Chapter 245: Holding the Feudal Lord Hostage to Command the Warlords! (Seeking Subscriptions!)
Beneath the Sage Tree.
Sarutobi Asuma could naturally sense the deep, soul-shattering fear emanating from Orochimaru.
This was something he hadn't expected.
But then he smiled, reaching out and grabbing, returning Orochimaru's soul.
Orochimaru was Orochimaru. Once his soul returned, he had already calmed down, his previous fear replaced by an intensely burning gaze. "Truly astonishing abilities, Asuma. You've completely surpassed my imagination."
"So, may I know what this jutsu is?"
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled, "Senior, you shouldn't be unfamiliar with this jutsu."
"Spirit Transformation Technique!"
Orochimaru's pupils contracted. He couldn't help but stick out his tongue. "That jutsu of Dan's!"
"It never possessed such power in his hands."
Sarutobi Asuma replied, "The power of a jutsu lies not in the jutsu itself, but in the person who practices it."
"By the way, Senior, you haven't given me the gift we agreed upon earlier!"
The topic shifted so quickly that Orochimaru almost lost his balance, but he was actually quite pleased. He laughed, "Don't worry, I've already prepared the gift."
"It's just that I didn't expect you to use that name."
Sarutobi Asuma knew Orochimaru was referring to Nawaki.
Orochimaru's change wasn't something that happened overnight, but the death of his disciple, Nawaki, had undoubtedly played an unparalleled role in accelerating it.
Furthermore, he had already met Little Nawaki.
The four-year-old boy allowed Orochimaru to see the shadow of his disciple.
"It was Tsunade's idea,"
Sarutobi Asuma offered an explanation.
Orochimaru nodded, but he didn't dwell on the matter. He wasn't someone who liked to dwell on the past.
Because the past was always cruel.
"I've already given Little Nawaki his gift. This is another one."
Orochimaru spat out a scroll.
To be honest, it was a bit disgusting.
So Sarutobi Asuma didn't catch it with his hand, directly sending it to the wooden house on the Sage Tree.
The two chatted for a while longer before Orochimaru quietly departed.
Sarutobi Asuma guessed that the guy would go and secretly learn the Spirit Transformation Technique.
As it approached noon, Little Nawaki ran into the Sage Realm, holding a sword and proudly showing it off. "Dad, this is a gift from an uncle!"
Sarutobi Asuma hugged his son and examined the sword in his hand.
It felt a bit familiar.
He reached out to take it and immediately understood.
The Kusanagi Sword!
It was Sasuke's sword from the original story!
After returning the sword to his son, Sarutobi Asuma smiled, "Did you thank that uncle?"
"Mm!"
Little Nawaki nodded. "Of course I did."
"But I still don't know who he is?"
Sarutobi Asuma carried his son towards their home and said with a smile, "He's Uncle Orochimaru. He's a bit... well..."
Orochimaru was truly generous with his gifts.
The Kusanagi Sword was no ordinary blade.
The one Orochimaru used himself was not only sharp but could also be wielded remotely and could extend like the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
Little Nawaki's sword was also very good. Although it lacked other special abilities, it could adapt to various types of chakra and had extreme toughness.
It was a good sword!
Later that evening, when he looked at the other gift, it turned out to be research on Sage Transformation.
Sarutobi Asuma glanced at it and tossed it to Tsunade.
For him, it didn't hold much significance.
However, Tsunade was currently researching human cells.
This kind of bodily mutation through Sage Transformation was still valuable.
For instance, Jugo possesses exceptionally strong healing abilities.
And later, Kabuto, in the same way, could transfer cells directly into the bodies of those who had also adapted to the Cursed Seal.
Tsunade and Shizune were very interested.
He even went to the experimental base to research overnight, leaving only Yūhi Kurenai to bear the brunt of Sarutobi Asuma's impact.
The next day.
The Chunin Exams entered their final stage. Not only the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire and the Fourth Kazekage went to watch, but many Konoha villagers also became spectators.
Tsunade and Yūhi Kurenai also brought their children, not to mention Shizune, who was with Hinata and the others.
Sarutobi Asuma still hadn't shown up. In the previous individual battles, he had watched the matches using the Mirror Flower Water Moon Technique and had gotten a good understanding of the promising genin of Naruto's generation.
Of course, his absence was also because he was too lazy to deal with the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire and waste his breath.
The Twelve Guardian Ninja were almost wiped out.
Most importantly, as the shipbuilding technology pioneered by Konoha continued to improve and develop, exchanges with the South Sage Continent became increasingly frequent. The influx of vast resources greatly benefited the major merchants in the Land of Fire.
This caused them to completely align themselves with Konoha.
And these merchants were not just simple merchants.
Behind them stood the nobles of the Land of Fire, the ministers.
One problem the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire had to face was that his authority had, in fact, been continually weakened.
Even reducing financial support to Konoha year by year was of no help.
...
In a blink of an eye, it was afternoon.
The Chunin Exams had completely concluded, and people from the major ninja villages had begun to withdraw from Konoha.
The Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire, under protection, also left Konoha, returning in anger and disappointment.
This was because Namikaze Minato had rejected his request!
Even though he knew before coming that his request to send people to take over the South Sage Continent would definitely be rejected, he was still enraged by such a blunt refusal.
