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

Chapter 208 The Five Kage Depart, Undercurrents in the Ninja World

shhhhhh...

The afterglow of the setting sun, like molten gold foil, casts dappled light and shadows through layers of broad leaves onto the forest path.

Three figures darted swiftly among the tree branches, each leap landing on the sturdiest horizontal branch, their movements swift and light without making a sound.

These three figures were none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kumokawa Hyuga, and Kakashi Hatake.

All three were dressed in gray robes, their faces obscured by the shadows of their hoods.

The departure from the village and the journey were carried out discreetly, without disturbing any villages or outposts along the way, and even deliberately avoiding official roads and densely populated areas.

The news of their participation in the "Five Kage Summit" could not be kept secret, but Konoha had just suffered a major blow and its high-level combat power was stretched thin. The later the exact time of their departure from the village was revealed, the better.

The route, timing, and destination for this trip to participate in the "Five Shadows Talks" were all top secret.

Just as the three of them passed through a relatively open clearing in the woods.

“Third Hokage,” Hinata Kumokawa’s voice broke the silence of their hurried journey, “regarding the route and method of this trip to the Land of Demons…”

Upon hearing this, Kakashi Hatake also looked over, as even the two of them didn't know the specific route.

The Land of Demons is located outside the northwestern border of the Land of Fire. It is a long and complex journey, and there are only two options to get there.

You can either travel by land through the Land of Rain, the Land of Birds, and the Land of Bears, or through the Land of Grass and the Land of Earth, or you can travel by sea directly to the Land of Demons.

No matter which method or route is chosen, it is not a simple matter.

"The Land of Demons is special."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not turn around, but his voice came from ahead: "Its territory is roughly located in the northwest of the Land of Fire, bordering the southwest of the Land of Earth, but is blocked by steep mountains."

"The borders of the Land of Demons are mountainous, with many lakes and swamps. The terrain is rugged and complex, and the climate is humid and rainy. It is shrouded in a thin mist and miasma all year round, and the map depicts its interior very vaguely."

"Therefore, once we enter the Land of Waves by sea, a ship will naturally appear to guide us."

The Land of Waves is an island nation located in the sea southeast of the Land of Fire. Its territory mainly consists of a main island and several surrounding smaller islands, surrounded by the sea and geographically relatively isolated.

It has a small land area, no ninja villages or military forces of its own, some natural harbors, and a relatively underdeveloped economy, mainly relying on fishing and shipping trade with the Land of Fire.

Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to travel by sea through the Land of Waves to the Land of Demons precisely because of the convenience of its ports, which would allow him to avoid being spied on by land as much as possible.

In addition, the diverse composition of their contacts and the relatively loose intelligence control also help them to operate discreetly and avoid premature exposure of their whereabouts.

"Understood." Hinata Kumokawa nodded and asked no further questions.

Given their abilities, the three of them shouldn't encounter any trouble before entering the Land of Demons; the real trouble begins once they enter.

Soon, the last rays of the setting sun sank completely below the horizon, and twilight slowly enveloped the earth like a giant curtain.

The light in the forest quickly dimmed, the shadows grew deeper, and various nocturnal creatures began to awaken, making rustling sounds.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at the sky and said, "It's getting late. There's a hidden cave ahead. Let's rest there for the night and continue our journey tomorrow."

The three figures silently changed direction and disappeared in the direction indicated by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi and his two companions quietly left Konoha, undercurrents began to stir within the village.

Meanwhile, not only Hiruzen Sarutobi and his two companions left Konoha, but the other four Kage had also left their respective ninja villages, and undercurrents began to surge throughout the entire ninja world.

------

Woohoo!

The deep, long whistle echoed across the sea, far from the jurisdiction of the five major powers.

The sea breeze, carrying a damp, cold, and salty smell, blew fiercely, whipping up waves that crashed against the rusty hull, producing a dull and continuous roar.

Several massive ships broke through the calm sea, leaving behind ripples in circles.

Their bizarre shapes are not the traditional streamlined type; they feature complex barrels and crisscrossing tracks, as well as many other structures with unknown purposes.

Clearly, this is not a commercial vessel, but a ship used in the military field.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi were here, he would recognize these familiar ships. They were the very ships that attempted to attack the Sky Village of the Land of Fire during the Second Shinobi World War.

The Sky Ninja Village gained air superiority through its unique flying ninja tools and technology.

They posed a threat to the Land of Fire during the Second Shinobi World War, and used their air superiority to cause massive damage to Konoha.

However, they were wiped out during the Second Shinobi World War, and even Hiruzen Sarutobi was unaware that they still had any remaining forces.

Due to the defeat in the Second Shinobi World War, the remaining forces of the Sky Village were almost completely devastated, and they only operated in the ocean far from the mainland or in remote areas with few people.

According to the original timeline, the Sky Village would only regain its strength and find an opportunity to launch a retaliatory attack on Konoha once Tsunade came to power.

Finally, Shinnoh, the leader of the Sky Village and the creator of the 'Zero-Tails,' is defeated by Naruto.

