I am the new Hokage of Konoha.

Therefore, the fate of the Nara clan has long been intertwined with that of the Cloud Court.

Nara Shikaku, as the clan leader, has long since joined the Cloud Court.

As for his former ally, the Sarutobi clan, Nara Shikaku could only express his deepest apologies.

Having served under Yun Ting for so long, few people understood better than him just how powerful the former was.

Even if the Third Hokage and others had different ideas, it would be almost impossible for them to realize them nowadays.

For the sake of his clan, Nara Shikaku would not do anything short-sighted.

Moreover, to be honest, he was also very interested in the future blueprint that Yun Ting had outlined.

Therefore, both for public and private reasons, Nara Shikaku would always listen carefully to Untein's instructions.

Yun Ting was quite at ease with this intelligent subordinate.

However, considering his position as a leader, he still maintained a hidden presence within the village.

With this dual arrangement, he could leave with peace of mind.

Finally, after patting Nara Shikaku and the others who stayed behind on the shoulder, Yun Ting led the last batch of ninja troops on their way amidst the spontaneous cheers of the Konoha villagers.

Accompanying them were Ritsuko Yamanaka, the Shadow Guard, and a host of Konoha masters including Shisui Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, Kushina Uzumaki, Might Guy, and Kakashi.

Adding to the already arrived group led by Minato Namikaze, it's fair to say that Konoha has sent an incredibly impressive lineup to deal with the Cloud Ninja.

Yun Ting couldn't understand how he had lost.

"Go, Mom! Let's defeat those evil Cloud Ninjas together with Dad!"

As they set off, amidst the lively farewells, a vibrant, blond male voice suddenly boomed out.

The boy's mother, Shina Uzumaki, with her beautiful red hair, turned around and gave her son a big thumbs up, shouting once again, "Naruto! Take good care of yourself while your mom and dad are away. Don't spend money recklessly, throw away expired milk, and if you need anything, go find your Aunt Mikoto, understand?"

"I understand!" Naruto replied with a reassuring smile, despite his worried expression on his small face.

There are many more conversations like this as we part ways.

Yun Ting did not interrupt, but quietly watched all of this.

Only after everything was over did he wave his hand and say:

"set off!"

Change always requires sacrifice.

But as the leader of the group, all Yun Ting could do was to minimize the losses to the best of his ability.

Until the day of true peace arrives.

......

The Land of Soup.

A nation renowned throughout the ninja world for its beautiful natural environment and numerous hot spring resorts, it has rapidly declined due to the outbreak of the Third Shinobi World War in recent years.

They were initially pleased to hear that the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning were holding peace talks, and that the war was finally coming to an end.

But what no one expected was that an even more intense war was about to break out.

This undoubtedly cast a deep shadow over the Land of Hot Springs, from the daimyo and nobles to the common people.

Not only is their tourism industry, which they rely on as the economic pillar, indefinitely postponed its recovery, but also because the center of the battle between Konoha and Kumogakure is right in the Land of Hot Springs!

In conflicts between major powers, smaller countries often suffer the most severe blows.

Just like the Rain Country, which was the site of battles between the Fire, Wind, and Earth kingdoms during World War II and World War III.

Just like the Land of Hot Water, which is currently sandwiched between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.

Everyone understands the benefits of keeping enemies outside the country's borders.

Therefore, small countries struggling to survive can only become the victims.

No matter how unwilling the daimyo of the Land of Hot Water was, he could only grit his teeth and bear it all, and even have to put on a smiling face to bear the various logistical expenses of the Cloud Ninja of the Land of Lightning, which was now his protectorate.

It's because the other person's fist is much bigger than his.

Having previously turned his back on the Land of Fire, to avoid any trouble from them, he now has no choice but to rely on those Cloud Ninja barbarians he dislikes.

As for his own Tang Ren.

Hey!

Let's not talk about it!

Because of the uniquely superior natural environment of the Land of Hot Springs, the village of Hot Springs is also known as "the village that has forgotten war".

This is not a good name for the ninja village.

This undoubtedly demonstrates the weakness of Tang Ren's strength.

that's the truth.

When the Konoha ninja arrived, Yugakure offered no resistance whatsoever.

When the Cloud Ninja arrived, the Hidden Hot Spring Village behaved in the same way.

All of this demonstrates its attitude of lying flat.

But now, this village, which had forgotten the war, has suddenly become unusually panicked.

Just as the teenage Hidan was about to go out into the streets to spread the word about his most revered Jashin cult and recruit more followers to curry favor with their true god, he suddenly saw an elder of the Jashin cult running up to him, panting, and grabbing him, saying:

"Hidan, come with me right now!"

"Leave? Why leave? We haven't even started our missionary work for today yet! The true god might be unhappy!" Hidan said, quite displeased.

