Naruto: Zanka No Tachi

Chapter 168: NZNT: Chapter 168

”Let me go! Where are you taking me?!” Konan angrily demanded, struggling against Hōichi’s grip. Hōichi, carrying Konan swiftly away from Am

”Let me go! Where are you taking me?!” Konan angrily demanded, struggling against Hōichi’s grip.

Hōichi, carrying Konan swiftly away from Amegakure, replied calmly, ”I don’t know, but if you fight, you’ll die.”

Konan let out a bitter laugh, ”What’s the point of living now?”

Hōichi said gently, ”Nagato left you a message...he wanted you to do something. Dying now would betray his hopes.”

Konan recalled Madara’s words, conveying Nagato’s final message:

”Ten years ago...my decision was right? Nagato and Yahiko’s dream...I must protect it?”

Frowning, Konan reflected on Nagato’s words. ”Ten years ago...the dream?”

A moment later, understanding lit up her eyes. She sighed, ”Hōichi, put me down. I won’t fight Madara.”

Hōichi, seeing her calm, released her.

”Where are you going?” Hōichi asked.

Gazing towards the Land of Fire, Konan said softly, ”The Land of Fire, Konohagakure.”

Hōichi frowned. They’d just fought Konoha; this was reckless.

”Why Konoha?” Hōichi asked.

With images of Nagato and Yahiko in her mind, Konan replied calmly, ”It’s their final chance.”

”Hokage-sama, Advisor-sama, Sunagakure envoys have arrived. They wish to discuss Sunagakure’s surrender,” Nara Shikaku reported to Minato and Yusuke in Minato’s office.

Minato smiled, ”Shikaku-senpai, have them wait at the inn. We’ll decide on Sunagakure’s fate after Yusuke and I discuss it.”

”Understood.”

Shikaku bowed and left.

Minato turned to Yusuke, ”Are you really intervening in the Land of Wind’s affairs? Won’t that cause trouble? The Daimyō won’t agree.”

Yusuke smiled, ”No one dares oppose Konoha now. I saved the Daimyō because he’s incompetent.”

”Since you want to avoid war, this is a perfect opportunity to peacefully control the Land of Wind. Why hesitate?”

Minato nodded, chuckling self-deprecatingly, ”True, I overthink. I’m too indecisive.”

Minato smiled at Yusuke, ”Why not become the Fifth Hokage? You’re a more decisive leader.”

Yusuke waved his hand, ”No, but I have someone in mind.”

”Itachi?”

”Yes.”

After planning with Minato, Yusuke began to act. He pressured the Land of Wind’s Daimyō, still held in Konoha, to make Sunagakure subordinate to Konoha.

Sunagakure’s ninja forces would fall under Konoha’s control, with the new Kazekage reporting directly to the Hokage and the chief advisor.

Yusuke planned to install Pakura as the new Kazekage, with the appointment officially made by the Daimyō.

Once Pakura secured control of Sunagakure, the Land of Wind would effectively become a possession of the Land of Fire.

While this plan was ideal, its execution would be challenging.

First, Pakura wouldn’t blindly follow Yusuke’s orders; her cooperation stemmed from his saving her life and her desire for revenge against Sunagakure. Second, Pakura alone wouldn’t be sufficient to control Sunagakure.

Therefore, Yusuke would personally oversee the annexation of Sunagakure. To ensure complete control, he planned to remain in Sunagakure for a period of time.

In Sunagakure’s council hall...

Sunagakure’s leaders gathered around a large circular table, strategizing their response to Yusuke’s impending visit.

Unaware of Yusuke’s true intentions, they believed he was coming for post-war negotiations, completely oblivious to his plan to annex Sunagakure.

With the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, and numerous elite Sunagakure ninjas lost to Konoha, Sunagakure was teetering on the brink of collapse. Chiyo and Ebizo, retired due to age, were forced to return to active duty.

”A village that needs us old geezers back in charge? It’s practically finished,”

Chiyo remarked bluntly, surveying the assembled Sunagakure leaders.

Chiyo felt a surge of frustration. No wonder the village had been declining; few of these so-called leaders were worthy of respect.

She recalled hearing years ago about a remarkably skilled Scorch Release ninja named Pakura, only to learn of her mysterious disappearance, and the recent reports placing her in Konoha were baffling.

At Chiyo’s words, the Sunagakure leaders remained silent.

If the situation weren’t so dire, these power-hungry individuals wouldn’t have summoned Chiyo and Ebizo, inviting trouble upon themselves. However, the current crisis in Sunagakure was beyond their capacity to resolve, and only the highly respected Chiyo and Ebizo possessed the authority and experience to withstand the impending pressure.

”Chiyo-sama, the Kazekage insisted on collaborating with Akatsuki to attack Konoha. There was nothing we could do to stop him,”

one of the Sunagakure leaders explained, shifting the blame onto the Fourth Kazekage.

”Yes, yes! And who could have anticipated Konoha’s overwhelming strength, especially that Uchiha Yusuke? They say he even deflected a meteor the size of the moon! It’s not the power of a mere ninja!”

The Sunagakure leaders voiced their complaints, placing the entire responsibility on the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, while simultaneously highlighting Konoha’s overwhelming might.

However, this blame wasn’t entirely unwarranted; the Sunagakure leaders were content with the status quo, and only Rasa’s immense authority and influence prevented any opposition to his plans. As for Chiyo and Ebizo, who had already retired from active duty, they had been completely unaware of Rasa’s scheme to attack Konoha.

____________________

For more advance Chapters visit my patreon

patreon.com/kane45

Tier: 10$ Casual Reader - +20 Advance Chapter

20$ Intermediate Reader - +40 Advance Chapter

40$ Expert Reader - +80 Advance Chapter

Update: ”Monday to Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day”

”Saturday and Sunday - Off”