Naruto's civilian cannon fodder starts with the three-body technique

Chapter 384 Became a Substitute?

"Stop trying to scare me. If you've got the guts, then go ahead and do it. See if I even flinch. Shadow, he won't dare to go all out. I'll hold him off while you attack with all your might. He'll definitely be held back."

At this moment, the daimyo displayed unexpected toughness and courage.

"Daming, no, this is too dangerous!" Shadow exclaimed in alarm.

"Shut up! Just do as I say!" The daimyo suddenly drew his sword from his waist, bursting with a fighting spirit. It seemed that he had received samurai training and had some chakra and swordsmanship skills.

He actually stepped forward, using himself as a human shield to block the shadow, while shouting at Umino Sasuke, "Come on! Umino Sasuke, attack me!"

He was betting on Umino Sasuke's political rationality, betting that he wouldn't dare to bear the risk and terrifying consequences of killing a daimyo.

Seeing this, Shadow gritted his teeth and no longer hesitated, his hands rapidly forming hand seals: "Wind Release: Vacuum Ball!"

A dozen or so highly compressed air bullets roared toward Umino Sasuke.

"Wind Instantaneous Movement!" Sasuke Umino's figure blurred, easily dodging all attacks like a ghost.

Just as the daimyo had predicted, Umino Sasuke did not use any wide-ranging or uncontrollable ninjutsu to retaliate, seemingly truly hampered by the daimyo's "shameless" tactics.

Upon seeing this, Daming and Shadow were overjoyed, realizing they had made the right bet.

"Hahaha!" Daiming became even more smug and fearless, transforming into a human shield. "Shadow, keep attacking! Don't stop! He won't dare to do anything to me!"

Shadow was also greatly encouraged, and he used various wind-style ninjutsu one after another. Although he could not hit the agile Umino Sasuke, he did suppress his movements to a certain extent, forcing him to dodge constantly, and seemingly putting him in an extremely unfavorable situation.

However, they all underestimated Sasuke Umino's determination and methods.

Just as the shadow formed another hand seal, preparing to unleash an even more powerful Wind Release technique, a chilling killing intent suddenly erupted in the eyes of Umino Sasuke, who had been dodging.

"Daimyo, since you've chosen your own death, then I'll grant your wish!" Umino Sasuke's voice was icy cold.

In the next instant, Umino Sasuke's figure suddenly closed the distance considerably, as if he had teleported.

"Not good!" Alarm bells rang in Shadow's mind. He wanted to change his tactics to force Umino Sasuke back, but it was too late.

Umino Sasuke swiftly flicked his right index finger.

"Wind Release: Spiral Hole Wave!"

An extremely concentrated spiral beam of light shot out from his fingertip like a drill, aimed directly at the Daimyo of the Land of Wind.

This strike was swift, accurate, and ruthless!
Without the slightest hesitation, it was as if they truly intended to kill him on the spot.

"What? How dare you!!" The smugness and arrogance on Daimyo's face instantly turned into extreme fear and disbelief. He could even feel the aura of death emanating from the tip of the spiral wind jutsu.

"Watch out!" The shadow was so frightened that he almost lost his soul. He could no longer care about anything else and unleashed his full chakra, shoving the daimyo hard to the side.

With a soft "pfft!"
The spiraling wave grazed almost the daimyo's ribs, tearing his clothes and leaving a bloody mark, but it also managed to keep him from hitting a vital spot.

However, just as the shadow's old power was exhausted and new power had not yet been generated, the gates were wide open due to the rescue.

Unno Sasuke's other index finger had also been raised at some point.

The second spiral wave, like the Six Meridian Divine Sword, was fired silently once again.

The target is the heart of the shadow.

"What?!" Shadow's pupils shrank to pinpoints. He had not expected Umino Sasuke's attacks to be so relentless and so precisely calculated. He had just been in a vulnerable position while trying to save the Daimyo and had no time to mount an effective defense.

Pfft——!
With a muffled tearing sound, the highly concentrated Spiral Wind Release instantly pierced through the shadow's chest, leaving a terrifying hole the size of a fist, from which blood and fragments of internal organs gushed out.

"Ugh..." Shadow let out a painful groan, his body stiffened abruptly, the light in his eyes quickly dimmed, and he looked down in disbelief at the empty hole in his chest, then collapsed to his knees, completely losing his fighting ability.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

From the moment Umino Sasuke launched his attack to the moment the shadow was severely injured and fell to the ground, only a few breaths had passed.

