In Naruto as Zhongli-Chapter 68: INAZ - 67

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Fortunately, at the last moment, Kakuzu still remembered he was the financial controller of Otogakure, finally suppressing the impulse in his heart to capture them and send them to the bounty station. Everything seemed to be proceeding according to plan...

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"Lord Shinji, are we returning to Konoha now?" Jūgo walked behind Shinji. Today, after Jūgo provided some of his sage chakra to Orochimaru, Shinji took him away from Otogakure.

"We're not going back first. We're going somewhere else. There are some things to take care of," Shinji hummed a little tune. Honestly, he hadn't expected this trip to Otogakure to be so smooth.

It just took some time, causing him to exceed his originally planned two-week return, and now time was almost up. Looks like he broke his promise to Karin. But this could still be explained. Subsequently, Shinji walked towards the border between the Land of Frost and the Land of Fire. Yes, his target this time was the battlefront between Kumogakure and Konoha village.

The current battlefront was basically in a white-hot state. Hiruzen Sarutobi versus the Fourth Raikage A. While Killer Bee and Yugito Nii were pitted against Fugaku Uchiha, Hiashi Hyūga, and Mitokado Homura. Soldier against soldier, general against general.

Fugaku Uchiha, hiding his Mangekyō Sharingan, along with the other two Kage-level fighters, could barely hold back the opponent's two Jinchūriki. After all, Killer Bee and Yugito Nii were currently the only two known to be able to freely control their Tailed Beasts, making them a cut above ordinary Jinchūriki.

The closer they got to the border, Shinji found the smoke of war in the distance became more obvious. Many places they passed were clearly former battlefields. Potholes littered the ground. And in some places they passed, the residents at the border clearly had fear in their eyes. After all, for villagers, these wars that could arrive at any moment were the most devastating existence for them.

"Jūgo, what do you think?" Shinji turned his head to look at Jūgo. As the possessor of the Sage Body, he could sense the thoughts in people's or creatures' hearts.

"They are all filled with fear. And... there are basically no animals around here anymore," Jūgo looked somewhat compassionately at the surroundings. The forests basically showed no signs of the previously active animals.

And clearly, the domesticated poultry and such in the villages were basically gone too. Obviously, these were taken away after Konoha or Kumogakure passed through. Of course, the euphemism was: for Konoha's victory, or forcibly snatched by Kumogakure.

The facts were thus. Shinji didn't know how to comfort those villagers whose eyes were full of terror and confusion.

Continuing forward, Shinji and Jūgo saw countless small villages ravaged by war. These were small residential clusters within the Land of Fire or the Land of Frost. From the numb expressions and lifeless eyes on these people's faces, one could see everything.

Continuing forward. Shinji could see more things related to the battlefield. And the explosion sounds and fireworks produced by explosions in the distance became more obvious. Clearly, the battlefield between Konoha and Kumogakure was not far ahead.

It was almost sunset time now. Judging by this, this day's battle was about to reach the time for sounding the gong to withdraw troops. Generally, fight at sunrise, return at sunset. When the sun went down, the ninjas of Konoha and Kumogakure, as if clocking out on time, began packing their things and bringing back their comrades beside them.

Shinji stood just at the edge of the battlefield. Ninjas large and small wandered aimlessly on the battlefield. This was the so-called truce period. Meaning, at this time, under the default terms, neither side could arbitrarily attack the opponent's ninjas. Each side collected their dead and treated their wounded. Today, they fought relatively restrainedly. Kumogakure didn't deploy Tailed Beast transformations, and Konoha didn't deploy a stronger lineup either.

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"Have we figured out their objective? They don't seem to have a strong desire to attack. This isn't like Kumogakure's usual style," Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the head seat, frowning. Around him sat Mitokado Homura, Fugaku Uchiha, Hiashi Hyūga, Shikaku Nara, and others.

It could be said that most of Konoha's high-end combat power was currently on this battlefield. However, while Konoha deployed its elite, Kumogakure wasn't idle either. The Fourth Raikage A, Killer Bee, and Yugito Nii were all on the battlefield, along with several other Kage-level fighters. At least in terms of high-end combat power, the two sides could be said to be evenly matched.

