Chapter 50: Hokage's Decision

It took a day and a half to reach the border of the Stone Kingdom, the Bird Kingdom and the Wind Kingdom. After hiding and making detours along the way, we finally arrived here safely.

As early as a day ago, three of his five shadow clone teams were defeated by the ninjas who were chasing them, and the other two groups disappeared due to their chakra being exhausted.

After jumping over the cliff and arriving at the territory of the Land of Birds, Akimichi Genbu could no longer hold on. Perhaps the side effects of the two special military grain pills were too great. Tsunade showed no signs of waking up. Akimichi Genbu carried her for a day and a half. If it were someone else, he would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.

They found a cave on the spot, camouflaged the entrance, made a simple trap, and hid in to rest.

Hatake Sakumo was also breathing heavily at this time. Although he was not carrying anyone on his back, his physique was no match for Akimichi Genbu. At this time, the two of them were too lazy to even talk.

Akimichi Genbu took out food and water from the "realm" space and handed them to Hatake Sakumo. The two of them had been using the Bingliang Pills to force themselves to move forward along the way. Although that thing could increase the level of excitement and stimulate the body to produce chakra, it ultimately consumed the energy in one's own body. If they didn't replenish food and water, they would collapse.

The two of them ate in silence, during which time Xuanwu fed Tsunade water and gave her glucose.

After a long while, Akimichi Genbu spoke first, "Lord Sakumo, we have already exposed our whereabouts in the Wind Country. It is obviously not wise to choose the route of the Wind Country to return to the village. If we follow the original plan to go through the Bird Country and then through the Rain Country to return to Konoha, although the distance is the shortest, I think there may be an ambush in the Rain Country. If Hanzo leads the team personally, I am afraid it will be more dangerous than good. Why don't we go through the Earth Country, cross the Gobi Desert of the Earth Country, and then return to the village through the Grass Country. What do you think?"

"The Gobi Desert is not much better than a desert. There are no people's areas everywhere. Do you have enough food and water?"

Hatake Sakumo's worries were a bit unnecessary. With the "realm" space in hand, he had everything he wanted.

"Don't worry, there's nothing else, just enough food and drink."

"Well, once you've treated your wound, we'll set off immediately."

Regardless of the three people's escape, Hyuga Ito finally returned to Konoha Village after a long journey of nearly six days. Hatake Sakumo did not create a shadow clone at that time, but told him all the battle plans, because Hatake Sakumo completely trusted Hyuga Ito, the two of them had been partners since the ninja school.

Kamijue Iruyun and Gang Zitong, who were guarding the gate of Konoha, looked at Hyuga Ito, who was wrapped in bandages, and immediately realized that something was wrong. They remembered clearly that Hyuga Ito had gone on a mission with Hatake Sakumo, Akimichi Genbu and Princess Tsunade. Now only he came back in such a miserable state, and the others were probably in danger.

Hinata Ito stopped in front of the two and said "Take me to see Hokage-sama" before fainting.

......

The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen has arrived in the hospital's conference room.

A ninja in a white coat was reporting the situation to him, "Hokage-sama, Hinata Ito only suffered some superficial injuries. He fainted due to chakra depletion and will wake up soon."

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand, and the ninja retreated. He sat at the head of the table, with his arms resting on the table, his chin supported by the backs of his hands, his eyes closed, and he said nothing.

Sitting on his left were Mito Kado En, Utane Koharu, Akimichi Tofu, Nara Shikadaira (the head of the Nara clan), Yamanaka Kiichi (the head of the Yamanaka clan), Orochimaru and Jiraiya. On his right were Shimura Danzo, Uchiha Akita and Hyuga Gekko.

At this time, Shimura Danzo appeared calm on the surface, but he was panicking inside. The loss of contact with Aburame Mitsuhiro had already made him very worried. If the plan failed, not only would he not be killed, but he would also be implicated. What should he do? Now that Hinata Ito had returned alive, he was even more nervous.

However, after knowing that only Hyuga Ito returned alone, he was also a little happy. It seemed that the other three would not come back. In any case, his plan to eliminate Akimichi Genbu was successful. As for the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit, I believe he will get it one day.

After a while, Hyuga Ito, who had already woken up, was brought here, and only then did Sarutobi Hiruzen open his eyes.

Utane Koharu spoke, "Ito, tell me all the information you know." In fact, Akimichi Genbu guessed correctly. Hyuga Ito was indeed a Root ninja, but he was a man of Mito Kado En and Utane Koharu.

"Hi." Hinata Ito then began to narrate, "After we left the Land of Artisans, we were hunted down. The ninja leading us was the rebel ninja Kinkaku from the Land of Lightning."

The very beginning shocked everyone present except Danzo Shimura.

"And in his team, we found..." Hinata Ito stopped here and looked at Utane Koharu.

"Go on." Utane Koharu motioned for her to continue.

"We found ninjas from the Aburame clan."

Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen swept his sharp eyes over Shimura Danzo, but the latter remained calm and looked as if it had nothing to do with him.

After that, Hinata Ito never stopped and told everything he knew.

After hearing this, Shimura Danzo still appeared calm on the surface, but he was actually in turmoil inside. In other words, the three Xuanwu people were not definitely dead. Damn it, Kinkaku, you useless piece of shit!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was almost frozen. After a long while, he suppressed his anger and issued an order, "Menyan, you lead Reifu, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya to select 10 ninjas from the Root to go to the Kingdom of Wind. I will also send 20 Anbu to you. Remember, you must find these three, alive or dead."

Mitomon Yan accepted the order, "Okay, now that things have come to this, I can only move."

Sarutobi Hiruzen then said to Hyuga Yuehua, "Yuehua, you select two jonin from the Hyuga branch to accompany you and assist Menyan in the investigation."

"Hi." Hinata Yuehua accepted the order.

Danzo couldn't sit still any longer. If they really rescued him, wouldn't it be a waste of time? He immediately stood up and said, "Huruzen, the mission has been completed and the strategic materials have all been transported back. Making such a big fuss for three ninjas will easily cause dissatisfaction in the Wind Country, and it will provoke a war if things go wrong."

The old thief Danzo directly used the peace that Sarutobi Hiruzen cared about most to stop him.

"Shut up! It's not your turn to talk nonsense here!"

"But."

"No buts."

"You will regret this!"

"Shut up, I'm the Hokage!"

Danzo had no choice but to sit down again, but his violently rising and falling chest showed how angry he was at the moment.