CHAPTER 147
Just as Konoha's main force urgently withdrew from Outpost No. 8 and retreated toward the main headquarters, a series of hurried knocks echoed through the Hokage's office inside the Hokage Building.
A shinobi from the Intelligence Division quickly entered.
He respectfully presented an emergency intelligence scroll to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen immediately unfurled the scroll.
The instant his gaze landed on the first line, his pupils suddenly contracted.
[Top Secret • Urgent]
[Iwagakure Military Operation]
[Estimated Mobilization of More Than Ten Thousand Elite Shinobi to Ambush the Third Raikage]
"Iwagakure intends to mobilize more than ten thousand shinobi... to ambush the Third Raikage?"
Hiruzen's expression changed immediately.
He completely spread open the scroll and carefully continued reading.
The remaining contents had already been decrypted.
They detailed everything that had occurred at Outpost No. 8.
Iwagakure's Four Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi, had led fifty elite shinobi in a surprise attack against Outpost No. 8 in the Land of Rice Fields.
Uchiha Feiquan had led thirty members of the Uchiha Clan in a desperate battle before ultimately killing Roshi.
Kitsuchi of Iwagakure had arrived shortly afterward to demand Roshi's body but was refused by Orochimaru and Akimichi Torifu.
Inoichi Yamanaka had successfully extracted fragments of Roshi's remaining memories through the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques, obtaining top secret intelligence concerning Iwagakure's planned ambush against the Third Raikage.
Commander Akimichi Torifu had immediately ordered everyone stationed at Outpost No. 8 to abandon the position and retreat to the main headquarters.
Every report was concise and clear.
Together they painted the picture of a brutal battle...
A glorious victory...
And the acquisition of intelligence that could influence the entire war.
Originally...
This should have been nothing but good news.
Yet the further Hiruzen read...
The darker his expression became.
Having governed Konohagakure for decades as Hokage...
His political instincts and strategic foresight far surpassed ordinary people.
The moment he fully digested the report...
He immediately sensed the monstrous wave hidden beneath this apparent victory.
A wave powerful enough to completely overturn the balance across the northern battlefront.
"This is troublesome..."
Hiruzen's heart gradually sank.
If Konoha had never learned about Iwagakure's operation to ambush the Third Raikage...
That would have been one thing.
But now...
They already knew.
And the information had been extracted directly from the memories of Iwagakure's Four Tails Jinchuriki.
That meant regardless of what Konoha did afterward...
No matter how tightly they guarded the secret...
Iwagakure would inevitably conclude one thing.
Konoha had discovered the operation.
The success of the ambush depended entirely upon surprise.
Once that surprise disappeared...
The foundation of the operation collapsed.
There was no way Iwagakure's leadership would gamble the lives of more than ten thousand elite shinobi on a plan that was likely already compromised.
This meticulously prepared ambush would inevitably be canceled.
Then another question naturally arose.
Those ten thousand elite shinobi had already been secretly gathered.
Now that the operation had been abandoned...
Where would such an enormous army be directed?
The answer was obvious.
Konoha.
The village that had just killed one of Iwagakure's greatest strategic weapons...
And very likely obtained their highest classified military intelligence.
It was highly probable that Iwagakure would redirect the massive force originally intended for Kumogakure.
Every ounce of hatred...
Every ounce of military pressure...
Would now be aimed directly at Konoha.
In an instant...
Hiruzen had already envisioned the worst and most probable future.
Only now did he truly understand why Inoichi Yamanaka and Akimichi Torifu had reacted so dramatically after learning the contents of Roshi's memories.
Even showing unmistakable regret.
They did not regret killing Roshi.
Nor did they regret protecting Outpost No. 8.
What they regretted...
Was realizing too late that this glorious victory concealed a strategic poison capable of triggering a chain reaction across the entire Shinobi World.
Had this intelligence never been discovered...
Iwagakure and Kumogakure would have been locked in a bloody struggle in the north.
Regardless of who emerged victorious...
Konoha would have benefited.
The pressure on its own eastern front would also have been greatly reduced.
But now...
Everything had changed.
Iwagakure's spear would most likely turn toward Konoha instead.
As for Kumogakure...
With the pressure against them suddenly lifted...
Their military freedom would increase tremendously.
What would they do then?
Would they feel grateful that Konoha had unintentionally disrupted the assassination plot against the Third Raikage?
Of course not.