"The true god won't be dissatisfied. You know, if we don't leave now, we'll be dragged to our deaths by the Cloud Ninja, and then the true god will have no followers!" the elder said anxiously.

It turns out that after feeling the pressure from Konoha, and believing that even mosquito meat is meat, the Cloud Ninja decided to bring the Hot Spring Ninja to the battlefield as well.

This is outrageous!

Those who knew their own situation were ashen-faced, and many were considering fleeing.

This naturally includes the evil cult that is developing in Tangren Village.

The Yunren barbarians came to conscript men, and even the evil cult couldn't stop them!

The only option was to run away.

Having learned everything, Hidan could only regretfully slip away as well.

It's a pity that his missionary work was only just beginning to take off!

My apologies, My Lord God!

The dissemination of your glory can only be postponed for now.

Chapter 108 Tsunade's Unexpected Arrival

In the late autumn of Konoha year 52, a somber atmosphere pervaded the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Springs.

Prior to this, although there were various small-scale frictions between Konoha and Kumogakure, the overall situation was relatively stable.

However, when the peace talks between the two sides broke down and Konoha reinforcements led by Minato Namikaze arrived, the intensity of the entire battlefield rapidly increased.

Soon, under the unpredictable and sudden attacks of Minato Namikaze, known as the "Golden Flash," the Cloud Ninja suffered heavy losses in various strongholds.

If the Fourth Raikage hadn't arrived with his army at a rapid pace to reinforce the area, the Cloud Ninja's defenses in the Land of Hot Springs would have been breached.

"Minato Namikaze!"

Inside the main tent of the Cloud Ninja Headquarters in the Land of Hot Water, the Fourth Raikage, A, was so angry that he wanted to smash the table to pieces, having already received the news twice today that his overseas outposts had been attacked and destroyed by this person.

However, he had already broken one of the photos before this, and his subordinates hadn't had time to replace it with a new one.

He could only raise it in the air again and again in frustration, and finally put it back with a look of dissatisfaction.

Beside him, Tsuchishiro, the Raikage's most trusted advisor, suggested after careful consideration, "Raikage-sama, it would be best to recall the Cloud Ninja forces scattered around the surrounding outposts. Otherwise, if things continue like this, we'll only be picked off one by one by someone as mobile as Minato Namikaze. Furthermore, the Konoha army has now assembled, and in order to maintain our numerical advantage on the main battlefield, the Cloud Ninja also need to concentrate their forces."

After hearing this, the Fourth Raikage, A, thought for a moment and could only nod reluctantly.

He had a very deep impression of Minato Namikaze.

Before he became Raikage, he and his brothers fought against the enemy together.

However, the result was not very pleasant.

Not only was his speed, which he was most proud of, inferior to Minato Namikaze, but he also almost lost his life, even though he was the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

This made the Fourth Raikage feel deeply ashamed, so much so that he worked hard to improve himself in the future.

Now much stronger than he was a few years ago, he is eager to find an opportunity to avenge this old grudge.

Now that the two sides are facing off, he, as the commander of the Cloud Ninja, cannot abandon his army and search for the enemy to fight.

As for sending others to hunt them down...

To be honest, the Fourth Raikage couldn't think of any Cloud Ninja who could capture Minato Namikaze, who possessed the Flying Thunder God Technique.

With Konoha's main force looming ahead, sending a large army to encircle and annihilate them is unrealistic.

Therefore, faced with the latter's "Sakumo Hatake"-style surprise attack, A could only, like the Sand Village back then, reluctantly shrink his forces to deal with it.

Although this would result in losing a lot of territory.

Fortunately, this way, the power of the Cloud Ninja can be concentrated into a single punch.

With significantly more ninjas than Konoha, they would have a greater advantage on the front lines.

"I heard the Fourth Hokage is coming to the front lines soon, so let's give him a big gift! It's time to take away the title of the number one ninja village in Konoha!" The Fourth Raikage, A, said with ambition in his eyes.

The eyes of the high-ranking Yunren members inside the tent were also filled with fervor.

In the still-unresolved Three Wars, to be honest, Konoha, which had single-handedly defeated the four great ninja villages of the five great nations, ultimately suffered the greatest losses.

As for the Cloud Ninja, although they lost the Third Raikage, their ninja losses were the fewest among the Five Great Nations.

This is the source of their confidence that allowed them to repeatedly plunder Konoha before, and now they dare to wage another great battle against Konoha.

Just like now, Konoha has suffered considerable losses, and its unfavorable geographical location in a place surrounded by enemies means that even though the other three major powers are no longer able to invade, they still need to leave forces behind to carry out necessary defenses.

Considering all these factors, even if we were to wage war against the Cloud Ninja, the number of Konoha ninja forces that have been assembled at the border would only be around six thousand.