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

Chapter 290 The Sky Over Konoha is About to Change
Kaka!

Above Konoha, the Chibaku Tensei, cleaved in two by golden light, trembled and groaned under its strain, slowly shifting along the smooth cut surface.

The next moment, without the support of chakra, Chibaku Tensei could no longer maintain its structure and disintegrated in a deafening roar!
It transformed into countless rock fragments of varying sizes, cascading down towards the ruins of Konoha below!

At the same time, the Konoha ninjas and civilians who were either pulled into the sky by gravity, trapped in celestial bodies, or attached to their surfaces were also freed from the shackles of gravity.

One by one, they fell from the sky like kites with broken strings!
"what!"

A brief moment of weightlessness and screams suddenly rang out!
"Don't just stand there! Save them!"

Jiraiya's roar was the first to rang out, instantly piercing through the deafening roar and chaos. At the same time, he formed hand seals and shouted, "Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"

The ravaged ground softened into a swamp, catching several screaming civilians as they fell.

"Immortal Technique·Water Release·Big Explosive Water Wave!"

Yahiko spat out a huge stream of water to cushion the powerful impact of the falling rocks.

Jiraiya's roar also awakened all the Konoha ninjas who were in shock. Their instincts, honed through long-term training, overwhelmed their fear and confusion at this moment.

The surviving Jonin, Chunin, and even Genin sprang into action, enduring the pain in their bodies and the depletion of their chakra, desperately squeezing out their last bit of strength.

Ninjas skilled in defense and Earth Release techniques worked hard to build simple defensive barriers, or manipulated the ground to raise earthen platforms to catch those falling.

Those skilled in offensive ninjutsu desperately smashed the large and threatening falling boulders.

Countless shurikens, kunai, and explosive tags shot into the air to intercept and detonate the smaller pieces of rock!

boom!Boom!

The sounds of exploding rocks colliding with ninjutsu, the muffled thuds of rocks hitting the ground or walls, the gasps of the people, the shouts of the ninjas…

Countless plumes of dust were once again raised, filling the entire ruins of Konoha.

I don’t know how much time has passed.

As the last piece of gravel finally fell, the dust that had been kicked up gradually settled, and a scene of utter devastation slowly emerged.

"Cough cough!"

"it's over?"

"Are we saved?"

The surviving Konoha ninjas and villagers helped each other out, struggling to emerge from behind cover or from the ruins.

They were all covered in dust and dirt, with injuries of varying degrees, and their faces were filled with shock and disbelief.

They all looked up at the same time.

The sky has changed.

The thick, dark clouds hanging overhead were cleaved and dispersed by the golden light, revealing a clear, azure sky.

The long-awaited sunlight shone through the gaps in the huge clouds, illuminating the ravaged land and every dust-covered face.

In this renewed light, against the backdrop of the azure sky, a figure silently floats in the air.

The sunlight shone down from above, somewhat dazzling, making his face appear blurry and indistinct in the backlight.

But the flowing emerald light around him and the pair of outstretched wings on his back created a hazy halo around him.

All the survivors stared blankly up at him, their faces showing deathly stillness and bewilderment, which began to crumble and peel away little by little.

The thrill of surviving the ordeal quietly revived from the depths of their almost desperate hearts.

"Yun Chuan... Lord..." Someone with tear stains on their face looked up at that figure and murmured unconsciously.

As if hearing this call, the emerald green chakra surrounding the suspended figure in the air gradually faded.

Seemingly having exhausted all its strength, it could no longer maintain its levitation and slowly drifted downwards under the watchful eyes of countless people below.

The Konoha members gathered below converged on him, craning their necks and following the falling figure with their eyes, countless arms outstretched towards the sky...

Finally, surrounded by countless arms, Hinata Kumokawa, with his eyes closed, face pale, and seemingly unconscious, was caught steadily and gently lifted up by them.

There were no gasps, no commotion.

Their movements and sounds were so soft, as if they were afraid of disturbing something.

[Ding! Your lie has been judged as [seeking fame and reputation] and [deceiving the public]. Jiraiya, Kakashi Hatake, Tsunade, and others experienced intense emotional fluctuations, reaching the level of [unwavering belief]. You have gained 22000 truth points...]

[Ding! Your lie has been judged as [seeking fame and reputation] and [deceiving the public]. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and others have experienced emotional fluctuations, reaching the level of [half-believing, half-doubting]. You have gained 1000 truth points...]

[Remaining realization points: 33473]

Hearing the notification sound in his mind, Hinata Kumokawa smiled slightly to himself.

Demonstrating this level of power is sufficient; any more would seem exaggerated and arouse suspicion.

Hinata Kumokawa pondered this, then relaxed his mind and let himself fall asleep.

"..."

Meanwhile, Nara Shikaku, his face covered in dust and exhaustion, stood not far away.

Watching this scene, which resembled a religious ceremony, his gaze swept over the people whose faces were filled with reverence, and then looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in the distance, whose expression was complex and inscrutable...

"Sigh." Nara Shikaku couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

If Konoha, after the untimely death of Minato Namikaze, had always longed for a leader strong enough to protect everything and unite the people, then...

So, today, on this desolate ruin, at the moment when everyone needs protection the most...

Their long-cherished dream has become a reality in a way that far exceeds their imagination.

what?
The Third Hokage?

What Third Hokage?

