Naruto: From Fake to Real, Deceiving the Ninja World.

But if it were that simple to unite the five great nations, there wouldn't have been so many Shinobi World Wars.

"So..." Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to continue explaining the necessity of the alliance.

"Enough! What nonsense are you spouting and being so presumptuous!"

A thunderous roar interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.

The Fourth Raikage's face twitched, his annoyance and impatience completely evident.

He suddenly raised his muscular arm and slammed his fist hard on the stone table in front of him!

Bang! !

With a deafening roar, a huge fist-shaped dent appeared on the surface of the stone table, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading from the center of the dent.

call!

The five-colored curtains hanging around were suddenly lifted by the airflow, and ten figures appeared simultaneously in front of their respective "shadows".

Maki and Yura stood on either side of Rasa, their hands forming hand seals. Ao, standing in front of Yagura, activated his Byakugan, while Mei Terumi crossed her arms in front of her chest, her chakra surging.

The massive body of Huang Tu blocked Ōnoki's path, while Deidara's raised palm split open, revealing an excited yet dangerous smile.

Darui's lazy gaze sharpened, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes transforming from wooden doll's to vertical pupils, already reaching for Hyuga Kumokawa's face, but Kakashi raised his hand and grabbed his wrist.

The guards of the five Kage assumed their respective stances, and the air inside the shrine seemed to freeze, the atmosphere becoming tense and taut.

However, at this critical moment, when a chaotic battle could break out at any time...

jingle……

A clear, ringing sound, seemingly capable of piercing the soul, echoed through the shrine like a spring dripping onto a jade plate.

The ringtone was ethereal and pure, carrying an indescribable soothing power that instantly calmed everyone's tense nerves.

The string that was about to snap suddenly loosened, and everyone's gaze instinctively turned to what lay behind the layers of gauze curtains.

“This is an important meeting place.” Maitreya’s ethereal and gentle voice clearly reached everyone’s ears. “Please be careful if you behave in a manner that is not polite.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face remained expressionless as he addressed Yun Chuan and Kakashi before him: "Yun Chuan, Kakashi, step back."

Kakashi Hatake released the two Yugitos. Hyuga Kumokawa smiled at Yugitos, only to be glared at fiercely by him. The two of them then flashed back behind the curtain.

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi was the first to speak, the other Kage followed suit and retreated back behind their respective curtains.

"……snort!"

Seeing this, the Fourth Raikage snorted heavily and forcefully pulled his fist, which was deeply embedded in the stone table, out, sending up a spray of stone chips.

Although not explicitly stated, Darui and Yukito understood and slowly retreated behind the curtain.

"Hmph! Alliance? Sharing? You Konoha people love to spout this nonsense!"

The Fourth Raikage crossed his arms and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, saying in a deep voice, "We know very well that the earliest appearance of 'Hollows' was in your Konoha!"

"Who knows if this is some kind of trick by Konoha!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt the gazes that were sometimes mocking, sometimes scrutinizing, sometimes questioning, and sometimes hostile. He did not argue, but slowly said, "I understand Raikage's concerns."

"Therefore, we will express our sincerity."

After saying that, he raised his hand and gestured to Kakashi Hatake behind him.

Kakashi emerged from behind the curtain, carrying five thick scrolls, and handed them to the other four 'Kage'.

The last scroll was delivered to Maitreya by a guard standing beside the gauze curtain.

"This is all the intelligence we have gathered and compiled about 'Void' after paying a heavy price, through battle and in-depth research."

Hiruzen Sarutobi calmly replied, "This includes a preliminary analysis report on its body structure, energy characteristics, attack patterns, known weaknesses, countermeasures, and Espada-level individuals."

"Konoha is willing to use this intelligence as the cornerstone of cooperation, and as a sign of our sincerity in jointly addressing the threat."

The shrine was completely silent.

The four shadows all focused their gazes on the scroll in their hands.

Luo Sha remained expressionless, but his movements as he turned the scroll were swift and meticulous.

Yagura's face was grave as he quickly flipped through the pages. When he came across the analysis about 'whirlpools', his pupils contracted noticeably, clearly recalling a painful experience.

