Tobi left the southeastern part of Konoha's wall, leaving the battlefield of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans and the Susano'o. He headed north, appearing in the eastern part of Konoha.
Fox had quickly dealt with a Susano'o here earlier, and now a large number of White Zetsu were continuously pouring in through the breach in the wall.
Tobi emerged from an earthen wall, watching the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of White Zetsu charging into Konoha Village, and let out a strange laugh.
Tobi and White Zetsu still had time to chat.
"Ohoho, now Konoha is in trouble. I don't believe the village leadership can focus on causing trouble for Lord Madara if the villagers are dying this quickly."
"Look, those shinobi are actually trying to stop the White Zetsu."
"Hurry up and help the White Zetsu widen the breach, otherwise Konoha's Fox will catch up again."
White Zetsu said: "I don't feel like using the Mangekyō this time. Even though Hashirama's cells can nourish the Mangekyō, my eyes still feel a bit uncomfortable."
"You're uncomfortable? Then change to another White Zetsu. There are plenty of White Zetsu."
"I can indeed change, but if these eyeballs go blind, you won't have any to replace them with, right?"
"Good point. Then let's use Wood Release to clear out the cannon fodder."
Inside the breach, Jōnin Koyō used a large-scale Water Release technique.
"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
The Water Release filled the street, washing dozens of White Zetsu out of the village.
He shouted, directing the surrounding Chūnin and Genin.
"We must buy time for the villagers to evacuate! Don't let these white-skinned enemies enter the village!"
Koyō directed the temporarily assembled Chūnin to form teams and guard their respective streets and alleys.
He formed hand signs again.
Just as the Water Release shot from his mouth, he suddenly felt his scalp prickle.
A sharp sound of something cutting through the air came from behind!
A wooden spear was thrust towards his back!
He couldn't dodge it; the enemy's ambush timing was perfect!
Just then, a water line shot forth violently.
The wooden spear was split in two. Not only that, the water line headed straight for Tobi.
Tobi quickly submerged into a tree trunk. The tree trunk he was hiding in was split open.
Yōkō frowned. Not being able to use the Ephemeral Technique is too limiting. I'm always one step behind Tobi.
Koyō turned and saw the Anbu member who had suddenly appeared beside him.
Wearing a fox mask – no mistake, it was the Anbu Vice Minister, Fox.
They had briefly cooperated once during the Land of Rivers War when he and Fox captured the upper reaches of the river and created a flood peak in the valley to force Sunagakure's puppet masters out.
Koyō said to Fox: "Thank you, Lord Fox!"
The next instant, Yōkō threw a wooden spear at Koyō.
Koyō didn't dodge, his heart tightening.
Thud!
The sound of the wooden spear piercing flesh came.
Koyō turned and saw a Chūnin behind him impaled by the wooden spear.
This Chūnin's body began to change, quickly turning into a white-skinned creature.
Koyō thought, That was dangerous. I couldn't even see through the white creature's Transformation Technique.
Yōkō frowned. The White Zetsu were using Wood Release: Substitute Technique, transforming into Konoha shinobi to ambush other Konoha shinobi.
"Jōnin Koyō, gather the Konoha shinobi nearby. Don't spread out for now. The enemy uses a Transformation Technique that is extremely difficult to discern. Even the Byakugan can't see through it," Yōkō said.
"I'm going to find some support."
Yōkō created a Wood Clone. The Wood Clone quickly headed towards the location of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina.
Under a maple tree, Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina, and Yōkō's Wood Clone were carefully watching their surroundings.
Uzumaki Kushina looked worriedly towards the Senju Clan Compound.
Uchiha Madara had appeared there first. Teacher Tsunade had arrived in time to save her, but the battlefield was inside the Senju Compound.
The Senju Clan Compound had suffered severe damage.
She didn't know how many of her clansmen had escaped, or how much of the compound had been destroyed.
A new Wood Clone of Yōkō appeared.
"Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina, I order you in my capacity as Anbu Vice Minister to proceed to the breach in the eastern village wall and provide support in the battle!"
Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina looked at each other. Their eyes showed not fear, but excitement.
The village was under attack, and they very much wanted to fight. It was just that the enemies that had appeared earlier were too strong – either Uchiha Madara himself or a White Zetsu with the Mangekyō.
"Lord Fox!" Uzumaki Kushina asked, "I'm not supposed to leave the barrier. I can't approach the Konoha walls. The village set up a Nine-Tails barrier for me."
Yōkō said: "Follow this Wood Clone of mine. The Wood Clone will help you break through the barrier.
Uzumaki Kushina, I don't know if you can sense malice. If not, then learn now, develop it now.
Namikaze Minato, you are responsible for protecting Uzumaki Kushina."
Uzumaki Kushina quickly said: "I've learned Malice Sensing! I'm not very proficient, but if the enemy's malice is particularly strong, I can sense it!"
Namikaze Minato said with determined eyes: "I will use the Shining Wheel Dance, Wind God Performance, Second Form to protect Kushina!"
"You'll use what?"
Yōkō was stunned. What nonsense had Namikaze Minato just said?
Then he realized it was Minato's abstract naming ability at work.
"Fine, use your... whatever Wind Two thing to protect Kushina."
"Lord Fox, it's the Shining Wheel Dance, Wind God Performance, Second Form, not Wind Two."
"Right, it's Two Wind, not Wind Two."
Namikaze Minato couldn't argue further and could only hurry to follow Lord Fox's Wood Clone.
When they reached the edge of the Nine-Tails barrier, Uzumaki Kushina grew nervous.
This barrier gave her headaches. The village's Sealing Unit used this method to remind her not to leave the barrier.
However, she saw Lord Fox form hand signs and slam them onto the empty air.
The barrier in the air flickered and vanished, violently broken open by Lord Fox's Wood Clone.
The barrier shattered, turning into scattered, glowing triangular fragments of varying sizes.
Inside the Barrier Corps room, Yamanaka Inson quickly ripped off the secret technique helmet on his head.
The backlash from the destroyed barrier impacted Yamanaka Inson's mind.
He hurried to the rooftop terrace of the Hokage Building.
On the rooftop, Hyūga shinobi used their Byakugan to monitor every corner of the village.
Messenger shinobi constantly came and went.
Nara Rokaku, the brain of Konoha, directed the evacuation of civilians and dispatched reinforcements to the various battlefields.
Yamanaka Inson said anxiously: "Rokaku! Someone destroyed the Inner Nine-Tails Barrier! The Jinchūriki has left the Nine-Tails barrier!"
Nara Rokaku said: "I know. The Hyūga have already seen it. Don't worry. It was Fox who took the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
"Fox?" Yamanaka Inson said, "Fox just saved us, but he taking the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is no small matter."
Nara Rokaku said: "It's fine. The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is safe with Fox. Tobi has the ability to move about freely. It's more dangerous for the Jinchūriki to be alone.
Tonight, there's no place safer than by Fox's side."
Seeing this, Yamanaka Inson said nothing more.
"Wait, Inson, don't leave yet."
Yamanaka Inson was about to return to the Barrier Corps but stopped when he heard Rokaku call him.
Rokaku came to Inson's side and said quietly: "Inson, Ruri is Vice Minister Fox's assistant, correct?"
"Yes."
Yamanaka Inson didn't know why Rokaku was suddenly bringing this up.
Nara Rokaku's eyes flickered.
The Ino–Shika–Chō clans had an excellent relationship with the Sarutobi clan since the Warring States Period. The Sarutobi clan were the witnesses to the Ino–Shika–Chō alliance.
In recent years, the foundation of the Ino–Shika–Chō had actually been Akimichi Torifu.
As long as Akimichi Torifu was alive, the Ino–Shika–Chō clans held significant influence with the higher-ups.
When they encountered trouble, a visit by the retired Uncle Torifu to the Sarutobi compound was more effective than any other method.
