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

Chapter 373 Disease
"After we entered the underground palace, we discovered that the Akatsuki organization had already taken the lead."

Jiraiya took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady, his tone heavy, "Not only that, 'Shadow' has also appeared, and he seems to know everything about the underground palace."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply, but did not interrupt, only gesturing for Jiraiya to continue.

“Even more unexpectedly…” Jiraiya’s voice was tinged with complexity, “Obito Uchiha also appeared; he was hiding in the Sunagakure’s forces.”

"Furthermore, we also saw Nohara Rin, who had transformed into a 'Espada' level Hollow.

"Nohara Rin?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's grip on his pipe tightened slightly, a look of confusion flashing in his eyes. "Nohara Rin from Minato's Team 7?"

"Didn't she die ten years ago? Could it be that she faked her death like Obito Uchiha?"

"The specific details are not yet fully clear."

Jiraiya shook his head and said, "I suspect that Nohara Rin's soul may not have dissipated or gone to the Pure Land. The 'Kage' tampered with it and transformed it into a 'Espada'."

"However, her ability is very special. Any behavior or ninjutsu with malice, aggressive intent, or even a competitive spirit will be purified and transformed into something harmless or even beautiful."

"Kunai will turn into paper cranes, and Tailed Beast Balls will turn into cherry blossom rain... All of us, including the Akatsuki, are helpless in front of her."

"However, it was precisely because of her existence that we were temporarily blocked by the Akatsuki organization by a twist of fate, giving us the opportunity to escape their pursuit."

Jiraiya briefly explained the abilities of the 'Healer' and continued, "After entering the second level, the 'Shadow' also displayed an ability that we had never seen before."

"Huh?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback. "An ability I've never seen before?"

"It's neither ninjutsu, nor genjutsu, nor taijutsu."

Jiraiya frowned and said, "No hand seals are needed. Just chanting some incomprehensible words can manipulate natural energy and directly trigger the effects of attack, defense, or sealing."

"The reason why Yagura Karatachi died was because of the strange power of the 'Shadow'..."

"One of the scrolls was taken by 'Shadow,' and the Akatsuki organization obtained the other two scrolls..."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned even more deeply, and a hint of gloom appeared in his eyes.

Previously, although the abilities of 'Shadow' were unpredictable, according to their analysis, they were not very lethal.

The ability of 'Shadow' should have the same principle and flaws as the shadow techniques of the Nara clan, both relying on shadows for attack, concealment, and stealth.

If I'm not mistaken, they can use flares to block 'Shadow's' abilities.

but now……

"And sure enough, after we left the underground palace, the Akatsuki organization set up an ambush outside."

Jiraiya continued, "It is worth noting that Nagato did not use that powerful ninjutsu this time, but the Akatsuki members displayed a troublesome ability that was not recorded in the intelligence."

"Explain in detail," Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice.

“Yes.” Jiraiya nodded. “Nagato, in addition to the known abilities, also demonstrated the ability to absorb chakra, summon chakra weapons, and directly attack the soul.”

"Moreover, the ninja tool in his hand called 'Reincarnation Karma' is also very strange."

"Kakuzu used a Wind Release clone technique that we didn't know before, Sasori's puppet also appeared in a new model, and Hiruko simultaneously used multiple bloodline limits that had not been revealed before."

"As for Hanzo..." Jiraiya paused, then couldn't help but sigh, "He mastered space-time ninjutsu and also demonstrated the ability to absorb ninjutsu."

"So many unknown abilities..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned extremely grim. "What about casualties?"

Jiraiya's voice lowered: "Because of these unknown abilities, many of the elite troops brought by the five great nations have died in battle."

"We were able to break through thanks to the combined efforts of me, Kakashi, Kouta, Rasa, Yugito, and Kisame Hoshigaki, who had just become a Jinchūriki. We managed to tear open a gap."

"But the key turning point that truly gave us a chance to catch our breath and escape came from Hayate Gekko." "At the most intense moment of the battle, the ninja tool that Hayate had been using suddenly underwent a change, and it was exactly the same as the ninja tool of the Fourth Raikage mentioned in the intelligence."

He frowned as he recalled, "That knife seemed to have a 'soul' as well. It not only responded to the call of the gale, but also had the ability to infect people with all sorts of morbid diseases."

"The Akatsuki members were caught off guard, which allowed us to break free and fight our way back until we finally entered the Land of Fire."

"Afterwards, with the help of the complex mountainous terrain and the Akatsuki organization's apparent hesitation to venture deep into the Land of Fire, we were finally able to shake off their pursuit completely."

In fact, if Kisame hadn't become a Jinchūriki, if Hayate Gekko's ninja tools hadn't mutated, if the team hadn't had Shizune, a medical ninja trained by Tsunade...

Their casualties are estimated to be even more severe; Sarutobi Asuma will die on the way.

"How is Hayate doing now?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked thoughtfully. "What about the scroll?"

“Forcibly activating that mutated power seems to have greatly exacerbated his original symptoms,” Jiraiya said. “However, we safely brought back seven scrolls.”

"Because the situation was urgent at the time, and we could be attacked again at any moment, there was no time to determine ownership on the spot. So, all seven scrolls are currently in my hands."

"However, the people from the other four ninja villages are currently resting on the outskirts of their villages."

"..."

After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke, his voice tinged with weariness: "I understand."

"Thank you for your hard work, Jiraiya, and everyone else." He glanced at the group in front of him. "Go and treat your injuries first, and compile a report with detailed information as soon as possible."

"As for the scroll and the placement of our allies..." He paused, then sighed, "Given the current situation, we need to give them some trust."

Jiraiya nodded and said naturally, "I will go see Yun Chuan now and give him a detailed report on the situation to see if he has any further opinions or instructions."

Upon hearing the name "Hyuga Kumokawa," Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows furrowed almost instinctively.

Nowadays, Hinata Kumokawa's behavior has become increasingly unscrupulous, with many policies being too radical, and his ideology differing considerably from his own.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi also knew that since he had already stepped down, the final decision-making power for such an important matter should be handed over to the current Hokage.

Moreover, given Jiraiya's stubborn nature, he couldn't be persuaded otherwise.

So he forcibly suppressed his dissatisfaction, showing no further emotion on his face, and expressed his acquiescence through silence.

However, just as Jiraiya turned around, preparing to go find Hyuga Kumokawa...

boom! !

A muffled explosion suddenly erupted from a certain direction of the village, its loudness instantly shattering the silence of Konoha's night!
Immediately afterwards, a visible shockwave, mixed with smoke and dust, spread out.

Jiraiya, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and everyone in the corridor clearly felt the ground beneath their feet tremble violently, and the hospital windows rattled loudly!

"what happened?!"

"what happened?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya's expressions changed drastically almost simultaneously.

The two turned their heads sharply, their eyes instantly locking onto the direction from which the explosion had come.

That is……

The area in the southwest of the village, near the edge of the village!

(End of this chapter)