The 'Jashin Cult' leader Hidan killed the 'Xu' amid the confusion and used a strange blood draining ability. Nearly a hundred Konoha Ninja and Kumogakure Ninja were drained dry and died.
'Puppeteer' attempted to kill Hidan with threads, but Hidan showed strong self healing. 'Puppeteer' withdrew, while Hidan and Jashin Cult slaughtered Kumogakure Ninja and escaped before Fourth Raikage arrived.
The Land of Fire Daimyo's residence was attacked by a large group of 'Xu'. The guards suffered heavy losses, but Tsunade happened to be nearby and rushed in. Together with the remaining guards, she destroyed the group.
The Land of Fire Daimyo was unharmed but deeply shaken and sent an angry inquiry to Konoha.
Yunchuan Hyuga closed the scroll slowly. The room felt still, with only distant noise from outside and the soft sound of Kakashi Hatake turning pages.
"You see it now, Yunchuan," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a bitter look. "'Xu' is no longer confined to Konoha, nor is it only an enemy of ninja."
"They are spreading across the entire Ninja World and have already threatened the safety of the daimyo. That shakes the core of Land of Fire."
He leaned back against the bed, his voice drained. "It is fortunate that Tsunade was there, or the outcome would have been unthinkable."
Yunchuan Hyuga set the scroll back by his side and looked again at the exhausted elder. "Third Hokage, 'Xu' is not without a solution."
"The situation is serious, but I still believe you should trust in everyone's strength."
He turned to look out the window, and Hiruzen Sarutobi followed his gaze. Outside lay Konoha under a haze of dark smoke, its post battle state clear despite sunlight and remaining greenery.
Many plants were burned down to black husks, and ash covered the ground like early snow. Buildings were cracked and broken, with Hokage Building reduced to ruins, while places like Konoha Hospital and Ninja Academy remained untouched.
Amid the ruins, rows of white tents stood upright, blooming through the village like flowers that rose overnight. People and Medical-nin moved among them, and the wind carried distant noise mixed with the smell of food.
It was the scent of cooking.
Even now, people still found ways to endure. The weight in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart eased, and he opened the research report again, fear slowly fading.
'Xu' was still a problem, but there was at least a way to respond. Traditional ninja tactics and thinking would face severe tests against such an enemy.
After a long pause, he looked up at the young man before him, complex emotion passing through his eyes.
"Yunchuan."
"I am here, Third Hokage," Yunchuan Hyuga answered.
Hearing that voice, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt his burden lighten. He exhaled deeply and said, "Send letters to the other four great nations, including this research report."
"'Xu' and 'Espada' are not just enemies of Konoha. They must also know about Akatsuki."
Yunchuan Hyuga's gaze sharpened slightly. "Third Hokage, you intend to…"
"I want to invite them to the Five Kage Summit," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a nod. He looked at Yunchuan Hyuga and added softly, "And I hope you will go with me."
"And also, I hope you can go with me."
Yunchuan Hyuga's eyes narrowed slightly, and a fitting look of surprise appeared on his face. It did not seem like surprise at the convening of the Five Kage Summit, since that was almost inevitable under the current situation. What truly surprised him was the second half of Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.
"Me?" Yunchuan Hyuga asked with a trace of doubt. "Third Hokage, you mean that I…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked out the window toward the distance and said, "As my guard."
The identity sounded ordinary at first, but its meaning carried great weight. The last Five Kage Summit convened by Hashirama Senju while he was alive had completely shaped the current order of the Ninja World.
At that time, the five people who served as guards to the Five Kage all later became Five Kage themselves. Except for the guard of the First Mizukage, who failed to surpass Gengetsu Hozuki and only later became the Third Mizukage, the other four all became second-generation Kage.
Without a doubt, this result added political significance to the role of "guard." If Hiruzen Sarutobi had said this to Danzo Shimura, even asking him to come along as a guard and subordinate, Danzo Shimura would likely have been overjoyed.
However, Yunchuan Hyuga felt very calm. He knew that those accompanying Hiruzen Sarutobi to the Five Kage Summit would certainly not include only himself.
Because of the special weight given to the role of guard, the other four Kage would naturally not bring just one person either. This was a choice any qualified ruler would make without discussion.
Sure enough, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly changed his tone and looked toward another bed where Kakashi Hatake lay. "Of course, besides you, there is also Kakashi Hatake," he said.
Pata!
At those words, Kakashi Hatake, who had been lying in bed holding Icha Icha Paradise, let the book slip from his hands and smack into his face. He then sat bolt upright, his exposed dead fish eyes widening in disbelief.
"Me?" Kakashi Hatake pointed at himself, as if doubting his own hearing. His voice sounded dry as he said, "Third Hokage, you mean I also have to…"
"Yes, Kakashi Hatake." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "You and Yunchuan will both attend the Five Kage Summit as my guards."
"This…" Kakashi Hatake frowned. "Third Hokage, wouldn't Shisui Uchiha be more suitable than me?"
The Uchiha Clan had almost been wiped out, and the rest of Konoha had escaped involvement in this incident. All responsibility had fallen on Itachi Uchiha and Obito Uchiha.
Even Danzo Shimura had no reason to target the remaining elderly, women, and children. Shisui Uchiha, who once belonged to the Hokage Faction, was naturally clean of suspicion.
"There are still many unresolved doubts about the Uchiha incident, and Shisui, who was close to Itachi Uchiha, cannot yet completely shed suspicion," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a sigh. "And do you think Shisui was injured less severely than you?"
"After taking that blow from 'Uzumaki', half his body suffered pulverizing fractures. Coupled with extreme mental and physical exhaustion, he has not yet awakened from his coma."
"According to Root and the Medical-nin's examinations, even if he wakes up and treatment goes smoothly, with injuries like that it will be hard for him to continue as a ninja."
Hearing this for the first time, Kakashi Hatake fell silent. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him and continued speaking.
"You alone repelled the one calling himself 'Madara Uchiha', Obito Uchiha, and exposed his false disguise as 'Madara Uchiha'. The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, will certainly attend this meeting."
"As fellow victims who were controlled by Obito Uchiha through genjutsu, Kirigakure suffered heavy losses. Yagura and all of Kirigakure will inevitably feel strong resentment toward Konoha."
"After all, Obito Uchiha was once a ninja of Konoha. At such a time, your presence becomes crucial, Kakashi Hatake."
"You were once his close friend and know his past, and now you are the enemy who personally struck him down and revealed the truth. Your existence itself is the strongest response from Konoha toward Obito Uchiha and the forces behind him."
"It proves our determination to clean our own house and show no mercy. As for details about Obito Uchiha's abilities and motives, no one understands them better than you."
After finishing, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked again at the two young men before him and smiled gently, though fatigue showed. "So, Yunchuan and Kakashi Hatake, are you willing to accept the task of protecting this old man?"