I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 480 After someone becomes famous, their past "dark history" will be magnified and escalated to a major level.

Lord Kazekage has fallen in battle!

This news should have remained with the upper echelons of Sunagakure for a while until they devised a solution before being gradually passed down. This is because such news, if not handled properly, could very likely cause a major upheaval.

Especially during wartime, if the Kage, who is the commander-in-chief, dies in battle, the morale of the entire ninja village will be hit harder than imagined, and many plans will be completely abandoned due to the collapse of morale.

If the two armies were locked in a stalemate, such news could very likely cause unimaginable losses to the entire village. Fortunately, the war has not yet reached its climax, and the shutdown of Sunagakure will not cause too much damage.

After all, Sunagakure has already learned from the experience of shutting down.

When the Sunagakure leadership learned of this news, it was too late to suppress it. Of the more than a thousand ninjas who had followed the Third Kazekage on his expedition, less than half had returned to the village. However, the panic among the hundreds of people was impossible to stop.

A significant number of the Sand Ninja even forgot their way during their escape and ended up in other villages or towns.

Despite repeated bans issued by the Kazekage Building prohibiting the dissemination of this news, fear had already gripped the entire village, especially among the civilians who were affiliated with the ninja village. Many of them were now packing their bags and preparing to flee.

The final order from the Kazekage Building was to convene a meeting of all Jonin, and any Jonin who failed to attend would be treated as traitors.

Inside the Kazekage Building, in a spacious conference room, Rasa, exuding murderous intent, forcefully pushed open the conference room door and entered. The Jonin's senses were all trained to be extremely sharp, and they immediately smelled the bloody scent on Rasa.

Rasa scanned the entire area and said, "Within the village, I discovered a total of 115 spies from other ninja villages or ninja organizations, all of whom I have killed. Unfortunately, the news of the Third Kazekage's death has spread uncontrollably."

Yekura stood up and said, "Seven surrounding villages and towns have been attacked by sand bandits and exiled ninjas. I have already dispatched ninja teams to deal with the situation, and I have also summoned all the sand ninjas within the Daimyo's residence to protect the Daimyo!"

Karura was about to get up when Rasa glared at Yekura and said, "Are you here to protect the daimyo, or to control him?"

"Luo Sha, what do you mean?!"

Yekura slammed her hand on the table, and the temperature in the meeting room suddenly rose. Karura quickly stood up and said, "Alright, now is not the time to argue. Almost all the Jonin are here. It's time to begin the meeting."

As she spoke, she looked at Luo Sha, indicating that he could begin the discussion; it was clear that she supported Luo Sha.

The other Jonin in the meeting room were either dissatisfied or in favor, but a considerable number remained silent, watching the scene unfold.

Rasa withdrew her gaze from Yekura and looked at Karura, saying, "Are we almost all here? Who else is missing?"

"Ten Jonin are not currently in the Land of Wind, so we cannot notify them. In addition, Elders Chiyo and Ebizo have not yet arrived."

As Galuro spoke, slow footsteps echoed down the corridor, followed by an aged voice.

"Don't rush me, I'm here. Be careful, sister."

After he finished speaking, several more seconds passed before two figures appeared at the door of the conference room. The conference room door was not closed after being pushed open by Rasa, and all the Jonin in the conference room saw the people at the door.

Ebizo helped the pale-faced Chiyo to the side, and they walked over with slightly unsteady steps. When they saw Chiyo, Rasa and Yokura both showed a hint of dissatisfaction.

Entering the conference room, Ebizo was about to help Chiyo to an empty seat, but Chiyo pushed him away. Her eyes, red and bloodshot, looked at Rasa and the other two standing there, and she asked in a dry, trembling voice:

"Has Scorpion returned?"

Rasa was about to speak when Karura stepped forward first, supporting the swaying Chiyo and insisting on helping the reluctant Chiyo to her seat before speaking:

"Grandma Chiyo. Sasori chose to follow the Third Hokage into battle, which meant he was destined to bear these risks. This is the nature of a ninja. Please accept my condolences."

