Chapter 141: I Advocate Surrender

A state of first-level combat readiness.

This signifies that Konoha is facing a massive crisis, at any moment it could be invaded by the enemy.

Since the establishment of Konoha, in over fifty years, such an alarm has only been sounded a few times. The last time was during the Battle of Kikyo Pass in the Third Great Ninja War, when Konoha was almost attacked at its doorstep.

With the shrill alarm sounding, various departments of Konoha such as the Anbu, Police Force, and Barrier Team, all swiftly entered combat readiness according to their respective duties.

Thousands of villagers, under guidance, rushed into shelters.

In the Uchiha clan area, hundreds of clan members, upon hearing the alarm, immediately donned their battle robes, equipped their ninja tools, and gathered in front of the Body Modification Department building.

"Weren't we just notified last night to gather the Uchiha clan's elite and head to the front lines today? What's happening now?"

A group of Uchihas gathered together, discussing fervently.

Dan descended the stairs with large strides.

The sight of Konoha preparing for a major enemy made him realize that something must have happened on the front lines.

It seems that Nagato has made his move.

At this moment, an Anbu member named Tenzō hurriedly arrived, conveying the Third Hokage's orders, asking Dan, the Hokage's assistant, to immediately attend a meeting at the Hokage's office.

However, Dan did not immediately leave. Instead, he asked in front of everyone, without any hurry:

"What happened?"

Tenzō hesitated slightly, knowing that this matter couldn't be kept secret for long, he could only tell the truth:

"Konoha's army was attacked by Akatsuki last night. The commander, Torifu, was killed. More than two thousand people were killed or injured. We were... completely defeated."

What?!

Upon hearing this, everyone present showed shocked expressions, finding it incredibly hard to believe.

Konoha's army of three thousand, just like that, overnight... gone?

Akatsuki's power is so terrifying.

When everyone came back to their senses, their first reaction was relief.

The Uchiha are a warlike clan, and many clan members were originally eager to rush to the front lines to make a name for themselves on the battlefield.

Now it seems, they were lucky to have dodged a bullet.

Fugaku and Shisui both looked at Dan simultaneously.

Did Dan foresee this situation?

Tsunade, shocked, felt a chill.

If she had agreed to the Third Hokage's request and went to the battlefield, she might have ended up like Torifu, falling at the hands of the enemy.

Samui was also shocked, then quietly retreated, intending to deliver this heavy news back to Kumogakure as soon as possible.

When everyone was in a state of shock.

Only Dan, showed a smile.

"I'll be back soon."

He left a sentence for Fugaku and others, then went with Tenzō to the Hokage's office.

In the Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage, Koharu, and Homura all sat on the sofa with furrowed brows and silence, the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed like it could drip water.

Half an hour ago.

The Hokage's office received a battle report from the front line, the content was a nightmare.

After Konoha's intelligence department repeatedly confirmed and verified the authenticity of the battle report.

The Third Hokage finally decided to sound the first-level combat readiness alarm.

After a long silence.

"Torifu should have been enjoying his old age, but I asked him to come out of retirement in the name of the Hokage. I killed him."

The Third Hokage put down the intelligence document with trembling hands, his face full of regret and self-blame.

Koharu and Homura exchanged glances, then spoke one after the other:

"Hiruzen, Torifu sacrificed himself for Konoha and the Will of Fire. He died a worthy death."

"Although it sounds heartless, we don't have time to mourn the dead right now. Konoha is facing an unprecedented threat, we must take action."

For Konoha, the annihilation of an army of three thousand is undoubtedly a heavy blow.

To put it bluntly, Konoha is now at a critical juncture of life and death.

Just as they were speaking.

With a bang, the door was pushed open, and Uchiha Dan strode in.

Seeing Dan, the Third Hokage had mixed feelings.

Although he was very wary of Dan's power, when facing an enemy like Akatsuki, the only ones in the village who could truly be relied upon were the Uchiha clan led by Dan.

"What exactly is going on?"

As soon as Dan entered, he asked directly without any nonsense.

"Dan, first take a look at this intelligence." The Third Hokage handed the intelligence to Dan with a grave face.

It said the ones who attacked Konoha's army at night were only six enemies. They claimed to be the leaders of Akatsuki, Pain. Although their abilities varied, they all had the same Rinnegan.

With just six people, they defeated Konoha's army of three thousand.

If the enemy charges at full speed and attacks Konoha's homeland, can Konoha... withstand it?

Dan finished reading, threw the document on the coffee table, and shook his head:

"This intelligence is not accurate. The so-called Six Paths of Pain are just puppets made from six corpses. The real person manipulating them behind the scenes is Nagato."

Upon hearing this.

"Why are you so sure?" The Third Hokage was surprised.

Dan didn't answer, but squinted his eyes and asked back:

"Hokage-sama, how much do you know about the Rinnegan?"

The Third Hokage couldn't help but frown: "I only know that the Rinnegan is the eye of the legendary Sage of Six Paths, who once pacified the chaotic world and established the ninja creed."

