I, Konoha’s Sage of Life

Chapter 134 - 134: A Grand Performance!

"This position... Is Minato planning to cut through the Land of Grass's border and strike from behind Ōnoki?"

Kyoichi pondered for a moment.

No passage through Takigakure.

Takigakure was the only nation outside the Five Great Countries that possessed a Jinchūriki. Requesting passage from them at this time would be impossible—they wouldn't grant it, and worse, it might lead to intelligence leaks.

It didn't take much thought for Kyoichi to understand Minato's reasoning.

After a brief contemplation...

He said, "Should we launch a raid on Kusagakure to draw their attention and create a diversion for Minato's forces?"

"Uh..." The Third Hokage fell silent for a moment before saying, "You just want to beat up the Kusa-nin, don't you?"

"I knew it! Someone as wise as you would see through my plan instantly."

Kyoichi grinned.

The Third Hokage felt something was off, but he didn't dwell on it.

After thinking it over, he nodded. "That being said, you do have a point. Hitting Kusagakure is indeed the best way to divert attention."

"We have enough justification for attacking the Kusa-nin, so Ōnoki won't be suspicious. Of course, we need to choose the right timing... Kōsuke, return to Minato and tell him that we will launch the attack on a cloudy day. Until then, they must remain hidden and wait."

Kyoichi didn't take long to make his decision.

The small toad, Kōsuke, glanced between Kyoichi and the Third Hokage, as if unsure whom to listen to. After hesitating for a moment, it asked, "Why wait for a cloudy day?"

"Because in cloudy weather, we can unleash a powerful Lightning Release technique. Ōnoki wouldn't dare engage us head-on."

Kyoichi explained briefly.

He trusted that Minato would immediately understand his reasoning upon hearing this.

The toad returned to Mount Myōboku.

The Third Hokage hadn't officially given the order yet, but since he had already agreed to the idea of attacking Kusagakure...

At this point, he had no reason to object.

Everything was ready—

All that remained was to wait for a cloudy day.

---

Eastern Land of Grass

Namikaze Minato and his eleven-man team were concealed in the dense forests.

Including Minato, they had exactly twelve members, forming three elite squads. Among them, the weakest was Kakashi, who was already an elite Chūnin, while the strongest included Jōnin-level shinobi like Hayate Shirakumo and Shibi Aburame.

"Minato-senpai, should we summon the toad to get an update on the situation?"

"Let's wait a little longer..."

Minato was concerned that if he summoned the toad back mid-briefing, they might miss crucial information.

That would be a hassle.

"If only someone else could use the Flying Thunder God as well..."

He thought to himself.

After a long wait, he finally performed the Summoning Jutsu again, calling back Kōsuke.

"How did it go?"

"A silver-haired guy said you should wait for a cloudy day. He'll use a powerful Lightning Release technique that will keep Ōnoki from engaging."

Kōsuke croaked.

Cloudy weather?

Minato's eyes flickered with thought. "Did he also mention attacking Kusagakure?"

"Oh, right! I was just about to say that—"

Kōsuke nodded repeatedly.

Minato ignored the toad's ramblings, simply thanking it before sending it back to Mount Myōboku.

Nearby, Kakashi appeared deep in thought.

"Kakashi, what's on your mind?"

"I'm considering the powerful Lightning Release technique it mentioned. If it requires a cloudy day, it's likely a technique that generates or guides natural lightning..."

Because of his dedication to kenjutsu training, Kakashi had been intensely studying Lightning Release, rapidly improving his understanding of it.

It didn't take him long to piece together a rough idea.

Soon...

The Jōnin around them also caught on.

"The Hokage already used this jutsu once against Ōnoki. It intimidated the Iwa-nin."

"And Kusagakure probably knows about it as well. So when a cloudy day arrives, everyone's attention will be drawn toward the western encampment!"

Minato's eyes lit up.

That explained it!

A cloudy day—this was the reason.

Taking a deep breath, he turned to the others. "Everyone understands the plan now?"

"No objections."

"Hiashi, I may need your help later."

"I'm part of the team—I'll give it my all."

Hyūga Hiashi nodded.

While Shibi Aburame was an excellent scout, his insects needed to return to transmit information. By contrast, the Byakugan provided real-time surveillance and enemy positioning.

Thus...

Hiashi was the best "eye" for their squad.

Now that Kyoichi's plan was clear, the team felt much more at ease. Since a large-scale weather shift was visible to everyone, they wouldn't even need additional intelligence transmission—

It was the perfect signal flare.

Time passed day by day.

Waiting for bad weather was an unpleasant experience, but as shinobi, patience was a necessity. Everyone knew how to suppress their restlessness.

And then—

Finally...

A week later, the right weather arrived.

It was a rainy day.

Kyoichi didn't even need to guide it—twisting lightning was already weaving through the sky.

"With this kind of weather..."

Ōnoki gazed up at the stormy sky, his brows tightly furrowed.

Morning had barely arrived, yet the rumbling thunder stirred up some unpleasant memories—memories of that technique from a few days ago. He still hadn't figured out a way to counter it.

"Father."

"Kitsuchi, order everyone to increase vigilance. Be on guard against Konoha's shinobi attacks."

"Yes, I already warned them earlier. All of our sensor-nin have been assigned to monitor the Konoha forces."

"Good."

Ōnoki nodded, preparing to return and continue analyzing the technique. But before he could, a figure emerged from underground.

An Iwagakure Chūnin.

"Tsuchikage-sama! The Konoha forces are moving, but they don't seem to be targeting us. Instead, they're heading for Kusagakure."

"Kusagakure?"

Ōnoki's frown deepened.

Konoha going after the Kusa-nin... That was... unexpected.

