Near Konoha Village, Loran Town.
The setting sun cast light on the streets, children's laughter echoing through the marketplace.
Nii Yugito stood at the inn window.
Gazing at the outline of Konoha Village in the distance, her fingers gripping the curtain tightly.
"Really won't come back to Konoha with me?"
Chiya stood behind her, his voice calm and gentle.
Yugito shook her head.
"I'm Kumogakure's jinchuriki, rashly entering Konoha... would only bring you trouble."
Chiya was silent for a moment, looking at the determination in her eyes.
He said no more, finally nodding.
"Loran Town is now like an extension of Konoha Village, Konoha ANBU and Uchiha Police Force members come here to patrol every day, it's very safe."
"Mm!"
Yugito hummed in acknowledgment, turning around.
Her gaze fell once again on those pure and innocent children in the distance.
Chiya stepped forward.
Reaching out to brush her hair.
"When the war ends, I'll stay here with you!"
Yugito's eyes showed a touch of emotion.
Although she hadn't gone to Konoha Village, she had learned from the people around her about Chiya's prestige in Konoha Village.
That Chiya could say such words, even if he was just coaxing her, made her happy.
Just at that moment.
"Sensei!"
Uchiha Shisui appeared beside him in a body flicker, his expression grave.
Anyone could tell at a glance that something had happened.
Seeing Uchiha Shisui stop speaking.
Chiya was startled, immediately understanding his meaning.
"It's fine, we're all on the same side, just speak directly."
Yugito's movement to leave suddenly froze, warmth flowing throughout her body.
The way she looked at Chiya became much gentler.
Uchiha Shisui heard this and took a deep breath.
"Konoha's three fronts are in crisis, Namikaze Minato-senpai just used summoning to send intelligence!"
Chiya looked over.
Taking the scroll Uchiha Shisui handed over, he quickly scanned the contents.
"Heh, joined forces?"
He laughed coldly.
"Finally joined forces. Before, intimidated by Konoha's momentum, they shrank back one by one. If it continued like that, who knows how long this battle would last! Now that they've united, we can finally concentrate on striking them down."
Yugito heard Shisui's words, stood up, and grabbed Chiya's arm.
"Chiya, I want to go with you..."
"You stay here."
Chiya interrupted her, his tone brooking no argument.
"This war, I'll resolve it."
Chiya patted her hand gripping his arm.
"If they've really united, then the duration of this war can be shortened considerably!"
Hearing Chiya's confident words, Yugito still felt somewhat worried.
Chiya reached out, patting her head.
"Don't worry! My strength is very formidable!"
Only then did Yugito remember that Matatabi had told her before that Uchiha Chiya was very strong...
"Then be careful!"
"Mm!"
Only then did Yugito release her hand.
"I'm going!"
Chiya smiled at her gently, leading Uchiha Shisui to rush toward the village.
...
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the battle report, his expression dark as water.
"Three fronts collapsed... If this continues, Konoha is finished."
Danzo, leaning on his cane, said coldly.
"Right now the only option is to recall all combat forces and defend the village to the death!"
"No!"
Jiraiya pushed the door open and entered.
"Once we abandon the outer defense lines, all the civilians in the Land of Fire will suffer!"
"At a time like this, we can't worry about that much!"
Danzo looked at Jiraiya coldly.
"I don't agree!"
Jiraiya firmly shook his head.
The lives of Konoha Village ninja are lives, don't the lives of ordinary civilians in the Land of Fire count?
Although Jiraiya was a bit lecherous, on matters like this, he was still clear-headed.
Just at that moment.
Footsteps came from the doorway.
"Creak!"
Uchiha Chiya, bringing Uchiha Shisui, pushed the door open and entered.
"Hokage-sama!"
Uchiha Chiya stood in place, chest out, speaking calmly.
Seeing Uchiha Chiya appear, the coldness on Shimura Danzo's face intensified.
He directly stood up, walked in front of Uchiha Chiya, and met his gaze.
"Uchiha Chiya, right now four nations are jointly invading our Land of Fire, at such a critical juncture, you actually returned to the village instead of defending the northern battlefield, what crime should you bear?!"
Chiya's gaze shifted, falling from Hiruzen Sarutobi onto Shimura Danzo.
The crimson Sharingan instantly activated.
Shimura Danzo hadn't expected that Chiya would activate his ocular jutsu at the slightest disagreement, but by the time he reacted, it was already too late!
When he opened his eyes again, he had arrived in a strange world.
He himself was bound to a cross.
Everything around was crimson, the moon was crimson, the earth was crimson, even himself...
He looked down, even he himself was entirely crimson.
"Danzo, how is this place?"
Chiya appeared before him at some unknown time, Shimura Danzo's earlier confusion instantly replaced by hostility.
"Uchiha Chiya, what are you trying to do?"
"What am I doing? Just teaching you how to speak!"
Chiya reached out, a small knife appearing in his hand.
"Does Danzo-sama know what Death by a Thousand Cuts is?"
