Chapter 186

The Shinobi World is constantly plagued by natural and man-made disasters, and there is a particular group of troublemakers causing havoc. In the territory of Hi no Kuni, a rebel group emerged suddenly, advocating anti-fire and martial arts, and launched an attack on the Hi no Kuni Daimyo.

Upon learning about the existence of these rebels, the Sandaime Hokage became furious and reprimanded the high-ranking officials of Konoha overnight, questioning their competence and unawareness of the reactionary influence hidden within Hi no Kuni. The Anbu, responsible for gathering information, dismissed the Anbu Commander Sarutobi Shinnosuke in anger and appointed Shimura Danzo, who oversaw Anbu training, as his replacement. The Hokage also made it clear that if anyone had an issue with selling furniture, they could leave.

But it didn't end there. Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, and others also faced severe punishments. The reason behind this was simple: the Hi no Kuni Daimyo represented the face of the country, and such a significant reactionary influence existing within Hi no Kuni was utterly unknown to them.

In the midst of this chaos, the Hokage dismissed and replaced the entire high-ranking officials of Konoha, except for himself and his advisors. Sarutobi Hiruzen, feeling distraught, swiftly dispatched a large group of shinobi to suppress the reactionary influence. However, to his dismay, the "elite" shinobi he sent were defeated.

Upon hearing the news of his elite shinobi's defeat, Sarutobi Hiruzen spat out a mouthful of blood and fell ill, confined to his bed. Nonetheless, his loyalty to the Daimyo remained unwavering. As soon as he recovered, he hastily joined the battlefront, donning his armor, and pushed his ailing body to its limits, determined to do whatever it took for the sake of the Daimyo.

If it weren't for Sarutobi Hiruzen's wife, the first lady of Konoha, Sarutobi's Pipazi Lord, who held back her young son while tearfully pleading for Sarutobi Hiruzen's safety, it's likely that the Hokage would have succumbed to his serious illness.

This tale of unwavering loyalty was penned by the renowned screenwriter Uchiha Mina of Konoha Hidden Villages, turned into a 365-episode TV series overnight. It was edited by a Genjutsu Master from the Kurama Clan, and the first episode was swiftly circulated throughout Hi no Kuni. The entire country was soon buzzing with stories of the loyalty of Hi no Kuni, Konoha Hidden Villages, and Lord Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.

When the Hi no Kuni Daimyo, who had just returned to his country, learned of this, he was astonished. He had no idea that he had such loyal warriors under his command. However, his shock turned to disgust as he watched the first episode, where the Hokage shouted slogans and saw scenes that disgusted him to the core.

Though Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions made people nauseous, there were still some who appreciated it. Hitoshi thought it was quite impressive. He marveled at Uchiha Mina's talent as a writer, being able to craft such a dramatic series without repeating a single episode for an entire year.

"Wow, Uchiha Mina is truly talented. To write a drama like this and compile over 300 episodes is simply amazing. It's going to be a year without any repetitive content," Hitoshi exclaimed as he stared at the TV series playing on his wall.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Konoha created something out of nothing, using a borrowed knife to execute their plan, manipulating the situation in Hi no Kuni. Ebizo retorted, "Kazekage-sama, you're focusing on the wrong thing."

Ebizo, puzzled by Hitoshi's certainty, questioned him. It was evident that anyone with common sense could see through Konoha's simple strategy.

In response, Hitoshi handed Ebizo a letter he had received earlier that morning. It was dictated by the bedridden Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and ghostwritten by Clan Leader Nara.

"This letter was sent by a young shinobi from Konoha who knows Hiraishin no Jutsu. It sincerely describes Lord Hokage's injury and the situation in Konoha, highlighting the inadequacy of their abilities. They hope to seek assistance from Sunagakure and warn us not to make the same mistakes," Hitoshi explained, summarizing the contents of the letter.

After reading the letter, Ebizo understood why Hitoshi was so confident in Konoha's actions. It was clear as day that Konoha was setting an example for everyone.

"I understand. I'll return and make preparations," Ebizo said as he got up to leave. He had no desire to stay any longer; the situation was simply tedious.

"These shady old bastards, each more ruthless than the other. No wonder I didn't see Bunpuku this morning. It's a rare occurrence in a century," Ebizo muttered to himself, feeling the urge to smack Hitoshi for his nonchalant demeanor.

He had never encountered someone who could enjoy iced juice every day, accompanied by a young girl, and consume two plates of eight steamed buns per meal while supposedly dying from serious injuries.