The lord, who had just been pushed away and fallen to the ground, hadn't even had time to get up when he saw his greatest reliance and loyal confidant lying in a pool of blood, his fate unknown.

The color drained from his face instantly, and boundless fear washed over him like ice water, making him tremble like a leaf.

Sasuke Umino slowly withdrew his finger, coldly looking at the fallen figure, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes: "Not bad strength, and the nerve reaction speed is also good. He is an excellent material for making puppets, not much worse than Ebizo."

These words, like the whispers of a demon, sent chills down Daimyo's spine.

Umino Sasuke then turned his gaze to the daimyo who was paralyzed with fear on the ground and walked towards him step by step.

"Wait! I surrender, I surrender!" The daimyo finally broke down, all his previous bravado and wishful thinking gone. His voice trembled as he said, "I'm willing to surrender. Name your price, just spare my life, I'll sign any treaty! Don't kill me!"

Faced with the daimyo's pleas for mercy, Umino Sasuke shook his head, a chilling smile on his face: "Surrender? Too late."

Da Ming was taken aback, quite surprised.

Sasuke Umino said slowly, "As a substitute, you have no right to surrender. No, you're not even a substitute. After all, the Daimyo's substitute was killed by me on the city wall during the siege just now because of his stubborn resistance. Countless Konoha ninjas, the Land of Wind's garrison, and the surrendered nobles witnessed this. The Daimyo himself is currently safely in the palace, 'protected' by Konoha. As for you..."

Umino Sasuke crouched down and whispered, "Not even a substitute, just someone who doesn't exist at all?"

boom! ! !
These words struck him like a thunderbolt, instantly leaving Daimyo's mind blank. Oh no, I've become a stand-in? And someone without even an identity?!

He instantly understood Umino Sasuke's plan: he was trying to substitute one thing for another and pull off a complete switcheroo!

This is an attempt to replace him with a substitute, while he, the real lord, becomes the substitute, his life and death entirely in the hands of the other party. What a vicious plan!

"No! You can't do this! I am the true daimyo, the master of the Land of Wind! You are stealing the country!!" The daimyo roared in despair and rage, struggling to lunge forward.

Sasuke Umino easily subdued him, his tone remaining calm: "Who knows? The seal, the identity, even the 'real person' are all in the palace. Who would believe a 'stand-in'? Oh, right, perhaps your shadow could testify, but unfortunately—"

He glanced at the motionless shadow lying on the ground.

The daimyo was utterly desperate. Looking into Umino Sasuke's deep, calm, and emotionless eyes, he finally realized how ridiculous and vulnerable all his calculations and reliance were in the face of the opponent's absolute strength and even deeper cunning.

The struggles and roars gradually subsided, replaced by a deep sense of powerlessness and a resigned dejection.

He collapsed to the ground, as if all his bones had been removed, muttering to himself, "Heh! So that's how it is. I underestimated you, Umino Sasuke. Your ambitions go far beyond the mere position of Hokage. You want so much more..."

His voice was filled with bitterness and a strange sense of relief. Perhaps, being defeated by such a powerful and ambitious person was easier for his twisted pride than being defeated by a simple ninja warrior.

"It's not too shameful to fall into the hands of someone like you." He closed his eyes, as if resigned to his fate. "Give me a quick death."

Umino Sasuke shook his head: "No, you are more useful alive than dead. If you are alive, the new daimyo will be more obedient, won't he?"

"Heh!" Daming chuckled self-deprecatingly, never expecting that he wouldn't even have the right to die.

Sasuke Umino stopped wasting words with the Daimyo and quickly formed hand seals.

"The Flying Thunder God Guides Thunder!"

A complex spacetime spell instantly unfolded on the ground. With a flash of light, the heavily injured and unconscious Shadow and the Daimyo who had lost the will to resist vanished instantly and were teleported to the underground laboratory of the Land of Waves.

There, the Shadow awaits to be transformed into a human puppet; as for the Daimyo, it is endless illusionary interrogation, brainwashing, and strict imprisonment until he has been drained of all his value.

After doing all this, Sasuke Umino carefully cleaned up all traces of the battle at the scene, making sure no clues were left behind.

Then, he merged back into the underground and sped off towards Daming Prefecture.

