Ch 260 : The strongest clone

Guy quickly returned to the village and reported the Daimyo's death to the Hokage.

"The Daimyo is dead!" Upon hearing the news, Makoto was quite shocked.

Although there were many Konoha informants in the Daimyo's residence, their transmission speed was not as fast as Guy's return.

"He died suddenly?" Makoto couldn't help but ask.

He remembered that while the Daimyo was weak, his condition shouldn't have deteriorated to this extent.

Guy then recounted everything that had happened with Anko and Princess Kushinada, without any concealment.

However, he was unaware of Hakuryu's true identity, as he let him escape not long after he arrived on the scene.

Moreover, Anko had barely mentioned Hakuryu afterward.

After listening to Guy's report, Makoto frowned in deep thought.

Guy couldn't help but say, "Lord Hokage, I think Anko might have just acted on impulse..."

Makoto merely gave him a calm glance, and Guy immediately fell silent.

Having spent so much time by the Daimyo's side, he was no longer the reckless youth he once was.

As a friend, he wanted to say a few words in Anko's defense, but he couldn't go against the Hokage.

Makoto then summoned Hakumen from the Anbu.

"Prepare the ceremonial entourage. The Daimyo has passed away, and I will go to the capital tomorrow to offer my condolences."

Hakumen was surprised to hear of the Daimyo's death but immediately went to make the necessary arrangements.

It was easy to imagine that if a general could storm into the palace with soldiers so soon after the Daimyo's death, then the capital must already be in complete chaos.

However, in Makoto's eyes, chaos was not necessarily a bad thing.

What he intended to do was to further deepen the political turmoil rather than allow anyone to seize control of the situation.

The Daimyo's death was unexpected, but in a way, it had indirectly helped him.

Guy was still worried about Anko.

Makoto instructed the Anbu to summon Kakashi, then had Guy recount the events to him once more.

"Kakashi, how do you think Anko should be dealt with?"

Guy cast a worried glance at Kakashi.

Kakashi replied, "Anko has committed a grave mistake. I am willing to capture her and await your judgment, Lord Hokage."

Guy immediately added, "I'll go too!"

Makoto took out a transparent magatama, holding it quietly in his hand.

It looked as if it were made of glass, and as he infused it with chakra, the magatama gradually turned purple, its color warm and glowing faintly.

Makoto tossed the now-purple magatama to Kakashi.

The moment Kakashi caught it, he suddenly felt his chakra being linked to something—like threads, some thick, some thin.

The most obvious sensation was that Guy's chakra, right beside him, became incredibly clear.

Beyond that, he could sense the chakra of Hakumen, Shisui, Kabuto, Itachi—all of them within the village.

There was also a faint chakra signature, seemingly far away, thousands of miles in the distance.

Kakashi glanced at Guy, seeing that he had no reaction, and realized that this object allowed its holder to perceive the locations of other members of the Seven Crown Guardians.

This further solidified Kakashi's understanding—ever since he had been marked with the "Kite" seal, he had been firmly within the Hokage's grasp.

Makoto asked, "You know what to do, right?"

Kakashi bowed and replied, "Understood!"

After the two left, Makoto paced back and forth in his office before suddenly sitting back down.

He opened a drawer in his desk and began searching through it, eventually pulling out a document.

On the document were detailed reports on the various rebel factions within the Land of Fire.

Makoto focused his attention on the leader of the largest and most powerful of these groups.

Meanwhile, Kakashi and Guy made only brief preparations before swiftly departing from the village.

With the remote tracking ability Makoto had given them, they could pinpoint Anko's exact location, avoiding the need to search aimlessly like headless flies.

"Kakashi, that Princess Kushinada knows a powerful genjutsu. Be extra careful when you see her," Guy warned.

"Genjutsu isn't exactly my weakness. I won't fall for it as easily as you did," Kakashi replied calmly.

"You bastard! I was just trying to give you a friendly warning!" Guy grumbled in dissatisfaction.

The dense forest was eerily quiet, even in broad daylight.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting broken patterns of light upon the ground.

