Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 463 Konoha Under War

"Bring me all the intelligence documents for today."

Upon arriving at the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage regained his composure as Hokage, calmly handling the documents and intelligence that required his decision.

Having lost his memory of last night, the third generation was further guided by Li Yao's illusion magic and did not dwell on the memory of last night.

His thoughts remained the same as when he left the office last night: he wanted to continue the war for the sake of the Hokage position he held.

Originally, the battlefields of the various ninja villages had reached a balance by now, with no one able to gain the upper hand over the others.

Continuing down this path will only erode and weaken the power of the five major powers, and in the end, it might even benefit other smaller countries.

Within six months at most, both Konoha and the other five great hidden villages will enter a ceasefire negotiation phase because they cannot withstand the continuous attrition.

To be honest, if Orochimaru hadn't suddenly risen to power and mastered Wood Release, if Fugaku Uchiha hadn't awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, if Sakumo Hatake of Konoha hadn't developed the terrifying Lightning Release: Devastating Lightning, comparable to the Kekkei Tota level, and if Minato hadn't mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, this Fourth Shinobi World War would have been a disaster.

Without the sudden rise of these four individuals who withstood the pressure on Konoha's various battlefronts, Konoha, facing the siege of the four great hidden villages, would have suffered heavy casualties even if it hadn't been defeated.

Seeing that the other four hidden villages have a chance to destroy Konoha, they will choose to continue fighting, and the war will only be more brutal than the war itself.

Unlike now, although there are still many casualties, they are still within a tolerable range.

Moreover, the casualties of the five major countries all started on the same footing.

Konoha, which single-handedly brought its casualties and losses to par with the other four great hidden villages, is undeniably powerful.

However, with peace just around the corner, the third generation chose to continue the war for the sake of the power in his hands.

Of course, these third-generation traits will not be revealed.

The orders issued by the Third Hokage were entirely for revenge, for the benefit of Konoha, and for the future of Konoha. There was no selfish motive behind them, at least not to others.

As orders were issued, the Third Hokage, having finished the first phase of his work, leaned back in his chair, turned around, and looked out the window at Konoha.

"This is my Konoha!"

"No one can take him away from me!"

A cold glint appeared at the corner of the third generation's mouth.

"Father, wake up!"

"Wake up, Father!"

In the mezzanine, Sarutobi Tensuke, seeing his father who had completely forgotten what happened last night, paced anxiously, calling out to the Third Hokage incessantly.

However, it was useless. Separated by a space, no matter how loud Sarutobi Tensuke shouted, he couldn't affect the Third Hokage.

"Damn it, how am I supposed to get out of here?!"

Sarutobi Tenjuro unleashed a furious barrage of attacks on the surrounding buildings and people, but his attacks were as ineffective as hitting thin air.

While Sarutobi Tensuke was in a fit of impotent rage, Li Yao was also in the interdimensional space, wandering aimlessly through the streets of Konoha.

Welcome!

"Everyone's BBQ - 50% off!"

"Orochimaru-sama's Oden is so good, even Orochimaru himself said it was delicious!"

The rising sun had already hung in the sky, and under its warm sunlight, Konoha, a large city that was more of a castle than a village, radiated a vibrant life that was different from its state of war.

Even though many ninjas went to the scene, many people remained in Konoha, and the Ninja Academy was still open.

"I'd like a bowl of oden."

"I want one too."

"And me too."

Li Yao walked past a small oden shop, where a few kids, around five or six years old, wearing ninja-style satchels, were yelling at the shopkeeper.

"Okay, okay, we have them all, don't rush!"

The shop owner was a bald, middle-aged man with a kind face. At that moment, his eyes were full of affection as he looked at the children.

Child!

Bald uncle!

Passing pedestrians!

Li Yao sensed the chakra within these people; it was very weak, but not entirely absent.

Everyone in Konoha possesses chakra; the only difference is whether or not they are capable of using even the most basic ninjutsu.

Why didn't the Sage of Six Paths spread his chakra completely?

Li Yao was puzzled.

According to his speculation, the Sage of Six Paths needed to harvest a large number of souls with chakra to enhance some kind of ability he possessed when creating the Pure Land—whether it was a soul or something else.

In short, if the Sage of Six Paths needed a large number of souls with chakra, he should have distributed chakra to everyone in the ninja world back then, instead of separating ninjas from ordinary people represented by the Daimyo's mansion.

"Is it because they're afraid that having too many people with chakra will attract the attention of the Otsutsuki clan?"

Li Yao thought to himself.

"Or is it... that everything happened naturally... no, it couldn't have happened naturally."

Considering that the Sage of Six Paths might possess the so-called ability of prophecy, Li Yao found it hard to believe that all of this happened naturally rather than being the result of someone deliberately guiding it.

"Forget it, let's just keep going at my own pace."

After thinking for a while, Li Yao stopped worrying about the Sage of Six Paths' purpose. The timing didn't match up; he didn't have that much time and couldn't follow the Sage of Six Paths' path.

Since it has been determined that to escape the gaze of the Otsutsuki clan, we need to start with soul abilities and at the same time strengthen the development and research of space-time ninjutsu.

Then we should find ways to improve these two aspects.

For the rest of the time, Li Yao continued to wander around Konoha, while his shadow clones cultivated in the Kamui Space, which he had re-formed after returning to this world.

Unbeknownst to him, Li Yao arrived in front of a two-story house.

This house is unique; it stands alone on the side of the street, with no other houses around. The street is in front and behind it, and there are only a few trees on the left and right.

Meanwhile, six members of the two secret agents lay in ambush all around, keeping their eyes fixed on the house.

"Shin Kuna!"

"I never expected to end up here!"

Li Yao smiled, turned around, and looked at the house. Although it was blocked by the tightly closed door, the terrifying chakra fluctuations inside the house were like an abyss, immeasurable.

Even when the Nine-Tails in its complete form is sealed inside a Jinchuriki, the chakra fluctuations it emits are still terrifying.

The six members of the Anbu who were monitoring and protecting Kushina remained vigilant under the influence of this chakra fluctuation, daring not to relax their guard for even a moment.

"Interesting, since you're here, let's go in and take a look!"

With a thought, Li Yao emerged from the interlayered space.

"No……"

The moment Li Yao appeared, he was immediately spotted by the ANBU ninjas who were monitoring him. However, before he could even finish saying "Oh no," a burst of genjutsu chakra instantly enveloped the mental will of the six people.

Kotoamatsukami!

very useful!

Li Yao had another thought, and perfectly transformed into the form of Minato, walked into the gate, and raised his hand to knock on the door.

Clang!

The gate opened first, and a red figure rushed over and hugged Li Yao, who had perfectly transformed into Minato.

"Watergate!!!"

"Why did you suddenly come back without telling me beforehand!"

Shinjiro was overjoyed and hugged her beloved husband Minato Namikaze tightly. Just a few days ago, Minato had returned using the Flying Thunder God Technique and said that this mission might take a long time, about a month, but he was back in just a few days.

"As expected, Minato missed me terribly."

Shinjiro thought to herself narcissistically, completely oblivious to the fact that Minato in front of her was not unusual.

(End of this chapter)