……

When Umino Sasuke quietly returned to the Daimyo's palace, the situation there was completely under control.

Koharu Utatane and Sasuke Umino's shadow clones have "found" the "Daimyo of the Land of Wind," who is hiding in a secret room and trembling with fear, and have placed him under "strict protection."

Tsunade, busy clearing out the remaining enemies and tallying the spoils of war, wasn't particularly interested in this kind of political drama.

Koharu, looking at the pale and terrified "Daimyo" who was being "protected," finally breathed a sigh of relief and instructed the guards: "Keep a close eye on the Daimyo. There can be no mistakes. His safety is related to the stability of the entire western front and the upcoming negotiations!"

She had no idea that the "daimyo" in front of her was just a substitute. A substitute would naturally not reveal himself in order to survive, since a substitute has no value. If the Konoha ninjas found out that he was a substitute, he would most likely be killed to vent their anger.

Upon returning, Umino Sasuke used the perfect stealth ability of the Spore Technique to silently replace the Shadow Clone. The entire process was seamless, and even Koharu Utatane, who was right next to him, did not notice at all.

After the replacement was completed, Umino Sasuke stepped forward, took out the jade daimyo seal that had just been seized, which symbolized the highest power in the Land of Wind, and solemnly handed it to the "daimyo" stand-in.

"Your Excellency, your seal is returned to its rightful owner," Umino Sasuke said "respectfully."

When the daimyo's stand-in saw the genuine seal, his pupils contracted sharply and his body trembled violently. He instantly realized that the real daimyo was probably in grave danger and had fallen into the control of this Konoha ninja.

A great fear and a glimmer of ambition rose within him.

He instinctively wanted to kneel down and beg for mercy, but was sternly stopped by Umino Sasuke's eyes.

Umino Sasuke supported him, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Daimyo, you've been frightened. Please rest assured, Konoha has come to make peace, not to destroy. You are safe and sound."

The daimyo's stand-in was also a smart man. He immediately understood the subtext from Umino Sasuke's words and eyes: he needed to continue playing the role of "Daimyo of the Land of Wind" well. This was the only value he had to live for, and even the opportunity to enjoy wealth and glory.

He naturally knew how to choose between death and wealth.

Without any hesitation, the daimyo's stand-in immediately got into character. The panic on his face quickly faded, replaced by a kind of exhaustion from surviving a disaster and the power and majesty of a daimyo.

He accepted the seal, nodded slightly, and said in a slightly hoarse but composed voice, "Thank you! I will remember your kindness."

The speed and acting skills of this face-changing performance made Umino Sasuke nod in approval. As expected of a carefully trained stand-in, his professional skills were quite outstanding.

Koharu Utatane watched this scene. Previously, the daimyo had been frightened, which was why he lost his composure. Now, he had finally recovered. It was normal for a daimyo to regain his composure after being frightened and to express some gratitude and compromise to the powerful victor.

"In that case, Your Excellency, please rest well. We will discuss the specific details of the peace talks later." After saying this, Koharu Utatane turned and left to handle other follow-up matters. She needed to report the great victory and important situation here to Konoha immediately.

Soon, only Umino Sasuke and the daimyo's stand-in remained inside the palace.

After confirming that no one was around, the daimyo's stand-in could no longer maintain his dignity. His legs went weak, and he almost knelt down again. He respectfully whispered to Umino Sasuke, "Master! Thank you for sparing my life. I will do my best to play this role and will never have the slightest disloyalty. I will obey your orders!"

Sasuke Umino nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Remember, from now on, you are the daimyo of the Land of Wind. No one knows your true identity except me. The one who was killed on the city wall was a decoy, but you are the real, legitimate daimyo. Do you understand?"

"Understood! I understand!" The clown nodded vigorously.

“I will arrange for someone to ‘assist’ you, and tell you what to do and what not to do. As long as you are obedient, wealth, honor, and supreme power will all be yours. If you dare to have any disloyal thoughts—” Umino Sasuke did not finish his sentence, but the cold light in his eyes made the Stand feel as if it had fallen into an ice cave.

"I wouldn't dare! I absolutely wouldn't dare!" The clown's double exclaimed in fear.

After initially taking control of the Daimyo's Stand, Sasuke Umino still had some concerns. The most crucial aspect of the Stand plan was secrecy; the fewer people who knew the secrets of the Daimyo and the Stand, the better.

(End of this chapter)