Chapter 322: A "Great Conspiracy" Affecting the Entire Shinobi World!

Chapter 322: A "Great Conspiracy" Affecting the Entire Shinobi World!

Konoha, Hokage Tower.

"Kirigakure wants to surrender?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up from the mountain of scrolls and documents, staring in surprise at the Konoha Anbu kneeling before him.

Of course, the message sent from Kirigakure wasn't a "letter of surrender," but a beautified "Kirigakure-Konoha Armistice Agreement."

But in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, this "Truce Agreement" wasn't much different from a surrender.

The Third Great Shinobi War had reached this point. Every village had suffered varying degrees of damage, and the great nations behind the Five Great Shinobi Villages had likewise expended enormous strategic resources. As for the small villages and nations, their losses were even greater.

Even for shinobi, who were accustomed to life and death, no one wanted to see the war drag on endlessly.

The end of the Third Great Shinobi War was only a matter of time.

Hiruzen just hadn't expected that the first to surrender would be Kirigakure.

What was this?

Clearly, Kirigakure had been the last to join the war, yet they were the first to withdraw.

Wasn't it just the loss of one ninja unit, one top-tier ninja team, and one Tailed Beast… right?

"Ahem."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his goatee, cleared his throat, and asked the Anbu, "Did Kirigakure send envoys? Or did they just send a document?"

"Reporting to Lord Hokage, the envoys dispatched by Kirigakure are waiting at the village gate. There are four in total."

The Anbu kept his head bowed, reporting in a steady tone.

"Do you require the four Kirigakure shinobi to be brought to the Hokage Tower?"

"Bring them here."

Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment.

"Also, have Elders Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu come to the Hokage's office."

If Kirigakure's "surrender terms" were acceptable, Hiruzen was inclined to sign a peace treaty.

It was true that Konoha had a vast territory and resources, but the war had already lasted long enough. Moreover, Konoha was fighting on multiple fronts.

On the surface, the Land of Fire's losses were not as great as other nations (which was true), but the strategic resources consumed were still an astronomical figure.

If possible, Hiruzen Sarutobi wished the Third Great Shinobi War could come to a full stop today!

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

The Anbu acknowledged and vanished from the spot.

Not long after, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu arrived at the Hokage's office together.

A short while later, the four Kirigakure shinobi were also brought to the Hokage Tower.

Due to its unique geographical location, Kirigakure had always had little contact with other countries and villages. And during the reign of the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hōzuki, Kirigakure had pursued a "Secrecy Law" policy.

Since that law was enacted, Kirigakure had been virtually a "closed country." Not only were the other nations on the continent unaware of its movements, but even the citizens of the Land of Water knew little about Kirigakure.

For most people, their impression of Kirigakure was summed up in four words:

The Village of the Bloody Mist.

As the Konoha High Council, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura certainly knew more about Kirigakure than most.

But as they watched the four Kiri-nin enter the office, a trace of faint surprise flashed in all three of their eyes.

These four Kirigakure shinobi... aren't they too young? They look like children…

Can they really represent the Third Mizukage and the will of Kirigakure?

"Envoys of the Mist."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept over the four Kiri-nin, one by one, finally focusing on the short ninja at the very front.

"I am Hiruzen Sarutobi. I hear... you bring news of peace?"

The short ninja—Yagura Karatachi—stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and simultaneously held up the prepared treaty scroll and the Third Mizukage's personal letter.

"Honorable Lord Third Hokage."

Yagura Karatachi straightened up, still holding the two scrolls, and spoke in a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing.

"I am Kirigakure's ANBU Head, Yagura Karatachi. These three are my subordinates: Hōzuki Mangetsu, Momochi Zabuza, and Terumī Mei.

"This is the truce agreement drafted by Kirigakure.

"Additionally, this is a secret letter personally written by Lord Third Mizukage. He insisted that I deliver it into your hands. According to Lord Third's instructions, this letter involves a great conspiracy concerning the entire shinobi world."

The information Yagura revealed was one shock after another.

This short kid was Kirigakure's ANBU Head?

Kirigakure really wanted to talk peace?

And there was some "great conspiracy"?

Compared to these revelations, the names of his three subordinates seemed insignificant.

The heir of the Hozuki Clan, the infamous Demon of the Mist, and... an unknown little girl.

It seemed his earlier guess was correct; Kirigakure really had sent a few children...

These three—at least the first two, Hōzuki Mangetsu and Momochi Zabuza—were about the same age as Hatake Kakashi. They were just too young…

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged a silent glance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a hand signal.

An Anbu ninja flickered out of the shadows, took the two scrolls from Yagura, and handed them directly to Hiruzen, making no move to inspect them.

Hiruzen first opened the truce agreement.

'This is indeed just a standard truce agreement.'

Hiruzen read the scroll word by word, afraid to miss anything.

'Kirigakure truly wants to stop the war. They aren't using this as an excuse to make outrageous demands. However, there are no war reparations, either... Heh!'

Hiruzen's gaze narrowed, focusing on a single line of small text:

"Kirigakure requests that Konoha return the Three-Tails, Isobu, to the Land of Water."

This was the only demand Kirigakure made in the agreement.

To be honest, it was not outside Hiruzen's expectations.

Although, he had no intention of accepting this demand.

The Three-Tails was already sealed inside Hatake Kakashi.

Hiruzen had heard that Kakashi and the Three-Tails were getting along reasonably well, and his use of the Tailed Beast's chakra was smooth, with almost no signs of rampaging or losing control.

