The soul issue is easy to handle. The Yamanaka Clan has never been good people, and with the Village now like a battlefield, they can just snatch an enemy Ninja and offer him to the Shinigami. They'd have no moral qualms about doing that.
Regarding the Third Hokage's situation, Inoichi hesitated at the last minute.
If they had a year or so, the Yamanaka Clan could fully support Danzo's ascent to Hokage. Then, Danzo would take over the Anbu, some Root Ninja would transition from covert to overt, and the Yamanaka Clan would absorb the remaining Root Ninja. Everyone would get what they wanted, and all would be happy.
But that's not possible now. Time is too short, and Danzo's reputation is too poor. A month isn't enough. Should the Yamanaka Clan temporarily switch targets?
The choice for the new Hokage, the Yamanaka Clan's interests, and the Ino–Shika–Choji's interests were all intertwined. Inoichi knew his limitations; he was just an intelligence chief, lacking a comprehensive vision and decisiveness. At this moment, he needed Shikaku's wisdom.
At least on this matter, the Ino–Shika–Choji needed to be united.
"You wait a moment. I'll discuss it with your Uncle Shikaku."
"Alright, the Shinigami and our concept of time are different, but I can't stall for too long either."
Ino began to gesture wildly to the Shinigami, buying time.
Externally, this manifested as the Third Hokage using the Shadow Clone Technique to seal the First Hokage, Second Hokage, and Fourth Kazekage into his Shadow Clones one after another. He was now forcefully gripping Orochimaru's soul, but because his own stamina was almost depleted, the dragging speed was particularly slow.
The Third Hokage believed it was due to his old age and frailty, having expended too much Chakra during the previous battle. At this point, he had already begun the summoning, with no way back, so he could only push himself, determined to pull Orochimaru's soul out and sacrifice it to the Shinigami.
On the other side, Inoichi used his sensory transmission ability to connect with his old comrades, Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Choza.
He then explained the situation on his end. The Mind Disturbance Technique was unknown even to Yamanaka Rino, and he certainly wouldn't tell them, no matter how good their relationship was.
Inoichi spontaneously mastered the divine skill of deflecting blame. At this moment, he shifted the blame to the First Hokage, vaguely stating that this was a contingency plan left by the First Hokage, who hoped Ino would save the Third Hokage.
Don't ask; if you ask, it's because the First Hokage was highly respected, deeply wise, and incredibly resourceful.
After all, none of these Ninja in their thirties had ever met the First Hokage. Konoha Village also had a series of measures to glorify former leaders. Now that the First Hokage was sealed by the Shinigami, he was truly and literally dead without a witness, so anything could be said.
The First Hokage's name indeed fooled the two of them.
After discussing the First Hokage, Inoichi brought the conversation back: "Time is short, Shikaku, you must make a decision. Do we save the Third Hokage or not?"
His unspoken subtext was, who should we support as the new Hokage, but that was really hard to say directly.
Actually, Shikaku and the Third Hokage had a good personal relationship, and the friendship between the Ino–Shika–Choji and Sarutobi Clan was even more long-standing. But friendship is one thing; adults often consider interests more.
Did the Third Hokage and Danzo consider friendship when facing Uchiha Kagami's descendants?
Nine-tenths of Shikaku's mind was focused on weighing the pros and cons. The Otogakure Genin he was fighting looked bewildered. What the hell? Is this the leader of the Konoha Jonin class? My grandma's faster than you! Are you going too easy?
Akimichi Choza's attack power also instantly dropped by ninety percent.
Seeing their two clan heads starting to go easy, the Ninja of the Nara Clan and Akimichi Clan quickly followed suit. The Yamanaka Clan's head wasn't present, but seeing their allies go easy, they decided to do the same.
The Ninja of the three clans began to casually deal with things, which in turn affected the Hyuga Clan, Aburame Clan, and Inuzuka Clan.
The famous expert at bullying weaker opponents, Hyuga Hiashi, who was originally dispatching minor enemies with one palm each, noticed something was off. He observed the surroundings with his Byakugan, not understanding why the Ino–Shika–Choji's attack power had significantly weakened. No matter, the Hyuga Clan also followed suit!
His movements were as slow as the Tai Chi practiced by old men and women in the park. Eight Sand Ninja and Otogakure Ninja bodies were piled to the side, yet he managed to fight the ninth minor enemy to a standstill.
Even the Sarutobi Clan's Ninja began to go easy. Clan Head and Hokage-sama, didn't you always want us to be low-key? We're being low-key for you now!
Shikaku quickly made up his mind. The Third Hokage still needed to be helped. If this person lived for another month, the Ino–Shika–Choji could prepare in advance and strategize, rather than being caught off guard and harming the clan's interests.
Inoichi was even more direct, asking if they could use this opportunity to advance further. Shikaku refused very decisively. He had enough seniority, no shortage of connections, and decisiveness, but for him to be Hokage? He wouldn't do it; that job was too tiring!
The three clans made an agreement to continue assisting the Hokage, no matter who that Hokage was.
"A month is enough. Save him, save the Third Hokage!" Inoichi immediately told Ino the result.
Ino began preparing for the next round of gestures, while also telling them to quickly capture a prisoner. She had already thought of a target: Sakon, one of Orochimaru's subordinates, would be very suitable. He had two souls in one body, which would definitely be a good gift for the Shinigami.
"Sakon? Okay, got it." Shikaku received the message, and then, under the strange gazes of Ninja clans like the Hyuga Hiashi, he began a fierce assault!
Hyuga Hiashi was confused, not knowing what madness had seized the Ino–Shika–Choji today. Seeing them begin their fierce assault, he could only intensify his own offensive, raising a palm and striking down the Otogakure Ninja he had been fighting for over thirty rounds.
Sakon, as one of the Sound Four and an important subordinate of Orochimaru, had good strength. However, facing over twenty Jonin from the Ino–Shika–Choji clans rushing him, he still fell.
He didn't even realize what was happening before he was pinned to the ground and beaten by a group of Jonin, then tied up and carried away.
One of the Sound Four, Jirobo, had already been crushed by Ino. Now the remaining two looked at each other, not seeing what happened, and their companion was gone? Are you Konoha Village or a bandit's den? How are your kidnapping skills so proficient?
The Yamanaka Clan's Jonin brought Sakon to the Yamanaka Flower Shop. Ino didn't say much, simply placed the Shinigami mask on Sakon's face. One second later, the two-souled individual lost all signs of life.
The Shinigami was very pleased with the new toy Ino had found for him, playing with Sakon and Ukon's connected souls in one hand.
He developed a slight fondness for his "mentally challenged" friend and took out a new mask and a Ninjutsu scroll from his embrace, handing them to her.
The previous mask was more like a temporary item; this new one was a permanent tool for summoning the Shinigami, and the Ninjutsu within the Ninjutsu scroll was, of course, the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
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