Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

The Cloud Village ninja lived in an embassy near the Daimyo's residence, completely surrounded by Konoha ninja, who feared that a shameless Cloud Village ninja might sneak out and cause trouble.

Although the Cloud Village ninjas felt somewhat aggrieved, after seeing the tense, angry, and helpless expressions of the Konoha ninjas, they felt that all their frustration was worthwhile.

"I love the way you can't stand me but can't do anything about it."

The Cloud Village ninjas all felt that this feeling was absolutely amazing.

So the Cloud Village ninjas tore up the peace agreement without a second thought. The agreement, which had been obtained at the cost of Hyuga Hizashi's life, was torn up like a piece of toilet paper.

The Cloud Village ninja indicated that a new peace agreement could be reached, but the conditions certainly couldn't be the same as before, since the balance of power between Konoha and Cloud Village had changed.

"The ninja village has always been able to reap what it deserves by focusing on strength."

"Konoha Village has lost the Uchiha clan's ninjas, and its strength has declined so drastically that it should no longer expect to maintain the peace agreement under the old conditions."

"Konoha must pay a greater price, demonstrate a greater sincerity towards peace, and make Kumogakure believe in your sincerity in order to achieve true peace!"

"Otherwise, you should prepare for war."

The Cloud Village ninjas were extremely arrogant in their negotiations, not only raising the peace terms but also arbitrarily changing them.

Whenever the Third Hokage reluctantly conceded, they would immediately change their tune and raise the demands of Kumogakure again, forcing the Third Hokage to back down once more.

In Xia Zuo's view, these Cloud Village ninjas were even more outrageous than the Americans at Panmunjom. They weren't there to negotiate at all; they were there specifically to find a reason to start a war.

However, history has shown that no war broke out between Konoha and Kumogakure this time.

It's hard to imagine what price the Third Hokage paid to make such an aggressive Cloud Village ninja leave satisfied.

This historical event, which did not appear in the main storyline, allowed Xia Zuo to truly experience the cowardice of the Third Hokage.

This guy is even worse than a paperhanger.

Anger brewed among the Konoha ninja, and a sense of frustration spread throughout the village.

Unbeknownst to many, the Konoha ninjas' perception of the Third Hokage changed drastically, and the number of ninjas who wanted him to step down immediately increased rapidly, as an undercurrent was brewing in the village.

The plan to overthrow the Third Hokage began to take shape.

Xia Zuo was oblivious to this, focusing instead on training his bloodline limit and preparing for the upcoming Chunin Exams.

However, because the Cloud Village delegation stayed in Konoha and refused to leave, the start of the Chunin Exams was repeatedly postponed and was about to be canceled due to the onset of winter.

Xia Zuo finally couldn't take it anymore.

He found Uchiha Shisui, the only elder of the Uchiha clan, and asked bluntly, "I want to wipe out the Cloud Village ninja. Will you come with me?"

Uchiha Shisui's love for Konoha Village clearly far exceeded that for Natsume, and he was already seething with anger.

But he still hesitated and asked, "The Third Hokage wouldn't agree. Isn't it inappropriate for the two of us to kill someone on our own?"

Xia Zuo pointed forcefully to his nose: "I now believe that the Third Hokage's actions are wrong, so I will force him to change his current policies by killing the Cloud Village ninja."

Seeing that Uchiha Shisui was still hesitant, he said directly, "If you're not coming with me, then you'd better say so right now, otherwise I'll go and kill someone myself!"

Uchiha Shisui suddenly remembered the rumors about Xia Zuo's identity and his legendary power to veto the Hokage, and immediately felt much more at ease.

He was a ninja who was never afraid of his enemies, but treated his superiors like gods.

Even after the night of the Uchiha clan massacre, Uchiha Shisui's values ​​remained unchanged.

Uchiha Shisui knew everything that Xia Zuo did on the night of the massacre, including that he killed Shimura Danzo.

Danzo Shimura was a top-ranking official in Konoha. He knew almost all of Konoha's secrets, and the harm he would cause if he defected would be far greater than that caused by Itachi Uchiha.

Even the harm caused by Orochimaru's defection is far less than that caused by Shimura Danzo.

Shisui strongly disapproved of the Third Hokage's tolerance of Danzo Shimura's defection.

No, we are firmly against it.

Even if Uchiha Shisui was extremely obedient to his superiors, he still felt that the Third Hokage was indeed senile.

Fortunately, Xia Zuo killed Shimura Danzo, resolving a major crisis for Konoha.

What impressed Uchiha Shisui even more was that Xia Zuo resolved the two major crises of the Uchiha clan massacre and Shimura Danzo's defection, yet he didn't care that the village was covering up his information and still seriously prepared to participate in the Chunin Exams.

Such indifference to fame and fortune, such noble character.

Shisui couldn't help but think that if Lord Natsume were the Fifth Hokage, he would definitely be able to protect everyone, the Uchiha clan, and Konoha Village.

Unbeknownst to him, Uchiha Shisui acknowledged Xia Zuo's status and believed that Xia Zuo's authority was superior to that of the Third Hokage at certain times.

For example, right now, when all the ninjas in the village oppose the Third Hokage's decision.

So Uchiha Shisui made up his mind and set off with Xia Zuo.

Outside the embassy, ​​there were countless Konoha ninjas, especially those skilled in reconnaissance and tracking, such as the Anbu, Hyuga, Aburame, and Inuzuka.

This was the first time Uchiha Shisui and Natsume had been here, and they were both dumbfounded by the scene.

Where is the dignity of the number one ninja village in this state? It's as if the words "We're scared" are blatantly plastered on its forehead.

Xia Zuo chuckled twice. This scene was quite similar to Ban Chao's legendary encounter.

Of course, the specific circumstances are still different, but Xia Zuo felt that even if there was only a slight similarity, he would be very happy to be able to emulate the heroic deeds of the Chinese heroes.

Xia Zuo asked with concern, "Shisui, how is your eye recovery going? Are you having any problems activating Susanoo?"

Uchiha Shisui respectfully replied, "My eyes have fully recovered, and I have no problem activating Susanoo."

"Alright." Xia Zuo pointed at the embassy and ordered, "I'll use Wood Release to move all the Konoha ninja away, and then you use Susanoo to take out all the Cloud Village ninja."

"Hmm, let's not use the red bean paste. Let's keep two alive and send them back to tell the Hidden Cloud Village about the Leaf Village's attitude."

Uchiha Shisui nodded and said, "Yes, Lord Xia Zuo."

Xia Zuo was pleased to hear Shisui's respectful address, so he stopped waiting, clasped his hands together, and released a surge of chakra.

[Wood Release: Descent of the Sea of ​​Trees]

Using the walls of the Konoha embassy as a boundary, hundreds of large trees grew wildly, their branches resembling monstrous snakes and pythons, driving away the Konoha ninjas. Those who refused to leave were wrapped into cocoons and thrown far away.

In fact, upon seeing the Wood Release ninjutsu, most Konoha ninjas happily retreated on their own initiative; only a very few ninjas who were not thinking clearly were enveloped in cocoons.

Not only the Konoha ninjas, but even the embassy staff were wrapped up in tree branches and passed around to the outside of the forest.

In just over ten seconds, Xia Zuo had cleared the area.