Two dark figures moved swiftly through the fragmented glow.

Kakashi kept his gaze fixed ahead and said, "I know. I'm already prepared."

"But what about you, Guy? Are you ready?"

Guy was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Kakashi's gaze remained calm. "Are you prepared to fight Anko?"

Guy replied, "Of course, I'm ready."

Kakashi said, "Anko has Orochimaru by her side. If you go in thinking you're just persuading a friend to come home, you'll be killed. And you'll drag me down with you."

"...I know."

----------------

Eastern Border of the Land of Fire.

Anko didn't know where to take Princess Kushinada.

Since she was originally from the Land of Rice Fields, Anko decided to head in that direction.

In hindsight, she realized she had acted impulsively.

She didn't want to become a rogue ninja.

Maybe she should have gone to talk to Makoto first.

Perhaps if she explained that Princess Kushinada was no longer the Orochimaru of the past, Makoto might let her go.

Even if it meant keeping her under house arrest in Konoha, it would be better than being on the run.

At the border, they would need to pass through a checkpoint guarded by ninja.

Normally, Anko's status would have allowed her to pass without issue, but she wasn't sure if the news from the Daimyo's residence had reached this far yet.

Princess Kushinada's physical condition was weak, and she couldn't walk for long before needing to rest.

Anko asked, "Your identity is that of the princess of the Land of Rice Fields, right? Once we get there, can I take you to the Daimyo?"

Princess Kushinada hesitated. "That depends on how the Land of Fire decides to deal with me. If they brand me as a criminal, my father wouldn't dare shelter me."

Her father…

Anko was surprised and glanced at her, then suddenly thought of something and asked, "Did you… really love the Daimyo?"

Princess Kushinada's eyes dimmed. "Isn't it normal to love someone?"

How could that possibly be normal? You're Lord Orochimaru! You used to be a man!

Anko thought this in disbelief but chose not to say it aloud.

Although it was just a fragment of Orochimaru's soul, the thought of Lord Orochimaru being a woman still felt incredibly strange to Anko.

"If we can't go to the Land of Rice Fields… then where should we go?" Anko muttered, gazing into the distance.

She glanced at Princess Kushinada again, wondering if they were truly going to spend the rest of their lives on the run.

Princess Kushinada hesitated before saying, "I… do know of another place."

Anko asked, "Where?"

Princess Kushinada hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, "Ryuchi Cave."

Anko was stunned and looked at her again.

Thinking back to how Princess Kushinada had trapped Guy in a genjutsu at the Daimyo's residence, she asked, "Are you really incapable of fighting?"

Princess Kushinada shook her head. "No, I can't."

But this answer no longer sounded entirely convincing.

Sensing Anko's doubt, Princess Kushinada explained, "Because of my appearance, I do know a bit of enchantment techniques."

Ryuchi Cave…

Anko's mind became chaotic.

Ryuchi Cave was where Lord Orochimaru had signed a summoning contract.

She had inherited the same contract from him.

However, she hadn't summoned a serpent from Ryuchi Cave in a long time—partly because her current strength didn't require it, and partly because she wanted to avoid anything that reminded her of Lord Orochimaru.

Otherwise, she would always end up missing him.

Anko asked, "Ryuchi Cave is a place where snakes live. What are we going there for?"

Princess Kushinada replied, "Do you remember what Hakuryu said before? That he wasn't the strongest among all the fragments?"

Anko was momentarily stunned.

..........

A thousand miles away.

As he was rushing forward, Kakashi suddenly came to an abrupt stop.

Guy, who had already dashed ahead more than ten meters, quickly halted as well.

"What is it?"

Kakashi lowered his gaze to the purple magatama in his hand and closed his eyes, carefully sensing it.

After a brief moment, he reopened them.

"The trail is gone."

--------------

Exclusive access : All novel on paetron

Genshin impact Complete novel, Naruto birdcage Complete novel, Overlord Complete novel

From the apocalypse 100+ch, Fairy tail Destiny Complete novel, Genshin Impact Eerie Teyvat 200+ch

Join now : patreon*com/DeCakraWnloverz