What did the Third Hokage, who claimed to protect the people, actually do when Konoha was truly in danger? At the moment of life and death, the one who stood in front of them, using his own flesh and blood to withstand the natural disaster and buy them a glimmer of hope, was Hyuga Kumokawa.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the highly respected Third Hokage, hasn't really made a move in far too long.

As the head of a village, it is certainly important to oversee things from the rear and coordinate the overall situation.

but……

Actions are always more powerful than words, and they define the so-called "Will of Fire" more effectively.

"I hope the Hokage position can be handed over smoothly without any further mistakes. That way, the Third Hokage might still be able to retain some dignity in his later years."

Nara Shikaku lowered his eyelids, his deep gaze hidden in the shadows, as he calmly pondered in his heart.

"Otherwise, given this Yun Chuan Jonin's current reputation and his seemingly gentle yet actually assertive personality..."

Nara Shikaku's mind flashed back to Shimura Danzo's sinister face, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu's conservative and stubborn demeanor, and even that pleasure-seeking daimyo...

At that moment, Nara Shikaku had an incredibly clear premonition.

The sky over Konoha is about to change.

------

Swish!

At this moment, on the border of the Land of Fire, several figures flashed among the branches of trees.

Dressed in dusty Sunagakure attire, they were none other than Pakura, Ebizo, and a few surviving Sunagakure ninja who had escaped from Sunagakure.

At this moment, a lingering gloom hung over each of their faces.

The Hidden Sand Village was destroyed. The Kazekage's dying instructions were for them to travel to Konoha, inform the Third Hokage of the village's fate, and seek his help. But…

Given the long-standing blood feud and suspicion between Konoha and Sunagakure, is it really possible for them to be treated with respect, rather than being regarded as stray dogs or even eliminated under the guise of peace?
This sense of uncertainty and fear weighed heavily on everyone's heart.

"stop."

Just then, Ye Cang, who was at the front of the group, suddenly spoke, his voice low and solemn.

The group of Sand Village ninjas instinctively stopped in their tracks and turned their puzzled gazes toward their leader, Yekura.

But Ye Cang was looking up into the distance, his brows furrowed and his face so dark it was almost dripping with water.

The sky was fragmented by layers upon layers of leaves, and in the distance came a series of restless cries, as countless birds could be seen frantically flapping their wings and fleeing in some direction.

"What's going on, Yecang?" Ebizo asked from behind, his aged face showing vigilance.

Yecang didn't explain. Instead, he leaped up and landed on the highest branch of the tree, standing lightly on tiptoe and gazing into the distance.

Ebizo and the other Sand Shinobi exchanged glances, then silently leaped to the top of the tree canopy.

However, when they saw the scene in the distance clearly, everyone's expression changed drastically.

In the distance, towards the capital of the Land of Fire, a scene of flames soaring into the sky and thick smoke billowing out was unfolding!

The capital of the Land of Fire, where the Daimyo's residence is located, is protected by a semi-transparent light barrier, which is the defensive barrier of the Fire Temple called "Sealed Iron Wall".

Despite the bombardment of countless explosive shells and the barrage of kunai, the barrier of light rippled violently, yet it stubbornly maintained itself, protecting the capital city intact.

But outside the capital, it was already a living hell.

Countless shadowy figures carrying strange flying ninja tools, like a flock of vultures, swooped down around the capital, raining down deadly bullets.

The barrier protected the core, but it could not protect the vast area outside the city and the people who had gathered there.

Seeing this, the Sand Village members on the treetops remained completely silent.

"How could this be?" Ebizo's narrowed eyes snapped open, and he said in a deep voice, "The Land of Fire has also been attacked?"

"Do not."

Looking at the distant Sky Ninja, Yecang said with a solemn expression, "I'm afraid Konoha is the main target of this attack, and the capital of the Land of Fire may just be an afterthought."

"Otherwise, given the importance of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, Konoha would have sent people to help immediately upon receiving the request for assistance."

"We will never allow the capital of the Land of Fire to be besieged like this."

Upon hearing this, all the Sand Village ninja behind her fell into a deeper silence, feeling a chill run up their spines and their scalps tingle.

The disaster did not only befall Sunagakure.

Even the Land of Fire, which is known as the leader of the five great nations, is currently under fierce attack, and the attackers are very likely the same group of people.

Otherwise, all of this would be too much of a coincidence.

What alarmed them even more was that the capital of the Land of Fire was attacked, but Konoha was powerless to provide support.

Clearly, the crisis Konoha is facing is probably more serious than they imagined, so serious that they cannot even mobilize the forces protecting the Daimyo.

Thus……

"What do we do?" a young Sand Village ninja blurted out. "Should we still go to Konoha according to the Kazekage's last wishes?"

Going there might be like walking into a trap, or getting caught in a vortex even more terrifying than the destruction of Sunagakure.

Ebizo did not answer immediately, but instead turned his gaze to Yokura.

He knew very well that now that they had lost the Kazekage and most of their fighting force, Yekura, who was the strongest and possessed a bloodline limit, was their greatest reliance.

Any decision concerning survival must respect her judgment; the future hope of Sunagakure may rest solely on her.

Yekura did not turn around, gazing at the smoke of battle in the distant capital of the Land of Fire, but her gaze seemed to be directed towards the more distant Konoha, her eyes gleaming.

Should they continue to Konoha, where the outcome is uncertain, to live under someone else's roof, to be at the mercy of others, and perhaps even get caught up in an even deeper quagmire?
still is……

(End of this chapter)