In the battle that followed Orochimaru and Hiruko's escape, Itachi unleashed overwhelming power, destroying countless monsters.
Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta and with his help, he eliminated a large number of creatures.
On the other hand, Guy, who was expected to display impressive power, ended up exhausted instantly. Right after Orochimaru and Hiruko retreated, Guy's Eight Gates strength completely disappeared. He fell to the ground, unable to get up, and needed Kakashi's protection.
Furthermore, those little creatures never managed to reach Konoha.
Sometime after Orochimaru left, monsters began to fall one after another, losing their lives.
It was evident that they had once again been tricked by Orochimaru.
Those creatures would never have held out long enough to reach Konoha.
Itachi, not giving it much thought, briefly argued with Yako and Naoto before leaving the Hokage's office.
Where was he going?
Of course, to see Sarutobi Hiruzen!
With the current power of the Uchiha clan and the influence that Funan had gained in Konoha, Itachi had proposed to eliminate Hiruzen in order to eradicate the shadows that lurked in the dark corners of Konoha.
Although Funan insisted on using Hiruzen as bait, luring all the enemies to one place to eliminate them once and for all, Itachi, however, was hesitant about that strategy.
It seemed more like Funan simply wanted to torture Hiruzen.
Although the enmity between them was not that deep on the surface, Itachi knew that in the past Hiruzen had pushed Funan to the brink of becoming a missing-nin.
Knowing Funan's vengeful nature, would he let it go?
Definitely not. He would also want to push Hiruzen to the limit, forcing him to become a missing-nin.
"Itachi..."
"Hmm?" Itachi came back to his senses and found a little old man standing in front of him.
The little old man had white hair, a pipe in his mouth, and cloudy eyes, staring at him.
"Hokage-sama!"
Itachi knelt on one knee without hesitation and said: "I have something to report."
"Itachi!" Hiruzen took a breath and said: "I thought you wouldn't come."
Itachi didn't speak. At this time, it's better to be silent than to speak.
"Mangekyo Sharingan!" Hiruzen sighed and said: "Itachi, you are indeed qualified to be Hokage."
Itachi muttered, "During this last battle, I awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan."
Hiruzen stared at Itachi.
...
Amegakure.
"Ahhh! That feels so good!" Funan exclaimed with a satisfied expression.
Konan looked at him with disgust. A grown man making those kinds of sounds!
Funan looked at Konan with a smile and said: "Konan, darling, put a little more force! This feels too good!"
"Shut up!!" Konan stood up furiously.
This damn Funan had insisted that his waist hurt and asked Konan to massage it for him. When Konan protested, his response left her embarrassed and speechless: "It's because of you that my waist hurts. If you don't help me, who will? You have to take responsibility!"
Konan sighed in resignation. After a while, she said: "I'm done. When do you plan to return to Konoha?"
"Are you driving me away?" Funan asked in disbelief. "I'm such a good man! How can you want to push me away? Where is your conscience? Have you already lost it?"
Konan rolled her eyes at Funan and said: "I want you to stay here forever, but do you think it's possible? You're the Hokage!"
"You're right." Funan admitted after a moment's thought. "But I don't want to be away from you. So what do we do?"
"What do we do? I don't know!" Konan rolled her eyes. "What if you quit being Hokage and moved to Amegakure?"
"That's also an option!" Funan considered it seriously. "Though, looking at the current situation, I think it would be better for you to move to Konoha, what do you think, sweetheart?"
Konan immediately shook her head. "Don't even dream about it. I won't leave Nagato."
Funan spoke with disgust: "You are my woman, and you spend your days clinging to another man saying that you won't leave him. This is unacceptable! Maybe I should kill Nagato, what do you think?"
"What do you think?" Konan replied, raising her voice.
Funan snorted, dissatisfied. Konan sighed and, with a complex expression, said: "I don't think it will be long."
Funan understood the subtext.
Konan tightened her hands and subconsciously touched her waist. There was the scroll that Funan had given him, with a special clone sealed inside.
If Konan was really in danger, that clone would definitely save her life.
Thinking of this, her expression softened. She walked over and carefully arranged Funan's clothes. "Go quickly. It won't be long."
"It will all be over soon." Funan said with a smile. "When everything is settled, go to Konoha."
"Okay." Konan replied this time, without objecting.
She didn't ask what exactly 'finish' meant to Funan. She understood that he was preparing something, and she also knew that Nagato sensed it.
However, as long as their goals didn't clash, Funan and Nagato maintained a kind of cooperation.
Funan looked at her deeply before turning around and leaving.
The final battle was getting closer. He had to return to Konoha and prepare.
...
Meanwhile the great shinobi villages did not stop their actions.
After Kumo and Iwa had failed against Konoha and Amegakure, losing a large number of troops, they began to draw up a new plan: an alliance.
With them as main hubs, other shinobi villages began building roads to connect with each other.
