Chapter 166: The Era of Konoha, Has Passed

Fugaku and Mikoto took the severely injured and unconscious Chisuko back with them.

The value of a Mangekyou user to the Uchiha clan was undoubtedly significant.

Both of them promised Dan that they would work on Chisuko's mindset, to correct her misguided thoughts and stop her from harboring resentment towards Dan.

Of course, if Chisuko remained unrepentant and continued to act against the interests of the Uchiha clan.

Then her eyes would have to be reclaimed by the clan.

At that time, even if Dan didn't take action, Fugaku, as the clan leader, would not be lenient with Chisuko.

After watching his sister and brother-in-law leave.

Dan slowly turned around, squinted his eyes, and looked into the dark depths of the forest.

There... seemed to be two little mice.

Not good.

Kakashi and Tenzou, who were hiding in the trees, were suddenly startled, realizing they had been discovered by Dan.

"Run!" Kakashi shouted at Tenzou, and the two of them immediately tried to use the Body Flicker Technique to escape.

Fortunately, in this vast primitive forest, they had plenty of ways to hide and escape from Uchiha Dan.

But just then Dan's gaze hardened, and the Heavenly Control was activated again.

Whoosh.

In an instant, he crossed a distance of over a hundred meters and appeared behind Kakashi and Tenzou.

Thump. Dan's large hands landed on their shoulders, causing them to shudder and dare not move.

Any movement would mean death.

"Gulp." Tenzou swallowed, cold sweat trickling down his face. He didn't dare to breathe heavily or look back.

Kakashi, next to him, was the same, his face pale and his body rigid.

"Answer my question." Dan's calm voice echoed in their ears. Although his tone was very flat, it was impossible to refuse.

"Yes." Kakashi managed to respond.

"Why are you two here?"

"The Third Hokage sent us to track the Uchiha clan, to find out where they are going."

Hearing this answer, Dan was not surprised.

He thought for a moment, then asked another question: "When the Uchiha and Konoha broke ties and started fighting in front of the Hokage building, why were you, as members of the Anbu, nowhere to be seen?"

"We... were helping civilians." Kakashi answered.

"Oh? Is that so?" Dan smirked, seeing through Kakashi's inner thoughts.

As a member of the Konoha Anbu, Kakashi's first duty was to protect the Hokage, but when the Hokage building was attacked by the Uchiha, he chose to protect ordinary villagers.

In the original story, when Orochimaru invaded Konoha and tried to kill the Third Hokage, Kakashi stood by and even stopped Might Guy from helping the Third Hokage.

Kakashi, what a cunning fellow.

At this moment the forest was silent, and you could hear a pin drop. The only sound was the beating hearts of Kakashi and Tenzou, getting faster and faster.

Dan's gaze flickered, as if he was considering how to deal with the two of them. Meanwhile, the hands on their shoulders unconsciously increased in strength.

It's over. Both of them felt a weight on their shoulders, and their hearts sank.

Anyone would feel fear and terror when death loomed over them, even experienced Anbu members of Konoha were no exception.

Just as Kakashi and Tenzou were sinking into despair Dan, unexpectedly, withdrew his hands and said to them: "Alright, I have no more questions. Continue your mission."

What?

Both of them were taken aback, thinking they had misheard.

"Didn't you understand?" Seeing that they didn't move, Dan extended a hand again, patting Kakashi's shoulder, and advised earnestly, "A ninja, under any circumstances, should prioritize completing the mission.

Your father, Sakumo Hatake, committed suicide out of guilt because he failed to complete his mission.

Kakashi, you don't want to end up the same way, do you?"

His words sent a jolt through Kakashi, his face turning somber.

With that, Dan disappeared with a whoosh.

After a long while, Kakashi and Tenzou, who had come back to their senses, looked at each other.

What did Uchiha Dan mean?

Not only did he let them go, but he also wanted them to continue tracking the Uchiha clan.

Both of them furrowed their brows, unable to figure out why.

After a while.

"Senior, what should we do next?" Tenzou looked at Kakashi, asking with a face full of confusion.

Kakashi was silent for a moment, then said, "The mission continues."

From Kakashi's perspective.

Since both the Third Hokage and Dan asked them to track the Uchiha clan, what other choice did they have?

After all.

Ninjas are thoughtless tools, they just need to follow the orders of their superiors and focus on completing the mission.

The moon set and the sun rose, marking a new day.

Over the past two days, due to Shisui's death, the split between the Uchiha and Konoha, the reenactment of the Nine-Tails incident, and the departure of the Uchiha clan from Konoha... these series of major events spread rapidly throughout the ninja world like they had wings, causing a major earthquake.

