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

Chapter 432 The end of the hero
"Damn Uchiha brat!" Onoki was extremely frustrated.

He had never fought such a miserable battle. The opponent's spatial abilities and time interference were too strange and completely countered his kind of ninja who needed to stand still and output damage.

"Dust Release: Particle Style - Cube!"

Left with no other option, Onoki attempted to use a wide-range Dust Release technique to force Uchiha Shun back.

However, Uchiha Shun's left eye flashed, and he instantly disappeared from his original spot, appearing in another direction, easily avoiding the range of Dust Release. At the same time, his right eye slowly enveloped Onoki again, slowing down Onoki's subsequent moves.

"Pfft!"

A kunai, teleported from space, seized the moment and precisely slashed a deep, bone-revealing gash across Onoki's arm.

Onoki grunted, finally having the thought of retreating. If he continued fighting, he might really be defeated here today!

"Retreat! Retreat the entire army!" Onoki roared in despair and anger. Ignoring his injuries, he forcefully activated his chakra and fled towards the mountain forest with the remaining Iwagakure troops.

The remnants of the Iwa ninja were already terrified. Upon hearing the order, they felt as if they had been granted a pardon and fled even more desperately.

Uchiha Shun wanted to pursue, but the continuous use of the Mangekyou Sharingan, especially the high-intensity battle right after awakening it, put a huge strain on him. His eyes were in excruciating pain, and although his vision was not yet blurred, blood and tears kept flowing.

He knew he had reached his limit. As he watched Onoki and the remaining Iwa ninja disappear into the distance, his Mangekyou Sharingan immediately stopped spinning.

The battlefield was temporarily calmed down, leaving only the Konoha ninjas cleaning up the mess and the general chaos.

Hyuga Asuka and the others carefully laid the unconscious "Umino Sasuke" flat on a clean cloth, anxiously shouting, "Medical ninja! Quick! Where is the medical ninja?!"

The medical ninja, Inuzuka Ran, arrived at lightning speed, immediately crouching down and covering "Umino Sasuke's" horrific wound with green Yang Release chakra light emanating from his hands.

"Huh?" Inuzuka Ran frowned deeply, her expression becoming unusually serious.

She discovered that although this "body" simulated flesh and blood extremely realistically, and even the chakra reactions were incredibly lifelike, it was not, in essence, a real flesh and blood body.

Just as Inuzuka Ran was filled with doubt and uncertainty, Umino Sasuke's voice transmission rang in her ear, briefly explaining the situation.

A knowing glint flashed in Inuzuka Ran's eyes, but she maintained her solemn expression on the surface.

"How's the captain?"

"Is the Commander alright?"

The surrounding Konoha ninja, including Hatake Sagumo and others, all gathered around and anxiously inquired.

Danzo quickly walked over and asked, seemingly with concern, "How is Squad Leader Umino?"

Following Umino Sasuke's instructions, Inuzuka Ran raised her head, her face filled with sorrow and exhaustion, and said in a low voice, "The Commander's life has been saved for now."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Inuzuka Ran abruptly changed the subject, her tone incredibly heavy: "However, Commander's injuries are far too severe! His lower body was completely annihilated by Dust Release, and his chakra pathways have suffered a devastating impact and erosion! With my medical ninjutsu, I can only barely keep him alive. To fully recover, he will need at least several years of rest, and..."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the anxious faces of the crowd before finally settling on "Umino Sasuke's" empty lower body: "Commander's legs will probably have to rely on mechanical prosthetics for movement."

"what?!"

"Mechanical prosthetics?"

"Then the Commander's strength..."

Everyone's hearts sank. For a ninja, especially a powerful figure like Sasuke Umino who stands at the pinnacle of the ninja world, the meaning of losing both legs is self-evident.

This means that his speed, taijutsu, and even many ninjutsu techniques, which he relied on for fame, will be fatally affected, and his strength will inevitably decline significantly.

Hinata Asuka pressed on, unwilling to give up, "Ran-senpai, is there really no other way?"

Ran Inuzuka shook her head and sighed dramatically, "With our current technology, we can only create Jonin-level mechanical prosthetics. It's impossible for us to withstand the immense chakra and high-speed combat demands of the Commander. I'm afraid it will be difficult for the Commander to recover to his peak strength."