But these past few days, Kumogakure, which always held a strong desire to attack, actually slowed down the pace. And during battles, Kumogakure's ninjas seemed more like they were just going through the motions, dragging time.

This was really hard to reconcile with the Kumogakure known for its extremely inflated fighting desire. Something unusual must be afoot. Hiruzen Sarutobi felt Kumogakure must be plotting some other conspiracy, and this conspiracy was significant enough to make these people willing to suppress their inner fighting desire and maintain a stalemate with Konoha.

"Still investigating. But currently, there's no new progress," Mitokado Homura said while wiping his kunai. He was currently the deputy commander on this battlefield. After all, since Hiruzen Sarutobi had arrived, his authority had correspondingly decreased somewhat. And daily patrols with the patrol troops were his responsibility. But Mitokado Homura hadn't discovered anything strange.

"Fugaku, what about your side?" Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his head to look at Fugaku Uchiha.

"No problem on the west side, for now," Fugaku Uchiha didn't give a guarantee.

"Hiashi?"

"No other problems found on the east side for now."

"Mmm, but still need to continue strengthening the patrol routes," Hiruzen Sarutobi added.

"Yes!"

"Shikaku, regarding Kumogakure's situation, what are your thoughts?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Shikaku Nara and asked. As the clan with the highest IQ in all of Konoha, he still trusted the Nara clan greatly.

"There are some clues, but still need verification," Shikaku Nara said after thinking for a moment. This matter indeed contained many suspicious points.

"What verification?"

"The opponent might be thinking of flanking, meaning breaking through from the west," Shikaku Nara looked at the map on the table, pointing out the most likely offensive route for Kumogakure.

"From my side?" Fugaku Uchiha asked somewhat puzzledly.

"Yes. In my opinion, Kumogakure should have figured out our patrol routes here, and also knows the Uchiha clan's Sharingan isn't as clear for long-distance observation as the Hyūga clan's Byakugan. So I think Kumogakure might be playing this card," Shikaku Nara finally placed a flag representing Kumogakure on the west side of the camp.

"Is that possible? Although my Uchiha clan's Sharingan isn't very strong for long-distance observation, Kumogakure should also know my side definitely isn't that easy to break through," Fugaku Uchiha felt somewhat annoyed. In Shikaku Nara's statement just now, the Uchiha clan was inherently weaker than the Hyūga clan by a notch. Of course, perhaps Hiashi Hyūga's slyly smiling gaze made Fugaku Uchiha somewhat uncomfortable.

"It is possible. And the possibility is particularly high. Especially recently, it seems most of Kumogakure's troop deployments are relatively close to the Uchiha clan's side."

"Since that's the case, then let the Hyūga clan and Uchiha clan's defense lines swap?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said after thinking for a moment.

"This isn't the optimal choice," Shikaku Nara directly refuted.

"Then what other method is there?"

"Let a portion of Hyūga clan members and Uchiha clan members exchange positions. And mutually conceal their appearances to look like their respective clans. This way, the defense lines of both sides can be strengthened," Shikaku Nara glanced at Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyūga. This decision wasn't that easy to implement.

After all, in the public perception, the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the Hyūga clan wasn't that good. Both being Kekkei Genkai families related to eyes, the members of both clans had argued for a long time over who held the honor of Konoha's number one eye.

This led to the relationship between the two sides seeming not so friendly. But what most people didn't know was, although the clansmen of both sides seemed to be at each other's throats, in reality, the relationship between Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyūga wasn't just ordinarily good.

This was, the people below simply didn't know the relationship between the leaders above, really thinking the clan heads of both sides wanted to argue over this so-called number one Kekkei Genkai family.

"Fugaku, Hiashi, what are your thoughts?" Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally also knew the history between these two clans. He didn't speak prematurely, but first looked at the reactions of the two clan heads.

"No problem on my side," Hiashi Hyūga spoke first.

"My side... too," Fugaku Uchiha said after looking meaningfully at Hiashi Hyūga.

