Minutes later, the temporary Eighth Hokage, Uzumaki Code, left the Hokage's office and rushed to hold a video call with the other three Kage.
In his heart, Code naturally looked down on the so-called Five Kage. But to counter that madman Sasuke, he indeed needed to use the power of these ninjas, so he could only endure it patiently.
In short, no matter what Sasuke planned to do—whether he truly intended to unify the entire ninja world or not—Code would never let him succeed!
After their Hokage left, Sai, clutching his wound, picked up his severed arm and staggered out of the Hokage's office. Outside, Shikamaru, who had just arrived, witnessed the scene.
"Sai, what happened to you?!"
Shikamaru was shocked to see Sai's severed arm.
How could reporting something in the office lead to such a severe injury? Could Sasuke have attacked again?
"It's nothing, my fault…" Sai lowered his head, answering vaguely.
With the village in great danger, he didn't want to cause internal conflict by speaking ill of their Hokage. Though the punishment was indeed harsh.
"You can hide it from others, but can you hide it from Ino?" Shikamaru frowned, asking.
With Ino's abilities, forcibly entering Sai's mind to check the cause would be easy. Sai couldn't possibly block Ino while sleeping with his wife.
"…" Sai sighed in resignation.
Shikamaru was right; something like this couldn't be hidden from Ino. And if Ino found out, her group of friends would too—it couldn't be stopped. Thinking this, Sai decided to let go of his concerns and told Shikamaru everything that happened in the office.
Shikamaru was shocked and furious after hearing it. He was deeply dissatisfied with Hokage Code's actions.
Code was young and spirited, which was understandable. After all, Shikamaru and the others had been young once, feeling invincible in their teens. But to have an arm severed just for not knocking and interrupting 'personal business'—that was excessive!
Though Sai came from the Anbu Root, he had bled for the village and was currently the Head of Security. Even a Hokage didn't have the right to punish without a trial.
Moreover, losing an arm was a severe injury for a ninja reliant on hand seals. Even someone as strong as Sasuke lost much of his strength after losing an arm. Not everyone could perform hand seals with one hand.
Most importantly, such cruelty was utterly unfit for the Hokage position!
"That guy, how could he act like that! Compared to the Seventh Hokage, such behavior is just…" Shikamaru was furious and immediately wanted to confront Code.
If such cruel behavior wasn't stopped, Konoha's ninjas would feel threatened in the future. Who would want to work diligently for the village and Hokage?
"Forget it, Shikamaru. Hokage-sama is in a video meeting with the other Kage."
"The Fifth Ninja World War is about to start; the village needs Hokage-sama now!"
"Right now, without Hokage-sama, no one can defeat those two powerful enemies, Otsutsuki Sasuke and Otsutsuki Naruto…" Sai quickly restrained Shikamaru, urging him not to overreact.
With the village in danger, Sai didn't want his own issue to jeopardize the entire village.
There was no choice.
In everyone's memories, the temporary Eighth Hokage wasn't democratically elected; he only secured the Hokage position due to his great contributions in defeating enemies like Sasuke.
"But we can't let this continue!"
"Sigh… it's my fault too. I looked too much at the girl beside Hokage-sama…"
"What girl? So beautiful she left you stunned?"
Shikamaru knew Sai's mental resilience well.
In all of Konoha Village, Sai's mental fortitude was among the best. No seduction jutsu or even heavenly beauty could disrupt his calm.
"I'm not sure… But at that moment, it was like I was under a genjutsu, unconsciously drawn to her. It's not normal…" Sai analyzed calmly.
Even now, Eida's charm effect still made his heart itch. It was a charm so potent that even an artificial being like Mitsuki, naturally low on emotions, couldn't resist. So it was no surprise Sai couldn't withstand it.
"I see. Then I want to take a look. I want to know what kind of beauty could captivate our Hokage-sama so much…"
"Don't let your guard down; that girl seems very important to Hokage-sama!"
"Relax, I won't act recklessly."
Sai knew Shikamaru, as Konoha's brain, would know his limits, so he stopped persuading him.
"By the way, why are you here?"
"I came to report. Orochimaru has returned to the village. He wants to meet the new Eighth Hokage…"
"Him… he's back too. Won't something unexpected happen if they meet?"
Sai shivered, recalling Orochimaru's sly smile, his hair standing on end.
"It shouldn't. I've already asked the Sixth Hokage to persuade Orochimaru first. I'm sure he'll restrain himself a bit…" Honestly, Shikamaru wasn't entirely confident.
Though Orochimaru had been calm for the past ten years, his past madness was well-known to all Konoha ninjas. Shikamaru was genuinely worried that if Orochimaru met the young Code, a major conflict would erupt!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
On the other side.
One hour ago, at dawn.
Water Country, Kirigakure.
At this moment, half of Kirigakure had turned into a sea of flames, blazing fires mixed with thick black smoke twisting in the air, as if forming terrifying monsters.
A thousand-meter-tall Six Paths Susano'o stood towering at the heart of Kirigakure.
The once-sturdy Mizukage building had been crushed to rubble under Susano'o's foot. All around, ruins of destroyed buildings and countless bodies littered the ground…
Clearly, this time, Sasuke didn't use a gentle approach to take over Kirigakure. Instead, he chose a swift, decisive, brutal, and bloody method to overwhelm the entire village!
Sasuke knew well that the enemy was watching him. Showing even a hint of mercy or weakness would be exploited by the enemy later, capturing more people to threaten and pressure him!
In a sense, this was no longer a civil war among ninjas but a war between all of humanity and the Otsutsuki Clan. Any softness of heart would be used by the enemy, causing greater losses to the ninja world!
So he had to be mad enough, ruthless enough!
This was one of the true reasons Sasuke didn't hesitate to storm Kirigakure, causing numerous casualties.
"Otsutsuki Sasuke, you won't die peacefully!"
Terumi Mei, the former Fifth Mizukage, was gravely injured and kneeling on the ground, glaring at Sasuke atop Susano'o's head with eyes full of hatred.
Though she no longer remembered him, that gallant face and cold, ruthless demeanor were still etched in her heart, stirring a familiar heartbeat she felt she'd experienced before.
"Surrender, or die!"
"Fifth Mizukage, choose one!"
Sasuke looked down at Mei, his eyes devoid of any emotion. He was now Otsutsuki Sasuke, so he could be 'dark' without hesitation.
"I'll never surrender…"
Mei gritted her teeth against the pain. Sasuke now was far more terrifying than Uchiha Madara in the past, and she was fortunate to still be holding on.
"Fine, then perish with all of Kirigakure!"
Sasuke had no interest in pleasantries, immediately swinging his sword.
*SWOOSH!*
Susano'o's hundred-meter-long sword arced through the air, its fierce wind tearing at skin and flesh, aiming straight for Mei.
It felt like a hundred-story skyscraper was swung down at her. Just imagining it was enough to make one nearly despair!
"Wait—!" Mei suddenly shouted, surrendering.
The ferocious wind swept away all the debris around her, finally stopping steadily at Mei's neck, just shy of ending the Fifth Mizukage. Her clothes were already torn to shreds by the gust…
Mei bit her lip, glancing at Chōjūrō, the fallen Sixth Mizukage in the distance, then at the utterly destroyed village… She knew she had no choice.
Though she could grit her teeth and die in battle, the entire village didn't deserve to be buried with her. To save the village, some things had to be sacrificed!
"I surrender!"