Chapter 207: Kakuzu's Influence

On the vast, open plains, towering trees burst from the ground like wild beasts pouncing on their prey, striking at the ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi. The earth trembled with a deafening roar, mixed with the agonized screams of the Iwa forces.

"Aaaahhh!"

"Help! Someone, help me!"

...

In the sky, Ōnoki hovered, his body weighed down by an immense force, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Damn it! He can even use Wood Release?!"

With a desperate expression, Ōnoki brought his hands together, forming a gap between them as he spread them slightly apart. A translucent, grayish-white chakra rapidly condensed in his palms.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

With a sharp swish, the colossal Dust Release shot downward, carrying an overwhelming force of destruction. It struck the massive wooden constructs, obliterating a large section of them, giving the trapped Iwa shinobi a brief respite.

"Now's our chance—run!"

Ōnoki's hoarse voice rang out. The remaining Iwa shinobi wasted no time, scrambling to escape the battlefield. But could they really get away?

Boom!

The relentless surge of Wood Release burst forth once again, trapping the fleeing Iwa nin within its grasp.

"Damn it!" Gritting his teeth, Ōnoki gathered chakra into his palms once more.

"It's useless. Unless you use your Dust Release at least eight hundred times, you won't stop this technique."

Ōnoki's eyes widened in shock. Kakuzu had appeared in midair, riding a giant summoning hawk. He was already dangerously close.

Leaping from the hawk, Kakuzu extended his hand.

"Wood Release: Cutting Sprigs!"

Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!

Vines and branches twisted around Kakuzu's arm, lashing out toward Ōnoki. Just as they were about to entangle him—

"Dust Release!"

A brilliant gray-white light erupted once more.

...

Half a minute later, Kakuzu executed a perfect flip and landed steadily on the ground. Looking up, he saw Ōnoki retreating into the distance.

"Tch, that slippery old man got away again? Oh well, he is the strongest of the Five Kage, after all. He has the ability to escape."

Kakuzu turned his gaze to the battlefield. The area was now a dense forest of intertwined branches. Many Iwa shinobi had been crushed beneath the massive trees, while others were barely clinging to life, their chakra nearly depleted.

With a few effortless leaps, Kakuzu landed beside one of the tangled branches. A barely conscious Kitsuchi was trapped within.

"Not bad. Capturing you is quite the reward."

...

Konoha vs. Kirigakure: The Main Battlefield

Here, a battle of Kage-level proportions was unfolding. The infamous A–B Combo of Kumogakure had arrived at the front lines, intent on breaking through Konoha's defenses.

Naturally, Konoha had sent its own strongest to counter them.

Standing at the border, Minato Namikaze gazed at the approaching Kumo forces.

This time, however, he wasn't fighting alone.

"Sakumo-senpai, thank you for your timely reinforcements. Without you, Konoha would have suffered heavy losses today."

Sakumo Hatake nodded, stepping forward. Minato followed closely behind.

Within moments, they stood face-to-face with the A–B Combo.

There was no need for words. The moment their eyes met, both sides launched into combat.

In the original timeline, Minato had fought the A–B Combo alone, failing to defeat them but still instilling enough fear to keep them at bay.

This time, however, with the White Fang by his side, their chances looked far better.

Minato clashed with A in a battle of sheer speed, while Sakumo went straight for Killer B.

In terms of raw power, Killer B wielding his seven blades was no match for Sakumo Hatake.

"Eight-Tails, get ready!"

A dark red aura of chakra surged from Killer B's body.

Minato smirked, flickering in front of Sakumo in an instant.

The A–B Combo stood side by side, exchanging glances. After some hesitation, A gave B a subtle signal.

The crimson Eight-Tails chakra slowly dissipated.

Both sides stood in tense silence, neither willing to make the first move.

Step. Step. Step.

A steady set of footsteps broke the stalemate.

The battlefield fell eerily silent. The suffocating tension dissipated instantly.

Whether it was Sakumo, the A–B Combo, or the surrounding soldiers, all wore expressions of respect.

Kakuzu had arrived.

He stopped, glancing between both sides, then chuckled.

"Why aren't you fighting? Go ahead—I won't interfere."

No one spoke. They simply watched him in silence.

After a long pause, seeing that neither side intended to make a move, Kakuzu sighed and reached into his cloak, pulling out a scroll.

"Just a simple sealing technique will open it. Also, from this moment on, you are the Fourth Raikage."

A hesitated, exchanging a glance with Killer B before finally unfolding the scroll.

The moment he saw the contents, both men dropped to their knees, tears streaming down their faces.

They had just confirmed the death of the Third Raikage.

After a long silence, A finally stood up, wiping his tears.

"Hatake Sakumo, Namikaze Minato—out of respect for Kakuzu-sama, we will let this matter go. Just this once."

With that, A turned back to his men.

The Kumo forces retreated.

"Kakuzu-senpai, thank you for your assistance. On behalf of Konoha, I offer my gratitude."

Minato stepped forward and bowed.

Sakumo followed, bowing deeply before Kakuzu.

"Kakuzu-sama, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I'll follow you to the Land of Dragons now."

"Oh? Sakumo, you're leaving so soon? Not even inviting me to sit for a while?"

"This…" Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake, hesitated for a moment, unsure of Kakuzu's true intent. But he still followed his words, raising a hand to signal everyone to withdraw to the main camp.

...

It was only after arriving at the camp that he learned what had transpired. Ever since he had arrived and successfully helped break Konoha out of its predicament, Danzo had slunk back to Konoha, defeated. It wasn't that he willingly relinquished his authority; rather, he realized that his subordinates were no longer so easily controlled. With Hatake Sakumo, a figure standing above even the Three Legendary Sannin, treating him as insignificant, Danzo found himself powerless.

At that moment, the others seemed to have completely forgotten how they had once scorned Sakumo. Now, they all followed his lead without hesitation. Unable to tolerate it, Danzo left in frustration. Along with him, Orochimaru also departed—not out of resentment, but due to reassignment. He had been sent to the Kikyo Mountain front as the commander to engage Sunagakure.

...

"Minato, the battle here has essentially settled down. Return to Konoha—your Hokage still needs you."

"Mm. With Lord Kakuzu here, I doubt Kumogakure would dare to launch another attack. My mission is complete. Lord Kakuzu, Sakumo-senpai, I'll take my leave."

After offering his farewells, Namikaze Minato swiftly departed.

Kakuzu took a sip of tea before turning his gaze toward Hatake Sakumo with a faint smile.

"So, after returning to prove to Konoha that you're not the coward they once called you, you're planning to leave. That was your reason for coming here in the first place."

"I..." Exposed so directly, Sakumo found himself momentarily speechless.

"I've told you before—the prerequisite for protecting more is ensuring your own survival."

"Lord Kakuzu, what should I do?" Sakumo asked humbly.

Kakuzu tapped his fingers against the table and spoke calmly.

"Why can't the next Hokage be you?"

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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