"Death by a Thousand Cuts?"
Hearing "Danzo-sama" again, Danzo's heart clenched.
"If you haven't heard of it, it doesn't matter, you'll know soon enough!"
Chiya held the small knife, pushing it forward.
Swish!
"Is that all the force you have?"
Shimura Danzo gritted his teeth, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
Looking at Uchiha Chiya, he spoke stubbornly.
The corner of Chiya's mouth curled into a mocking smile.
"It's fine, Danzo-sama, we'll take it slow, just 3,356 more cuts to go!"
Hearing this number, Danzo's eyes showed bloodshot veins.
"Evil Uchiha..."
Chiya's expression remained unchanged.
"Oh right, Danzo-sama, I also know medical ninjutsu, I'll try my best not to let you die easily midway!"
Swish.
Swish.
...
The blade flashed repeatedly.
Now, Uchiha Chiya, who had mastered swordsmanship, was even more skilled at this type of operation.
"Ah!"
Shimura Danzo finally cried out on the eighteenth cut.
Young Danzo.
Looking at the somewhat exhausted Shimura Danzo, Chiya generously used medical ninjutsu.
"First time doing Death by a Thousand Cuts, a bit nervous, might have cut off too much just now."
"It's fine, let's go again!"
"..."
After who knows how many cuts, Shimura Danzo's throat couldn't make sounds anymore.
He clearly felt life draining away.
"Finally free!"
Shimura Danzo slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, just as he was about to move, his limbs felt restrained.
'How am I...'
Just as Shimura Danzo was puzzled, another figure appeared before him.
"What a pity, Danzo-sama, you couldn't endure after just 1,896 cuts!"
"You..."
Shimura Danzo's eyes were somewhat dizzy.
He didn't want to experience that realistic feeling again...
"Danzo-sama, that pain just now was only one second."
"Come, let's continue!"
"Swish!"
"Ah!"
The cycle restarted...
In reality.
It was just a moment of eye contact.
Danzo's eyes suddenly regained focus.
His body, as if drained, suddenly collapsed to the ground, trembling all over.
Saliva flowed from the corner of his mouth without his knowledge.
Danzo gasped for breath, his eyes full of terror and fear.
"Uchiha Chiya, what is the meaning of this?"
Seeing Danzo's sudden behavior, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed immediately.
He quickly stood up, came to Shimura Danzo's side, and helped him up.
Frowning, he looked toward Uchiha Chiya.
"Hokage-sama, now that four nations have allied, our three front lines are struggling, let me talk about the battle plan!"
Chiya walked over as if no one else was there and sat down in the Hokage's seat.
"Battle plan?"
Although Jiraiya disliked Uchiha Chiya's overstepping behavior, at this moment of Konoha's crisis, he was still more inclined to hear Chiya's thoughts.
Anyone who could forge the Uchiha into an iron plate, reverse the Uchiha's reputation within the village, and make the village's civilians love and adore them must have unique methods and approaches.
Especially since the Toad Sage's prophecy said he would encounter a black-haired youth who might bring change to the ninja world.
The word "change" wasn't something ordinary people could possess.
Regarding the previous prophecy about himself, it was only that one of his disciples might change the ninja world.
"Dispatch a substantial force to attract the enemy nations' power, lure them to concentrate entirely toward the northern battlefield. Finally, gather the entire village's strength and annihilate them all!"
Everyone fell into contemplation.
Jiraiya indeed felt this plan was feasible.
After all, the opposition was four nations.
Even if the higher-ups wanted to unite, those ninja faced teammates who were once enemies. How could they be so at ease?
Putting them together might even divide their strength.
Sometimes one plus one doesn't necessarily equal two.
Jiraiya's gaze turned to Chiya as he asked seriously.
"A substantial force? What kind would be considered substantial?"
"Naturally, it would be a force personally led by the Hokage himself!"
Jiraiya's movement paused.
?
His mind filled with question marks.
Have sensei personally lead a team to be the bait?
Just thinking about it was thrilling... no, it was an impossible thing!
This was the village's Kage!
How could a Kage be bait!
Having recovered some clarity, Danzo sat in his seat, at this moment looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi with some satisfaction.
Old fool, let's see what you do!
Putting it nicely, it's called luring, putting it bluntly... this was sending him to his death!
Hizan, once you're dead, I'll run for Hokage...
"Now that Konoha is in danger, if this method can truly change the battle situation, I'll go!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, looking seriously at Uchiha Chiya.
"For Konoha, I'm willing."
Hearing this, the expression on Shimura Danzo's face instantly froze.
The memory Danzo couldn't bear most surfaced in his mind.
Back then, it was he who stood up like this!
Walked ahead of him!
Why!!
How is it you again!!
Waves of unwillingness impacted Danzo's heart, he couldn't help but stand up trembling.
"I, I'll go! Hiruzen Sarutobi, don't steal this old man's merit!!"
Danzo.
Chiya glanced at him.
"You?"
"You're not qualified enough, you're not even the Hokage!"
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