These words were like icy water in the dead of winter, extinguishing the last hope in everyone's hearts, and a sorrowful and oppressive atmosphere spread.

In stark contrast to the sorrowful reactions of the others, Danzo's eyes flashed with barely suppressed elation upon hearing the medical ninja's diagnosis. Although he immediately adopted a pained expression on his face, his inner thoughts were already racing.

The fact that Umino Sasuke survived and was greatly weakened was an incredible stroke of luck for him.

If Sasuke Unno dies, Konoha will undoubtedly lose a top fighter. While it will reduce his biggest competitor in the race for Hokage, it will also remove a sharp blade.

If Umino Sasuke were unharmed, he would pose a great threat to him.

Now, Umino Sasuke has survived, but his strength has been greatly reduced and he is physically disabled. This is simply perfect!
A Sasuke Unno whose strength has declined or who may even be feeling dejected will be much less threatening. Moreover, he is unconscious and at his most vulnerable.

A bold and tempting idea rose from Danzo's heart like a venomous snake, quickly taking hold of his entire mind.

If I take this opportunity to plant the seal of the tongue-twisting nemesis on him and completely control him... then not only will the powerful Iron Wall Legion fall into my control, but I can also use Umino Sasuke's huge reputation and influence for my own purposes!
With the support of Sasuke Umino and the Iron Wall Army, coupled with the strength of my Root organization and the immense achievement of defeating Iwagakure this time, the Hokage position is practically a piece of cake! Hiruzen Sarutobi's fate is unknown; who in Konoha can rival me now?!
This thought made Danzo's heart pound, and his gaze toward the unconscious "Umino Sasuke" on the ground became incredibly ardent and greedy.

He stepped forward and said to Inuzuka Ran and the others in a "sorrowful" yet "firm" tone, "You must do everything you can to save Squad Leader Umino! He is a hero of Konoha, and we cannot allow anything to happen to him! My most trusted Root squad will personally escort him back to Konoha to receive the best possible treatment! There cannot be any more accidents along the way!"

He appeared to care, but in reality, he was already eager to take control of the "fat piece of meat" that was "Umino Sasuke".

Danzo's arrangement immediately alerted Shun Uchiha. Despite the burning pain and exhaustion in his eyes, he stepped forward and said, "Why don't I personally escort the captain back to the village?"

Lying on a makeshift stretcher, Might Guy, still suffering from the aftereffects of his illness, struggled to lift his head. His voice, though hoarse, was full of strength: "I'm joining too! Protecting our comrades is the vow of youth! The mission of escorting Sasuke is... cough cough... entrusted to us!"

Danzo's face darkened, and he shouted sternly, "Nonsense! Might Guy, look at yourself now, you can't even stand properly. You want me to escort you? You'd better have someone else escort you! You'd better not cause any more trouble!"

His sharp gaze then turned to Uchiha Shun: "And you, Uchiha! Although Onoki has been defeated, he possesses the ability to fly and could return at any time to launch a retaliatory attack! Besides you, who else on the front lines can effectively restrain him? If you leave and Onoki suddenly launches a counterattack, who will ensure that the fruits of our hard-won victory are not taken away?! As a Konoha Jonin, are you going to put personal matters before public duty and disregard the overall situation?!"

Danzo's words were eloquent and reasonable, effectively shutting down Uchiha Shun's request.

Indeed, Onoki's threat has not been completely eliminated. With his ability to fly, he is too mobile. If Shun Uchiha's Mangekyou Sharingan is not used to restrain him, once he recovers from his injuries and regains his chakra, he will be a significant obstacle to the Konoha army, which wants to expand its gains.

Uchiha Shun was speechless when asked the question. He clenched his fists, looked at the unconscious "Umino Sasuke", and then at his Konoha comrades around him who were equally tired but had firm eyes. In the end, he could only lower his head in resentment.

Danzo's reasoning was irrefutable.

At this moment, other Jonin raised objections: "Elder Danzo, the journey back to Konoha from here is long, and we can't guarantee that we won't encounter attacks from Iwagakure's defeated soldiers or other forces along the way. Wouldn't it be safer to have the Commander stay at the front-line camp while we immediately request reinforcements from the village, asking Lady Tsunade and the village's top medical team to come to the front lines to provide treatment?"

Danzo sneered inwardly, but his face showed a thoughtful expression.