As one of the Second Hokage's Six Guards, Uncle Torifu had very deep bonds with the Third Hokage, Advisor Danzo, and the others.
Even someone as cold as Advisor Danzo would be amiable when facing Uncle Torifu.
However, Uncle Torifu had sacrificed himself.
To deal with the Susano'o, Uncle Torifu had no choice but to step out and deliver the decisive blow.
After Uncle Torifu's sacrifice, the Ino–Shika–Chō clans' influence was greatly diminished.
The Ino–Shika–Chō clans had to find a new pillar of support.
Nara Rokaku asked again: "Ruri has a daughter?"
Yamanaka Inson finally understood and said quietly, "Yes, a daughter. I suspect..."
Nara Rokaku shook his head and said, "Take good care of Ruri's daughter."
"I understand."
Yamanaka Inson hadn't expected Rokaku to take the initiative to extend an olive branch to Fox.
Back when Ruri and Ryuu joined the Anbu, Yamanaka Inson had been very upset.
He never expected the two sisters to establish themselves firmly within the Anbu.
Ruri, in particular, had aligned herself with the right person, becoming Vice Minister Fox's advisor, and had even given birth to a child.
From his understanding of Rokaku, all it would take was the right opportunity for the Ino–Shika–Chō clans and Fox to establish an alliance.
By the eastern wall of Konoha Village, the Wood Clone led Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato to the breach.
Yōkō said: "See those white creatures? They are White Zetsu, subordinates of Uchiha Madara.
The White Zetsu know a Transformation Technique that can perfectly mimic another person. Ordinary means cannot distinguish it.
The White Zetsu themselves aren't strong, but when they transform into one of us and ambush Konoha personnel, they are difficult to deal with.
To my knowledge, only methods like 'Malice Sensing' can distinguish them.
Princess Kushina, you are responsible for identifying the White Zetsu's transformations. Namikaze Minato, you are responsible for killing the White Zetsu.
Jōnin Koyō, you are responsible for coordinating with them.
I leave this place to you."
Having said that, Yōkō's main body vanished with a Body Flicker.
Jōnin Koyō nearby couldn't help but say: "Isn't Lord Fox being a bit reckless?
Namikaze Minato might be the White Fang's genius student, but how old are you? Are you even 14 yet?"
Uzumaki Kushina was eager. "Uncle Koyō, I definitely won't let Lord Fox or you down!"
Namikaze Minato drew his Chakra Short Sword.
He had just mastered the Shining Wheel Dance, Wind God Performance, Second Form and wanted to test it in actual combat.
Uzumaki Kushina closed her eyes, then suddenly opened them. Her eyes had turned into the vertical pupils of a fox demon.
"That one! That white-haired kunoichi is about to ambush the squad leader beside her!"
Koyō looked where Uzumaki Kushina was pointing, his pupils dilating.
Because before he even saw the white-haired kunoichi, he saw Namikaze Minato Body Flicker over!
The light around Namikaze Minato's body distorted, as if covered by a layer of air with a different density, a violent airflow trailing behind him.
His ninjato swung horizontally, a wind blade shooting out at high speed.
The white-haired kunoichi was bisected at the waist.
The squad leader turned in terror, not understanding why the blond boy wearing a Konoha headband behind him had killed his squad member.
But the next instant, the bisected kunoichi's upper and lower body segments lost their color, turning into a white-skinned creature.
Koyō stared wide-eyed. What level of Body Flicker is this...
Just then, an explosion occurred in the northeastern part of the village.
Koyō quickly looked in the direction of the explosion.
That was... the Five Elements Unrivalled Attack?
The Hokage was fighting the Complete Body Susano'o and used the Five Elements Unrivalled Attack to blast it out of the village.
Koyō turned back and said urgently: "Keep it up! Don't stop! The Hokage has made his move! We will be victorious soon!"
***
->Support me with power stone
->for 100 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter
***
Dive deeper into the story with 50+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!
patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!
(End of Chapter)