Onoki slowly picked up the scroll, squinted his eyes, and carefully read it line by line, the cunning smile on his face gradually fading away.

Although the Fourth Raikage expressed his doubts, his actions were swift and decisive. He grabbed the scroll, flipped it open, and quickly scanned it.

When he saw the key passages about "the mask being the core weakness" and "chakra-attached attacks being effective," his tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly for a moment.

For a moment, only the sound of turning the scrolls, and the gradually deepening breathing and heartbeat could be heard inside the shrine.

"The 'emptiness' does not appear out of thin air. Its origin is closely related to the soul after human death and the negative emotions that arise in the hearts of living beings."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice, calm and measured, echoed clearly in the silent shrine: "Despair, hatred, fear, greed..."

"These negative emotions are like their nourishment, growing and gathering everywhere in the ninja world. When the soul is separated from the body under the influence of strong negative emotions, it may be distorted and alienated, eventually transforming into 'hollow'."

"Those who possessed great power in life, their souls transformed into 'Hollows' with even more terrifying power. These are the 'Great Hollows,' and even the so-called 'Espada.'"

At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice carried a hint of heaviness: "Regarding the 'Mouryou' anomaly that the priestess mentioned, I believe everyone understands the reason."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words plunged everyone into silence.

They knew that the appearance of 'Void' was related to the soul, but they did not expect that 'Void' was born from human negative emotions.

They never expected that the power of the 'Espada' was even greater than they knew.

“The Espada, the Hollow Realm, and some inexplicable ‘Master’…” The Fourth Raikage frowned deeply and said in a deep voice, “So this really is the work of some force?!”

If this was done intentionally by a force called 'Void Realm', what is their purpose? Is it simply to destroy the five great nations?

But after that incident, the 'Virtual Realm' seemed to have been inactive for a long time.

"Lord Hokage."

As everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Yagura Karatachi suddenly spoke up: "According to the information you provided, the 'Espada' are formed from the souls of those who possessed great power in life."

"Then, combining this with the information we already know, 'Espada No. 4' is your Konoha's Uchiha Fugaku, while 'Espada No. 1' is a member of the Uzumaki clan of Kusagakure."

"So……"

He paused for a moment before continuing, "Is it possible that the other 'Espada' were also ninjas we knew before they died?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze froze, and almost simultaneously turned to look at Luo Sha and the red curtain.

The Second of the Ten Espada: White Fang.

The Third of the Ten Blades: Puppet Master.

The characteristics, names, and abilities of these two 'Espada' reminded them of two people almost simultaneously.

Chapter 222 You know better than I how Sakumo Hatake died!

The Third of the Ten Blades: Puppet Master.

His main ability is to manipulate chakra threads, which is clearly in the style of a puppeteer from Sunagakure.

"Lord Fengying."

Onoki's voice was slow and deliberate, yet carried a sharp glint of laughter: "If I remember correctly, your Elder Chiyo died at the hands of Hanzo, didn't she?"

Chiyo, as the only puppeteer after Monzaemon of Sunagakure who mastered the "White Secret Technique: Chikamatsu Ten Puppet Masters", reached the pinnacle of chakra thread manipulation.

"Her abilities and characteristics seem to match quite well with the description of 'Espada No. 3: Puppet Master' in the intelligence report, don't they?" Onoki said meaningfully.

Upon hearing this, the seemingly reckless Fourth Raikage's eyes flashed, and anger appeared on his face. He slammed his hand on the table, pointed at Rasa, and said in a deep voice, "That's right!"

"Fourth Kazekage, shouldn't you give us all an explanation, and give an explanation to those Konoha and Kumogakure ninjas who were killed by the 'Puppet Master' on the battlefield of the Land of Hot Water!"

You were pointing your finger at Hiruzen Sarutobi and cursing him before, but now you're starting to speak up for the Konoha ninjas, right?

Luo Sha's eyes twitched, and his hand, resting on his knee, unconsciously clenched his robe, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. Anger and suspicion mingled in his heart.

He certainly guessed this possibility immediately, but these two bastards were clearly making accusations in public.