Hidden Rain Village.

Still the endless rain, still that high tower.

"Pain, our decision to sign a ceasefire agreement with Konoha was indeed the right choice. Now it seems that we didn't even need you to take action, they are splitting due to internal strife."

Konan brought the news, mocking Konoha lightly.

Upon hearing this, Pain responded indifferently, "Indeed, it saved me a lot of effort."

"Based on the current situation in Konoha, the Third Hokage stepping down is almost a certainty. The next Hokage is likely to be Jiraiya-sensei." Konan analyzed further.

To this, Pain shook his head with a cold expression: "Even if Jiraiya becomes Hokage, Konoha is still Konoha. These large ninja villages have always been high and mighty, trampling on the weak for their own interests, they are the root cause of war and disrupt peace."

He reminded Konan not to have any expectations of Jiraiya.

The Fifth Hokage, Jiraiya, couldn't change Konoha, nor would he make the ninja world more peaceful.

"You're right."

Konan nodded in agreement, then furrowed her brows, speculating, "However, with Konoha causing such a big commotion this time, it can be said that they are severely weakened. The other four major ninja villages probably can't sit still and will definitely take action. Should we... get involved?"

Pain pondered for a moment.

Akatsuki's goal was never about domination, but to collect the nine Tailed Beasts and use the weapons they created to deter the entire ninja world, fostering peace through fear.

However, for Akatsuki, the most important Tailed Beast - the Nine-Tails, was in Konoha.

"When the time is right, I will personally go to Konoha and seize the Nine-Tails." Pain's gaze was icy as he made a decision.

It was time to initiate the plan to capture the Tailed Beasts.

In the Land of Wind, the Hidden Sand Village.

The Fourth Kazekage Rasa, advisor Chiyo, and elder Ebizō once again convened an emergency high-level meeting.

During the Third Great Ninja War.

The Hidden Sand was defeated on the battlefield by Konoha, and had to surrender to Konoha, under the guise of forming an alliance.

In reality, they had become Konoha's subordinate.

These past few years, the Hidden Sand's days had become increasingly difficult.

Because of their defeat, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind despised the Hidden Sand Village, not only repeatedly cutting funds, but also handing over tasks that originally belonged to the Hidden Sand to Konoha next door.

To maintain the operation of the village and keep the Hidden Sand alive, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa even had to spend a lot of time using Magnet Release to pan for gold in the desert.

Both Rasa and the people of the Hidden Sand Village had been waiting for an opportunity to turn things around.

Now, the opportunity had finally arrived.

"The break between Konoha and the Uchiha is equivalent to them cutting off their own arm. They no longer have the strength or qualifications to suppress the Hidden Sand. From now on, the Hidden Sand will no longer be a vassal of Konoha."

Rasa's gaze was burning, full of ambition.

Thinking back, when the Third Great Ninja War had just ended, Konoha was full of powerful ninjas, their strength overwhelming the Hidden Sand, making the Hidden Sand dare not have any ideas.

But in these short few years.

First, Orochimaru, one of the Three Legendary Ninjas, defected from Konoha, then the Fourth Hokage and his wife died in the Nine-Tails incident, and now even the strongest Uchiha clan in Konoha has left the village.

All of this made Rasa and Chiyo and others have to sigh:

Konoha really knows how to stir things up, they never stop infighting, and they've almost worn out all the strong people in the village.

Since that's the case, don't blame the Hidden Sand for being ruthless.

Thinking of this, Rasa looked at Chiyo and Ebizō and others, and said solemnly: "Send the order, let all Hidden Sand ninjas prepare. This time, we must bite a chunk of flesh off Konoha!"

In the Land of Earth, the Hidden Stone Village.

The Tsuchikage's office.

"Is Konoha, the head of the Five Great Ninja Villages, going to perish in civil strife? What on earth is Hiruzen Sarutobi doing?"

Ōnoki sat in his chair, frowning, talking to himself.

The large-scale civil strife that broke out in Konoha, the one who should be responsible for it, without a doubt, is Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage.

This once-renowned Third Hokage, in recent years, seems to have become more and more incompetent and tyrannical.

At the same time Ōnoki also realized that the era of Konoha was finally coming to an end.

As an old-timer in the ninja world, Ōnoki had witnessed the power of the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara in his youth.

Those two, each representing the Senju and Uchiha clans, stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world.

Their power was so strong that it left no room for resistance.

Konoha Village.

