CH - 183 Aftermath of Nine-tails attack.

The following day, as expected, news of the Fourth Hokage's suspected betrayal and the chaos caused by the Nine-Tails in Konoha spread across the entire shinobi world, sparking waves of shock and concern.

Immediately, military presence at the borders of the Land of Fire tripled. There were noticeable movements within the ninja forces of the Cloud Village and the Rock Village. Surprisingly, the Sand Village, known for its readiness to declare war on Konoha, remained quiet this time.

Perhaps they comprehended that starting a war presently wasn't good, or they were aware of Konoha's internal struggle. Therefore, they refrained from recklessly declaring war.

However, it was unexpected that Obito brought Minato's wife back. It appeared he remembered how Pakura was saved from the brink of death. Thus, Quietly securing Minato's approval, Obito brought Kushina here to have some medical assistance.

Akihiko speculated that Minato might have been taken aback at that moment. He likely prepared himself for a joint end with Kushina, only to suddenly hear there was still hope. Why hadn't this been mentioned earlier? What about his resolve to pass away with his beloved? Nevertheless, after hearing Obito out, Minato must have agreed in the end.

Obito intended to bring Minato's child to the Grass Village for the mandated six-year education, yet Minato declined. He opted to seal the Nine-Tails within his child, believing it was his duty as the Hokage to safeguard the village from its threat. Despite some misunderstandings, he chose to aid Konoha one final time.

Ultimately, the child was named Naruto Uzumaki. Minato chose the surname Uzumaki, hoping it would grant Naruto a better life, considering the Uzumaki clan hadn't been wiped out and the name might offer some protection.

In the aftermath of the Nine-Tails' chaos, Minato sealed the beast while Obito shouldered the blame, as he was considered as the instigator of the chaos caused by Konoha. Moreover, If not for his ability, he would have faced the wrath of the Third Hokage. Obito also earned the title of 'Corpse Robber' for attempting to bring back the body of Kushina.

"Intelligence reports reveal that Konoha didn't immediately suppress news of the Fourth Hokage's actions," Mubuki disclosed, sifting through his collected information. "The situation escalated, especially with Uchiha Obito's involvement. Many believed he had come to aid his teacher, impacting even the Uchiha clan. However, The intel suggests that it was Mangekyo Sharingan's control over the Nine-Tails that instilled fear in many within Konoha"

As his words echoed, a collective sigh of emotion swept through the room. Unexpectedly, an accident had snowballed into such a catastrophic event. According to the intelligence from Mubuki, the news had spread rapidly, catching Konoha off guard.

Nevertheless, Grass Village remained relatively unaffected by Konoha's plight. They could only sigh at the unfortunate turn of events and redirect their focus to Grass Village's imminent preparations.

Speaking of Obito, his corpse-robbing incident became a topic of discussion in the Grass Village. Being Konoha's hero, Uchiha Obito was well-known, especially considering the plagiarism incident from the previous year that had turned into a widespread joke.

Adding to the complexity, Obito himself had placed Kushina, the wife of the Fourth Hokage, in the village hospital. Speaking of which, This actually raised concerns among the Grass Village residents, fearing that Konoha might exploit this situation as a pretext for causing trouble.

Yoshinori Uzumaki, in particular, held vivid memories of the child Kushina, who had accompanied them when escaping the Land of Whirlpools, only to be later taken by Konoha under the guise of rescuing the Uzumaki bloodline.

As one of the two remaining elders of the Uzumaki clan, he felt a deep sense of distress witnessing a child of exceptional talent within the Uzumaki clan facing such dire circumstances. Moreover, According to reports, her safety was still uncertain.

However, the paramount concern shifted towards ensuring the safety of the Grass Village. It was only due to the leader's benevolence that individuals like Uchiha Obito or Kushina hadn't been expelled or sent back already, in another village, such figures would likely have faced swift expulsion.

Yoshinori sighed deeply as these thoughts weighed on him. At this moment, all eyes, including his, turned towards Akihiko, anticipating the leader's directives.

"Make a statement expressing Grass Village's sincere condolences for Konoha's current predicament," Akihiko commanded, intertwining his fingers in a display of deep thought. He sighed heavily before addressing everyone present with a somber tone, "...moving forward, we must proceed with the 'Talent Recruitment Plan'!"

His words hung in the air, capturing the immediate focus of every individual present. Was the Talent Plan to be set in motion once again? The unspoken question lingered—this time, whose talents were they going to 'acquire'?

