obito’s pupil shrank, “No, you are Orochimaru!”

‘Steel Release, Wood Release, and now Magnet Release. Orochimaru, how many secrets are you hiding on your body?’

A shadow of unease gradually crept over Obito’s heart.

“Yes, it’s me.”

‘Rasa’ smiled slightly, and said, “Everything is ready. Let’s head to Konoha!”

“Don’t you need to transplant your left hand?” White Zetsu asked cheerfully.

“It’s no longer necessary.”

‘Rasa’ lowered his head, and the swirling gold dust gathered at his empty left sleeve, forming a gold dust arm in an instant!

Then, ‘Rasa’ wraps his left hand with a bandage. And now, unless the bandages were removed, no one could discern the true nature of this arm.

“Madara, what are you waiting for?” ‘Rasa’ looked at Uchiha Obito with a majestic expression.

“Humph.”

Obito snorted discontentedly, and then an invisible vortex began to envelop the three of them.

…

Two days later.

Land of Fire.

Konoha.

The night before the final matches of the Chunin Exams.

In the small conference room in the Hokage Tower, Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato, Anbu Commander, Eagle, Advisors, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Uchiha Fugaku, Jonin Commander, Nara Shikaku, Military Police Force’s Captain, Kakashi, and Gekko Clan’s Clan Head, Gekko Kanp?, were in a meeting. ??

“Eagle, you go first.” Minato, seated at the head, instructed calmly.

“Yes.”

Eagle stood up and reported, “In the past few days, Daimyo, ministers, and notable figures from various countries, including the representative from Kirigakure, Gonbee, have arrived in the village. Additionally, we spotted Yondaime Kazekage, Rasa a hundred kilometers outside the village. After contact, he informed us he would enter the village tomorrow morning.”

“Is Rasa worried we might be hostile to him?” Fugaku, projecting his own suspicions, slammed the table in displeasure.

“If it's just these updates, Yondaime-sama wouldn’t have called us here for a meeting.” Shikaku, the person with the highest IQ present, interjected.

Originally, he was set to go on a mission with his two friends, Choza and Inoichi, but they were intercepted by Anbu before leaving the village. If there weren’t serious issues at play, Shikaku would never believe it.

“In addition to this, Anbu has uncovered several abnormalities.”

Eagle continued, “First, the remnants of the Land of Sky have resurfaced. They had been hiding at the old site of the Land of Sky. They suddenly appeared a few days ago, using their aerial fortress to ascend into the sky and disappeared!”

Eagle went on, “Second, in the Land of Wind, a massive forest suspected to be created by Wood Release has appeared again. At the same time, nearly a hundred corpse were found on the edge of the forest.”

“Third, multiple groups of mysterious Shinobi are approaching us from all directions. Their numbers are currently unknown.”

“Does this mean they intend to declare war on us?” Kakashi, propping his chin with one hand, spoke with a lazy demeanor as if they’re discussing something trivial.

“We can’t rule out that possibility!”

Eagle said, “Before the Chunin Exams, Orochimaru and the Land of Sky’s leader appeared in our village at the same time. This cannot be a coincidence!”

“Shinno was killed by Kanp?, so the Land of Sky’s remnants are here for revenge… Hey, this is your mess, deal with it yourself.” Kakashi glanced coldly at Kanp?.

Kanp? was furious when he heard this, ‘Everyone was discussing matters crucial to the village’s survival right now, but you are shifting blame. I, Gekko Kanp?, on behalf of Gekko Clan’s ancestors, scorned your shamelessness!’

‘Ptui!’

“Orochimaru…” Hiruzen, smoking his pipe, wore a pained expression on his elderly face.

“Orochimaru, Land of Sky’s remnants, and an unknown number of mysterious Shinobi… It seems that this time, they are uniting to cause a major disruption.”

Shikaku said with a chuckle, “If there is no accident, they will probably strike during the final matched tomorrow. However, we don’t know how many of their agents are in the finals.”

“Kirigakure, Sunagakure, Otogakure, Kusagakure, Takigakure…”

Fugaku spoke up, “Otogakure was created by Orochimaru. Although the traces of Orochimaru were later erased by Yondaime, it is hard to guarantee there would be no resurgence. We should keep a close eye on Otogakure’s team!”

“Yondaime Kazekage came to our village from Sunagakure, but a forest that was suspected to be made by Wood Release appeared on the way. I suggest we monitor the people from Sunagakure.” Shikaku analyzed.

Kanp? said at the right time: “Kirigakure is also very strange. With Terumi Mei’s strength and reputation in Kirigakure, it’s odd for Elder Genji to send his confidant Gonbee instead of letting Terumi Mei represented him. It’s very suspicious!”

“What’s more suspicious is you drinking with Mei Terumi every day.” Kakashi murmured.

“Nonsense! I was clearly going to the hot springs to relax!” Kanp? defended righteously, though internally he seethed in anger, ‘This petty guy, still mad about me teaching Chidori to Sasuke?’

‘Besides, you’ve already taken Sasuke as your disciple and made a bet with me. Do you really need to keep picking on me?’

“Sunagakure, Kirigakure, Otogakure… It seems that tomorrow will be very lively.”

Minato said with a smile, then looked towards Kakashi, and instructed, “Kakashi, everyone in the Military Police Force will be on duty tomorrow. If the Shinobi from these three villages are agents, then they will surely cause chaos throughout the village. So I’ll leave them to you!”

“Understood!” Kakashi’s eye sharpened as he solemnly accepted the task.

Minato nodded slightly, then looked at Eagle and Shikaku, and said: “Eagle, Shikaku, the enemies outside will be left to you. The Anbu and Jonin Teams must intercept them outside. Do not let them endanger the villagers.”

“Yes!” The two responded in unison.

“As for the final matches, leave it to me, Advisor Fugaku and Kanp?.” Minato continued the arrangement.

“No problem.” Fugaku said with his hands crossed, and a faint excitement flashed in his eyes, ‘If I can perform exceptionally this time, could I obtain the solution to the Mangekyo Sharingan’s blindness from Yondaime?’

“Sandaime, in case of emergencies, gather the elite of the Great Shinobi Clans to be on standby and adapt as necessary.” Minato said.

“I understand.” Hiruzen put down the tobacco pipe, and there was an inexplicable restlessness in his heart, ‘This long-lost feeling… it had been so long.’