Naruto: Eating Kaido's Azure Dragon Devil Fruit-Chapter 266: The Distrusted Uchiha

The tent returned to quiet.

Sora turned off the playback device, the images of those Konoha ninja dying wretchedly replaying in his mind.

He let out a soft sigh.

In a sense, these people’s deaths were related to him.

If he had not captured Kitsuchi alive, changing the battlefield situation, Uchiha Madara would not have personally intervened, and these people might not have died.

But...

Sora’s eyes regained their calmness.

This was war.

Cruel, merciless, full of accidents and sacrifice.

The ripples caused by an individual’s power could affect many innocent people.

He had long understood this truth, and he never naively believed he could control everything without paying any price.

The only thing he could do was to keep growing stronger, strong enough to face any accident, strong enough to protect the people and things he truly cared about.

Moreover, if he had not captured Kitsuchi, the battle between Konoha and Iwagakure would have inevitably continued, and these people might not have survived either.

’However, the tech tree in the world of Hokage really is pointlessly skewed.’

Sora’s heart was not overly troubled. He was no longer the child who had just crossed into this world, whose heart would race at the death of anyone.

Looking at the delicate device in his hand, he could not help but feel some emotion.

Refrigerators, movies, radios, even black tech like cell cloning existed.

Yet telephones were strangely not widespread, with most communication still relying on ninja dogs, ninja hawks, or human messengers.

Perhaps this was the result of the existence of chakra, a special energy, leading technological development down a strange branch.

He shook his head, dismissing random thoughts.

Sora realized that Uchiha Madara’s intervention this time was like an invisible giant hand, forcefully wrenching back part of the plot trajectory that had deviated.

...

Two days later.

The news of Kitsuchi being rescued by a mysterious powerhouse quickly spread to all parties.

Iwagakure, which had originally quieted down due to the negotiation results and was preparing to withdraw its troops, had its attitude instantly do a one hundred and eighty degree turn.

Part of the compensation materials previously agreed to be delivered were directly withheld. Some troops that had already withdrawn returned to the front lines of the confrontation. The formal armistice agreement that was about to be signed was indefinitely postponed.

The relationship between Konoha and Iwagakure suddenly became tense and hostile again, even more tense and delicate than before.

Konoha Frontline Main Camp, Commander’s Tent.

Jiraiya rubbed his temples. He had just finished a remote communication meeting with the village leadership, and the results were not pleasant.

He stood up and habitually walked towards Sora’s tent.

For some reason, facing this young yet unfathomable subordinate, he always felt he could gain a different perspective.

Or rather, it could slightly calm his restless heart.

Arriving at Sora’s tent and seeing Sora still sitting cross-legged in meditation as usual, Jiraiya inexplicably felt relieved.

"Sora, the situation has changed."

Jiraiya directly sat down cross-legged, getting straight to the point.

"The mountain valley stronghold holding Kitsuchi... was breached. Kitsuchi was rescued."

Sora timely raised his head, showing surprise. "He was rescued? Did Iwagakure deploy large-scale forces?"

Jiraiya shook his head, a grave expression appearing on his face. Even he felt a chill recalling the scenes described in the intelligence report.

"No, not forces. According to survivor accounts and on-site investigation results, there was only one person on the other side."

"One person?" Sora cooperatively voiced his doubt.

"That’s right, one person."

Jiraiya’s voice lowered. "A monster possessing... unimaginable power. He used a power like that of gods and demons, a giant, armored purple giant..."

He paused, observing Sora’s reaction, but the Azure Dragon mask blocked all expression.

Jiraiya hesitated for a moment. Considering Sora’s displayed potential and strength, and his own vague speculation about the ’Child of Prophecy,’ he felt some things might be appropriate for Sora to know.

"That power, according to village records, is called ’Susano’o’. It is one of the supreme ocular techniques of the Uchiha clan’s Sharingan."

The tent fell quiet for a moment.

Sora understood inwardly. Sure enough, the Konoha leadership’s first suspicion had locked onto the Uchiha.

This was practically standard procedure.

He appropriately expressed his "confusion".

"The Uchiha clan? Aren’t they Konoha ninja? Why would they rescue Iwagakure’s Kitsuchi?"

Jiraiya sighed, a complex expression on his face.

"That’s the problem. The Uchiha clan in the village firmly denies it, claiming it absolutely did not happen, and are willing to undergo any investigation. But..."

He shook his head.

"The leadership, especially several advisors, almost certainly believe it was certain radical factions within the Uchiha, or simply the Uchiha clan itself, who did this to stir up the situation, or to display their power to the village. After all, that kind of power, besides the Uchiha, currently has no second source in the ninja world."

Sora remained silent.

Inwardly, he lit a metaphorical candle for the Uchiha clan. This blame falling from the sky was destined for them to carry.

In the original, the Uchiha clan was distrusted and marginalized by the Konoha leadership, ultimately leading to the tragedy of clan extermination.

Now, with "Clan Head" Uchiha Madara personally "helping out," this distrust was pushed to its peak.

’Really, sitting at home, blame falls from the sky.’

Sora shook his head inwardly, but he only expressed a negligible apology in his heart.

The fate of the Uchiha clan had little to do with him, and he would not meddle in idle affairs.

Then, he keenly noticed a detail.

"Elder Danzo... what is his view on this?"

Sora asked as if casually.

Given Danzo’s extreme hostility towards the Uchiha clan, he should be the one jumping the most at this time.

Jiraiya was momentarily taken aback, then showed a strange expression.

"Danzo? He has been surprisingly silent this time. He only expressed support for the Hokage’s decision and did not heavily criticize the Uchiha as usual. It’s said he lost many personnel while carrying out a certain secret mission some time ago, and has been busy reorganizing the Root recently. He might temporarily lack the energy to interfere in this matter."

Sora inwardly laughed heartily.

It seemed that last time, when he almost annihilated the Root elites Danzo sent, really hurt the old man, probably leaving him unable to recover in the short term.

This was good news, one less fly buzzing around all day.

Jiraiya, seeing the silent Sora, thought he was digesting the information, and continued.

"The current situation is troublesome. Iwagakure, with Kitsuchi rescued, has regained its confidence. All previous concessions are void. According to the latest intelligence, Kitsuchi himself has appeared at the Iwagakure frontline main camp. Though still injured, he is clearly in no serious condition."

"Sora, the situation ahead may become even more difficult. Iwagakure is likely to launch retaliatory attacks. I need your strength. I hope you can remain at the front to deal with possible powerful enemies."

Jiraiya’s tone was sincere.

Having witnessed Sora’s strength in a head-on clash with the Third Raikage, he clearly knew this young "Azure Dragon" was an indispensable top-tier combat force for the frontline now.

With him here, Konoha’s defense line would be much more stable.

Sora nodded. "I understand. I will remain on standby."

Receiving the affirmative reply, a trace of a relieved smile appeared on Jiraiya’s face.

"Good. With your word, I am reassured. Rest for now. I need to go deploy defenses and respond to Iwagakure’s counterattack."

After speaking, Jiraiya turned and left the tent.

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