428.The Five Great Shinobi Villages Turn on Each Other
A special thank you to all my patrons.
The List of The "ANBU" Member:
-Abel Yapura
-Robert Thompson
-ar4ngel
-Cain
-Ryan biggins
-Goha21
-Anaral
-Adrian Kacprzycki
-Kreios
-Hotsuma68
-Sabo
You can read 40 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - p@treon.com/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Hearing Nawaki's calm tone, Fugaku's face darkened as he spoke sternly.
"He's a rogue ninja from Konoha! How dare you call him 'great'!? Senju Nawaki, as a descendant of the First Hokage, how can you defend such a traitor?!"
Despite Fugaku's aggressive questioning, Nawaki remained composed. He glanced at Fugaku and replied softly.
"Do you think, if Lord Aizen was merely an ordinary rogue ninja from Konoha as you say, he would have earned the loyalty of people like Uchiha Shino and Hyūga Saki?"
Fugaku faltered at the response, momentarily at a loss for words. Nawaki continued calmly.
"Do you think someone you label as a 'traitor' could lead an organization like Hueco Mundo with so many formidable members? You've seen their strength. Do you truly believe Lord Aizen, whom they all follow, is as insignificant as you claim?"
Fugaku's face grew tense, but he stubbornly retorted.
"It's just raw power—nothing more. A wicked man with no moral compass!"
Nawaki cast him a faint glance and replied evenly.
"You, who have never stepped outside Konoha, cannot possibly comprehend Lord Aizen's vision."
Fugaku's expression turned stormy, but he knew better than to escalate further. Aware of Nawaki's strength, he refrained from making any rash moves.
"Hmph!"
Fugaku snorted coldly, turned, and began walking toward the forest, ignoring the corpses of the Stone Ninjas scattered around. The Uchiha ninjas accompanying him quickly followed.
"Lord Fugaku… Lord Fugaku!"
As their concerned voices faded into the distance, Nawaki stood still, his indifferent gaze fixed on the retreating Uchiha clan members. A mysterious gleam flickered in his brown eyes.
---
With the Mist Ninja now fully involved in the war, the battlefield grew increasingly chaotic.
The Mist Ninja did not limit their attacks to Konoha or the Cloud Village. They struck at the Stone and Sand Ninja as well, seemingly intent on fighting all four of the other great villages simultaneously.
As experts in assassination and subterfuge, the Mist Ninja's tactics were terrifying.
They would wait in the shadows until both sides of a conflict were utterly exhausted, then emerge to eliminate everyone.
Yet, for now, only a few individuals were aware of the Mist Ninja's involvement.
---
High in the forest canopy, hidden among thick branches, a lone figure stood motionless.
His long black hair obscured part of his face, but through his bangs, a pair of crimson eyes stared coldly toward Konoha.
"Aizen… Sakuya… I'm coming for you."
His raspy voice broke the silence, and the next moment, his figure vanished like a bolt of black lightning, leaving no trace.
---
In an open clearing, a battle raged.
"Magnet Release. Lapis Fragment!"
With a low shout, the field erupted in a violent blast.
"Boom!"
Ninjas encased in golden sand convulsed as the sand tightened, crushing them. Blood and sand mixed, spilling out in gruesome streams.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
Heavy footsteps echoed as Rasa strode across the battlefield. His face was impassive, showing no concern for the bloody corpses scattered around him.
The Sand Ninja surrounding him, however, were jubilant. They looked at Rasa with admiration, murmuring.
"Lord Rasa!"
"Lord Rasa's strength is incredible! He defeated these Cloud Ninjas in a single move!"
Rasa ignored their chatter, his demeanor calm as he continued walking.
Suddenly, sensing something, he looked up at the sky. A swirl of golden sand formed beneath him, lifting him into the air.
---
Night Sky.
The cold wind howled as Rasa ascended, coming face-to-face with a hovering figure. His voice was steady as he asked.
"Lord Tsuchikage, why are you here?"
Ōnoki glanced at him, his sharp eyes glinting. He replied gravely.
"The Mist Ninja have joined the fray."
Rasa's expression froze as he muttered.
"So they've really… intervened at this point."
Ōnoki sneered, his tone low and bitter.
"Did you think the Mizukage would sit quietly in the Land of Water, merely observing this grand spectacle?"
"That guy might be the least noticeable of the Five Kage, but it doesn't mean he lacks ambition. This war was too tempting for him to resist."
Rasa studied Ōnoki's expression and asked seriously.
"Have you found any trace of the Mist Ninja yet?"
Ōnoki snorted coldly, his face darkening as he replied.
"The Mizukage's appetite is enormous. Whether it's Konoha or the Stone Village, the Mist Ninja have made them all their targets. They seem intent on opposing all four villages simultaneously!"
Rasa fell silent, his mind racing. After a moment, he spoke.
"Do you have any information on Hueco Mundo? There's been no news of them for a long time."
Ōnoki paused before shaking his head. His tone was heavy as he said.
"Neither Aizen nor his group has been seen recently."
Rasa's expression grew more serious, concern evident in his voice as he said.
"What is he planning? Could he be waiting for the Five Great Shinobi Villages to weaken each other before attacking us?"
The more Rasa considered Ōnoki's earlier words, the more anxious he became about Aizen's intentions.
If the current state of infighting among the Five Great Villages was part of Aizen's design…
Then he was truly terrifying.
To manipulate the hearts of men so completely, orchestrating events to unfold precisely as he intended.
What was his ultimate goal?
Could it really be as he claimed—an attempt to single-handedly destroy the entire ninja world?
Such madness seemed impossible… or did it?
Ōnoki offered no response to Rasa's question. Instead, he remained silent, lost in thought.
Having dealt with Aizen before, Ōnoki had experienced firsthand the man's overwhelming ambition.
Though Aizen presented himself with poise and grace, Ōnoki saw in him an arrogance reminiscent of Uchiha Madara.
That same disregard for rules, that audacious contempt for all things…
Very dangerous.
This was Ōnoki's truest thought.
Even so, he had chosen to cooperate with Aizen.
Why?
Because Ōnoki still believed the outcome of this struggle was far from certain.
The true victor had yet to be decided.