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

Chapter 388 The Fifth Shinobi World War, Started by Me

"you!"

Upon hearing this, Koharu Utatane suddenly raised her head, her old face instantly turning red and purple, her finger trembling as she pointed at Hyuga Kumokawa.

Mitomon Homura's face was even more frighteningly pale, yet he couldn't utter a single complete rebuttal.

Hinata Kumokawa's words were like tearing the dignity and authority they had upheld their whole lives to shreds and trampling them underfoot in front of all the Konoha high-ranking officials and even representatives from other villages.

This blatant disdain almost made them so angry they wanted to vomit blood!

However, they could not refute it, nor did they have the courage to rebuke it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura are both gone.

The former was placed under house arrest, and his reputation was almost ruined. Most people, like Chiba Ryosuke, only had a little respect for him, but no trust.

The latter was branded a traitorous ninja and had a large bounty placed on his head, becoming a homeless stray dog.

Moreover, faced with Hinata Kumokawa's domineering, even "disobedient to elders" words and actions.

The other people in the meeting room, whether they were the heads of the major ninja clans of Konoha, department heads, or representatives from other ninja villages, did not show the slightest dissatisfaction or objection.

In the ninja world, where seniority and seniority are highly valued, especially in Konoha, which prides itself on the "Will of Fire," this is simply unimaginable.

But at this moment, instead of feeling that Hinata Kumokawa's actions were excessive, everyone felt an unprecedented sense of composure and reassurance from his assertive and confident statement.

Clearly, everyone present who still possessed the capacity to think clearly realized one thing.

Times have changed completely.

Old rules, old authority... are already too fragile to withstand the absolute power and cruel reality.

Those "old things" that cannot keep up with the changes of the new era must be swept into the dust of history without hesitation.

Only in this way can the village, and even the entire ninja world, have a chance to survive the impending threat.

At this moment, even the two Yugito who had a grudge against Hyuga Kumokawa had to admit that Hyuga Kumokawa's power was what they needed most right now.

The stronger Hyuga Kumokawa became, the more confident they were in facing the Otsutsuki clan.

And this was naturally the result of Hinata Kumokawa's deliberate actions.

His primary purpose in convening this meeting today was to use lies to maximally impact the perceptions of everyone present, thereby reaping a massive amount of "points" for himself.

The second objective was to take this opportunity to suppress Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, who had been trying to use their seniority and rules to hinder him, and to completely kick them out of the core of power.

This established his absolute and undisputed position in Konoha from then on.

As for the third objective...

"Everyone."

Hyuga Kumokawa looked at everyone and said, "According to the information you brought back from the underground palace, Nagato inexplicably lost one of his Rinnegan eyes."

"Judging from the Akatsuki's fear and hostility towards the 'Shadow' at the time, it is highly likely that the 'Shadow' was the one who took this eye."

He paused slightly at this point, then continued, "But have you considered that, judging from Akatsuki's previous actions in seizing the Tailed Beasts, the two sides were still in a cooperative relationship?"

"Why did they suddenly break ties, even to the point of resorting to arms and fighting over the Rinnegan?"

"Is the distribution of benefits between the two sides unequal?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Tu of Iwagakure pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Or perhaps, it's that 'Kage' who covets the power of the Rinnegan?"

"Do not."

Nara Shikaku shook his head and calmly analyzed, "Judging from their previous cooperation in seizing the Tailed Beasts, they at least share a common goal of seizing the Tailed Beasts."

"Even if there are disagreements over the distribution of benefits, we should never hastily tear off the mask of civility before the goal has been achieved."

The two Yugitos frowned and asked, "Is it because 'Kage' saw the power of the Rinnegan and became covetous of it?"

"wrong."

This time, it was Jiraiya who spoke.

"When I first saw Nagato's Rinnegan, I also mistook him for the prophesied child who would bring about change in the ninja world, and thought he was the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths."

His expression was somewhat complicated, tinged with a hint of reminiscence and self-mockery, but soon he took a deep breath, his eyes regained their composure, and he picked up a copy of the dossier on the table and waved it around.

"But now we know about the existence of the Otsutsuki clan, and we also know that the Sage of Six Paths may not have really died."

His tone turned low and serious: "Then, Nagato's Rinnegan could not possibly have been something he was born with; it could only have been transplanted into him by someone else!"

"And the one who is most likely and capable of transplanting those eyes to Nagato and using them is the 'Shadow' who is suspected to be the 'Lord of the Void's' backup plan."

"His purpose is likely to use Nagato and the Akatsuki organization to achieve some scheme that we are not yet aware of, so it is impossible for him to steal the Rinnegan out of covetousness."

"So, here's the question..."

"What exactly caused the 'Shadow' to have to suspend its cooperation with the Akatsuki, and even..."

At this point, Jiraiya's voice unconsciously lowered, and he seemed to realize something, his brows furrowing tightly: "Only enough time to retrieve one Rinnegan?"

The meeting room was completely silent.

