This puppeteer is a bit... well...

Chapter 175 Threat (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze to Danzo, who was sitting silently in the corner, seeking help.

Danzo, as if by telepathy, looked over as well.

The two exchanged a glance and nodded slightly, everything understood without a word.

"Ahem!"

Danzo raised his remaining left hand to his mouth and coughed lightly, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

The group exchanged bewildered glances, and one of the Jonin spoke up, asking, "Lord Danzo, do you have any objections?"

"I have no objections, but there's a problem I'd like to point out." Danzo glanced around the room, then turned back to the person who had asked the question. "Peace talks are naturally impossible, but we can't be completely sure that this is what Ayaki Ryuji's goal is. We can't be careless."

"Lord Danzo is right."

"Since that's the case, before things are resolved, we shouldn't be so arrogant as to think the other side wants to negotiate with us. With such an arrogant mindset, it's easy for the enemy to exploit our weaknesses!"

"clear!"

The group of Jonin were thoroughly reprimanded by Danzo and never mentioned refusing to negotiate again.

Although it didn't change their minds, it did de-emphasize the topic.

Once everyone has calmed down and their anger has subsided, send trusted loyalists to spread the message that they hope for peace talks and what benefits peace talks would bring to the village. This will sow discord among the villagers, turning the original consensus of wanting war into two factions: those who want peace talks and those who want war.

Even if they can't do it, they can still create the illusion of deceiving the villagers.

In this way, when the Hokage makes a decision, whether he chooses to negotiate or continue the war, no one will criticize him; the blame will only fall on the opposition.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was also a seasoned politician, having worked with Danzo for many years, with one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop.

Having guessed his subsequent methods after only reading the beginning, he couldn't help but breathe a deep sigh of relief.

"Danzo is right. We need to be extremely careful and make sure today's ordeal doesn't happen again." Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag of his cigarette, then looked at Tsunade. "I heard you captured Black?"

Tsunade hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Then, hand him over to the interrogation department!"

"……good!"

Tsunade nodded hesitantly.

Although she really didn't want to do this, now that things had come to this, her position as a Konoha ninja didn't allow her to act willfully.

"How's the situation with Orochimaru?"

"It should take about three days to recover."

"Okay, I understand." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly. "How's the antibody situation?"

The toxicity of the Wanli River remains the biggest problem.

If we can't deal with this guy, then no matter how many people we have, we risk being wiped out.

"I have created a vaccine using the antibodies found in the insects, but it will take at least a month to produce enough for every Konoha ninja."

"We don't need one for everyone; seven hundred is enough."

They already understood the capabilities of the Sand Village side, and they wouldn't suffer the same fate of being wiped out with zero casualties as before. As long as they could solve the poison problem, a thousand men would be enough to take down this Sand Village delegation.

"By the way, news came from the Dark Division that the Wanlijiang Society uses more than one type of poison. Could your antibody...?"

"Don't worry." Tsunade smiled confidently: "There are all kinds of poisons in the world, and the same goes for medicinal herbs. Through different combinations, and even the extraction of biological antibodies to make healing medicines, antidotes, antibodies... they are usually not just for one situation."

Wanlijiang's poison is extremely potent, and the antibodies produced by it are equally powerful. Vaccines made from these antibodies would be even more effective, providing immunity to 99% of known poisons in the world. As long as Wanlijiang's poison isn't as potent as the Kagero clan's fictional poison in Jiraiya's novels, there shouldn't be any problems.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, it's a novel written by Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha...

If it were a clichéd and boring novel like "Ninja Roots," that would be one thing. But popular novels like "Make-Out Paradise" often attract even those who don't like novels, who might buy a copy out of admiration for their idol and read it in their spare time.

Therefore, I have some understanding of the famous Yangyan clan in the novel world.

Although the poison of the Yangyan clan is potent, it cannot be controlled, unlike the situation in Wanlijiang.

Therefore, you can rest assured.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still somewhat worried and instructed, "Have the Aburame clan members cultivate more insects with antibodies. If war breaks out, let the insects test the waters first."

"Yes."

A Jonin from the Aburame clan nodded in acceptance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly and said, "Keep a close watch on the area around the Sunagakure delegation's residence. Their food and water supplies won't last long, so be careful of their schemes."

"Yes."

"Then let's leave it at that for now."

……

Inside the Sunagakure delegation's residence.

The atmosphere was heavy.

Dragon-hunting ballistae, kunai launchers, catapults... all sorts of war machines were assembled and pushed behind the courtyard wall.

The surviving guards and puppeteers stood watch beside the war machines, their brows furrowed with worry.