However, it seems that they have recovered their combat strength much earlier than expected, and they are now clearly working on mastering the use of flying ninja tools.

beep beep...

At this moment, on the wide deck of the flagship at the forefront of the fleet, the signal lights at the edge of the runway are flashing.

Two air ninjas, carrying strangely shaped metal flying devices that resembled bat wings, were crouching on two catapult tracks.

Inside the control tower at the top, an air ninja was watching the wind direction, preparing to issue flight commands. The only sounds on the deck were the roar of the wind and the hum of the equipment poised to launch.

"Depart," came the command from the control tower.

Sizzle! Sizzle!

The harsh sound of metal scraping apart shattered the silence.

The catapult track erupted with blinding lightning, and the two air ninjas, like arrows shot from a giant crossbow, transformed into two streaks of light tearing through the air as they shot off the deck.

call!
A strong gust of air rushed towards them, and the two air ninjas quickly adjusted their posture, feeling the surging power from the flight device.

Under the precise control of Wind Release Chakra, the metal wings accurately divide and guide the fierce sea breeze, forming a stable and efficient shuttle-shaped airflow on both sides of the wings.

This is the most core and proudest iconic flying ninja tool of the Sky Ninja.

A personal flight device powered by one's own chakra, combining wind-style chakra control and aerodynamic design to achieve long-duration, highly maneuverable flight capabilities.

Throughout the entire ninja world, the ability to fly is an extremely rare strategic advantage. There are almost no forces that can equip themselves with flying ninja tools on such a large scale and in such an organized manner as theirs.

This is also the main reason why the Sky Village was able to cause trouble for Konoha in the Second Shinobi World War.

In past battles, they have relied on this air superiority countless times, leaving the enemy on the ground helpless and furious, watching as they cast the shadow of death upon them.

However, just as the two Sky Ninjas descended to a lower altitude, skimming across the sea like seagulls hunting for prey, and were excited about the Sky Ninja Village's current strength and future...

Whoosh!
The two air ninjas felt their flight devices gradually shaking, as if something was interfering with the airflow around them.

"what happened?"

One of the air ninjas instinctively cried out in alarm, but at that moment, a massive, suffocating shadow slowly appeared on the deep sea beneath them.

The two instinctively looked up, but didn't see anything in the sky.

So, it's underwater?!

The two of them suddenly lowered their heads, their gazes piercing through the churning seawater, and then they saw it.

In the sea, a massive, suffocating shadow is silently lurking!

The shadow's outline was indistinct, but the mere volume of its exposed portion was enough to send chills down the spine of anyone who saw it.

The dark shape moved at an astonishing speed and was gradually rising, leaving a huge trail on the sea surface.

"There's something underwater!" The voices of the two air ninjas changed with shock.

Boom! !
Before he could finish speaking, the sea beneath him suddenly exploded, and a terrifying figure burst out of the water!

It was an unimaginably enormous beast, its entire body covered in rough, slippery brown skin, which was covered with disgusting bumps and slime.

At that moment, a gaping maw, large enough to swallow the entire small boat, suddenly opened, and a stench emanating from it swept over like a hurricane.

Sansho Fish Ibushi!
The two air ninjas, their faces filled with terror, desperately tried to ascend, attempting to escape the sudden attack.

But it was too late.

"Do not……"

The two only had time to let out a terrified roar before Ibuse's enormous head suddenly shot out, like a whale leaping out of the sea to prey on seabirds.

It instantly swallowed up the two air ninjas along with their prized flying devices.

Click!Click!
The dull thuds of metal twisting and bones cracking echoed from the beast's gaping maw.

puff.

Ibuki's mouth twitched slightly, spitting out fragments of flying ninja tools and the pale white bones of a Sky Ninja, which were completely submerged by the surging waves.

On the sea surface, the huge and ferocious head of the salamander Ibuki emerged from the water, and the air ninjas on the deck who witnessed it all showed expressions of horror.

"What kind of monster is that?!"

Seeing the sudden turn of events, the Sky Ninja Captain's expression changed drastically: "Salamander? How could a salamander from the Land of Rain be here?"

Despite its name, the salamander is not actually a fish, but an amphibian. It generally lives only in shallow or humid environments and never goes to the deep sea!
"Captain!" a sensory-type Sky Ninja suddenly exclaimed, his voice trembling, "There's someone on that monster's head!!"

"What?" The captain of the Sky Ninja Team finally came to his senses and immediately realized that it was not a coincidence, but that an enemy was deliberately obstructing them.

However, before he could give the attack command, he saw two blurry figures standing on the heads of the salamanders in the distance suddenly disappear from their sight.

The next moment, two figures fell from the sky with a whooshing sound.

boom! !

The ship swayed slightly, like a small boat on the sea, the anchor chain stretched taut, and the bow groaned softly under the force.

The air ninjas on the deck looked surprised and suspicious. They raised their kunai guns, put their fingers on the triggers, and aimed at the two falling figures.

"Looks like we've found the right place."

The shadow swept over the group of air ninjas, and a voice rang out with a smile: "Hello, I would like to see your leader. Is there anyone who can show me the way?"

(End of this chapter)