Chapter 158 The Third Raikage Ends
Konoha March 46.
Four months have passed since the Kumogakure raided the Sand Village.
As the top leaders of the Sand Village gradually recovered, the elite troops of the Cloud Village, which had been unable to advance since advancing beyond the narrow gap, also began to show signs of decline.
When the news that Konoha had sent a diplomatic document expressing support for the Sand Village's position reached the ears of the Sand Village, and he discovered that the Sand Village was mobilizing outer forces with the intention of surrounding them, he knew that the situation was hopeless and immediately issued an order to retreat.
While the Sand Village had not yet completed its full encirclement, the Third Raikage personally covered the retreat. After all his men had successfully broken through, he killed his way through the Sand Village's defense line and left in style.
"Trash, a bunch of trash!"
Feng Fan, who got the news, swore unusually.
Even when he was humiliated by Danzo, this old high-ranking member of the Sand Village did not break down like this.
The Sandaime Raikage is alone, alone!
He killed his way through the encirclement of the Sand Village and ran away!
"There's nothing we can do about it."
Seeing Feng Xian’s face getting redder than a monkey’s butt due to anger, Chiyo tried to comfort him.
"With the Sandaime Kazekage missing, we really don't have the capital to stop the enemy, and this encirclement was put together temporarily."
"We should be thankful that the Line of Sky has not been lost and the Sand Village is still one of the five great hidden villages."
Chiyo is now very open-minded and as long as the Sand Village exists, it's enough.
As for the lost manpower and material resources, they can be recovered in due time.
"I can't take this breath."
Although he had already somewhat agreed with Chiyo's words, the blush on Fengfan's face did not fade away, but became even brighter.
"Where's the damage report? Why hasn't it been counted yet?"
After a temper tantrum, he calmed down a little and asked his subordinates for the loss report during this period with a serious face.
"this......"
Seeing Fengfan's obviously abnormal mental state, the Sand Ninja in charge of sorting subconsciously clenched the documents in his hand, struggling over whether to hand them over to him.
"Are you deaf?!"
When Feng Fan got no response, he yelled, scaring the other party into handing it over immediately.
After glaring at the Sand Ninja with dissatisfaction, Fengfan suppressed his anger and read the report carefully.
"You, me, burp!"
Before long, Feng Fan's face turned from red to purple, then gray, and his lips began to tremble.
"Master Fengfan?"
Chiyo was the first to notice something was wrong. She asked tentatively at first, and then when she found out that the other party was not in a good state, she immediately rushed over.
"Quick, where's the medical ninja!"
The other senior executives followed suit.
There was a commotion and Fengfan, who had already started foaming at the mouth, was carried to the hospital on a stretcher by the Sand Ninja.
"Master Chiyo, what should we do next?"
With Fengfan being carried away, the only senior executives with the most qualifications left were Chiyo and her brother, so everyone else turned their attention to her.
After thinking for a while, Chiyo said helplessly:
"Now we can only stabilize the hearts of the villagers before we think about future development."
"If we want to stabilize people's hearts, we must elect a new Kazekage."
After hearing Chiyo's words, all the senior executives looked at each other.
"Who to choose?"
"The guy named Maki performed very well this time."
"No, Maki is also acting according to Luo Sha's arrangement."
"Yes, Luo Sha, that guy is also a disciple of the Sandaime Kazekage."
"I think I can..."
"Let's just take Luosha."
Just when the Sand Village was still struggling over who to choose as the new Kazekage, Ōnoki of the Iwagakure Village could no longer sit still.
There are two reasons why he can't sit still:
First, Danzo sent the village's middle and high-level combat forces to the front line of Hot Spring Country. With the support of living forces, Hyuga Shimizu quickly launched a major counterattack and killed the Cloud Ninjas.
The flags of Konoha are almost flying all over the Land of Hot Springs.
Second, the Third Raikage's attack on the Sand Village failed, and this elite force of 5000 people is about to retreat into the territory of the Land of Earth.
"That guy Danzo is really generous."
In the secret room, Ohnoki looked at Orochimaru in front of him with an expressionless face.
"Haha, after all, this is related to whether that adult can successfully inherit the position of Hokage."
Orochimaru let out a creepy sneer, his tone remaining the same as always.
When Ōnoki heard what Orochimaru said, his expression remained unchanged, but he sneered in his heart.
He originally thought that Konoha was still strong, but after receiving a handwritten letter from Danzo from Orochimaru, he quickly realized that the current Konoha was just a dead tree with a strong appearance but a weak heart.
The reason is simple, that is, Konoha is now caught up in a high-level factional struggle.
And it happened at this critical time of war.
In the letter, Danzo stated that he was about to launch a coup, place Sarutobi Hiruzen under house arrest, and then use the war against the Hidden Cloud Village to gain merit so that he could naturally inherit the position of Hokage.
As long as the Iwagakure Village is willing to cooperate in attacking the Kumogakure Village, the interests of the Kumogakure Village will be completely given to the Iwagakure Village, and half of the territory of the Land of Grass can also be ceded to Onoki.
At first, Ohnoki didn't believe it at all, but when the secret agents lurking in Konoha brought the news that Sarutobi Hiruzen was unwell and that Danzo would be in charge of Konoha's affairs.
Ohnoki also went from being completely unconvinced at the beginning to being half-believing and half-doubting.
When the spy brought the news that the clan was dissatisfied with Danzo, Ōnoki had already completely believed the other party's words.
So, when Orochimaru once again expressed his desire to contact Ōnoki, Ōnoki decisively agreed.
In his opinion, since the coalition plan has failed, it would be better to reap the benefits while Konoha and the Hidden Cloud Village are fighting a life-and-death battle.
It is obvious that Konoha's ability is superior to that of the Hidden Cloud Village. Instead of helping this dishonest teammate, it is better to take this opportunity to take him down.
By then, Konoha had been recuperating due to the coup and foreign wars, while he easily took over the Hidden Cloud Village and the Land of Grass. The neighboring Sand Village was half-dead, like a fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.
After the Iwagakure Village has digested the fruits of victory, it will have a head-on battle with the Konoha Village. By then, it will be hard to say who will win or lose.
"The entire Land of Grass. If Danzo agrees, I will immediately attack the Hidden Cloud Village."
"Yes, but only after Iwagakure declares war on Kumogakure."
"No, the Iwagakure Village must take over the Grass Country first."
......
The end of February in the 46th year of Konoha.
The Kumogakure Village troops who retreated into the East Stone Valley were ambushed by the Iwagakure Village.
In order to protect his elite troops, the Sandaime Raikage fought alone against more than ten thousand Rock Ninjas.
He fought alone for three days and three nights, and finally died of exhaustion.
At the same time as launching the surprise attack, the Iwagakure Village sent a diplomatic document to the Kumogakure Village, formally declaring war when the Third Raikage had just died in battle and the Kumogakure Village's attention was still focused on Konoha.