https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-958-Jiraiya-At-Least-I-Brought-Some-Personal-Grievances-/13078688/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-960-Daioku-I-Didn-t-Do-It-I-Swear-Don-t-Spread-False-Rumors-/13078692/
Chapter 959: Ai Jiraiya: I Have a Bone to Pick with the Akatsuki!
Chapter 959: Ai Jiraiya: I Have a Bone to Pick with the Akatsuki!
The Exhibition Match!
The battle was intense, to say the least.
From the sheer force displayed, no one would ever guess that this was just a 'performance.'
Even the ever-watchful Zetsu didn't seem to notice anything amiss.
The clash resulted in injuries and even dismemberment among the powerful fighters, indicating the brutality of the fight.
Kabuto, in his attempt to protect himself, pulled out all the stops.
He even unleashed the enhanced Hashirama Senju, whose strength had returned to its peak.
Hashirama constantly tried to resist Kabuto's control, and if not for this, he would have already transformed into the Top-Heavy Buddha and 'exploded.'
Despite this, Hashirama, without the Ashura chakra and under the onslaught of the two great ninja villages, was defeated, forcing Kabuto to recall him to prevent his sealing.
Kabuto himself suffered 'severe' injuries, causing the Impure World Reincarnation to go out of control and 'rampage.'
This left Obito no choice but to retreat with the White Death Army.
The intense battle suddenly calmed down.
Obito managed to locate Kabuto, who was recuperating underground.
"What happened?"
He looked at Kabuto, who was wrapped in bandages from head to toe.
"Didn't you see it?" Kabuto, far from being intimidated by Obito's interrogation, retorted with a hint of annoyance in his voice, "When I was ambushed by the powerful Suna and Kiri ninjas, I forced Hashirama to fight, but it backfired, and I suffered a backlash from the forbidden technique. For the next few days, it will be difficult for me to control the Impure World Reincarnation!"
Everything he said was true.
Kabuto had even studied the Impure World Reincarnation to ensure the effect wouldn't go wrong.
Otherwise, it would have been easily exposed.
This wasn't just to deceive Obito but also to hide from the shadows—the Black Zetsu and the Sage of Six Paths.
The Ninja World was indeed a treacherous place, and one had to be cautious.
"You better regain control of the Impure World Reincarnation as soon as possible!"
Obito remained silent for a while and then left after uttering those words.
He had a lot on his plate now.
Not only did he have to halt the offensive, but he also needed to find a way to evade the Allied Forces' counterattack.
If he couldn't hold out for the next few days, he might be in danger, let alone forcing out the Rinnegan.
And that's exactly what happened!
After the Impure World Reincarnation went out of control, the Allied Forces immediately tried to counterattack, using the enemy's power.
Unfortunately, the White Death Army had an infuriating ability—the power of disguise and concealment!
Once they decided to hide, it was nearly impossible to find them unless one possessed powerful sensing ninjutsu.
The best method of detection was, of course, the Byakugan.
However, the Scorch Sun Nation would never lend it, making this method useless. The only option was to manually search for the scattered and hidden White Death Army.
Both sides engaged in a game of 'cat and mouse,' where the pursuer would let the pursued escape once caught.
Just as the hunt began, the Allied Forces received significant news, causing the Five Kage, who were chasing the Akatsuki, to regroup.
"Are you saying that several Mizukage Impure World Reincarnations attacked the Land of Lightning's capital and killed the Daimyo and numerous nobles?"
Ai instinctively stood up, his voice trembling with shock as he questioned the Anbu in front of him.
Indeed, several Mizukage Impure World Reincarnations had attacked the capital of the Land of Lightning, slaying the Daimyo and countless nobles. They even 'massacred' the Land of Lightning's aristocratic families.
It was worth noting that the Daimyo and the Raikage had an excellent relationship, unlike the Fire Country, where political intrigue was rampant. It was no wonder Ai was so shocked to hear about this incident.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that beneath his shock and anger, there was also a hint of relief.
Relief?
This was due to the death of the Land of Lightning's Daimyo and nobles.
Though it seemed like bad news, it was also a blessing in disguise.
At least, for the Village Hidden in the Clouds.
They had longed for progress and couldn't help but aspire to emulate the Scorch Sun Nation's development.
However, the presence of the Daimyo and nobles had held them back, causing them to act cautiously, even if they did take action, it would be done in secret.
Now, with the shackles lifted, it was only natural to feel relieved.
