Yōkō received a reporting task and wasn't in a hurry.
The pursuit and escape situation ahead was complex.
Uzumaki Kushina was at the very front, followed by two Konoha Anbu battalions, and lastly the Kumo-nin trying to seize Uzushiogakure's Book of Sealing.
The number of Kumo-nin was approximately three battalions.
If Yōkō moved too fast, he might run into large numbers of Kumo-nin and die without knowing how.
Outside the capital of the Land of Whirlpools, Yōkō saw a battlefield.
There were many corpses on the ground: Kumo-nin, Konoha Anbu, and five particularly conspicuous bodies bearing the insignia of the Land of Whirlpools' Daimyō and the Uzumaki clan emblem.
The Land of Whirlpools' Daimyō's Guardian Ninja were dead.
These Guardian Ninja were very strong. There were no corpses within a dozen meters around them; they had been exhausted and killed by the Kumo-nin using long-range ninjutsu.
Yōkō created a Shadow Clone to search the bodies for loot.
Some Shadow Clones died from traps on the ninja tool pouches.
After spending considerable time, Yōkō found 300,000 Ryo and three explosive tags.
These ninjas didn't even carry more good stuff when they went out, so stingy.
Continuing on his way, Yōkō saw over a dozen battlefields of varying sizes and successively scavenged another 100,000 Ryo.
He now had a huge sum of 1.1 million Ryo. An S-rank mission's reward was only 1 million Ryo.
With this money, he could live lavishly upon returning to Konoha.
As he approached the Land of Fire border, Yōkō became increasingly cautious.
The Kumo-nin wouldn't easily enter the Land of Fire, as there were many Konoha intelligence squads inside.
Climbing a high mountain, Yōkō used his telescope to survey the area.
Found them!
At the foot of a distant slope, the Kumo-nin had semi-surrounded the two Konoha Anbu battalions.
Behind the Konoha Anbu battalions was Shimura Danzo, holding Uzumaki Kushina's hand.
The Summoning beasts like the Spear Egret, Yatagarasu, and Giant Eagle were all gone.
Uzumaki Kushina was like a frightened little bird, trembling in Shimura Danzo's grasp.
There wasn't a single Uzumaki ninja or Uzumaki Summoning beast around.
Facing the Kumo-nin blockade, Shimura Danzo didn't seem to care. His other hand rested on Uzushiogakure's Book of Sealing.
That Book of Sealing recorded all of the Uzumaki clan's secret sealing techniques and forbidden sealing techniques. It was truly enticing.
Not just the Kumo-nin; even Yōkō, seeing the Book of Sealing from afar, felt his heartbeat quicken.
Danzo's face was ashen, and he shot a venomous glance at Uzumaki Kushina.
It wasn't that he hated Uzumaki Kushina, but rather Kato Dan.
After obtaining the Uzumaki clan's Book of Sealing, Danzo planned to master the secret sealing techniques first.
However, Kato Dan used the Spirit Transformation Technique to traverse over a thousand miles and possessed Uzumaki Kushina's body.
Through Uzumaki Kushina's mouth, Kato Dan stated that he, Kato Dan, was observing everything happening here.
The Senju clan leader, Senju Rinoki, was by Kato Dan's side.
With Kato Dan watching, Shimura Danzo held the Book of Sealing but couldn't read it.
The Senju clan was still powerful, pressuring the Konoha leadership.
The Senju clan had many Jōnin, and elite Jōnin like Kato Dan who mastered forbidden techniques.
Kato Dan was also Tsunade's lover and extremely loyal to the Senju clan.
Many of Danzo's previous schemes had been disrupted by Kato Dan.
The Spirit Transformation Technique was too overpowering. Kato Dan alone could monitor many corners of the shinobi world, possessing people from a thousand miles away.
Thinking of Kato Dan, Danzo's eyes grew colder and more sinister.
Yōkō hurriedly rushed down from the mountaintop.
Not because he was eager to join the Anbu's battle, but because numerous Konoha ninja appeared in the forest behind!
Konoha's reinforcements had arrived!
Konoha and Uzushiogakure were allies. How could Konoha stand by idly when Uzushiogakure was in trouble?
Yōkō quickly jumped down the slope, heading straight for the flank of the battlefield.
He saw the important figures in the reinforcement force from a distance.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had personally led the team to support Uzushiogakure.
