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In other words, when news of Senju Ryuken's death spread, it naturally caused an uproar! Not only the army of the Land of Sky, but also high-ranking officials like Zashi were deeply shaken.
After all, not long ago, Nawaki Senju, the grandson of the First Hokage, had died at the hands of the Sky Ninja, and now, shortly after, the Second Hokage's grandson had also perished at their hands.
If it weren't for the confirmation that the leaders of the Land of Sky had died alongside Senju Ryuken, Zashi would have seriously considered personally leading an assault on the Land of Sky!
"Go, raze the capital of the Land of Sky! Let their domestic rebels and bandits run rampant! I will make the entire Land of Sky pay the price in blood for this!" Zashi raged, issuing the order.
If not for political concerns, Zashi's original plan was to massacre the entire city! "However," the leaders, who had already established their positions, had to take other factors into account and ultimately revised the order.
Nevertheless, unleashing the Land of Sky's chaotic army and bandits was, to some extent, only slightly less brutal than a massacre. Hiruzen Sarutobi, back in Konoha, tacitly approved of this decision upon hearing the news.
The death of Ryuken was no less impactful than that of Nawaki Senju! If they didn't make a strong gesture in response, who knew how much criticism they would face from the shinobi behind their backs.
Therefore, even though it was cruel, they had to sacrifice some of the Land of Sky's civilians.
Aburame Tomori and Hyuga Kyo naturally didn't dare to disobey the orders of Konoha's leadership! After they wiped out the Sky Ninja's secret base, the remaining Sky Ninja, like rootless grass, were captured, killed, or forced to flee by the Konoha army, completely losing their ability to threaten the village.
At this point, no force in the Land of Sky could stop Konoha's army!
After the Konoha army conquered Sky ninja base, Hyuga Kyo and Aburame Tomori collected the few remaining ashes of Ryuken and held a grand memorial service in the city. After all, Ryuken was a high-ranking commander who had sacrificed his life for Konoha and deserved a special tribute after his death.
It was worth noting that on the day of Ryuken's memorial service, Aizen, who was barely considered a high-ranking officer, chose to attend.
As Aizen, dressed in black mourning attire and holding a white wreath, stood before Ryuken's ashes with a sorrowful expression. Everyone present was surprised to see two elegant calligraphy inscriptions on the wreath.
The calligraphy, with its flowing strokes, was vigorous and powerful! It was a rare masterpiece of calligraphy!
The inscription read: "Ryuken, a hero of a generation! Your greatness will endure forever and never fade!"
The words conveyed a sense of sympathy and high praise for Ryuken, leaping off the paper! Coupled with Aizen's impeccable acting skills, even the most accomplished actor would be humbled. Everyone present was deeply moved.
"I seem to recall some friction between Ryuken and Aizen. I can't believe that Aizen not only didn't rejoice at Ryuken's death but instead showed such sorrow and respect. It's truly remarkable!" Hyuga Kyo remarked to Aburame Tomori beside him.
Tomori exclaimed. "Yes, personal grudges are one thing, but when it comes to the bigger picture, Aizen is incredibly righteous. It's rare to find such awareness in someone so young!" Aburame Tomori nodded thoughtfully, his eyes filled with admiration for Aizen.
Several other Jonin commanders shared the same sentiments as Hyuga Kyo. They harbored no doubts about Aizen's noble character! However, if they were to discover that Ryuken had actually been killed by Aizen. One could only imagine the astonishment and disbelief that would ensue!
Afterward, Aizen delivered a seemingly heartfelt speech and departed quietly, leaving behind a trail of relieved and admiring gazes.
A playful smirk then crept onto Aizen's face, hidden from everyone's view. Calligraphy had been a minor hobby in his past life, and he had attained a deep level of skill in it.
Today, he had done this not only for appearances but also out of a sense of mischief. After all, attending the funeral of an enemy he had slain, putting on a mournful facade and offering condolences. Wasn't it an amusing thing to do?
As Aizen's strength grew, he began to gradually shed the mask he wore, revealing his true nature, becoming more and more like his former self!
And the Aizen of his past life was a terrifying being that even the most hardened criminals feared! The ruthlessness, cruelty, and malice he had displayed so far were merely a glimpse of his true character!
After Ryuken's memorial service concluded, others dutifully carried out Zashi's orders, transforming the Land of Sky into a living hell! According to statistics compiled by Konoha intelligence after the Second Shinobi World War, nearly 20% of the Land of Sky's civilian population perished as a direct result.
Then, leaving a thousand ninja troops to occupy the Land of Sky, Hyuga Kyo and Aburame Tomori led the remaining forces back to the Rain Country battlefield. Aizen was naturally among them.
Upon returning to the camp, Aizen noticed several figures clad in peculiar attire. These individuals wore airtight armor, conspicuous gas masks, and carried uniformly crafted samurai swords at their waists!
"What's this?" Aizen discreetly glanced at these people, his mind racing with possibilities.
"They are messengers from the Land of Iron, here at the invitation of Commander-in-Chief Zashi to forge an alliance," Minato Namikaze, having already received news of Aizen's return, approached him and explained with a smile.
"Oh! I remember, they were our enemies not long ago, right? Now they're becoming our allies in the blink of an eye. How fickle!" Aizen shook his head and sighed. But in the depths of his eyes, a glimmer of amusement flickered.
"Tell me about it! We've been fighting the Land of Iron for years, and countless comrades have died at their hands! After the news of this alliance spread, many of the ninja who fought against the Land of Iron expressed strong dissatisfaction! The entire camp has been in an uproar over this matter!" Minato lamented.
"Perhaps this is because there are no eternal enemies or rivals on the battlefield, only eternal interests! I suspect that, in the end, this matter was pushed through due to Commander-in-Chief Zashi's insistence," Aizen remarked, feigning profundity.
"Exactly!" Minato nodded emphatically.
Hearing Minato's response, Aizen's eyes took on a thoughtful glint. He knew that Konoha's strategy for the Rain Country battlefield had undergone a significant shift.