…

As Grass Village worked on formulating its response policy in the aftermath of the Nine-Tails chaos, Konoha, on the other side, was deeply entrenched in the process of rebuilding. The sudden onslaught of the Nine-Tails had caught Konoha completely off guard, resulting in extensive damage and leaving the village in ruins.

Although the official count of casualties had not been tabulated, the widespread awareness indicated a substantial sacrifice. A palpable sense of sorrow and resentment hung in the air above Konoha.

The timing of this disaster, not long after the conclusion of the Third Great Ninja War, heightened concerns. The Fourth Hokage himself made the ultimate sacrifice. This led many to worry that other ninja villages might exploit Konoha's vulnerability and declare war.

Particularly unsettling was the news of ninja forces mobilizing on the borders of the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning. The collective understanding among the people was clear—war might be on the brink of eruption once again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi drew a harsh drag from his pipe, his countenance growing somber as he directed his gaze at Danzo with restrained intensity. "Why would you take such action?"

The incident unfolded with alarming speed, catching him off guard, and the Nine-Tails had already descended into chaos before he could react.

"We received intelligence suggesting secret communications between the Fourth Hokage and Grass Village." Danzo, wearing an equally somber expression, explained. "This was merely a routine investigation conducted by Root."

"Even now, in the aftermath of everything, you are trying to deceive me? Minato would never betray the village." Danzo's unwavering stance provoked Hiruzen to slam the table and roar, "Put an end to these rumors swiftly. We cannot allow them to spread any further!"

"Root merely gathered information," Danzo retorted, his demeanor chillingly composed. "And the emergence of that Uchiha rogue indicates that the Fourth Hokage wasn't as pristine as you believe, Hiruzen. You misjudged him."

"Enough! I understand Minato far better than you ever will, Danzo. Don't Forget, He was Konoha's Fourth Hokage!" Hiruzen's voice dripped with frustration and anger at Danzo's actions.

"I was merely conducting a covert investigation," Danzo retorted, meeting Hiruzen's gaze without flinching.

"Don't presume I'm oblivious to your schemes, Danzo." Hiruzen snorted in disdain.

"I act in the best interest of Konoha!" Danzo attempted to assert himself, his tone suddenly self-righteous.

"I'm warning you, that eye won't fall into your hands. I've stationed ninjas to safeguard it." Hiruzen disregarded Danzo's words, speaking resolutely.

"You..." Danzo's expression darkened at Hiruzen's declaration.

Originally, Kakashi Hatake had been brought into Root, but following the Nine-Tails' chaos, the individual was extracted by ANBU operatives. It appeared that during the upheaval, Hiruzen had orchestrated the removal of Kakashi from Danzo's clutches.

He regarded Hiruzen with a cold stare and drew a deep breath. "The fact that the Fourth Hokage's wife's body was taken away adds to the suspicion. It's not about dispelling rumors now; it's about pacifying the populace and redirecting their resentment, Hiruzen. And the significance and danger posed by that eye capable of controlling the Tailed Beasts for the village? You understand—it must be safeguarded by Root!"

"No need for further words, I've made my decision. You won't lay your hands on it! And Minato is not a traitor." Hiruzen's tone held unwavering determination.

"You're letting sentiment cloud your judgment. Fine, let's drop the topic for now. Since you believe you can handle him, that Jinchuriki..." Danzo swiftly shifted the conversation, sensing Hiruzen's resolve.

"Jinchuriki..." The mention of the term brought a momentary calm to the room as Hiruzen, once again, took a harsh drag from his pipe.

Recalling Minato's final request to care for Naruto, he sighed, his voice steady. "He's the Fourth's child, I will look after him."

Danzo's countenance shifted in disbelief. "You're letting emotions cloud your judgment, Hiruzen. You understand the sheer threat the Nine-Tails poses. This is no time for leniency."

"Enough. I will oversee the Jinchuriki. And remember, I am the Hokage, Danzo!" Hiruzen's voice carried the finality of a concluded discussion as he locked gazes with Danzo.

"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!" With a final, frustrated glance at Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, Danzo stormed out, leaving an air of helpless repetition in his departure.

Homura Mitokado, observing Hiruzen's fluctuating expression, sighed softly. "Danzo acts for Konoha's sake, Hiruzen. You shouldn't let anger cloud your judgment. As Danzo pointed out, suspicions surround the Fourth Hokage. Moreover, our focus should now shift to calming and safeguarding the village. The Jinchuriki—"

Before he could conclude, a voice interrupted. "Hokage-sama!" An ANBU operative rushed in.

"We have visitors from Grass Village." After a brief pause, the ANBU continued, "They are Led by an elder of the Uzumaki clan, they claim to have come to see their own clansmen!"

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