Chapter 281: Panic Among the Daimyos of Earth, Wind, and Lightning!
While Uchiha Ikeizumi was still traveling among the various cities of the Land of Water, news of the Land of Water's capital inevitably spread toward the entire ninja world.
"This time, what Ikeizumi used was actually Wood Style..."
In the Konoha Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the intelligence report sent by the Anbu ninja, the fatigue in his eyes impossible to conceal.
"Orochimaru has been confirmed dead at the hands of Uchiha Ikeizumi."
"Hiruzen, that fellow Uchiha Ikeizumi might very well have obtained the power of Wood Style from Orochimaru!"
Utatane Koharu looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was continuously smoking in the Hokage seat, and could not help but offer a reminder.
Since Uchiha Ikeizumi obtained the power of Wood Style, he had never excessively concealed it. Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu had suspected from the very beginning that Uchiha Ikeizumi's Wood Style was obtained from Orochimaru.
"No, Ikeizumi's Wood Style was already there even before he came into contact with Orochimaru."
"For Ikeizumi, it is possible for him to synthesize Wood Style through the two nature transformations of Water and Earth."
"It is just that I did not expect Ikeizumi's Wood Style to grow this fast!"
"To use Wood Style to kill all the nobles and even the Daimyo of the Land of Water's capital..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was actually already unsurprised by some of the abnormalities on Uchiha Ikeizumi's body. The matter he was considering right now was actually the same as Elder Genji's: the Fourth Great Ninja War might really be about to break out!
If the Fourth Great Ninja War was for the sake of killing Uchiha Ikeizumi, could Konoha really stay out of it?
"Ikeizumi acted a bit too hastily..."
"If he could have slowed down a bit, perhaps the situation would not be this tense!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a soft sigh. Absolute Justice...Absolute Justice was of course good. Sarutobi Hiruzen could also see the changes in Konoha; whether it was those merchants or the ninja clans, everyone had to restrain themselves under Absolute Justice.
But there were also too many people who could not tolerate Absolute Justice. The nobles and Daimyos of the Five Great Nations, and even the Daimyos and nobles of those small nations, would not tolerate a person harming them in the name of Absolute Justice.
"Do you want me to disperse all the Root ninja?"
The purpose of Utatane Koharu coming to find Sarutobi Hiruzen could not possibly be simply to discuss Uchiha Ikeizumi's Wood Style. Wood Style was very important; even in Konoha, Wood Style could almost be regarded as the orthodox lineage.
But in the face of a Great Ninja War, Wood Style appeared not that important.
As for dispersing the Root ninja, this also had Utatane Koharu's own small calculations. She should be staying in prison right now, and the Root ninja she took over should likewise be in prison. It was only because of Uchiha Ikeizumi's departure, coupled with Tsunade's attention being entirely placed on the Hokage election, that Utatane Koharu had the opportunity to leave the prison.
"Disperse the Root ninja!"
"Especially pay attention to the borders of the Land of Earth, the Land of Lightning, and the Land of Wind."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. His Anbu were now somewhat out of control, while Utatane Koharu's Root had all been implanted with curse marks. At this time, they were instead the strength that Sarutobi Hiruzen could control.
"A Great Ninja War..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a soft sigh. He suddenly felt that if a Great Ninja War broke out, it might not necessarily be a bad thing. At least it could make Uchiha Ikeizumi and Tsunade realize the flaws of Absolute Justice.
If Uchiha Ikeizumi's Absolute Justice were not that extreme, handing Konoha over to Tsunade's hands did not seem to be a bad thing?
"Perhaps this Great Ninja War will be the time of my final curtain call..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze was somewhat deep. As long as Uchiha Ikeizumi could be less extreme, and as long as Tsunade was made to realize that Absolute Justice needed restrictions, Sarutobi Hiruzen was still willing to go to his death.
He was very tired. His two sons had died one after another, his disciple Orochimaru had died, and even his daughter-in-law had contacted the Hidden Cloud of the Land of Lightning. These upheavals had already caused Sarutobi Hiruzen's energy to deteriorate day by day.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen really did not dare to let go, even if he was said to be greedy for power, he did not dare to let go.
He was truly afraid that extreme Absolute Justice would pull the entire Konoha into a place of eternal damnation. He felt that with him around, he could at least slightly restrict Uchiha Ikeizumi's Absolute Justice a little.
The Land of Rain.
"A Great Ninja War is about to break out!"
"Uchiha Ikeizumi is a thoroughbred madman; he does not consider any consequences at all."
Konan looked at the intelligence report in her hand and could not help but frown.
Konan truly loathed war. It was precisely because of the Second Great Ninja War that she, Nagato, and Yahiko became orphans. If it were not for Jiraiya, they might have died somewhere long ago.
"But for us, a Great Ninja War is a good opportunity."
"Those Jinchuriki who were originally very well protected will successively appear on the battlefield."
Nagato fell silent for a moment, looking at Konan as he comforted her in a soft voice.
Also in the Land of Rain, at this time Uchiha Obito was staring blankly at White Zetsu, and Black Zetsu was still wailing. Although Uchiha Obito realized that a Great Ninja War might be helpful to his plan, he did not know how to launch the plan.
Normally these things were arranged by Black Zetsu. Now that Black Zetsu was basically crippled, Obito instead did not know what to do.
"How about we move along with the Akatsuki organization?"
"And has the Great Ninja War not broken out yet?"
"If it really does not work out, we can act according to the circumstances when the time comes?"
After White Zetsu and Obito stared blankly at each other for a while, White Zetsu squeezed out his own idea. Although Uchiha Obito felt this was a bit careless, he did not seem to have a better choice either?
At the same time, in the Cloud Village.
"The Daimyo's estate has consecutively sent six or seven orders, telling our Hidden Cloud to resolve Uchiha Ikeizumi at all costs."
The Fourth Raikage stood in the office. Killer Bee, Samui, and other elite Jōnin of the Cloud were gathered here. With the fermentation of the Land of Water incident, this was already the fourth time the Fourth Raikage had gathered them here.
"What about the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind?"
"Are there signs of their ninja mobilizing?"
Samui looked at the Fourth Raikage, not quite approving of the Hidden Cloud being the first to start a Great Ninja War.
"The pressure on the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind will not be much better than ours. No, the pressure on the Land of Wind might be a lot better than ours; after all, the funding given by the Daimyo of the Land of Wind to the Hidden Sand is pitifully small, and the Hidden Sand only obeys the orders of the Land of Wind's Daimyo in name."
"But the pressure on the Land of Earth's side will only be greater than our Land of Lightning!"
The Fourth Raikage's thoughts were the same as Samui's. If a Great Ninja War was destined to break out, the Hidden Cloud could act as the main force, but it was best not to act as the character that started the Great Ninja War.
"The Uchiha clan ninja of Konoha, how come they feel more and more crazy..."
Killer Bee could not help but mutter a line about Uchiha Ikeizumi. He had encountered Uchiha clan ninja on the battlefield before; although he felt their brains were abnormal, the brain of that one named Uchiha Ikeizumi seemed exceptionally abnormal?