Southwest of Konohagakure,
this is an area right next to the Konoha forest, and also the clan land of the Nara Clan.
Since the Sengoku period, the Nara Clan has been known for their expertise in making secret medicines. Their accumulated secret medicinal formulas are even more extensive than the storage of Konoha's medical team.
It was precisely because they had to manage their own herbal business and raise deer, forcing the Nara Clan to live adjacent to the forest, that they chose such a remote location when the Village was first established.
At the very center of the Nara Clan's clan land is the residence of Nara Shikatsune, the current clan head of the Nara Clan.
This is a classic wooden house, with corridors deliberately left around the single-story building. The breeze that occasionally blows through always carries away the heat and brings coolness.
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt no coolness at all right now. It was bad enough that he was attacked while signing an alliance; as soon as he returned to the Village, he was greeted by an overwhelming barrage of rumors.
In front of Hiruzen Sarutobi was a chessboard placed on the ground, on which the pieces symbolizing Hiruzen Sarutobi's side had been utterly routed.
The Nara Clan was good in every way, except for this one annoying habit: they insisted on playing chess while discussing anything.
Go ahead and play as much as you want, who can beat you guys!
Fortunately, playing chess did not affect Nara Shikatsune's super brain, which was used for thinking, even with his mind split.
"You mean, even before I returned, someone was already deliberately spreading rumors detrimental to me?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, held a chess piece, pretended to think for a while, and then haphazardly placed it in a random spot.
Sure enough, it was captured.
Actually, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not bad at chess; it's no exaggeration to say that his Shogi skills were quite good. When he was in good form, he could even occasionally win a game against Nara Shikatsune.
It was just that his mind was in turmoil now, filled with thoughts of the suddenly nullified Hokage position. How could he have the leisure to compete with Nara Shikatsune on the chessboard?
So he casually changed the position of another chess piece on the board.
Nara Shikatsune didn't care if Hiruzen Sarutobi was playing haphazardly, but he also had no intention of holding back. After a brief thought, he made another move.
However, his move was made in a different spot, not to capture the piece Hiruzen Sarutobi had deliberately offered.
"That's right, and the other party very likely also has people arranged within the Land of Lightning. According to the time you just told me, on the very day you were attacked in Kumogakure, some rumors, both true and false, began to spread within Konoha."
"In the entire Ninja World, the only way to transmit messages so quickly is probably through the Summoning Jutsu."
"To be honest, when rumors first started circulating in the Village later that Hokage-sama might have been killed, I actually didn't pay much attention to it. I even thought it was a spy from another Village trying to stir up trouble."
"You know, ever since Hokage-sama established the Anbu and the Security Force as a double safeguard, such a foolish spy couldn't possibly succeed, but I didn't expect —"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows furrowed even tighter. Shikatsune had made it clear enough: someone was targeting him, even going so far as to send spies to the Land of Lightning to lay out plans in advance.
"Have you found out who is spreading the rumors? Or do you have a general idea of the scope? You must also understand that the opponent's elaborate scheme is simply to become the Third Hokage."
"But besides the Uchiha Clan, I can't even think of anyone who would plan to compete with me for the Hokage position."
Shikatsune picked up a chess piece with two fingers and set it down, effortlessly taking another of Hiruzen Sarutobi's pieces from the board.
Visibly, there were only a few of Hiruzen Sarutobi's pieces left on the board, but Hiruzen Sarutobi, deep in thought with a furrowed brow, was completely oblivious, only unconsciously fiddling with the pieces on the board with his right hand.
"Checkmate."
Shikatsune's voice instantly pulled Hiruzen Sarutobi out of his thoughts. He was startled to realize that he had already lost. Immediately after, he heard Nara Shikatsune say:
"You don't need to investigate; just wait a few more days, and you'll know the answer by seeing who jumps out to run for Hokage against you."
"After all, Second Hokage is very sensitive about this. If the other party doesn't want to be targeted everywhere like the Uchiha Clan, they wouldn't be foolish enough to expose their intentions in advance."
"It's probably because Tobirama-sama rarely leaves the Village that the other party dared to seize the opportunity to stir up trouble. However, in my opinion, Tobirama-sama's sudden demise was most likely also unexpected by the other party."
"From initially spreading some ambiguous rumors on a small scale, to suddenly and directly revealing their true intentions, openly slandering you and Danzo, that was probably a last-minute change of plan."
"This mastermind is indeed quick-witted and reacts far faster than ordinary people. Even if I were to plan it, I might not be able to do better than him."
Since he had already lost, Hiruzen Sarutobi completely stopped paying attention to the chessboard and sighed, supporting his head:
"Now is not the time to admire the opponent, Shikatsune. We are in the open, and the opponent is in the dark. If we wait until the day of the Jonin confidence vote to start planning, it will be too late."
"Heh heh, actually, if we don't consider motives and only think about strength and influence, there are only a few families in the Village who are qualified to compete with you for Hokage and have the ability to make such extensive arrangements."
"Of course, first, you can rule out the Uchiha. They wouldn't use such complicated methods..."
At this point, Nara Shikatsune couldn't help but laugh.
"Do you know, Hiruzen?"
"Uchiha Aoba has already openly stated that he will nominate his clan head to run for Third Hokage after the meeting just now. How many votes do you think they will get then?"
"What if only the Uchiha's own clan members vote? Wouldn't that be too awkward?"
"Uchiha, huh..."
It was fine when Nara Shikatsune didn't mention it, but now, upon hearing the three words "Uchiha," Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a headache coming on.
One must know that although Uchiha Kagami came from the Uchiha Clan, he was indeed a great Ninja who inherited the Will of Fire; even Danzo, that guy, genuinely acknowledged this point.
Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi would absolutely not intentionally harm his comrade Kagami, as those rumors circulating in the Village these past two days suggested.
Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but recall the day they were attacked.
After being caught by the Kumogakure pursuers, although Tobirama-sensei led away the strongest among them, the Gold and Silver Brothers, most of the remaining Ninja from the Kinkaku Force still pursued them.
Due to their unfamiliarity with the terrain of the Land of Lightning, they were quickly caught up by these Kumogakure Ninja and once again fell into a predicament.
At that moment, Kagami suddenly proposed to hold them off alone and showed them his Mangekyo Sharingan.
According to Kagami, those were the eyes Uchiha Madara once possessed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi even felt some regret at the time. If he had known earlier that Kagami possessed such powerful strength, it would have been better to have all stayed from the beginning and fought alongside sensei... Soon, Hiruzen Sarutobi gathered his scattered thoughts once again.
Now was not the time for sentimentality. Regardless, Kagami and Tobirama-sensei ultimately did not return safely, both perishing during this Kumogakure trip.
And he also had to brace himself and focus all his energy on resolving the current dire situation.
Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head again and said to the man in front of him:
"Shikatsune, I think we must..."x