They are accusing the souls of the deceased elders of Sunagakure of becoming the Espada, who are harming the ninja world, and trying to put Sunagakure in a difficult position, putting all the debts owed by the "Puppet Master" on their heads.

Regardless of whether the 'Puppet Master' was actually a manifestation of Chiyo's soul, Rasa, as the Fourth Kazekage, could not possibly admit it in this situation.

"Lord Tsuchikage, Lord Raikage..."

Luo Sha suppressed his surprise and doubt, took a deep breath, and slowly said, "Your speculation is far too far-fetched."

"First of all, based on the intelligence provided by Konoha and the information gathered on the battlefield in the Land of Hot Water, the appearance and figure of the 'Puppet Master' are clearly those of a young woman."

"Our Elder Chiyo of Sunagakure is an elderly man, completely different from others except for his hair color!"

"Secondly, in the ninja world, there are not many ninjas who are proficient in puppetry and skilled in manipulating chakra threads, but Elder Chiyo is by no means the only one."

"The number of puppeteers who died is countless."

He looked at Onoki and the Fourth Raikage and said in a deep voice, "To make wild guesses based solely on the ability to 'manipulate threads' and connect the 'Puppet Master' with Elder Chiyo..."

"Lord Tsuchikage, Lord Raikage, I cannot agree with your baseless accusations!"

After saying that, Rasa's gaze no longer lingered on Onoki and the Fourth Raikage, but slowly swept over Yagura Karatachi and Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"In comparison..." he began, "the newly added 'Espada No. 4: Evil Eye' can now be confirmed as the transformation of Konoha's Uchiha Fugaku after his death!"

"Also, the Hollow that was taken away from Kirigakure by 'Espada No. 1: Uzumaki' is, according to intelligence reports, also a member of the Kaguya clan who died and became a Hollow!"

"And, the last known Espada, 'White Fang'..."

Rasa's gaze lingered on Hiruzen Sarutobi, or rather, it went beyond Hiruzen Sarutobi and locked onto the crimson curtain behind him.

"If you can regard 'Puppet Master' as Elder Chiyo..."

Rasa's voice trailed off slightly as he spoke, "'White Fang'—the name, and that fighting style... isn't it easier to guess who it is now?"

All eyes immediately turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

More accurately, it turned towards the curtain behind him, as if trying to penetrate that curtain and see the dark-eyed figure behind it.

"..."

Behind the curtain, Kakashi Hatake had clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the force.

His sudden, disordered breathing and tense, trembling body revealed the shock and anger rising within him.

Did the father become an enemy of Konoha and the ninja world?

These guys are saying that his father turned into that kind of monster after he died?!

"You!" Kakashi almost instinctively took a step forward.

He can tolerate being insulted!

He can tolerate being questioned by Konoha!

However, his father had already committed suicide to atone for the failure of an important mission he was carrying out before his death!

Why should these guys still call us monsters after we're dead?

Just as the anger he was suppressing deep in his throat was about to burst forth, a steady and powerful hand pressed down on his shoulder.

"Absolutely impossible!"

Hinata Kumokawa's voice was resolute, carrying an unquestionable coldness: "Sakumo Hatake-senpai sacrificed himself thirteen years ago."

“His soul has long since returned to the Pure Land, and it is absolutely impossible for him to become some inexplicable ‘Ten Blades’.”

However, in response to Hinata Kumokawa's rebuttal, Rasa gave a cold, mocking smile.

"Absolutely impossible?" His voice suddenly rose. "Don't forget what that guy who called himself 'Shadow' and 'Death' said before he left Konoha!"

He said, "My Lord has returned to the world!"

He spoke each word as if delivering a verdict, then his gaze swept over everyone present, and he said coldly, "What does this prove?"

"This means that the 'Virtual Realm' already existed in the past, before we even realized it!"

"And the 'emptiness' is what humans become after they die, harboring negative emotions such as resentment and despair!"

At this point, Rasa deliberately slowed his voice and sneered, "You Konoha ninja should know better than I how Sakumo Hatake died, right?"

"Do you dare say that he harbored no resentment? No bitterness? No despair?"

As the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure who had recently been fighting against Konoha, Rasa was arguably one of the people present who harbored the deepest hostility towards Konoha.