"No one will agree to someone trying to rise above the Feudal Lord!"
Inside his palanquin, the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire's eyes held extreme ferocity as he made his final decision.
He would not only completely cut off economic support to Konoha but also sever Konoha's mission sources.
Furthermore, he would unite the Feudal Lords of the Land of Wind, Land of Earth, Land of Water, Land of Lightning, and other large and small countries, thereby uniting with other ninja villages to curb Konoha's ambitions.
He believed that the Feudal Lords of other countries would definitely not want Konoha to be above their nations and Feudal Lords.
If Konoha succeeded, other ninja villages would follow suit.
Before other ninja villages could react, this budding ambition had to be extinguished!
"Akatsuki Organization... I hope they can really kill Namikaze Minato and Sarutobi Asuma."
"It's a shame Danzō is dead."
The Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire contemplated who should succeed the Fifth Hokage.
If Danzō were still alive, he would definitely have chosen Danzō.
Now, it seemed he could only let Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura take the position.
Only they possessed that kind of prestige!
...
Hokage's Office.
Namikaze Minato, the Third Hokage, Nara Shikaku, Hatake Sakumo, Hyuga Hiashi, Uchiha Fugaku, Uzumaki Kushina, and Uzumaki Miri arrived to find so many people, and Asuma couldn't help but smile, "What's the serious matter? The atmosphere is so heavy?"
"The Fourth Hokage and the Feudal Lord had a falling out," Nara Shikaku said.
"Isn't it normal for them to have a falling out?" Sarutobi Asuma wasn't concerned.
He didn't have the ingrained ideas that people in this world had.
What was a Feudal Lord to him!
However, Namikaze Minato said very seriously, "Asuma, this time, the relationship is completely broken."
"The Feudal Lord proposed sending his people to take over the South Sage Continent, and I refused."
"At that time, he directly threatened to completely cut off economic support and mission sources."
Sarutobi Asuma was a bit surprised, "Is he out of his mind?"
"Who gave him that much courage?"
Everyone listened, speechless.
With so many people here, he was the only one who could be so "disrespectful" to the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire, showing no regard at all.
Sarutobi Hiruzen said solemnly, "Asuma, this is the established rule in the Ninja World."
"We ninjas accept employment, receive missions, and even if we conquer territories, they are allocated and managed by the Feudal Lord."
Sarutobi Asuma smiled, "That's right."
"Therefore, the South Sage Continent was not obtained through our missions."
Namikaze Minato nodded, "That's why I refused, but we must be prepared to completely lose the support of the Land of Fire from now on."
Konoha, after all, was based in the Land of Fire.
There was a reason why Namikaze Minato and the others immediately felt like they were facing a great enemy after completely falling out with the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire.
With a single command from the Feudal Lord, it was indeed possible to undermine Konoha's foundation.
After all.
If the Feudal Lord used the South Sage Continent as leverage to entice those nobles and ministers, would those people stand by Konoha until the end?
Nara Shikaku analyzed the situation and finally said, "The Feudal Lord is highly likely to join forces with other countries, and he will definitely receive support from them too."
"In that case, we might be attacked by the entire Ninja World."
Sarutobi Asuma nodded upon hearing this, "Your analysis is completely correct, we will indeed face such a risk."
"Moreover, for the Feudal Lord, the quickest way would actually be to hire someone to deal with the Fourth Hokage and me first, and then select a Fifth Hokage."
"But why are you all so tense?"
"Since we know what the Feudal Lord is planning, then we just need to stop him."
Everyone fell silent.
Uzumaki Kushina was the first to break the silence, saying, "Asuma, taking action against the Feudal Lord has very serious consequences."
"Whether it's us or someone acting in secret, it will put Konoha in a very passive position."
If something happened to the Feudal Lord in the Land of Fire, Konoha wouldn't be able to function at all!
Sarutobi Asuma looked at Uzumaki Kushina with an innocent expression, "Sister Kushina, when did I say I was going to kill the Feudal Lord?"
"Am I that kind of person?"
Uzumaki Kushina rolled her eyes upon hearing this.
Hatake Sakumo and the others couldn't help but laugh, and the atmosphere instantly became relaxed.
Then Nara Shikaku reminded him, "Even the Genjutsu of the Sharingan can be seen through."
Sarutobi Asuma smiled, "No need for the Sharingan."
"The Twelve Guardian Ninja that the Feudal Lord formed are too incompetent. Konoha should send people to take over the Feudal Lord's protection duties."
Uzumaki Kushina asked curiously, "Asuma, is this really okay?"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded, "Of course."
"In order to protect the Feudal Lord from assassination by the Akatsuki Organization, we must provide strict protection."
"During this period, it's also reasonable to transfer some people from the South Sage Continent to assist the Feudal Lord, isn't it?"
Using the Feudal Lord to command the lords!
It's just copying the strategy.
As for Konoha lacking talented people to govern the country.
Talent has already been cultivated intentionally on the South Sage Continent over the years.
"Kakashi has been doing a great job on the South Sage Continent. I think it's very suitable for him to serve as the Feudal Lord's advisor."
Sarutobi Asuma proposed with a smile.
Inside the office, everyone was stunned.
It wasn't that they weren't smart.
It was just that they had never thought of such a method.
Even though the South Sage Continent had already set a precedent, the situation there was still completely different from the Ninja World.
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