Chapter 130: Konoha's Countermeasures

"Naruto has really gotten strong…" Shikamaru remarked quietly from the shadows, watching the scene unfold. The three Sound ninjas didn't seem too easy to deal with in his eyes, yet Naruto had managed to take care of them by himself.

There had to be a relationship of countering involved, but even so, it couldn't deny Naruto's strength.

"Yeah, Natsuro always said that Naruto is the most unpredictable ninja," Ino nodded, a hint of surprise in her voice.

Natsuro had also been paying attention to the situation outside, and a smile crept onto his face. It was worth teaching Naruto his version of Gale Palm.

This technique suited Naruto perfectly, as it allowed him to maximize his physical advantage. In the original story, Naruto already had incredible stamina, and now it had reached a monstrous level.

Such stamina would be a waste if not utilized properly.

As for Naruto's concern about chakra, others might not know, but Natsuro was well aware.

Naruto could use the Rasengan as if it were a regular attack. Natsuro's version of Gale Palm consumed more chakra than the regular version, but the regular Gale Palm had relatively low consumption among C-rank jutsu.

Therefore, even at its peak consumption, Natsuro's Gale Palm only reached the consumption level of B-rank techniques, which might be substantial for others but was trivial for Naruto.

If Naruto could maintain Natsuro's version of Gale Palm consistently, he would find it hard to encounter any opponents at the Chūnin level. It would be like having a trump card that allowed him to excel.

As for explosive power, it was slightly lacking, but not by much. After all, Naruto could still choose to gather the Gale Palm energy into a single powerful attack, which would definitely pack a punch.

Especially in this state, Naruto would still be able to use the Rasengan. Once Jiraiya taught him more techniques, his power would soar even higher.

However, Sasuke couldn't use this method since Naruto's enhanced recovery ability was due to the Nine-Tails within him. Natsuro had taught him this because Naruto had enough recovery power and could train with shadow clones. Although he had also taught Sasuke how to stimulate Lightning Release, he hadn't let Sasuke explore the Lightning Release chakra mode on his own.

While Sasuke, as the protagonist, might have been able to grasp it, it was far too dangerous. Natsuro didn't want to take that risk, as losing Sasuke would mean losing a valuable ally.

"Alright." Lost in thought, Natsuro finally spoke up, "Let's go take a look. If we don't go out soon, Naruto will handle it all by himself."

"Yeah," Sasuke nodded, understanding that it wasn't appropriate for Natsuro to reveal himself in the exam area. He clenched his fist; the pain in his neck had completely vanished, and he felt great.

Soon, Sasuke stepped out of the cave, much to Sakura's surprise, and saw the Sound trio surrounded by Naruto and his shadow clones.

"Yo, that loser over there still hasn't finished them off? Do you need my help?" Sasuke scoffed.

"Hmph, I don't need any help! I'll finish them off right now and take their exam scrolls!" Upon hearing Sasuke's words, Naruto became furious, and his chakra surged even more violently.

"We surrender!" At that moment, the hunchbacked ninja Tors, wrapped in bandages, looked at the unharmed Sasuke and gasped, pulling out the scroll that represented their identity and placing it on the ground.

"The scroll is right here; please let us go," Tors retreated a few steps, while his companions made no move to stop him.

They had had enough; this blond-haired ninja, Naruto Uzumaki, was it? His stamina and chakra seemed limitless. What could they do? And as for his monstrous companion, Sasuke, he surely wouldn't be weak either. Surrendering was the only way to survive!

"Hmph~" Naruto's eyes lit up; he never intended to wipe them out completely. He only wanted the scrolls from the Sound ninjas. Now, having acquired them through his own effort, he couldn't help but feel proud and glanced at Sasuke.

Sasuke merely snorted in response, nodding to show his approval of Naruto.

"Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha…" Meanwhile, Neji Hyuga and Rock Lee, perched atop a large tree, watched the scene unfold with grave expressions.

...

On Natsuro's side, after completing the sealing, he returned to the central tower. He had noticed Ino and, upon realizing she was unharmed, let out a sigh of relief.

Now, Natsuro thought for a moment and decided to leave a shadow clone behind to guard while he headed towards the Hokage's location. He needed to report on Orochimaru's situation.

Whether things could change for the better would depend on this next move.

"Natsuro, shouldn't you be at the central tower by now?" The Third Hokage looked a bit surprised upon seeing Natsuro, then, noticing the seriousness in his eyes, understood that something must have happened. He waved his hand to dismiss the others nearby.

Natsuro quickly informed the Third Hokage about encountering Orochimaru in the Forest of Death and shared the brief engagement he had with him, including Orochimaru's target being Sasuke.

"Is that so? Orochimaru has returned," the Third Hokage seemed to be deep in thought, looking a bit older.

"So, Lord Third, shouldn't we suspend the Chūnin Exam?" Natsuro asked, thinking it would be better to address him formally in such a serious situation.

