"What caused Aburame Torune's death in the Land of Wind? And then the Nano-Poison Insects infected the entire Land of Wind?"
In the Hokage's office, only Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo remained. These two old partners, who had loved and killed each other for decades, understood each other perfectly.
Danzo's recruitment of people from various prominent clans into Root was known and tacitly approved by the Sandaime, as he also wished to weaken the clans to maintain a balance between them and civilian Ninja… "Uchiha Nagi appeared…" Danzo was silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"What? He's still alive? Didn't Itachi say he had already killed him?" the Sandaime exclaimed.
"Yes, Root members saw him get hit by Itachi's Ninjutsu, but they didn't see a body, so it's not strange that he's still alive," Danzo said calmly.
"So you sent a squad to silence him, then…"
"Yes, he was first discovered in the Land of Hot Springs, where he fought Tsunade and escaped unscathed. He then fled to the Land of Water. After returning, Root tracked him based on his previously severed arm, finally locating him in the Land of Wind. I never expected that the entire elite squad would…"
The Sandaime frowned, the age spots on his face seemingly darker. He picked up his pipe and puffed on it irritably.
The Uchiha Clan planned a rebellion, so the Sandaime, swayed by Danzo and the two Advisor elders, agreed to the method of annihilating the Uchiha Clan.
Ultimately, Itachi carried out the deed, with Root assisting. Root surrounded the Uchiha Clan compound, ensuring no one escaped… Yet, one still managed to flee, and he even awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
The Sandaime was unaware that the Mangekyo had an advanced version, but from the Nine-Tailed Fox's attack and Madara, who founded the Village, he knew the terror of the Mangekyo.
Now, a Kage-level Ninja harboring hatred for Konoha was lurking in the shadows, sending shivers down one's spine.
Because Kage-level powerhouses from the Five Great Nations had reservations; even if their own son was killed, no matter how great the hatred, in the face of the nation and Village, they had to consider the bigger picture and endure it.
But Uchiha Nagi was a lone wolf, and a Kage-level one at that, which was a headache. Jonin couldn't defeat him, and Kage-level Ninja couldn't easily make a move, or rather, Konoha Village simply couldn't find anyone… Looking at Konoha, the Sandaime sighed. How glorious it once was, with the Sannin, plus Konoha White Fang, then Minato Namikaze, and finally Itachi and Shisui. And now?
Only he himself remained. Danzo had been severely wounded, half his body crippled, and no longer possessed his former strength. The two elder Advisors were old, and with various hidden injuries from their youth's battles, they barely had Jonin-level strength. So who could be sent to eliminate Uchiha Nagi?
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not know that Danzo had secretly transplanted the First Hokage's cells, and his strength had long since recovered. Moreover, not only had it recovered, but because he had acquired a large number of Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he could activate a series of Izanagi.
"Inform Jiraiya, and see if he's willing to go… No, forget it, if he's unwilling, then so be it…" the Sandaime said.
"Have Anbu and Root closely monitor his movements. If he enters the Land of Fire or approaches its borders, then we'll see if there's an opportunity to kill him. Also, increase his bounty."
"As for the Sunagakure matter, don't interfere. I will dispatch the Aburame Clan and medical Ninja to help them cure this Nano-Poison Insects plague…"
Upon hearing this, Danzo immediately bristled, standing up and glaring furiously: "Hiruzen, this is a good opportunity to weaken Sunagakure! You're actually going to help Sunagakure? Have you forgotten the Ninja who died in Konoha's past wars?"
"Do you really want Konoha to fight four nations alone again in another Shinobi World War ten years from now?"
The Sandaime took a few puffs from his pipe, then sighed, "No more, Danzo. I've made my decision regarding Sunagakure. Don't interfere." "Hmph~" Danzo forcefully opened the door, slamming it against the Hokage's office wall. "Hiruzen, one day you'll regret this."
After Danzo left, the Sandaime sighed and muttered to himself, "Old friend, that's why you can't be Hokage…"
"If I don't send people to help Sunagakure end this Nano-Poison Insects plague, what will the other Ninja Villages think? Even if Konoha didn't do it, if Sunagakure publicized it, Konoha would still take the blame. Conversely, if Konoha helps Sunagakure resolve this crisis, no one can speak ill of Konoha…"
Otherwise, if people from other Ninja Villages worried that Konoha might secretly cause a plague in their Village, just like with Sunagakure, what would be the result? Would a Shinobi World War break out prematurely to prevent their own Village from following Sunagakure's path?
After so many years of hard-won peace, the Sandaime did not want to start another war… More importantly, Konoha's talent pool was severely depleted.
Alas, these were all his own doing… When it came to farming, the Sandaime was a professional. In the ten years after the war, Konoha flourished and became increasingly prosperous. When it came to shifting blame, he was also a professional. The Uchiha Clan's annihilation? Itachi took the blame. Hizashi? Danzo took the blame. Any scandals? Root took the blame.
— — — —
"The map should be correct. This way should lead to Rouran Country—"
Uchiha Nagi frowned, looking at the map. He wasn't bad with directions, but the desert was simply too troublesome, lacking coordinates.
The so-called landmarks were basically oases. Often, ordinary people used oases as coordinates to read maps, along with the stars and the sun. "Teacher, which way is east and which way is west here~" Little Kimimaro wiped his sweat, looking around with a bewildered expression.
Under the scorching sun, even Ninja with Chakra couldn't endure it and easily confused directions. Oases, which served as coordinates in the desert, were very rare, and once directions were confused, it was extremely fatal.
Once a person loses their sense of direction, they can easily walk in a large circle and return to their starting point over a long period of travel, because there is always a slight difference in the distance each left and right foot steps out, perhaps only one centimeter or half a centimeter.
It might seem like a person is walking in a straight line, but once they've walked dozens of kilometers, looking from above, they would realize they weren't walking straight, but in a curve… Eventually, they would find themselves having circled back to a place they had passed before. Even fast-footed Ninja are in danger once they lose their sense of direction.
"Every morning, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west," Uchiha Nagi silently drew his sword and plunged it into the ground.
"And once it's noon, when the sun is in the sky and you can't tell directions, use this."
"A sword? How does that tell you directions?" Yukihime was also sweating profusely, looking puzzled.
Uchiha Nagi smiled. This was some obscure knowledge he had brought from before his transmigration.
"Shadows. You can determine east, west, north, and south by the changing direction of a shadow."
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