Besides the Third Hokage, Mitokado Homura was also among the high-ranking officials who had come.
Yōkō also saw many members of the Senju clan, their clothes bearing the Senju emblem.
Even the Senju clan leader, Senju Rinoki, had come.
Senju Rinoki was the son of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and also Tsunade's father.
At this time, Tsunade hadn't yet earned the fame of the Legendary Sannin; her honors came more from being the Senju clan princess and the Third Hokage's disciple.
Closest to Senju Rinoki was his favored son-in-law, Kato Dan.
"Uncle!"
Uzumaki Kushina became agitated upon seeing Senju Rinoki. She struggled, trying to pull her hand free from Shimura Danzo's grip.
Shimura Danzo glanced at Senju Rinoki, then at Kato Dan.
Senju Rinoki frowned. What did Danzo mean by this?
Danzo had no choice but to release Uzumaki Kushina's hand, allowing her to run towards Senju Rinoki.
Senju Rinoki put his arm around Kushina's back, gently patting her.
"Uncle! The Kiri-nin and Kumo-nin ambushed the village! The Clan Leader and the Third Mizukage perished together! The village was destroyed!"
"What? The village was destroyed?"
"What? The Third Mizukage is dead?"
Senju Rinoki and Mitokado Homura each exclaimed.
The news was too shocking.
Uzushiogakure wasn't a small village. It had thousands of Uzumaki clanspeople, many smaller clans absorbed into the village, and its own trained civilian ninja.
The number of ninjas exceeded three thousand, ranking it among the top two villages beneath the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Furthermore, the Uzumaki clan had many large Summoning beasts and nearly unbreakable sealing techniques. No village facing Uzushiogakure could claim an easy victory.
Mitokado Homura and Sarutobi Hiruzen exchanged a glance, feeling both pleased and sorrowful in their hearts.
The pleasing aspect was that Konoha's next Jinchūriki was secured. Danzo had successfully brought back the Uzumaki Princess and Uzushiogakure's Book of Sealing.
The Third Mizukage was also dead, removing a formidable opponent for Konoha on the eastern front.
The sorrowful aspect was the demise of an allied village, which evoked sympathy.
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand, signaling all the Konoha ninja behind him to charge and eliminate the pursuing Kumo-nin.
He himself walked towards Uzumaki Kushina, his tone full of regret:
"My apologies, Uzumaki Princess. The Kiri-nin and Kumo-nin blocked intelligence. Konoha mobilized two thousand ninja to rescue Uzushiogakure, but we never expected to be too late."
What could Uzumaki Kushina say?
Surrounded by numerous Konoha ninja, Konoha's commitment was undeniably significant.
But late was late. Everything was finished.
Senju Rinoki's face turned pale.
In Uzushiogakure, there were many relatives of the Senju clan.
Kushina called him uncle, and he also called the Uzumaki leader uncle!
His mother, Uzumaki Mito, was the Uzumaki leader's sister.
There were also many of his own nephews and nieces who had married into the clan there.
Uzushiogakure was not just an ally; it had many marital ties with the Senju clan.
Intermarriage within a clan, while ensuring bloodline purity, constantly accumulated Kekkei Genkai diseases.
The Uzumaki clan was an important intermarriage clan for the Senju. Intermarrying between them not only didn't weaken their Kekkei Genkai but also prevented Kekkei Genkai diseases.
Without the Uzumaki clan, what would the Senju clan do?
The two thousand Konoha ninja attacked. The three Kumo-nin battalions had no chance to escape, dying miserably on the border within minutes.
Senju Rinoki looked towards Shimura Danzo.
"Advisor Danzo, hand the Book of Sealing over to me. Kushina is still young; I will keep it for her."
Danzo glanced at Kushina. This was a critical period for the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki transition. Danzo didn't want any mishaps concerning the Jinchūriki or for Kushina to bear a grudge.
He handed the Book of Sealing over to the Senju clan.
Yōkō found Battalion Commander Yellow Dog and reported the situation encountered by the Black Gorilla Squadron to him.
After listening, Battalion Commander Yellow Dog didn't make a decision himself but took Yōkō to see Advisor Danzo.
Matters involving the Uzumaki Elder should be decided by Advisor Danzo.
As they approached the Konoha leadership, Yōkō heard the Senju Clan Leader and Mitokado Homura arguing fiercely.
...
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(Chapter End)