"No, he is my former student; you should be aware of that," the Third Hokage firmly rejected Natsuro's suggestion.

Seeing Natsuro nod, the Third Hokage continued, "I know Orochimaru well. If he doesn't achieve his goals, he won't be satisfied and is very likely to cause a riot. We have no idea what preparations he has made in secret."

"Moreover, the feudal lords from various nations are already heading towards Konoha. There is absolutely no way we can suspend the Chūnin Exam at this time," the Third Hokage said gravely.

Natsuro nodded, understanding that the Chūnin Exam was not merely a selection process but a showcase of the village's young talents to various nations.

A village that shone during the Chūnin Exam would not only prove its strength but also its potential.

This would directly affect future mission assignments; no one wanted to give tasks to a village that appeared weaker. This was essential for Konoha's survival.

Although Konoha seemed prosperous, it could not escape the necessity of mission rewards. After all, ninja expenditures far exceeded those of ordinary people.

If there weren't enough mission rewards, not only would the village's economy suffer, but its strength would also diminish due to resource shortages—something no village could accept.

Furthermore, this Chūnin Exam was hosted by Konoha. If it were abruptly suspended, the damage to Konoha's reputation would be even more severe, and its strength would undoubtedly be questioned.

All these factors made it impossible to halt the Chūnin Exam in the face of what was deemed a minor threat.

..

Natsuro knew how great the damage caused by Orochimaru could be, but... would the Third Hokage and the advisors understand? Even if he told them, would they believe him?

"Then, Lord Third, you need to be extra cautious and enhance your security measures. After all, you know Orochimaru's strength, and we need more ninja to protect you," Natsuro continued after thinking for a moment. He remembered that in the original story, there weren't many ninja guarding the Third Hokage.

"Hehe, little Natsuro, do you remember the countermeasures for enemy attacks that Konoha implemented?" The Third Hokage smiled, feeling a bit happy about Natsuro's concern, but still replied.

At that moment, Natsuro fell silent, for everything suddenly became clear. He had known this before, but he hadn't expected the Third Hokage to actually implement these countermeasures... After a long while, Natsuro spoke.

The first stage is to eliminate the enemy's surprise attack unit. If it cannot be resolved immediately, then we enter the second stage.

The second stage is the evacuation and sheltering of non-combat personnel, allowing women and children to take refuge in various shelters throughout the village. Once this is completed, we proceed to the third stage.

The third stage involves mobilizing the entire village to eradicate the enemy.

After saying this, Natsuro finally understood why the reconstruction of Konoha had been so rapid; it must have been because most civilians had remained unharmed.

Why were they able to remain safe during such an attack? The Third Hokage had indeed arranged for most of the ninjas to protect the village...

This countermeasure for enemy attacks was clearly something that would only be enacted during peacetime, and peacetime was likely established by the Third Hokage.

At this moment, Natsuro realized that although the Third Hokage had made many mistakes from a god's-eye view, he was still worthy of the title of Hokage. Until the last moment of his life, he had adhered to his beliefs to protect the village.

No one wishes to lose their life, but they can do a great deal for their home.

"Yes, I remember it very clearly. So, little Natsuro, do you understand?" The Third Hokage said with a smile, even though this would expose him to greater danger.

"Yes, I understand, Lord Third... Grandpa, you must remember to keep that Flying Thunder God kunai and open the seal when necessary," Natsuro said seriously, as he realized he could not stop the Third Hokage's decision.

"Okay, but little Natsuro, you must also believe in Grandpa. Although I've aged a lot, I'm still quite powerful," the Third Hokage replied, feeling comforted by Natsuro's changed way of addressing him. At least he had not misjudged him this time.

"Yes, I certainly believe that. I'll head back now," Natsuro said. The Third Hokage's strength was not weak, but due to his physical condition, he could hardly exert much power; the decline in his energy affected not just his chakra levels, but his overall capabilities.

"Alright, little Natsuro, be careful. Don't think that having the Flying Thunder God technique means there's absolutely no danger," the Third Hokage cautioned Natsuro, worried that he might confront Orochimaru directly. Despite having the Flying Thunder God, it was still very dangerous.

"Yes," Natsuro nodded before disappearing from the Hokage's office.

Watching Natsuro's vanishing figure, the Third Hokage's smile slowly faded. He looked at a nearby photo, which featured a young him alongside his three students.

"Orochimaru..."

"Lord Hokage, what should we do?" At that moment, the Anbu captain appeared beside the Third Hokage.

"Well, for now, don't alarm the enemy. Clear the evacuation routes. Also, keep an eye on the Sound Ninja and try to investigate Orochimaru's subsequent plans," the Third Hokage sighed, realizing that the enemy was hidden, which made things quite tricky.

"Understood."

PS: This countermeasure was mentioned by Iruka during the Chunin Exam

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Currently on Chapter 179 - A Disheartened Sakura and A Flustered Hinata