It was far more likely they would seize the opportunity created by the chaos.
They might even reach a tacit understanding with Iwagakure.
Together...
They could pressure Konoha from two directions.
The overall strategic situation would become more unfavorable than ever before.
Should Konoha simply inform Kumogakure about Iwagakure's assassination plan?
Attempt to form an alliance against Iwagakure?
Hiruzen immediately rejected the idea.
Without solid evidence...
There was no reason for Kumogakure to believe intelligence coming solely from Konoha.
On the contrary...
They might assume Konoha was simply trying to drag them into the conflict because it could no longer bear Iwagakure's pressure.
The possibility of success was almost nonexistent.
Moreover...
Even if certain people within Kumogakure believed the information...
So what?
Iwagakure's immediate target was Konoha.
Not Kumogakure.
The Hidden Cloud could simply remain on the sidelines.
Watching both sides weaken each other.
They could even launch an even fiercer offensive once both villages had suffered heavy losses.
Maximizing their own gains.
Therefore...
Kumogakure absolutely could not learn about this intelligence through an official notification from Konoha.
The pressure from Iwagakure's impending retaliation...
Would have to be borne by Konoha alone.
Hiruzen slowly inhaled.
Suppressing the heaviness weighing upon his heart.
Despite everything...
Not a trace of panic appeared on his face.
As Hokage...
He understood better than anyone that battlefields changed in an instant.
Opportunity and crisis were often inseparable.
His shinobi had fought desperately on the front lines.
They had slain a powerful enemy.
Obtained intelligence of tremendous importance.
Those achievements remained unquestionable.
Before obtaining Roshi's memories...
Who could possibly have predicted the consequences hidden within them?
Even if he himself had been present...
He would never have returned Roshi's corpse.
That involved the honor of the Uchiha Clan.
The morale of Konoha.
And the tremendous intelligence value carried within the body of a Jinchuriki.
"Since the crisis has already arrived..."
"The only option is to face it."
Determination flashed across Hiruzen's eyes.
Without hesitation...
He spread open another scroll and rapidly began writing.
"Someone!"
His deep voice echoed through the office.
An ANBU operative wearing an animal mask silently appeared.
Hiruzen rolled up the freshly written order.
Pressed the Hokage's seal upon it.
Then handed it over.
"Deliver this immediately to Sakumo Hatake."
"Order him to suspend all current assignments."
"At the fastest possible speed, secretly lead a team to the Land of Rice Fields."
"Report directly to Akimichi Torifu and await further orders."
The masked ANBU visibly stiffened.
"Hokage-sama... but Lord White Fang is currently..."
"Immediately."
Hiruzen interrupted him without allowing another word.
His sharp gaze left no room for argument.
"...Understood!"
The ANBU accepted the order with both hands.
His figure flickered.
He instantly disappeared from the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen wasted no time.
He immediately returned to his desk and continued writing one order after another.
Troop redeployments.
Supply allocations.
Strengthening defensive positions.
Expanding intelligence surveillance.
Every possible preparation was quickly arranged.
One ANBU after another appeared...
Received sealed orders...
Then vanished once more.
Each carried the Hokage's highest commands toward different parts of Konohagakure and the various battlefronts.
Finally...
Hiruzen walked toward the office window.
His gaze stretched toward the distant Land of Rice Fields.
His expression was incomparably solemn.
A storm...
Born from the battle at Outpost No. 8...
One that far exceeded the scale of any ordinary battlefield conflict...
Was rapidly gathering across the northern front.
...
At the same time...
Inside the Tsuchikage's office in Iwagakure.
Ōnoki silently stared at the emergency report that had just arrived through the village's fastest intelligence channels.
His expression was so dark it seemed capable of dripping water.
The report detailed Roshi's death.
Along with everything that had happened afterward.
He slowly rolled up the scroll.
A suffocating pressure gradually spread from his short body.
The atmosphere inside the office instantly froze.
"So..."
"You want me..."
"To personally retrieve Roshi's body?"
Ōnoki's cold voice echoed through the silent room.
Every word carried chilling killing intent.
His gaze seemed to pierce countless mountains.
Falling directly upon the distant Land of Rice Fields.
"In that case..."
"Orochimaru..."
Ōnoki slowly clenched his fists.
A faint cracking sound came from his knuckles.
Cold killing intent flashed across his aged eyes.
"This time..."
"I will grant your wish."
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