"Father, what are they planning? I remember you saying that Sarutobi Hiruzen is usually indecisive and kind-hearted. This doesn't seem like a decision he would make."

Kitsuchi was confused.

This didn't match the image of the Third Hokage that Ōnoki had described to him.

Ōnoki scowled and snapped, "You idiot. I also told you that guy can take responsibility when needed. So this clearly wasn't his decision—he's just taking responsibility for someone else's actions."

"Oh..."

"The young generation of Konoha, huh..."

Ōnoki quickly understood.

Konoha wasn't being led by the Third Hokage right now. The one steering the ship was a younger man—one named Kanda Kyoichi.

Meanwhile...

Iwagakure had no such promising successors.

He sighed, feeling helpless, then suddenly chuckled. "Young people can't suppress their emotions. The Kusa-nin are annoying, sure, but if you rip them out, you'll anger the rest of the field."

"So what do we do?"

"We'll observe. But only from a distance—just the two of us."

Ōnoki suspected that Konoha's technique lacked precise targeting.

If it did, that second lightning strike should have hit him directly last time—that would have been in Konoha's best interest. Today, he had a chance to confirm his theory.

---

"Will Ōnoki come?"

"He definitely will. That old man won't pass up a chance to observe the Lightning Release: Kirin."

Sarutobi Hiruzen fully agreed with Kyoichi's prediction.

Ōnoki would come.

He wouldn't miss the opportunity to study the jutsu.

At that moment...

Kyoichi was already ahead, his body refining chakra as he ran, increasing his speed.

Before long, he reached the border of Land of Grass.

The leader of Kusagakure had already received word.

"Asano-sama, Konoha is coming. You must flee."

"Do I have a choice?"

Asano Nariki sighed.

Kusagakure had refused to cooperate with Konoha, so they had lost Konoha as an ally.

And now...

If they ran, they wouldn't just lose Iwagakure as an 'ally'—they would also lose their home.

He was lost.

Kusagakure's usual survival tactics no longer seemed effective. Perhaps the village needed a new path, but he hadn't found it yet.

A figure emerged from the trees.

It was a familiar face.

A Konoha Jōnin—Kanda Kyoichi.

"Asano Nariki? If I recall correctly, that's your name."

Kyoichi looked at the two men before him, unsure of what to say.

Yes...

Kusagakure had only sent two people. They stood there, weapons in hand, prepared to die.

"Heh, I didn't expect Konoha's new power player to remember my name. Should I feel honored?"

Asano Nariki let out a bitter laugh.

"I didn't expect that out of all the Kusa-nin, only two have any backbone—while the rest just watch their leader march to his death from a distance."

Kyoichi's gaze shifted past him, toward the trees in the distance.

No one was visible.

But...

He knew.

Hidden beyond sight, many Kusa-nin were watching. Some had already fled.

"Throwing away more lives is meaningless. All of Kusagakure's mistakes are mine alone to bear."

Asano Nariki said calmly.

"Then what are you doing? Hoping that by dying, Konoha will forgive you? You're overestimating your worth."

Kyoichi spoke indifferently.

As he spoke, he raised his hand and fired a signal flare.

The flare shot forward, far into the distance.

Asano Nariki was stunned. Then, he saw movement in the forest behind Kyoichi—dozens of figures emerging.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood at the forefront, gripping two swords, each crackling with white lightning.

In a thunderstorm, there was no need for Fire Release to trigger the effect.

CRACK!

A bolt of lightning tore through the sky, descending toward them. Before it could strike the ground, Hiruzen and the other Lightning Release users infused their weapons with chakra—

In the next instant...

Hiruzen guided the lightning with his blade and slashed forward—

BOOM!

The Kusa-nin witnessed the terrifying Lightning Release that had forced the Iwa-nin into retreat.

The devastating bolt of energy struck the distant forest, its blinding radiance illuminating the battlefield.

Asano Nariki's eyes widened as he turned to watch the impact site.

It wasn't too close to the main Kusagakure force.

But...

This was a stormy day.

With rainwater conducting electricity, the lightning's destructive power spread further, creating flickering silver currents even near where he stood.

He was speechless.

Then, he turned back—only to meet Kyoichi's cold gaze.

"These people aren't worth your sacrifice. Train a new generation—perhaps that's the real answer for Kusagakure."

Kyoichi turned and left.

He had no intention of killing Asano Nariki.

Not out of pity.

But because...

At present, neither Konoha, Iwagakure, Amegakure, nor Takigakure had the strength to take control of the Land of Grass.

If Asano Nariki died, Kusagakure would be leaderless and would completely fall into Iwagakure's hands—playing right into Ōnoki's plans.

That outcome would be worse.

By letting him live, Kyoichi ensured that after the war, this leader would understand what choice he needed to make.

Of course...

That depended on whether Yahiko followed through on his plan.

If a strong small-nation alliance emerged between Land of Fire and Land of Earth, future conflicts would be reduced significantly.

As for that alliance...

Such coalitions always had weaknesses—

If their central figure crumbled, the whole alliance would easily collapse.

Asano Nariki stared at the ruins of the forest, at the wailing survivors scrambling away.

The courage to resist Konoha had left him.

Such a terrifying technique...

Konoha could erase them at will. Kusagakure was in no position to outmaneuver or oppose them.

For the first time, he regretted his choices.

Breaking away from Konoha had been the worst decision he had made since taking office. If he had stood firmly by Konoha, perhaps his village would have gained protection and benefits.

The Third Hokage was not unkind to allies.

As long as they had truly stood by Konoha.

But...

That was just a fantasy.

Because he knew what kind of village Kusagakure truly was.

***************************

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