Several direct routes were built between Iwa and Kumo, allowing the other to send reinforcements as quickly as possible if one was in danger. Other villages also built roads to these two.
In essence, the villages were coming together.
Even daimyo and nobles began to be treated differently. Shinobi stopped revering them and began demanding money from them. The Raikage even openly threatened them, saying that if they did not pay, he could not guarantee their safety.
Faced with the overwhelming force of the shinobi, the daimyos and nobles could only resign themselves.
...
"Enough, Hiruko! If you continue like this, don't blame me for being rude."
Orochimaru stared at the bandaged man in front of him with a gloomy face.
This bastard... Even though he had saved him, he was only bringing trouble to him.
On more than one occasion he had tried to assassinate him, both openly and secretly.
Hiruko gave a crooked smile and said: "Orochimaru, I was just joking. Don't take it so seriously."
Orochimaru stared at him coldly and said: "If you really want to joke, I'll accompany you. To be honest, I really don't take you seriously, whether it was before or now!"
Hiruko's expression didn't change, maintaining his carefree smile. "I know, I know, I have always known it."
Without another word, Orochimaru turned and began walking, leaving Hiruko behind. Hiruko followed closely behind, his calm unruffled.
The Chimera Technique!
This is what Orochimaru wanted.
If it weren't for this forbidden technique, would Orochimaru save him?
However, due to his attack on Konoha, Hiruko had betrayed Akatsuki, thus cutting off one of his escape routes.
Funan maintained a sort of tacit alliance with Akatsuki, and Pain had made it clear that Akatsuki members were not to attack Konoha.
Funan's contribution to Akatsuki was evident: The exchanges between Ame and Konoha, although secret, allowed large sums of money to flow into the organization, and although he had taken the tailed beasts, he had on the other hand left enough chakra to facilitate Pain's plans.
Hiruko had overestimated his ability. He thought he could destroy Konoha and take over the Uchiha clan bloodline, thus perfecting the Chimera Technique.
"Hiruko!"
Orochimaru suddenly stopped and turned his head to stare at Hiruko.
"What's wrong, Orochimaru?" Hiruko was still smiling, although inside he remained on high alert.
"When will you hand over the Chimera Technique to me?" Orochimaru got straight to the point. In Hiruko's current situation, he didn't see the need to beat around the bush any longer.
Hiruko, after a brief moment of thought, smiled and said: "Orochimaru, calm down. I told you I would give you the technique, and I will. I just need more time."
"My patience is limited." Orochimaru's snake eyes bored into him with intensity.
"I told you, I'll give her to you. But not now." Hiruko's smile remained intact.
"You..."
[Boom!!!]
A loud bang interrupted Orochimaru's words.
Immediately, an arrogant voice resounded: "Orochimaru, Hiruko, come out right now!"
Hearing that voice, both of their expressions changed.
Uchiha Funan!
Hiruko cast an icy glare at Orochimaru, gritting his teeth he said: "Have you betrayed me?"
Orochimaru stared back coldly. "Wasn't it you who did it?"
"What a joke, what did I just do, your snake brain has forgotten?"
"I know, but you haven't caused any real harm to Konoha either."
Only two annexed cities had been destroyed and there were not many casualties since they managed to evacuate in time.
After a cold visual confrontation, both looked away at the same time.
"First we face…"
"What are you doing?"
Before Orochimaru could finish, Funan's curious voice had already reached them.
"A duel of glances?"
"Are you looking down on me a little too much? Huh?!"
At that instant, both Orochimaru and Hiruko began to break out in a cold sweat.
[Tap! Tap! Tap!]
The sound of footsteps echoed through the air.
Orochimaru raised his head with difficulty.
Although they had faced each other on equal terms in the past, this time, facing him without any preparation left him completely defenseless.
"Funan-kun, long time no see." Orochimaru said with a forced smile.
"Yes, a long time, Orochimaru-san." Funan replied with her usual calmness.
"Long time no see you Hiruko." Funan said, examining Hiruko from head to toe.
Hiruko forced a smile. "Hokage-sama!"
"Hokage-sama?" Funan repeated with a slight smile as she looked at Hiruko. "How thoughtful of you. At least you remember that I'm the Hokage. I had already assumed that you had forgotten."
"How is it possible?!" Hiruko forced a smile, though her expression twisted slightly.
"Funan-kun." Orochimaru said slowly: "Does this mean we're going to fight to the death?"
"That will depend on the decision you make." Funan replied with a gentle smile. "I extend a very sincere invitation to you all to come to Konoha. I assure you that you will receive honorable treatment as distinguished guests."
"Alas!" Orochimaru sighed deeply and said: "Sorry, Funan-kun, I don't plan to go to Konoha for the time being, so..."
"Orochimaru-san, are you planning to resist?"
"Yes!" Orochimaru replied as he formed hand seals.
[Bang!]
Three coffins slowly emerged from the ground, positioning themselves in front of Funan.
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