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

Chapter 178 Konoha's full strength revealed, farewell to Minato Namikaze (Please subscribe, please vote)

"Da da da!!!"

Konoha Main Street.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in a black, tight-fitting combat suit, rushed ahead, holding his golden cudgel upside down, his face filled with anxiety.

Behind him were a host of skilled fighters, including Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina, Kohinata Mukai, Yamanaka Inoichi, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Aburame Shiki, Inuzuka Jacques, Inuzuka Tsurugi, Yuhi Shinku, Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hizashi, and Hyuga Hiashi.

Further back were the retired ninja elders, who had also put on their battle suits again, picked up their weapons, and followed them out.

Behind them were Konoha's elite ninjas, both famous and unknown.

On the rooftops on both sides of the street, a total of 46 secret agents, led by the two chief and deputy chiefs, advanced with the troops.

This group only has about three hundred people.

However, although their numbers are small, there is currently no one or force in the entire ninja world that can stop them.

Especially those old people who had been fighting on the battlefield since before the founding of Konoha and have lived to this day in peaceful retirement... Although most of them are already in their sixties or seventies and their bodies are already very old.

However, if they fight with the determination to die, their fighting power in a short period of time might be even stronger than that of young masters like Minato Namikaze.

As proof, the endless army of puppets descending from the sky, whether a hundred or a thousand, could not halt their advance in the slightest.

Whenever an obstacle is encountered, someone will step forward and resolve it with ninjutsu that would astound even an ordinary ninja.

This is the foundation of Konoha, the foremost of the Five Great Ninja Villages, a depth and strength that the other four villages combined might not be able to match.

In the face of life and death, this village revealed its true colors.

"Faster, faster!" Sarutobi urged as he sprinted ahead. "The enemy can all fly. If we can't stop the delegation before they're brought to the floating continent, Konoha's fate will be out of our control."

"I'll go check it out first."

Seeing Sarutobi nod, Minato Namikaze immediately overtook the main group and headed towards the direction of the Sunagakure delegation.

Uzumaki Hisayuki watched his figure gradually disappear with worry, praying for him from the bottom of her heart.

An elderly man standing nearby sighed as he watched.

"Young people these days are really getting more and more useless. Since the First Hokage founded Konoha, he has encountered many powerful enemies, but this is the first time that the village has been turned into this state."

Upon hearing this, the young people in the group all looked embarrassed.

"Old man, stop making sarcastic remarks," another old man said. "Things are different now. The enemy is unlike anything we've ever faced before. This floating continent is on a completely different level compared to the Sky City of the Sky Ninja back then. Let alone how we could shoot it down, even if we could, we wouldn't dare!"

Upon hearing this, the old man who had previously made sarcastic remarks fell silent.

This enemy is truly unprecedented.

A landmass comparable to the total area of ​​Konoha—if something like that were to fall from the sky, it would be like a meteorite hitting the Earth, causing a mass extinction.

This is not even in the same league as our previous enemies.

……

"I'm sorry, Captain!"

In the bustling courtyard, Yang ran up to Long Er and gave him a deep, 90-degree bow.

Long Er was stunned by what he saw.

Why are you apologizing to me?

"I was very sorry for speaking ill of the captain and undermining morale."

"Oh, this!" Long Er exclaimed in realization, then his expression turned serious as he said, "I didn't hear it, so let's just pretend it never happened."

"Um, but..."

"Hurry up and pack your things. The people of Konoha won't let us leave so easily. If we're too slow, something unexpected might happen."

"yes!"

Although he was still thinking about asking the captain for punishment and forgiveness, Yang knew the importance of the matter, so he accepted the order to help dismantle the equipment.

Those large machines were incredibly powerful, but they were also very difficult to assemble or disassemble, especially those catapults... They could throw boulders with a diameter of one and a half meters three kilometers away. Although they incorporated the Mohist black technology, they were still as tall as a five-story building.

Seeing that the girl had walked away, Ryuji jumped onto the roof of the main building.

This is the highest point in the entire courtyard, offering the farthest view and allowing for immediate detection of Konoha's movements.

The surrounding open space remained empty and deserted, but in the woods at the far end of the open space, shadowy figures loomed, clearly indicating that a large group of people were hiding there.

"It should be about time, is that guy not back yet?" Ryuji wondered.

He was referring to Minato Namikaze.

At his speed, he should be able to get here first.

However, the people hidden in Konoha were in a state of commotion but dared not make a move, clearly because the person in charge had not yet arrived.

"He probably didn't act alone!" Karura guessed. "After all, he was alone, and he even lost to Lady Ayagi. Even if he came alone, it wouldn't have made a difference."

"Perhaps!"

However, Ryuji did not agree with this statement.

Minato Namikaze wasn't the type to give up after one defeat. Although he didn't have the same competitive spirit as a hot-blooded boy, a man striving to become Hokage wouldn't back down because of a single failure.

