Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

How about choosing the Land of Demons as the location for Chapter 200?
Five Shadows Summit...

The bodyguards are Kakashi Hatake and Kumokawa Hyuga...

These two short sentences instantly plunged the entire meeting room into a deathly silence; the air froze, and you could hear a pin drop.

After recovering from their initial shock, everyone exchanged meaningful glances.

Shock, doubt, scrutiny, inquiry... a variety of complex emotions collided and intertwined silently in the air.

"The Hyuga branch family members..."

'Together at the Five Shadows Summit, this…'

'Haha, the Hyuga main family must be furious!'

Everyone was shocked by Hiruzen Sarutobi's choice. Hyuga Kumokawa and Hatake Kakashi were given the role of bodyguards, and the political signals behind it were quite intriguing.

Standing behind Hyuga Kumokawa, Hyuga Iroha tried his best to control his facial muscles and not let his excitement show too much, but his shining eyes revealed his indescribable joy and excitement.

"Lord Yun Chuan now represents the branch family. Doesn't this mean that the branch family's status has changed in the eyes of Konoha's higher-ups?"

Iroha clenched her fists instinctively, her nails digging deep into her palms, using the pain to remind herself to stay calm.

However, just as Iroha was overcome with excitement, a cold and piercing gaze swept over her.

Higashigo's face turned ashen the moment Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, his eyes fixed on Higashikawa with disbelief, astonishment, and anger.

"A branch family! A branch family bound by the caged bird! And they're actually going to attend the Five Kage Summit?!"

He felt a rush of blood to his head, his face twitched, but the gloom in his eyes receded like the tide the next second.

Instead, there is a gloomy coldness.

Good for the guards! The guards are about to leave Konoha. Once this guy leaves Konoha, let's see who will protect those branch families who have no respect for hierarchy!
I thought I'd have to endure this for a long time, but now it seems...

Jiraiya and Tsunade, who were sitting not far away, also cast their gazes toward Hyuga Kumokawa.

Jiraiya gradually frowned. Tsunade looked at Hyuga Kumokawa with scrutiny in her eyes, then, as if realizing something, she turned to look at Sarutobi Hiruzen with weariness and disgust in her eyes.

This is yet another example of such manipulative political tactics.

The old man is still the same as always.

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed oblivious to Tsunade's cold look and continued, "Tsunade, Jiraiya, while I am away from the village, I need you to stay in Konoha and temporarily assume the duties of Hokage."

"Don't worry, advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado will assist you."

Tsunade's gaze paused slightly, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, but in the end she simply snorted coldly, which could be considered as tacit agreement.

Since the decision to return has been made, the choice has naturally been made.

With her current hemophobia, she couldn't do anything else, but she couldn't bear to watch Konoha become more and more chaotic.

With her status, experience, and abilities, she could easily suppress Danzo or anyone with ulterior motives.

As for Jiraiya, he had even less to say. The reason he returned was less for Konoha and more for the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.

After all, the Great Toad Sage's prophecy clearly stated that the "Child of Prophecy" with blue eyes was in Konoha.

“Danzo.” Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze to Danzo Shimura beside him. “The ‘Root’ must fully cooperate with the intelligence gathering and the sample capture and research of the ‘Hollow’ without fail.”

Danzo nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"The above are the resolutions of this meeting," Hiruzen Sarutobi said solemnly. "The situation is critical now. I hope that you will put aside your past grievances, work together, and overcome this difficult time."

"Now, please vote!"

As Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, the atmosphere in the conference room reached its peak.

Rehabilitation and reconstruction, police reform, eradication of "fake" groups, Five Shadows Summit...

All of these issues concern the future of Konoha and the entire ninja world.

As everyone had their own thoughts, hands slowly rose.

Hyuga Iroha stared intently at Hyuga Higo with his Byakugan eyes, fearing that the old man might cause trouble again and suddenly jump out to oppose Lord Kumokawa's participation in the Five Kage Summit.

Not only him, but many people present were curious and interested, secretly observing the reactions of the Hyuga clan's main family and branch family.

But to everyone's surprise, Hyuga Higo remained unusually quiet and showed no reaction whatsoever.

He even slowly raised his hand, only slightly later than Hiashi Hyuga, as if he understood that he could not stop it and had no choice but to agree.

"Since no one has any objections..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction and said, "Then, the above resolution shall take effect immediately."

"Don't rush to leave after the meeting. There's one more thing I need to ask you all. Just come with me."