Soon, today's operational meeting concluded here. After the meeting, Fugaku Uchiha was the first to stand up and leave the conference room. Then, returning to the Uchiha clan's stationed area, he announced tomorrow's rotation issue for the western defense line. Although there were some complaints, Fugaku Uchiha still suppressed them.

After resolving his clansmen's issues, Fugaku Uchiha looked around to ensure no one was nearby, then turned left and right, arriving at the edge of the camp. It was a small mountain peak. At the very top of the small peak was a small tree. And under the small tree, a figure was already waiting there.

"You're a bit late today," Moonlight passed over, revealing Hiashi Hyūga's figure under the small tree. Seeing Hiashi Hyūga appear here, Fugaku Uchiha didn't seem surprised at all, directly coming beside Hiashi Hyūga and sitting down.

"Just spent some time appeasing the clansmen. But thankfully, they've all been appeased. Really, didn't expect our Uchiha clan would actually have to cooperate with your Hyūga clan," Fugaku Uchiha said, seemingly quite disdainfully.

"Isn't cooperating with our great Hyūga clan an honor for your Uchiha clan?" Hiashi Hyūga sneered, then took out a small table from the storage scroll he carried. On this small table brightly lay a small wine bottle and two small cups. Judging by Hiashi Hyūga's proficient actions, it clearly wasn't the first time he had done this.

"Do you think Hiruzen Sarutobi has become somewhat suspicious of our relationship?" Fugaku Uchiha came beside the small table, sat down, then picked up the small wine bottle and poured a cup for both.

"I don't think he has. But Shikaku might have guessed something," Hiashi Hyūga picked up the wine cup and sniffed it gently under his nose.

"That's the person known as Konoha's highest IQ," Fugaku Uchiha said with some emotion. The Nara clan had always been the strategists of the Hokage lineage. Their intelligence was really no joke.

"Indeed. But really don't know when this war can end. Last two weeks was my son's birthday, and I didn't have time to rush back," Fugaku Uchiha said, seeming somewhat emotional. It was Sasuke Uchiha's first birthday. Fugaku Uchiha originally wanted to go back. But under Kumogakure's constant pressure, he could only stay on the battlefield. But his thoughts were always back in Konoha. His wife and son were waiting for him.

"Don't pull that. I still want to go back and hold my little daughter. Really miss Hinata..." Hiashi Hyūga didn't hide anything in front of Fugaku Uchiha. He loved his daughter very much, just didn't show it much in front of the clan. But in front of his dear friend, Hiashi Hyūga also didn't conceal it.

"Hahaha, but my son is several months older than your daughter. How about it, arrange a marriage later?" Fugaku Uchiha said jokingly.

"Get lost. With your Uchiha clan's disposition, my Hinata wouldn't look twice at you," Hiashi Hyūga punched Fugaku Uchiha directly on the shoulder.

"Tch, fine if you don't want to arrange it. Why resort to hitting?" Fugaku Uchiha said somewhat helplessly. The appearance of these two now, how did they still look like clan heads? More like two people drinking cheap wine by the roadside, eating barbecue, and chatting nonsense.

"That Otogakure village founded by Lord Orochimaru, what do you think?" Suddenly, Fugaku Uchiha asked.

"What else can I think? After all, it was founded by Lord Orochimaru. But when the news first arrived, our Lord Hokage was furious," Hiashi Hyūga recalled Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression when he heard the news that day. His face didn't even need charcoal powder; it was entirely black.

"Yeah, didn't expect Lord Orochimaru to be so high-profile now. After the war ends, our Lord Hokage should take action to deal with it, right?"

"That's not certain. He still needs to maintain his 'good old man' facade."

"That's true, hahaha."

"Seriously, really miss Konoha. Haven't been back for so long," Fugaku Uchiha suddenly leaned against the tree trunk, speaking with some emotion.

"Yeah, yeah. Really want to go back," Hiashi Hyūga also said emotionally.

"But Boss Shinji said before, according to him, this war probably still has another year before it can end," Suddenly, Fugaku Uchiha seemed to remember something and said.

"Yeah. What Boss Shinji says should be correct," Hiashi Hyūga looked at the bright moon in the sky.

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