Finally, Danzo, after careful consideration, decided: "There are indeed some risks on the escort route. To ensure everything goes smoothly, I will send another squadron of Root elites to accompany us! Two squadrons of Root elites, plus backup along the way, will be enough to handle any emergencies! Now, everyone can rest assured, right?"

While he appeared to be making concessions and strengthening safeguards for Umino Sasuke's safety, he was actually adding another layer of insurance for himself. The two Root squadrons were his trusted henchmen, enough to ensure the plan would proceed smoothly.

Seeing that Danzo had considered things so "thoroughly" and arranged a strong enough guard force, although everyone still had concerns, they could not find a better reason to object.

Thus, in a heavy and oppressive atmosphere, the two squads of Root ninjas carefully lifted the unconscious "Umino Sasuke," formed a tight protective formation, and quickly left the battlefield, heading swiftly towards Konoha.

Meanwhile, an urgent battle report detailing the great victory on the western front and Sasuke Umino's "serious injury and critical condition" was also sent to Konoha by the intelligence squad's Ninja Hawk as quickly as possible.

As they watched the escort team disappear into the distance, the Konoha ninjas were filled with worry and regret for Umino Sasuke, and the atmosphere became somewhat heavy.

Danzo, however, suppressed his inner elation, maintaining a sorrowful and solemn expression on his face.

Less than half an hour later, he arrived at a secluded spot and quickly used the Shadow Clone Technique to let the shadow clone take charge of the situation, while his main body quietly slipped out and chased after the escort team.

Hidden deep underground, sensing all of this, Umino Sasuke couldn't help but curl a cold smile at the corner of his mouth.

'Danzo, Danzo, greed is the original sin! I was planning to deal with you slowly after the Ninja War ended, but since you're so eager to seek your own death, don't blame me for being ruthless.'

Sasuke Umino quietly followed after them.

Danzo traveled at full speed, catching up with the Root escort team in less than an hour.

At that moment, "Umino Sasuke," who had been unconscious on the stretcher, slowly woke up.

He blinked blankly for a moment, then subconsciously tried to sit up, only to find that his lower body was empty. A feeling of weakness washed over him, causing him to let out a suppressed groan.

"My leg?!" He looked down at his lower body, which was wrapped in bandages but was clearly missing. His voice trembled, filled with disbelief and despair. His face instantly lost all color, and his eyes became empty and listless.

Wearing a dog-face mask, Ryoma Aburame rushed forward and comforted her, "Class Leader Umino, you're awake! Please calm down. Your injuries... are severe, but don't worry, once we return to Konoha, we can install the most advanced mechanical prosthetics for you..."

"A mechanical prosthetic limb?" Umino Sasuke muttered to himself, then let out a bitter laugh, full of self-mockery and sorrow. "Heh! A prosthetic limb? What use is it? Most of my strength lies in ninjutsu and taijutsu! Now that I'm in this ghastly state, what's the difference between me and a cripple?! I might as well... I might as well have just died and gotten away with it!"

He gripped the edge of the stretcher tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white from the force. He exuded an overwhelming sense of decadence and despair, his acting was so realistic that he was fully deserving of an Oscar.

Seeing Umino Sasuke's distraught appearance, Danzo felt even more reassured.

He stepped forward, his face displaying just the right amount of concern and sorrow: "Sasuke, you're finally awake! How are you feeling?"

"Umino Sasuke" seemed to only then notice Danzo, raising his head with difficulty, his eyes filled with a hint of doubt and emotion: "Elder? Why are you here? How is the battle at the front? As the commander-in-chief at the front, how can you abandon your post? I am now crippled, how could I possibly deserve your personal escort?"

These words of "profound understanding" stirred a barely perceptible ripple in Danzo's heart, but the allure of the Hokage position instantly crushed that ripple.

Danzo sighed and asked, seemingly speaking frankly, "Sasuke, now that you... sigh, you've lost both legs. Even if you get prosthetics in the future, your strength will be far less than before. What are your plans for the future?"

"Plans?" Sasuke Umino stared blankly at the sky, shaking his head bitterly. "What other plans could I have? If I go back to Konoha, I'll find a quiet clerical job, live off my past achievements, or work behind the scenes to assist the Hokage with some paperwork... I just don't know if the Hokage will still think highly of me?"

His tone was filled with the sorrow of a hero's downfall.

(End of this chapter)