Chiyo didn't get angry; she just closed her eyes tightly and pushed away Ebizo's hand that offered her a tissue. Between siblings, even without seeing each other, she knew what Ebizo would do.

After a while, Chiyo opened her eyes again and asked, "Who is it?"

"Sakamoto Tatsuma."

Luo Sha said, then gave Ye Cang a meaningful look. Ye Cang's face showed anger. How could she not know what Luo Sha's look meant?

Since Tatsuma unleashed another flood in Sunagakure a year ago, many people regard her as the hero who drove away Sakamoto Tatsuma, but there are also some rumors.

It is said that when Yekura was infiltrating the Land of Water, she had an ambiguous relationship with Sakamoto Tatsuma. Especially recently, after the Third Kazekage insisted on making public all information related to Sakamoto Tatsuma despite objections, these rumors have become even more rampant.

In particular, in her performance report, Yekura proactively admitted that she fled the battlefield against the Kirigakure because of Sakamoto Tatsuma.

The reason for admitting it is that four years ago, Yekura still trusted the Third Kazekage and reported everything without any concealment.

However, she did not expect that this top-secret file would be made public. As a result, she, the only Sand Ninja who escaped from the Land of Water, became the target of everyone's criticism, especially those Sand Ninja who went to the Land of Water with her and died in the battle. They kept accusing her.

Yecang knew without a second thought that these rumors were instigated by Luo Sha, since not many people knew that she had gone to the Land of Water to carry out a mission.

However, even Rasa didn't know the specifics of the matter, so her attack on her was just a miscalculation, since Sakamoto Tatsuma's rescue of her alone did seem suspicious.

Yecang was speechless in the face of this, and of course, she didn't try to explain herself, since her explanation was actually quite weak.

What should she say? That bastard Sakamoto Tatsuma lied to her? That he used a "deal" to make her think he was saving the Sand Ninja, but it turned out he was only saving her? If she said those explanations, it would only make things worse.

Yekura could only glare angrily at Rasa, then turn to look at the many Jonin in the conference room. She saw mockery in the eyes of Rasa's supporters, and doubt in the eyes of the neutrals, but what she found most unbearable was the look in the eyes of her own supporters.

disappointment.

"Sakamoto Tatsuma."

Chiyo recalled the name; she had quite a few impressions of it. Not only had she heard about it from others frequently in recent years, but even more than a decade ago, before she was convicted and retired, she had a strong impression of Sakamoto Tatsuma.

He killed Shaxing, causing Chiyo, as the commander, to suffer the humiliation of being questioned by the village for the first time in her life.

It was he who shifted the blame, forcing the Sand Village to become entangled with the Rain Village, and in the end, even having to cut off his own flesh to persuade the Rain Village to retreat.

It was he who injured thousands of Sunagakure ninjas but did not kill them, which caused the Sunagakure village's war funds to be completely depleted, forcing them to withdraw from the battlefield prematurely. As a result, Chiyo was forced to retire with guilt because of this incident.

By the way, that kid seems to have a very good relationship with Sakumo Hatake!

Sakumo Hatake killed his son and daughter-in-law, while Tatsuma Sakamoto killed her only grandson!

Chiyo clenched her hands. These hands, which had stopped killing in the past ten years and instead saved one life after another, began to recall the feeling of killing.

What else can she do?!

Ten years ago, he had no choice but to bear the sins of Sunagakure in the war and gave up his revenge against Sakumo Hatake.

The so-called transformation of the war between the two villages into a personal feud was merely a last-ditch act of stubbornness. Knowing that she was powerless to take revenge, she gradually placed her hopes on her grandson.

But once again, and once again. What can she do this time?

Chiyo didn't listen to what the Jonin meeting was about; she was no longer interested in it. It wasn't until she heard Rasa ask who was willing to take command and launch a revenge attack on Konoha that she heard him ask.