The 'Shadow' is most likely closely related to the 'Lord of the Void Realm,' who is capable of creating new races and is no different from a god.

If he truly transplanted the Rinnegan to Nagato, then he must have been prepared to take it back, making it virtually impossible for Nagato, who was kept in the dark, to escape.

So, why?
“If…” Hinata Kumokawa interjected at the right moment, guiding everyone’s thoughts, “we also combine the various abilities that the Akatsuki organization has shown that we have never seen before.”

"For example, Hanzo's space-time ninjutsu, Sasori's abnormal puppetry techniques, and Kakuzu's Five Elements Earth Grudge Fear Clone Techniques..."

"And the power above Amegakure that could alter the heavens for a long time, a veritable miracle..." "Connecting these anomalies to the sudden break between Akatsuki and Hueco Mundo, what comes to mind, everyone?"

Inside the conference room, many sharp-minded people's expressions changed instantly, and a chill ran down their spines to the top of their heads.

There is only one possibility.

An equally powerful or even more terrifying entity or force intervened, disrupting the previously stable cooperative relationship between the Void Realm and the Akatsuki organization, and even helping the Akatsuki organization.

It was this variable that broke the cooperation between the "Shadow" and the Akatsuki, forcing the "Shadow" to take emergency measures!
but……

Nara Shikaku's voice was hoarse and dry as he struggled to say, "An existence that even the 'Kage' felt threatened, forcing them to immediately halt their plans and attempt to reclaim the Rinnegan, only to fail?"

who is it?

The answer is obvious!
"The other one, Otsutsuki."

Hinata Kumokawa uttered the answer that made everyone's hearts stop: "At least, it's another person who, like the 'Kage,' has a very deep connection with the Otsutsuki clan."

The moment these words were spoken, almost instantly, everyone present felt a chill run down their spines, a coldness shooting straight from their tailbone to the top of their head!

Another person connected to the Otsutsuki clan?

Is this really possible?

Rationally, they are unwilling to admit or believe it.

Logically, they sadly discovered that this seemed to be the only answer that could explain all the problems.

However, the "virtual world" created by just one "shadow" has already turned the entire ninja world upside down and caused widespread panic.

Now, there's another being that's highly likely to be on par with, or even more dangerous than, a "Kage," and has chosen to side with the Akatsuki...

Without a doubt, under Hyuga Kumokawa's guidance, their fear of the Akatsuki organization once again surpassed that of the 'Virtual Realm'.

"Are you kidding me?" The two Yugitos were filled with annoyance and disbelief. "Besides that Lord of the Hollow World, are there any other living Otsutsuki in the ninja world?"

"Could it be that the Sage of Six Paths is helping the Akatsuki behind the scenes?"

However, as soon as she uttered this clearly rhetorical question and sarcastic remark, the entire conference room fell into an even more eerie silence.

No one agreed, and no one refuted.

"Hey, really?"

The almost tacit silence made the two Yukitos widen their eyes and look around incredulously: "You guys, are you serious?"

"……if not?"

The one who answered her was Nara Shikaku.

"Could it be the 'unknown Otsutsuki' mentioned in the scrolls and stone tablets, who fought and was severely injured by the Lord of the Void Realm?"

He looked up, his smile bitter, and said, "Do you really think he also survived by sheer luck?"

"Or do you think it might be the goddess of the rabbit?"

"..."

The two wooden figures opened their mouths, but found that they couldn't utter a single word.

At that moment, she suddenly realized with sorrow that if the Sage of Six Paths was truly behind the Akatsuki...

That's probably the best possible outcome out of all the worst possibilities!

Therefore, the reason why everyone present remained silent was not because they truly believed that the Sage of Six Paths was definitely on the side of Akatsuki.

They were simply praying from the bottom of their hearts that it must just be the Sage of Six Paths.

Their current thinking is so ridiculous and absurd.

Because, whether it's that unknown Otsutsuki who fought the 'Lord of the Void' to a standstill, or that Goddess of the Rabbit who attempted to turn everyone in the ninja world into biological weapons...

The threat they pose far exceeds that of the Sage of Six Paths!

At least according to legends, records, scrolls, and stone tablets, the Sage of Six Paths did not intend to cause the killing.

But if it were two other people...

Just thinking about this possibility filled the entire meeting room with a sense of powerlessness.

"Impossible..." some people muttered to themselves in a daze.

It was utterly unimaginable how one could possibly contend with an existence that existed only in myths and legends; fear spread like a plague through everyone's hearts.

Kisame grinned, while Jiraiya frowned, about to say something...

"enough."

A cold voice echoed in the conference room.

Everyone shuddered and instinctively looked up in the direction of the sound.

"Is this all you've got?"

At the head of the table, Hyuga Kumokawa slowly rose, his eyes lowered as he looked down at the crowd and said, "Since that's the case..."

"With the aim of reclaiming the Tailed Beasts and eliminating the Akatsuki organization and the Hueco Mundo."

The Fifth Shinobi World War.

"I will initiate it."

(End of this chapter)