After Granny Chiyo, Ebizo, and the others left the conference room, only three from Kirigakure and three from Konoha remained.
Not only that, everyone present could sense that outside the conference room, several Sunagakure ninja were standing guard.
This alone proved that the people of Sunagakure did not currently trust them!
Kakashi and Yamashiro Aoba exchanged a brief glance, their expressions looking rather grim. The two of them had clearly realized something.
"So that's how it is. Was the conflict deliberately provoked?"
A trace of coldness flashed through Nagato's eyes as he spoke in a flat tone.
Hoshigaki Kisame bared his sharp teeth and let out a strange laugh, speaking with hidden meaning: "The people of Sunagakure are going to suffer a loss."
Uchiha Obito's sudden appearance had not only enraged Granny Chiyo, but in just a sentence or two, he had made Granny Chiyo and the others from Sunagakure suspicious of both the Kirigakure and Konoha sides.
It had to be said — this was absolutely a move that killed two birds with one stone!
Of course, Granny Chiyo could see through Uchiha Obito's little scheme, but what did it matter? Because this was a brazen, open plot — a scheme played right in the open!
"Wa-wait a minute, I still don't understand why this is happening. Aren't we here to help them?"
Naruto stood up at this point, his face filled with confusion and bewilderment.
Hearing Naruto's question, Kakashi's eyes showed a hint of helplessness as he raised a hand and couldn't help but press it against his forehead.
"Because the enemy's words just now made Lady Chiyo of Kirigakure suspicious of us."
Yamashiro Aoba gave a soft laugh, then patiently explained to Naruto.
Naruto nodded as if he half-understood, looking like he had just barely grasped the situation.
Seeing that clueless expression, Hyuga Neji, sitting across from him, curled his lips. He truly could not understand how he had ever lost to this guy.
"Idiot."
Hyuga Neji spoke coldly.
As soon as those words left his mouth, Naruto naturally heard them. After all, the conference room was only this big, and besides, Hyuga Neji had no intention of hiding what he said.
"Hey! You white-eyed bastard, do you want to fight?!"
Naruto clenched his fists, looking like he wanted to teach Hyuga Neji a thorough lesson.
After Hyuga Neji had defected, Rock Lee and Tenten had been downcast for a long time. Naruto understood their feelings better than anyone.
That was why, the moment he saw Hyuga Neji, Naruto wanted to beat him to a pulp. And not just Neji — Sasuke too!
Beat both of those bastards black and blue, then drag them back — back before everyone. That was Naruto's idea!
It was also the fundamental reason that drove Naruto to train so hard and brought him here!
A sharp clash suddenly rang out across the entire conference room!
Hoshigaki Kisame's Samehada had been drawn at some unknown point, swinging down toward Naruto's head.
It was stopped just a few centimeters from Naruto's neck when Kakashi intercepted it with a kunai!
"You little brat, I've been wanting to shut you up for a while now."
Hoshigaki Kisame held Samehada in one hand, baring his sharp teeth at Naruto, his tone brimming with killing intent.
At the same time, Kisame shifted his gaze toward Kakashi, who had blocked his attack, his voice carrying a trace of excitement and fighting spirit:
"Hatake Kakashi, huh?"
"You Kirigakure people really are lawless."
Kakashi planted one foot on the conference table, his body crouched low. The single eye visible beneath his mask stared coldly at Hoshigaki Kisame.
That shark-face and Kakashi-sensei were both so fast!
Naruto saw Samehada hovering mere centimeters from him and the kunai Kakashi used to block the attack, a bead of cold sweat running down his forehead.
It wasn't just Hatake Kakashi — the moment Hoshigaki Kisame made his move, Yamashiro Aoba had moved as well.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
Low caws from crows echoed through the conference room all at once.
Several black crows swirled around Yamashiro Aoba, circling back and forth, making his entire silhouette appear slightly blurred.
It gave the impression of someone poised and ready to strike!
"At a time like this, while I have no desire to clash with you Kirigakure people, I won't just stand by when someone attacks Konoha's own."
A faint gleam flickered across Yamashiro Aoba's dark sunglasses as he spoke in a calm and steady tone.
"Genjutsu? No, the crows are real."
"I see — it's a technique combining the Summoning Technique with Genjutsu. An impressive combination ninjutsu."
Nagato had already opened his eyes by now, his gaze directed toward Yamashiro Aoba. Though still seated, his body leaned slightly forward.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the entire conference room grew incredibly heavy.
Threads of killing intent clashed and intertwined in the air. The four of them looked as though they could burst into combat at any moment.
The Suna ninja standing guard outside the conference room naturally sensed the tense atmosphere within, but showed not the slightest intention of intervening.
Amidst this suffocating tension, a voice suddenly rang out, laced with a hint of puzzlement.
"Hasn't anyone noticed something strange?"
Hyuga Neji spoke thoughtfully, his head lowered. He paused briefly before continuing, a note of doubt in his voice:
"Aren't you curious about why the enemy came straight to us?"
"Logically speaking, even if they possess a troublesome jutsu like Space-Time Ninjutsu, they shouldn't have been able to find this place so quickly."
"But the result was exactly the opposite. According to Kirigakure's sensory ninja, after the enemy entered Sunagakure via Space-Time Ninjutsu, they headed directly toward the conference room."
"It's as if... as if they had already guessed... no, they already knew we were here!"
As Hyuga Neji's words fell, the frozen atmosphere in the conference room suddenly shifted.
Aside from Naruto, who still wore a somewhat blank expression, everyone simultaneously narrowed their eyes.
That was right — that fellow called Tobi, even with Space-Time Ninjutsu, shouldn't have been able to locate their conference room this quickly!
The next moment!
Nagato, Hoshigaki Kisame, along with Konoha's Kakashi and Yamashiro Aoba, all simultaneously ceased their actions.
"Not bad, kid."
Hoshigaki Kisame turned his head toward Hyuga Neji, a hint of approval in his tone.
What a pity...
Meanwhile, Konoha's Yamashiro Aoba and Kakashi both wore complicated expressions on their faces.
Hyuga Neji's reminder had not only dissolved the heavy atmosphere among everyone present, but also made them all realize one thing!
In all likelihood, it wouldn't be long before they could leave this conference room.
[
Dear Readers,
I am currently posting two chapters every day across two active fictions, along with bonus releases and extra chapters. The workload is steady, and I am putting in the effort to keep the schedule consistent for everyone.
Right now, my financial situation is not great. Patreon support is what keeps this translation work sustainable. If you have been following the stories and want to help, joining a tier makes a direct difference.
Here is what membership offers:
Adventurer — $3 per month
10 chapters in advance for all of my works
Warrior — $7 per month
20 chapters in advance for all of my works
Immortal — $10 per month (Highlighted Tier)
30 chapters in advance for all of my works
Access to character images
Important note: Subscribing through the Apple App adds an extra 30 percent fee (Apple/Patreon policy). Subscribe through your browser to avoid the extra charge. Apple also processes payments very late (2 to 3 months), which makes it much harder for me to receive money quickly after you subscribe.
If you can support, it would genuinely help me continue the daily releases and early access content. If you cannot, reading and sharing the work is also appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Patreon: patreon.com/anish_44
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/anish_44
]