She suddenly raised her head, her bloodless face beginning to regain its color. She opened her mouth, but her dry throat prevented her from uttering a single word. She swallowed, moistening her throat, and relaxed her clenched fist, about to raise it.

Ebizo, standing beside her, held her tightly. Chiyo turned her head, her eyes filled with murderous intent as she glared at her younger brother, gritting her teeth as she said, "Ebizo! Let go!"

"Sister! Don't forget why Scorpion died, and why his parents died!"

Ebizo lowered his voice, but each word struck Chiyo's soul like a hammer. How did her son and daughter-in-law die? They became someone else's blade, and were then severed.

Her grandson, too, willingly submitted to the Third Kazekage, becoming yet another weapon in his hands.

"Elder Ebizo! Elder Chiyo! Do you have any suggestions?"

Luo Sha didn't hear what the two were saying, but he noticed their actions. His best-case scenario was that the two would return to command.

After all, no one was more qualified than the two of them to lead a revenge force.

Ebizo shook his head, stood up, bowed apologetically to those around him, and said, "I'm sorry, my sister and I were devastated by the news, and our old illnesses have relapsed. We need to recuperate. Therefore, we will abstain from all the votes going forward."

After saying that, he helped Chiyo up, and the two of them left with the same unsteady steps they had taken. Rasa watched their backs as their figures receded, his face gradually turning gloomy.

Chiyo seemed to be resisting Ebizo, but she was still taken away by him. If Rasa were the Kazekage, he would naturally have the right to stop it and ask for Chiyo's opinion, but he is not yet.

That's why Ebizo dared to be so disrespectful.

With a stern face, he said, "The meeting continues!"

Ebizo escorted Chiyo home, but as soon as they entered, Chiyo slapped Ebizo across the face and angrily shouted, "Get out!"

Ebizo wiped the saliva that had spilled from his mouth after being slapped, nodded, and said, "Sister, I'll come to visit you again tomorrow. As for Scorpion, I'll do my best to find him, even if it's just to let him go home and sleep peacefully."

After saying that, he tactfully left. Ebizo knew that Chiyo was a strong person, but even the strongest person needs to vent after suffering such an emotional blow. As her younger brother, he was willing to cooperate.

After Ebizo left, Chiyo was completely disoriented. When she came to her senses, she found herself in Sasori's room, holding what appeared to be a stack of papers left by Sasori.

But upon seeing the contents, Chiyo began to tremble, because each document contained the name she least wanted to see at that moment.

"Tatsuma Sakamoto!!!"

"Thump~"

Suddenly a sound came from downstairs. Chiyo, who was about to tear the papers to shreds, suddenly stood up, threw the papers down, and her body showed no signs of aging or staggering in the Kazekage Building. She arrived downstairs in a few steps.

In the living room, an old monk lay sprawled on the ground, clumsily getting to his feet. He looked at Chiyo and said, "Chiyo, it's been a long time."

"Sharing blessings?! Didn't you also...who brought you back?!"

Fenfu took out a scroll, placed it on the ground, then put his hands together and said, "The benefactor asked this humble monk to pass on a message to you: do not dwell on it."

Chiyo stepped forward, picked up the scroll, and as she opened it, her pent-up tears instantly burst forth. It was a scroll containing the names of her "father" and "mother," the sealing techniques bearing remarkably fresh marks. She touched the techniques on the scroll, looked at Bunpuku, and asked, "Where's Sasori?!"

"This humble monk does not know."

Fenfu shook his head, but then closed his clasped hands, leaving only his right index finger pointing upwards.

Chiyo looked up and saw only a floorboard. Then she realized what was happening, rushed to the second floor, and stepped into Sasori's room.

The papers she had angrily thrown down earlier had now disappeared, as had some scrolls in the cabinet. Chiyo knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face, but she also managed a smile.

(End of this chapter)