"Has Minato-sensei already become Hokage? That's wonderful. It's a pity I can't personally offer him my congratulations." Nohara Rin revealed a gentle smile.
"Pakkun, I'm sorry. I came out in a hurry, and time is short. The information I'm about to tell you is very important. Please be sure to convey it to Kakashi, and also to Minato-sensei.
Back then, Obito and I were kidnapped by Uchiha Madara. His goal seemed to be Obito…
…the Akatsuki organization will target the Daimyo next. Their strength is formidable, even the Third Raikage was forcibly controlled."
Nohara Rin, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube, shared all the information she knew. However, she didn't know that Obito had already awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, as she was already dead by that time.
But the details she provided were enough to make Pakkun uneasy.
He was just an ordinary ninja dog—why should he be entrusted with such earth-shattering information?
And wasn't Rin's escape too casual? Wouldn't an S-rank rogue ninja leap out to silence her?
Fortunately, the concerns Pakkun had didn't materialize. Rin successfully canceled the summoning jutsu, and no rogue ninja appeared during her departure.
"Lastly, Pakkun, please say hello to Minato-sensei for me and congratulate him on becoming Hokage, including Obito's share.
He should still be in Uchiha Madara's hands now. Madara likely has high hopes for him. Perhaps he won't kill him.
Also, Kakashi, please give him my thanks.
If I can come out again, I will contact you."
With that, Nohara Rin canceled the summoning jutsu, and Pakkun was teleported back.
"Ha, is this a woman's intuition?" In Konoha Village, Kawaki Aoba let out a soft laugh.
Letting Nohara Rin deliver the message was, of course, intentional on his part. It served two purposes: reporting that she was safe and revealing Madara's plans through Rin's words.
As for exposing the Akatsuki's attack on the Fire Country Daimyo, it wasn't a significant issue to him.
However, this could also be seen as the result of Rin's own efforts. If she hadn't been helpful, Kawaki Aoba wouldn't have gone out of his way to help her.
Meanwhile, in Kakashi Hatake's residence in Konoha, Kakashi excitedly received Pakkun, who had just been summoned back. The ninja dog relayed the message from Nohara Rin.
Kakashi, who had once been stagnant even after Minato Namikaze became Hokage, seemed to have regained his vitality.
"Rin, Obito, I knew you guys weren't dead. You won't die."
With that, Kakashi wasted no time. He grabbed Pakkun and rushed straight to the Hokage Building.
The Anbu tasked with guarding the Hokage Building initially considered stopping the intruder but relented upon seeing that it was Kakashi. After all, Kakashi was Minato's only known living disciple, and his status had risen significantly, making him a prominent figure in Konoha, akin to the "Crown Prince."
Without anyone intervening, Kakashi made his way to Minato Namikaze's office, with Pakkun still in tow.
"Kakashi, what's this?" Minato Namikaze asked, stunned by Kakashi's sudden arrival.
Ignoring Minato's surprise, Kakashi eagerly shared the news: Nohara Rin and Obito were still alive.
Of course, Kakashi also didn't forget to mention the Akatsuki's plan to target the Fire Country Daimyo. This matter was of much greater importance to the village than Obito and Rin's survival.
As Kakashi spoke, Minato's expression shifted from excitement to solemnity. The news about the Akatsuki was grave, and he struggled to process it.
It wasn't until he confirmed the details with Pakkun that Minato accepted the truth of the information.
After carefully considering the situation, Minato Namikaze said, "Although Obito and Rin's current circumstances are dire—especially Rin, who has already died once—their temporary safety is a small piece of good news.
But the top priority remains the Akatsuki's plan to attack the Daimyo. Their audacity is troubling."
As expected by Kawaki Aoba, he was sitting at home when Anbu arrived to notify him of a meeting at the Hokage Building.
When he arrived at the Hokage conference room, he noticed that fewer people were present this time, with only a handful of high-ranking officials and the heads of several large clans.
Once everyone had gathered, Minato Namikaze shared the shocking news.
After hearing the report, the most shocked was Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Minato, is your source reliable? Do these people really dare to be so bold?"
"Third Hokage," Minato began, "To be honest, although the person who gave me this information is absolutely trustworthy, the extent of this news is so shocking. It's hard to believe there are such audacious people in this world.
Even I'm beginning to wonder if this could be a trap to deceive Konoha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi considered the possibility. "Minato, you suspect this could be a scheme to lure Konoha's strong ninjas away, just like how the leader of the Akatsuki once threatened Iwagakure?"
"That's correct," Minato replied gravely. "But now that we've received the information, we cannot ignore the safety of the Daimyo. We must act."
"That's right, the Daimyo's safety is the most important," Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. Changing the subject, he added, "But the safety of the village cannot be ignored either. Minato, do you have any arrangements?"
"My arrangement is that I will personally lead an elite team to garrison the Fire Capital to protect the Daimyo's safety. As for the safety of the village..." Minato Namikaze looked at Kawaki Aoba.
Kawaki Aoba immediately understood and nodded. "Don't worry, Minato. With me here, the village will be fine."