Without the Daimyo and nobles, they could emulate the Scorch Sun Nation and achieve rapid growth.
It wasn't without drawbacks, though!
At the very least, their logistics would be severely affected, and the Land of Lightning would descend into chaos.
Fortunately, the Allied Forces had stockpiled a vast amount of supplies, and as long as they didn't engage in prolonged battles like in the previous Shinobi World Wars, they could hold out for a few months.
Overall, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
At least, that's the case for the ninjas.
Especially after learning from past mistakes, the Allied Forces have now distanced themselves from the nobility, ensuring that this incident won't cause any internal chaos.
On the contrary!
It will only strengthen the Allied Forces' position.
Previously, with the nobility's influence, the Allied Forces had to tread carefully.
But now, they are free to act without any reservations.
Hmm, thinking of these advantages, the Raikage managed to keep his laughter in check, showcasing his exceptional acting skills.
Yes, he did have a good relationship with the Daimyo of the Lightning Country.
But before being friends, he was first and foremost the Raikage.
Even without this unexpected event, he had planned to send the Daimyo to his death after some time.
There was no mistake in his decision, and he would not hesitate to act.
After all, with the threat of the Scorch Sun Nation looming, if he didn't want his village to be destroyed, he had to find a way to strengthen it.
And what better way to become stronger than by emulating the Scorch Sun Nation?
So, the fact that the Daimyo died at the hands of Akatsuki brought him great relief.
At the very least, he didn't have to take action himself.
Of course, he kept his true thoughts to himself, but he still needed to display the appropriate attitude.
"I will never coexist with the Akatsuki Organization!"
Ai roared with anger, his voice filled with determination, causing the few Kages beside him to exchange glances, as they could see through his true emotions.
However, they chose to ignore it and play along, knowing they had to support him.
Suddenly, a Konoha Anbu appeared.
"Hokage-sama, the Kyoto of the Land of Fire has been attacked by the Third and Fourth Kazekage in their Impure World Reincarnation forms. The Daimyo and the nobility..."
As the Anbu spoke, a sense of pressure seemed to envelop the room.
Jiraiya had appeared before them, his face contorted with emotion.
It was as if he was trying his best to look sad, but his heart was filled with joy, making it impossible for him to feign sorrow or grief.
Hmm, it was so genuine!
After all, Jiraiya's relationship with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire was far from amicable.
The ones who had a good relationship with the Daimyo were Tsunade and Sarutobi Hiruzen, not him.
In the past, Jiraiya had no desire to become the Hokage, choosing instead to wander the world. How could he have had the time to build connections with the Daimyo and the nobility?
After becoming the Hokage, it was the two elder advisors who maintained those relationships, not him.
Therefore, he felt nothing but disdain for the Daimyo and the nobility.
Not showing his disdain was the greatest challenge.
Now that the Daimyo and the nobility were dead, it meant that the constraints and suppression on Konoha would be lifted, filling his heart with excitement and anticipation.
He managed to hold back his laughter, thanks to Ai's example; otherwise, hearing this news would have made it impossible to control his laughter.
It's worth noting that as a powerful individual, Jiraiya had exceptional control over his emotions.
The problem was that this news excited him so much that he couldn't contain himself, hence his reaction.
As a result, Jiraiya and Ai both put on a show of anger, vowing to never coexist with Akatsuki.
Yakura and Terumi Mei, on the other hand, remained calm observers. Having already taken this step, they weren't excited or agitated; they just felt that the other two were rejoicing too soon.
Aside from the question of whether the two great ninja villages had enough internal affairs personnel to take over, there was also the matter of the Scorch Sun Nation's consent.
Among the remaining Five Kages, Daioku's expression stood out as he eagerly awaited news. He kept his gaze fixed on the entrance to the conference room, as if expecting a Konoha Anbu to arrive with a report.
"Stop looking! You'll break your neck!"
Kurotsuchi, standing nearby, straightened Daioku's neck to prevent any issues from excessive head-turning.
"I was just..."
Crack!
Just as Daioku was about to protest, the sound of cracking bones echoed, and he froze in place, his face contorted in pain.
Pain!
Intense pain!
That was all Daioku could think about.
If it weren't for the attacks on the Kyoto of the Land of Fire and the Lightning Country, he wouldn't have been so dissatisfied.
But now, with the obstacles behind the two great ninja villages eliminated, he couldn't accept that the nobility and the Daimyo of the Land of Earth were still standing.
(End of Chapter)
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