It was established by the Senju and Uchiha, two major clans, occupying the richest forest in the center of the ninja world, and later attracted many medium and small ninja clans to join.

Now, the two cornerstones of Konoha's establishment are gone.

Hmph. Thinking of this, Ōnoki couldn't help but snort, revealing a cold smile. In his view, without the Senju and Uchiha, the remaining clans in Konoha are nothing more than a mob.

Perhaps, the era of the Hidden Stone is coming.

In the Land of Water, the Hidden Mist Village.

In the basement of the Mizukage's building.

"That's the situation." White Zetsu reported the events in Konoha to Obito. After Obito listened, the Mangekyō Sharingan in his right eye suddenly appeared, and he glanced at the dark corner.

Tap tap tap.

With a series of footsteps, a short figure walked out from there.

The person was only about 1.4 meters tall, with a baby face and a dull expression, carrying a stick-like weapon decorated with green flowers.

He was the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi.

Who would have thought.

Yagura Karatachi, known as the perfect Jinchūriki, had been controlled by genjutsu for a long time, and had implemented a series of high-pressure policies in the village, making the Hidden Mist isolated from the world and becoming the Land of Bloody Mist.

"Gather the Mist's army, prepare to attack Konoha."

Obito didn't waste words, his voice was cold.

Yagura didn't say a word, silently turned around and left, faithfully executing Obito's orders.

Over the past few years.

Under Obito's manipulation, although many of the Hidden Mist's ninjas died or defected, those who survived in the Land of Bloody Mist were basically bloodthirsty madmen.

Just a little instigation could make these people, like mad dogs, rush to Konoha in a frenzy.

Obito's plan was in two steps.

First, destroy Konoha, then incite the power of the entire ninja world to eradicate the Uchiha clan!

This time.

He wouldn't take the field personally, but would manipulate things from behind the scenes.

At the moment.

The entire ninja world can be said to be undercurrents. The Hidden Rain, Hidden Sand, Hidden Stone, Hidden Mist, and other forces are all gathering troops while watching the situation.

Many people are guessing and looking forward to.

Who will be the first to launch a war against Konoha and fire the first shot?

In the Land of Lightning, the Hidden Cloud Village.

The Fourth Raikage and his party had just returned to the Hidden Cloud and hadn't had time to sit down when they heard the news from Konoha.

"Uchiha Dan was right after all!"

The Raikage's gaze was sharp, his fists clenched.

Previously Dan had told the Raikage through Samui that the Uchiha clan was about to launch a coup, plunging Konoha into unprecedented chaos, and hoped that the Hidden Cloud would not miss this opportunity.

What else is there to say?

Without any hesitation, the Fourth Raikage directly ordered his secretary Mabui:

"Contact the Daimyo immediately, I want to mobil

ize a large army and wage war against Konoha!"

The Land of Lightning is a nation where the entire population values martial prowess.

The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning supports the Fourth Raikage's military expansion, so the speed at which the Hidden Cloud assembles its troops will far exceed that of other ninja villages.

Samui doesn't need to participate in the upcoming war.

She had been undercover in Konoha for three years, making great contributions to the Hidden Cloud, so as soon as she returned to the village, she was commended by the Raikage and officially promoted to Jonin.

Moreover, she was given ample vacation time to go home and rest for a while.

However, Samui's heart was always hanging, never relaxing.

She was worried about the man named Uchiha Dan.

In the Land of Fire, Konoha Village.

Under the orders of the Fourth Raikage, Heki and Darui had been lurking in the woods outside Konoha Village.

Two days ago, they witnessed the split between the Uchiha clan and Konoha with their own eyes, and immediately sent the intelligence back to the Hidden Cloud.

At this moment, in the center of Konoha Village, including the Hokage Building, a large number of buildings had become ruins, and at least a thousand Konoha ninjas had died in this civil strife.

On the edge of the village, the Uchiha clan's area was deserted. The once formidable clan had completely separated from Konoha.

In the eyes of Heki and Darui Konoha, without the Uchiha, would be nothing to fear, and would definitely not be a match for the Hidden Cloud.

Now, they were just waiting for the Raikage to lead his army southward, marching straight into Konoha Village.

The time was approaching noon.

"Huh, that is..." Heki, who was monitoring Konoha, suddenly let out a light gasp, then her pupils dilated, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.

"What's wrong?" Next to her, Darui, who was lying on a tree and dozing off with his legs propped up, opened his eyes lazily and asked, then followed Heki's gaze.

As a result, he was also taken aback, almost falling off the tree.

They saw a tall figure appeared at the gate of Konoha Village.

Uchiha Dan had returned.