After saying this, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up first and walked towards the door of the conference room. The other Jonin present also stood up and filed out. The originally tense atmosphere seemed to ease slightly as the crowd moved, but the invisible pressure weighing on everyone's hearts did not truly dissipate.

Hinata Kumokawa followed behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, the two maintaining a just-right distance.

Stepping out of the conference room and into the relatively spacious corridor, the sunlight streaming through the windows dispelled the gloom that had settled inside.

Just then, Hyuga Kumokawa suddenly spoke, his voice clearly reaching Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears: "Third Hokage, have the other four Kage responded yet?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't stop walking; he simply nodded and then shook his head.

"Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure; Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure; A, the Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure; and Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure, have all agreed to participate in the Five Kage Summit."

"However, there are significant differences of opinion among the parties regarding the specific location and time of the talks, and they are still under coordination."

It was clear that Hiruzen Sarutobi was carefully choosing his words, avoiding direct terms like "bickering," but the helplessness in his tone was palpable.

Sunagakure proposed the "Great Sand Dunes of the East" in the Land of Wind, Kumogakure requested the "Rainbow Gorge," Kirigakure also favored the sea, and Iwagakure insisted on the heart of their own village...

It can be said that each side has its own perspective and considerations, and neither is willing to give in.

Safe, enclosed, convenient...

Every reason they gave sounded grand and dignified, but behind it all lay their own calculations and defenses.

The same applies to timing; both sides want to choose a time when they are fully prepared and want to take the initiative.

This meeting, even before it has begun, is already fraught with tension during the preliminary coordination stage. One can only imagine the arguments that will ensue once the talks actually start...

However, just as Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking and the two were about to walk out of the corner of the corridor,

A gentle, ethereal female voice, seemingly untouched by any worldly dust, rang out behind Hiruzen Sarutobi with perfect clarity, without warning:
"How about choosing the Land of Demons as the location?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stiffened abruptly, a chill instantly shooting up his spine to the top of his head. He almost jerked around, looking in the direction from which the voice had come.

There, a hazy light and shadow were slowly becoming clear.

It was the figure of a woman, dressed in a pure white shrine maiden's robe, the style of which was ancient and solemn, with wide sleeves and a skirt that were spotless.

Her long, gray hair flowed smoothly down her back. She had a gentle face, delicate features, and her eyes were calmly fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi.

However, her figure was not a physical object; it had a semi-transparent texture, like a reflection in water.

Moreover, the others following not far behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, except for Hyuga Kumokawa, seemed completely unaware.

They only saw Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly stop, turn around abruptly, and look at him with undisguised surprise and disbelief, as if he had seen something incredible.

The crowd looked puzzled and wary, stopping in their tracks and following Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze, only to see an empty corner of the corridor.

"Hiruzen?" Koharu Utatane turned around, frowning as she asked, "What's wrong?"

"The Third Generation Lord?" The others also looked puzzled.

Realizing that others couldn't see the figure, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned serious, because he, too, hadn't sensed any presence before the other party spoke.

This figure appeared out of nowhere, without any warning.

"I apologize, Your Excellency, Third Hokage."

Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's solemn and wary expression, Miroku showed a faint apology on his face, his voice still gentle enough for only Hiruzen Sarutobi to hear.

She bowed slightly and said in a low voice, "I am Miroku, a priestess from the Land of Demons. This is just a projection of me. Only you and the one behind you can sense my presence."

"Therefore, please continue forward without revealing any flaws."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Miroku a deep look, then exchanged a glance with Hyuga Kumokawa before taking a deep breath and quickly composed himself.

He didn't say anything, but turned around and continued walking towards the exit of the Hokage Building. The others, though confused, followed him.

"I apologize again for disturbing you."

Miroku followed silently behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, his voice carrying a calming power as he said, "This is just a harmless projection; I mean no harm."

"At this moment, the same projection is also appearing in front of the other four shadows, conveying the same proposal."

"On behalf of the Land of Demons, I humbly request the Five Kage to choose the Land of Demons as the location for the Five Kage Summit."

“There is a special power there that can block out unnecessary prying eyes, and perhaps it can also provide you with a chance to seek true peace.”

Her voice was calm and gentle. Hiruzen Sarutobi listened in silence, but his thoughts were racing.

Ghost country?
A legendary witch who could foresee life and death?
Why did she take the initiative to get involved in the Five Shadows Talks?
However, the Land of Demons, as one of the neutral countries, is indeed more suitable than the Five Great Nations.

As a priestess who has suppressed "demons" throughout the ages, perhaps she can also help them solve the problem of "hollows"?

(End of this chapter)