This attack had been planned by him personally. The target was only the Fire Capital; Konoha would be in no danger. Minato's anxiety was merely a product of his own mind running wild.
However, just at this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke again. "If the leader of the Akatsuki's target is truly the Daimyo, Minato, you might not be able to handle it alone. I will go with you as well. At least in a desperate situation, I can buy you some time, allowing you to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to transfer the Daimyo to a safe place."
"Well, that would be for the best." Minato Namikaze had actually planned it this way from the start, but if Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't brought it up himself, he, as the current Hokage, couldn't have ordered the previous Hokage around. Could he?
"It's just a pity that that bastard Jiraiya went out at such a crucial time. Otherwise, we'd have more manpower," Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, feeling a headache over each of his disciples' unpredictable behaviors.
But no matter what, the matter was finally arranged. Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi, leading a large number of Anbu members and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, rushed to the Land of Fire's capital overnight to defend it.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio were staunch supporters of the Hokage, regardless of who was in office. Naturally, following the Hokage to the Land of Fire's capital was to be expected.
In addition to them, the Hyuga clan also volunteered to send a large number of ninjas. Though it was officially to protect the safety of the Land of Fire's Daimyo and nobles, it was well known that the Hyuga clan was doing it for their own benefit. They had placed a heavy bet on the nobles in the Land of Fire's capital. If anything happened to the nobles, the Hyuga clan might lose everything—possibly even their status in Konoha.
Without the support of those nobles, the Hyuga clan would risk becoming the next Uchiha, another anomaly within the village. Their eagerness to curry favor with the nobles was their own doing.
If anyone was most pleased with this situation, it was Kawaki Aoba. Originally, this attack on the Land of Fire's capital was just a minor subplot, a way to "beat the grass to scare the rabbits." However, with the Hyuga clan becoming involved, what was once a minor incident had now become the main course. Kawaki Aoba wouldn't hold back now.
If he didn't teach the Hyuga clan what it meant to lose everything, he would feel he had failed his mission.
Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and others arrived at the Land of Fire's capital overnight. Upon receiving the news, the Land of Fire's Daimyo was furious, but also filled with a sense of fear—a fear of ninjas.
Were the Akatsuki members not ninjas as well? They truly dared to kill nobles.
However, after the fear subsided, the Daimyo reluctantly realized that the only ones who could protect him now were still ninjas.
He had privately watched the video of the battle between Uchiha Madara and the Akatsuki's leader. That cataclysmic power was far beyond what his own guardian ninjas could contend with.
At that moment, his guard force had increased by half of Konoha's ninjas. While this brought some relief, he dared not talk openly about anything related to ninjas. For now, he just had to get through this immediate crisis.
At this moment, in the Land of Fire's capital, many nobles shared the same sentiment as the Daimyo. While terrified of the power of ninjas, they had no choice but to rely on ninjas for protection.
Meanwhile, in a courtyard within the Daimyo's mansion, Hiruzen Sarutobi was listening to a report from one of his Anbu subordinates.
"Lord Hokage, at present, there are a total of 27 noble lords in the Land of Fire's capital under our protection. There are others, however, who are unwilling to accept our protection."
As expected, no matter the group, there was never a shortage of fools. This was especially true for the nobles who had been at peace for so long.
"Let them be," Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand dismissively, signaling the subordinate to leave.
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not considering the matter of these foolish nobles but was instead pondering the situation. Before coming to the Land of Fire's capital, he had been focused on protecting the Daimyo, but now that he had arrived and taken over a large portion of the defense, his feelings had quietly changed.
This feeling was both familiar and strange to him. It reminded him of when he had just become Hokage decades ago.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't sure if he had ever entertained an absurd thought. Taking over the defense of the Daimyo and nobles—was he truly protecting them, or was he imprisoning them? It felt strangely similar to dealing with rich people.
He quickly took a deep breath, not daring to think any further.
The threat from the Akatsuki, combined with his long-held beliefs, restrained him from taking any drastic steps.
As for what step that was, it seemed ridiculous, even to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Yet, it was a manifestation of human nature, a reflection of the reality that had pushed him into this position.
Had he been a transmigrator, he might have immediately thought of the historical allusion: "Holding the Emperor hostage to command the nobles."
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi was only a step away from contemplating that possibility.
However, it wasn't ambition driving him—only reality, which had pushed him this far.
---
Meanwhile, inside the Akatsuki's aerial manor, a group of members had returned from the Land of Rice Fields, but they brought back one more person than when they left.
"If you know what's good for you, release this great lord at once! This great lord will chop you all to death and offer you as sacrifices to Lord Evil God."
The one shouting was none other than Hidan, his body tied into an unholy knot, still spouting nonsense.
With Susanoo's vision, Kawaki Aoba immediately recognized the unwise man.
Hidan, one of the immortal duo in the Akatsuki, had not yet joined the organization, but how had he ended up in their hands in the Land of Rice Fields?
"Lord Susanoo, we encountered this guy on the road. He was very arrogant. We originally thought of dealing with him directly, but his body was very strange. We couldn't even kill him by piercing his heart," Kisame Hoshigaki said, stepping forward.
His behavior, seeking credit for capturing Hidan, was glaringly obvious.
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