The only chance for Konoha to control its own destiny is to stop them before they reach the floating continent.

Minato Namikaze would never let such an opportunity slip by.

Even if it's fraught with danger and they know they're no match, they'll still try every means to buy time.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be Minato Namikaze.

"Speaking of which, you are truly magnanimous, sir!" Karura changed the subject and continued.

"Um?"

"Everyone clearly heard Yang cursing you outside, but you claim you didn't hear it, sir. What is this if not magnanimity?"

"Oh, this!" Ryuji couldn't help but laugh. "You think I'm being magnanimous?"

"Isn't that right?"

"Of course not," Ryuji explained. "I just said the most appropriate thing at the right time. It wasn't the right time to blame him, and I also had to maintain my image."

"Is that so?" Karura looked at Ryuji suspiciously and asked, "But you don't look angry at all!"

"She just hasn't shown it yet," Long Er chuckled mischievously. "Once we get back to the village, I'll make things difficult for her."

"Huh!"

Looking at the girl's surprised face, Ryuji continued to chuckle, "Do you feel that the image of me in your heart has been shattered?"

"No, it's just that I think adults are more amazing."

"..."

Long Er was speechless.

Is this a case of beauty being in the eye of the beholder?

Or does she see this two-faced behavior as a leader's skill, a kind of ability?

I don’t understand, I don’t understand.

Long Er shook his head inwardly, stopped talking, and turned to look at Hei, "What's going on?"

"Unlike before, no, a very fast guy has entered my perception range. This guy is fast, he's coming towards us, he's in the forest across the way, we've arrived."

Following Hei's gaze, everyone saw a young man with a gentle and handsome face and striking blond hair at the edge of the opposite forest. He wore a green vest, had a Konoha headband on his forehead, and was dressed in a green vest.

—Minato Namikaze.

As Ryuji looked over, Minato Namikaze was also looking in this direction. Their gazes met in the air, their intense fighting spirits clashing as if sparks were being generated.

Minato Namikaze took a deep breath, put on his gas mask, and transformed into a yellow streak of light, instantly appearing on the roof of the main building.

However, Ryuji was on the right, while he appeared on the left.

The ninjas in the courtyard sensed something was wrong, and they all put down what they were doing, took out their weapons, and surrounded the house.

Yin and the others stood in front of Ryuji, protecting him from behind.

Although Ryuji's injuries have healed, he still needs to recuperate his depleted energy and cannot engage in strenuous exercise.

"Go do what you're supposed to do," Long Er shouted at his men.

After seeing that only Minato Namikaze was there, the others hesitated for a moment before returning to their work.

Minato Namikaze ignored them.

Long Er waved his hand, signaling Yin and the others to step aside, then stepped forward and asked, "You came to see me alone, aren't you afraid I'll keep you here?"

"I have a reason why I have to come."

"Will you be of any use coming alone?"

"I represent Konoha!"

"Oh~" Ryuji looked him over with amusement and teased, "I originally thought you were here to be a lone hero, but I didn't expect you to be here to negotiate."

"Tell me your conditions. What do you want for me to let this go?" Minato Namikaze cut to the chase without beating around the bush.

"Pshaw!" Ryuji couldn't help but scoff. "You want to negotiate? You think you can just talk to me like that? What kind of joke is this?"

"Aren't you willing to negotiate with Konoha?"

"Konoha's army is on the front lines, while I have an army of 5000 immortal puppets. I can easily destroy Konoha. What benefits will I get then? I can take them myself. Why should I negotiate with you and have you pay for them?"

"If that's the case, why haven't you returned to the floating continent yet?"

"..."

Minato Namikaze's words silenced Ryuji.

If they truly have the ability to destroy Konoha, or intend to destroy Konoha, then what difference does it make whether or not these war machines involving the secrets of mechanical arts are left behind?

Since Konoha is going to be destroyed anyway, why not just take it back later?

Or perhaps they're worried that Konoha will use these weapons against them.

but.

Konoha's only chance to turn the tide is to stop them from returning to the floating continent.

If they can't stop it, then even if they get these weapons, it will only cause some trouble for Sunagakure in the war.

The risks and benefits of the two are simply incomparable.

But Ryuji did just that.

What does this tell us?

First, he is an idiot and an incompetent leader.

Second, he did this on purpose in order to wait for the people from Konoha to arrive and then negotiate with them.

As for why this is unnecessary?

That is, not wanting the other party to realize that you want to negotiate, so as to gain more benefits in the negotiation.

"As expected of you, you saw through it at a glance." Ryuji couldn't help but praise, then sneered, "But don't misunderstand, I do want to negotiate with Konoha, but it's not necessary for me to negotiate with Konoha. Whether we negotiate or not is up to me. You better show some respect."

(End of this chapter)