Although they trusted Ryuji's abilities and believed he could lead them back to Sunagakure, the current situation was hopeless, and they couldn't think of any way to get everyone back to the village safely.

It's understandable that they appear pessimistic and melancholic.

Long Er sat on the roof of the main house, taking in the entire situation in the courtyard.

He picked up the wine bowl, took a small sip, then put it aside with a faint smile on his face. "It seems everyone is quite worried."

Holding a wine bottle, Hong stood by and, upon hearing Long Er's words, remarked, "Not everyone is as unperturbed by honor or disgrace as our master."

"How could I possibly have such a calm and composed attitude?" Long Er said with a self-deprecating laugh. "I just know more than them and understand the current situation better. If I knew nothing like them, I would probably be just as panicked."

Hong did not answer.

Although she would comfort and flatter her master, she would never say anything against her conscience.

All twenty-five low-ranking ninjas were killed, four of their bodyguards were killed, two elite puppeteers were killed, Black was missing, Silver's right arm was severed, and even he, the leader who was always victorious and constantly creating legends, was defeated by the Third Hokage. He sat here covered in bandages and would need several days to recover his fighting strength.

In such a situation, it's normal to feel panic, worry, and anxiety if you don't know what the follow-up plans are.

Receiving no response, Ryuji didn't dwell on the topic and instead asked, "How is Gin?"

"We've already helped her have another baby."

"That's good."

Long Er nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Silver's body was created by fusing the cells of White Zetsu, Naruto, Yamato, and himself, and it possesses extremely strong vitality. As long as one has powerful Yang-attribute chakra, limb regeneration is not a difficult task.

However, even though Gin's chakra is powerful, he cannot do this level of thing and needs help from others.

But that's only for now.

Gin has mastered the Yin Seal, allowing him to accumulate chakra that he doesn't normally use. Given enough time, not only will severed limbs regenerate, but even a severed head can instantly grow back.

Therefore, he was not worried about the silver issue.

What he was worried about was darkness.

Although the black creation was recent, the two hadn't spoken much due to their personalities.

But since they are artificial humans that we created ourselves, it's impossible for us not to care.

Red had spent the most time with Ryuji and was a combat maid created to serve him. She knew his personality and habits inside and out. She immediately saw what Ryuji was worried about and, without waiting for him to ask, took the initiative to report: "I still can't find Black's mental fluctuations in the mental ocean."

"I hope he didn't..."

Halfway through his sentence, a familiar mental fluctuation came to his mind.

It was black.

Long Er immediately entered his mental ocean and saw the reappearing mental fluctuations. He quickly asked, "Black, what's going on?"

The response he received was not darkness, but the consciousness of a stranger.

Wearing a green vest, a Konoha headband, long golden hair, and a square face...

This person was not Yamanaka Inoichi, but his appearance clearly indicated that he belonged to the Yamanaka clan.

(Black has been captured alive; this guy is invading Black's mind and consciousness.)

Based on the plot of the original work, Ryuji instantly guessed the truth.

"Ryuuji Ayaki!"

The mountain clan ninja was startled when he saw Ryuji's consciousness and immediately ran back, intending to escape back into his own body.

But how could Ryuji let him escape?

With a thought, a prison rose around the mountain clan ninja, which he could not break through no matter how hard he tried.

"You just stay right here!"

Long Er gave him a cold look and took over Hei's consciousness.

……

Cold, shivering...

With a weary mind, Ryuji opened his eyes and saw the situation in Hei.

In the dimly lit room, his limbs were chained and he was bound inside a hollow iron ball, outside which stood several Konoha ninjas.

Besides the unconscious Yamanaka clan ninja in front of him, Ryuji also saw a familiar face—Shimura Danzo.

He remained silent, quietly assessing his physical condition.

Apart from a slight headache, I don't feel any pain or injury to my body.

(This appears to be a form of psychological interrogation.)

Ryuji came to a conclusion in his mind, and then raised his head.

Those around assumed it was a companion from the mountain tribe and didn't react much.

Only Danzo seemed to have noticed something, and asked, "Kageto, have you noticed anything?"

"Hehehe..."

A laugh that was completely different from Jingren's came out, and everyone in the interrogation room immediately drew their weapons and pointed them at him on guard.

Ryuji didn't care at all and still sneered, "You'd better hand over Kuro obediently, then I might consider letting Konoha go."

"Ryuji Ayaki?"

The familiar voice and tone confirmed Danzo's identity, and he was taken aback.

But then he laughed, "Although I don't know how you got onto Black's body, you can't even protect yourselves and you're still threatening Konoha? Did Sarutobi knock your head out with that blow?"

"Believe it or not, if I don't see Kuro return tomorrow, Konoha can only await its destruction!"

(End of this chapter)