Hiruzen would have to be insane to hand the Three-Tails back to Kirigakure!

Not even if they offered to pay for it!

Hiruzen rolled up the treaty and handed it to Homura and Koharu.

He hadn't called them here to be mascots. Besides symbolically demonstrating Konoha's "democracy," it was also to have them check for any loopholes.

Though this treaty was not as harsh as he had expected…

While the elders reviewed the agreement, Hiruzen unhurriedly opened the "Mizukage's Secret Letter."

The very first line gave the Third Hokage a huge "surprise"!

"For the Third Hokage's eyes only:

Uchiha Madara has controlled Kirigakure for many years using genjutsu—"

These first two lines of the secret letter caused Hiruzen's previously relaxed mood to suddenly become incredibly heavy.

This letter's contents are so bizarre…

Are my eyes playing tricks on me…

Or was Kirigakure's truce agreement just a dream?

Hiruzen impassively rolled the secret letter closed, and looked up at Yagura, who had remained silent.

Seeing the Third Hokage's gaze, Yagura Karatachi forced a stiff smile onto his small face.

Yagura also knew the contents of the letter. Not because he had read it.

To be precise, the shocking revelation that "The Mizukage has been controlled and manipulated by an Uchiha for over a decade" had been told to Yagura by the Third Mizukage personally!

For some reason, upon hearing the news, Yagura inexplicably had a strange feeling of empathy, as if he had encountered the same thing somewhere before…

When he first heard the news, Yagura was completely unwilling to believe it.

He would rather believe the Third Mizukage was a tyrant who had brought ruin to Kirigakure than believe he was a puppet manipulated by someone!

The Kage of a village, controlled by genjutsu for over a decade…

For a shinobi from Kirigakure, this was a devastating psychological blow.

Those who become "Kage" are, almost without exception, the strongest in their village at that time.

The Third Mizukage was able to take the Kage's seat after the Second was assassinated.

This wasn't just because he had been the First Mizukage's subordinate and had attended the first-ever Kage Summit, making him experienced and senior.

It was because, after Gengetsu Hōzuki's death, the Third Mizukage was strong enough!

At least, stronger than any other Kiri shinobi at that time!

It was just like after the First Mizukage, Byakuren, died. Gengetsu Hōzuki, with his powerful combat talent, rose to the top and became the Second Mizukage.

Gengetsu Hōzuki was stronger than the Third Mizukage, which is why he was the Second!

Otherwise, the one who became the Second Mizukage back then would have been the man who was now the Third!

At the first Kage Summit, the initiator was Konoha's Hashirama Senju. But those who participated were all the "First Kage" of the great nations, and their recognized successors!

The only one who attended that first summit but didn't become a "Second Kage" was Kirigakure's current Third Mizukage…

As an ambitious Kiri shinobi, Yagura knew the Third Mizukage wasn't strong enough. But "not strong enough" was relative to the "Kage" level!

In other words, the Third Mizukage didn't become the Second not because he was weak, but because Gengetsu Hōzuki was too strong!

Even so, the Third Mizukage still smoothly took over after Gengetsu's death…

Yet this Mizukage was controlled for over a decade?

Yagura refused to believe it!

Not to mention, according to the Third Mizukage, the one controlling him was Uchiha Madara! The legendary Uchiha Madara!

Yagura looked young, but he was actually from the same generation as Minato Namikaze. (Personal speculation)

Even with Kirigakure's isolation, Yagura had heard the stories of the First Hokage. He knew that the First Hokage had killed the legend of his time, Uchiha Madara, at the Valley of the End.

Even in Kirigakure, Uchiha Madara was a "ghost of history."

And now, someone was saying Madara not only wasn't dead, but he had been manipulating Kirigakure with genjutsu for over a decade? And had turned it into the "Village of the Bloody Mist"?

Yagura would not believe it!

But after the Third Mizukage presented the evidence, explained the facts, and especially after he let Yagura personally examine his body…

Yagura had to admit the truth: the Third Mizukage's body was indeed filled with traces of another's chakra…

As the ANBU Head, upon learning his Kage had been secretly controlled, Yagura's first thought was to cover up the truth.

Family shame should not be aired in public!

However, the Third Mizukage planned to tell this "family shame" to Konoha's Third Hokage!

Yagura had initially refused. He was willing to go to Konoha and sign a truce. But he did not want to tell Konoha their village's scandal! It was too humiliating…

However, the Third Mizukage eventually convinced Yagura.

From Yagura's perspective, his village's Kage being manipulated for over a decade was a deep embarrassment.

But from the Third Mizukage's perspective...

Was Kirigakure really the only victim among the Third Kage?

What was the direct cause of the Third Great Shinobi War?

The Third Kazekage, hailed by Sunagakure as the "strongest in history," mysteriously disappeared, whereabouts unknown!

And now, as the war raged on…

Iwagakure's Third Tsuchikage and Kumogakure's Third Raikage were both "mysteriously missing, whereabouts unknown"!

The "mysteriously missing" Third Kage... it wasn't one, it wasn't two.

It was three!

The Third Mizukage had every reason to believe that the next village leader who might "mysteriously disappear" would be Konoha's Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi!

In a major incident that affected all Five Great Shinobi Villages, Kirigakure's "little scandal" seemed insignificant.

The urgent task was not to cover up the scandal, but to concentrate their power and deal with the Uchiha Madara hidden in the shadows!