Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 532 The Hokage's Overt Scheme

"What I'm worried about is that Hiruzen Sarutobi's schemes go far beyond this."

"That foundation..."

Granny Chiyo's voice was filled with unprecedented weariness and solemnity, "It's like... poison mixed with honey."

"On the surface, it's humanitarianism, a good deed, and taking care of those poor children who lost their parents in the war."

"But what's the reality?"

"Once we accept it, Konoha's funds, Konoha's personnel, Konoha's books, Konoha's philosophy... will flow continuously through this foundation, permeating every corner of our village."

"Some of our children grew up on Konoha's relief food, learned from textbooks sent by Konoha, and listened to teachers sent by Konoha tell the story of the Will of Fire. Ten years, twenty years later... will they still consider themselves Sunagakure ninjas? Will they still raise their swords against the prosperous Konoha to protect this barren land?"

"When the next generation of elites takes pride in studying in Konoha and believes that Hiruzen Sarutobi is the savior, what will be left of our Sunagakure?"

Every word Chiyo-baumi uttered was like an ice-cold awl, piercing the hearts of every high-ranking official present.

The conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

A despair deeper than defeat, like a sandstorm, enveloped everyone.

A calculated scheme.

This is the most vicious open conspiracy.

It places the poison in front of you and tells you that it is the only antidote.

You know perfectly well that drinking it will cost you your future, but if you don't drink it, you'll die of thirst right now.

Everyone's breathing became heavy.

They looked at each other and saw only the same helplessness and struggle on each other's faces.

In this suffocating silence, Feng Ying, the highest peak, finally spoke again.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable decisiveness.

"Chiyo is right."

Everyone looked up at him.

"But there's one mistake."

Liemen slowly stood up, his slender figure casting a huge shadow on the throne as he looked down at all his subordinates.

His yellow pupils held no emotion, only a deathly abyss.

"We won't give you anything."

"There was no compensation, and there was no so-called goodwill."

"The pride of Sunagakure does not allow us to bow down to anyone. We wouldn't have before, and we certainly won't now."

The dark will hidden deep within the Liemen consciousness coldly watched all of this.

"What a laughable pride. But, it's just as well. Hiruzen Sarutobi, your peace is too perfect... I want to see it crumble under the tide."

Inside the body of the Fiery Gate, Black Zetsu was smiling.

"Pass on my orders."

Feng Ying's voice turned chilling, like a cold wind blowing from hell.

"Effective immediately, the alert level along the entire border of the Wind Kingdom will be raised to the highest level!"

"All patrol forces will be doubled, and any... Konoha ninja who trespasses into the Land of Wind's territory..."

Retsumon paused, then uttered the command, word by word, a command that would change the future landscape of the ninja world.

"Kill without mercy!"

The moment those three words fell, a pure, almost ethereal blackness flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Inside the conference room, after a brief moment of shock, all the high-ranking members of Sunagakure suddenly unleashed the flames of despair and powerlessness that had been suppressed within them.

dignity!

Their dignity is called the Sand Village.

Lord Kazekage, we must take it back with the strongest possible force.

Even if the price may be terrible!

After the meeting ended, everyone left with a resolute expression.

Luo Sha and Ye Cang walked out of the conference room side by side, the blazing sun outside making it hard to open their eyes.

"..."

Luo Sha said in a low voice, "It seems that Lord Fengying has made up his mind."

Yekura clenched her fist, and the scorching chakra in her palm unconsciously heated up, scorching and distorting the air.

"That's for the best. I'd rather die fighting on this sandy land than see the village live in humiliation!"

Luo Sha didn't say anything more, but silently quickened his pace.

Behind them, in the enormous shadow of the Wind Shadow Building, Liemen returned alone to his empty office.

He didn't turn on the lights, but stood quietly in front of the huge ninja world map, his yellow pupils fixed on the center of the map, on the fertile land marked in green.

The Land of Fire.

Konohagakure (Hidden Leaf Village)

After a long while, he slowly raised his hand, his cold fingers gently tracing the line on the map that symbolized the border between the two countries.

A faint whisper, audible only to himself, echoed in the dimly lit office.

"Sarutobi... Hiruzen..."