But legends are after all legends, not many people take them seriously.

Moreover, since the Sage of Six Paths, the Rinnegan has not appeared in the world for more than a thousand years. Therefore, even for someone as knowledgeable as the Third Hokage, he knows nothing about its abilities.

Unexpectedly.

"The Sage of Six Paths really existed."

Dan continued the Third Hokage's words, slowly revealing a shocking secret, "In our Uchiha clan's Naka Shrine, there is a thousand-year-old stone tablet left by our ancestors. It clearly records that the Uchiha clan is the descendant of the Sage of Six Paths."

There's such a thing?

The three people present were once again surprised when they heard this, but what shocked them even more was yet to come.

"According to the information on the Uchiha stone tablet, the Rinnegan is the ultimate evolution of the Sharingan, its power is dozens, even hundreds of times stronger than the Mangekyō Sharingan! Therefore, I am not surprised at all that Nagato defeated Konoha's army of three thousand with his own power."

Dan's words left the three old men stunned on the spot.

After a while.

Koharu and Homura came back to their senses and immediately angrily questioned Dan:

"Why didn't you say this earlier?"

"Uchiha Dan, as the Hokage's assistant, you deliberately withheld information, watching as three thousand Konoha ninjas walked into a trap!"

They finally understood why Dan had been evasive, refusing to send the Uchiha clan to the front lines. He had known about Nagato's power all along.

Dan, however, shrugged his shoulders, seemingly quite helpless:

"The decision to declare war on Amegakure was made by the Third Hokage, I had no right to oppose it. Moreover, it was only after I saw this report about Konoha's army being wiped out by the Six Paths of Pain that I finally confirmed that Nagato possesses the Rinnegan."

"Enough arguing!"

The Third Hokage shouted, stopping the pointless quarrel between the two sides.

Then, he looked at Dan with a piercing gaze, asking him: "Dan, since the Uchiha clan has information about the Rinnegan, there must be a way to deal with Nagato, right?"

However, to his disappointment.

Dan shook his head:

"As I said, the power of the Rinnegan is hundreds of times stronger than the Mangekyō Sharingan. Not to mention me, even if the entire Uchiha clan were to fight, I'm afraid they would not be Nagato's match. However, I do have a suggestion..."

At this point, Dan paused, as if hesitating whether to speak.

"What suggestion?" The Third Hokage asked with a frown.

"I think, before Nagato attacks Konoha, we should... surrender to Amegakure."

Dan looked at the three old men in front of him, making a shocking statement.

Upon hearing this.

The Third Hokage, Koharu, and Homura all opened their mouths wide, shocked beyond measure, and then... a strong anger surged in their hearts.

With a bang, this time, even the Third Hokage couldn't help but slam the table and scold Dan:

"Dan, do you know what you're saying?"

Konoha, as the leader of the Five Great Ninja Villages, just because of a single defeat in war, should surrender to a small village like Amegakure?

What a joke!

Koharu and Homura also shook their heads in disappointment, scoffing at Dan's suggestion.

You should know.

Since the establishment of Konoha, it has fought in three Great Ninja Wars over several decades, almost always outnumbered, no matter how difficult the process, in the end, they always won!

Surrender?

This word has never appeared in Konoha's dictionary.

"I know exactly what I'm saying."

In the face of the Third Hokage's reprimand, Dan remained calm.

He sighed, and said with a distant look in his eyes:

"After more than a thousand years, the Rinnegan reappears in the world. This means that Nagato is likely the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths.

According to the Uchiha stone tablet, Nagato, who possesses the eyes of the Sage, is destined to pacify the chaotic world and unify the ninja world, just like the Sage of Six Paths did back then.

Right now.

If Konoha surrenders to Amegakure, perhaps we can usher in a peaceful unification, but if we resist to the end, what awaits Konoha will only be destruction..."

"Shut up!"

"Nonsense!"

Koharu and Homura couldn't bear it any longer, they rebuked Dan, thinking that he was just trying to scare people.

The Third Hokage, however, remained silent, feeling a sense of shock.

Because.

The words that Dan said now were surprisingly similar to what Jiraiya had said.

Jiraiya's disciple is the Child of Prophecy, who will bring unprecedented peace or destruction to the ninja world.

This was a prophecy made by the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku. And this prophecy completely matches the content recorded on the Uchiha stone tablet.

Is all of this just a coincidence?

Dan stood up, looking down at Koharu and Homura on the sofa, and said coldly:

"Regardless, the Uchiha clan will not go into battle to oppose Nagato. He is the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths, possessing unparalleled power in the world. Even if the First Hokage, hailed as the God of Shinobi, were to be resurrected, he would not be Nagato's opponent. Therefore, if Nagato comes to Konoha, the Uchiha will be the first to surrender."

These words, which put Nagato on a pedestal, would probably leave even Nagato himself flabbergasted if he were here.

Having said that, Dan slammed the door and left, leaving the three of them looking at each other.