bioinnovel Chapter 237 Hiruzen Sarutobi... Gone Mad
Chapter 237 Hiruzen Sarutobi... Gone Mad
More than a month passed quietly amidst the clamor and discussions in the ninja world.
The novel series "The Legend of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama" has been published in all three volumes, and the manga series has also begun serialization.
The entire ninja world seemed to be swept up in a "Madara-Hashirama craze," with students at the Land of Fire Ninja Academy sitting in groups during breaks, debating "Who is stronger, Uchiha Madara or Senju Hashirama?"
Inside the Water Kingdom's palace, Kazami Tomohiko held the latest public opinion report, his face full of excitement: "Your Highness, the novel's sales have exceeded 360 million copies, and the premium edition of the manga is completely sold out! The novel's net profit is estimated to be over 39 billion ryo."
As Uchiha Mitsunori flipped through the report, his fingertip paused on the entry for "students reached a consensus," a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
The seeds of cultural infiltration have begun to sprout.
Nara Shikaku, standing to the side, added, "However, the commotion in the Land of Fire is the most peculiar. The common people are discussing it enthusiastically, but the noble circles are unusually quiet, as if they are deliberately avoiding it..."
Before he could finish speaking, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.
A Uchiha assassin suddenly appeared: "Daimyo! Something has happened in the Land of Fire! Hiruzen Sarutobi... He killed the entire family of Prince Enichi and declared himself the new Daimyo of the Land of Fire!"
These words struck like a thunderbolt, freezing everyone in the hall in place.
"The Sarutobi clan has moved into the royal palace of the Land of Fire! The entire Land of Fire is in chaos, with nobles chanting 'Kill the traitors!'"
Uchiha Mitsunori awakens the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan and uses the eye technique: God's Eye.
He first saw several fleeing Sarutobi tribesmen being caught up by bounty hunters in the mountains and forests, their blood staining the grass red from the fierce battle.
Meanwhile, in the Fire Kingdom's palace.
A large number of ninjas who followed Hiruzen Sarutobi in his rebellion are now indulging in debauchery within the harem.
Deep within the palace, the lights in several courtyards remained on all night.
Some members of the Sarutobi clan were discussing whether Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had gone mad, should run away together.
An elder of the Sarutobi clan exclaimed, "He's gone mad... The clan head has truly gone mad. Killing a prince and declaring himself daimyo—this is a crime punishable by the extermination of the clan! If we don't leave now, we'll all be buried with him!"
Upon hearing this, several middle-aged Sarutobi clan members immediately nodded.
"Elder, I've felt something was wrong for a while now! A few days ago, the clan chief ordered us to secretly monitor the princes, saying he wanted to 'clean up the parasites of the Fire Kingdom.' Now that I think about it, he's completely blinded by power!"
Without further hesitation, the group quickly packed their valuables, took off their tribal robes symbolizing the Sarutobi clan, changed into ordinary people's coarse cloth clothes, and slipped out of the clan's territory through the back door under the cover of night.
They dared not take the main roads, opting instead for mountain trails, hoping to leave the Land of Fire as soon as possible and escape to a place where no one knew the Sarutobi Clan.
What they didn't know was that long before the news of Hiruzen Sarutobi declaring himself daimyo spread, the underground bounty offices in the ninja world had already updated their bounty posters.
A list made of black iron hung in the center of the black market, with the words written in scarlet ink: "The entire Sarutobi clan, regardless of age, will be offered a starting price of 50 taels for their heads, with a maximum of 3500 million taels."
The list was surrounded by ninjas and mercenaries from various countries. Some were eager to fight, while others frowned and discussed, "They've even put bounties on children? Are they trying to wipe them out?"
No one dared to question that Hiruzen Sarutobi's rebellion had touched the sore spot of all forces, and "cutting the weeds and eliminating the roots" had long become the tacit rule of the ninja world.
Deep within the palace of the Fire Kingdom, Hiruzen Sarutobi was enjoying himself on the daimyo's throne, embracing two concubines.
A strange smile played on his lips; he paid no heed to the crisis within his clan or the bounty placed on him by outsiders.
Nara Shikaku said in a deep voice, "Treason is the Achilles' heel of nobles. The world of the Land of Fire is about to change, and the Sarutobi family will not escape unscathed. With the black market bounty on their heads, even if Sarutobi Hiruzen is killed, his family members will be hunted down to the bitter end."
After pondering for three seconds, Uchiha Mitsumine said, "Pass on my order: contact Enchi Kou, the fifth prince of the Land of Fire. Have him deliver a message to the second, third, and fourth princes. Hiruzen Sarutobi killed the eldest prince and declared himself daimyo, which is a grave crime. Now is the perfect opportunity to divide up the eldest prince's power. Also, summon Kakashi to see me immediately!"
A moment later, Minato Namikaze appeared inside the hall with Kakashi.
"Your Highness, you wanted to see me?"
Uchiha Mitsunori looked at him, his divine eyes flickering slightly, as if he were reminiscing about an old friend: "You should already know about the events in the Land of Fire. Hiruzen Sarutobi plotted treason and murdered his lord, becoming an enemy of the ninja world. And he was also the culprit who forced your father, Hatake Sakumo, to his death."
Kakashi's body stiffened abruptly, remembering how his father had been criticized for his choice of "missions and comrades" years ago.
It was eventually discovered that the father's high achievements threatened the emperor, and Hiruzen Sarutobi manipulated public opinion, ultimately threatening the father with his own life to force him to commit suicide.
He never forgot this incident.
Uchiha Mitsumine's voice carried a hint of killing intent: "I'll give you a chance. Go to the Land of Fire, kill Hiruzen Sarutobi with your own hands, and avenge your father."
Kakashi slowly raised his head, his eyes resolute: "Yes, Your Highness, I will certainly complete the mission!"
Before long, the news reached the four princes.
When they learned that the great names of the Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Wind all approved of their plan, their joy was indescribable.
Then, the four princes immediately began to act.
They led their respective armies like a surging torrent, rushing towards the territory that was originally the eldest prince's.
Along the way, the garrison and officers of many cities surrendered without a fight upon seeing the armies of the four princes.
In just a few days, the allied forces, as if divinely aided, reached the capital of the Fire Kingdom, Daming Prefecture.
Meanwhile, the situation inside the palace was quite perplexing.
There was no tension here; instead, a pervasive atmosphere of decadence and depravity prevailed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to completely disregard the enemy forces outside the city and the crisis within his clan.
The palace reeked of alcohol, and Hiruzen Sarutobi lay disheveled on the throne.
He was still holding two princesses in his arms, a sickly smile on his face: "My three sons are all dead... You don't deserve to live either... Unification? It's nothing but a conspiracy by the Water Kingdom... You will all die sooner or later... You will all die!"
The princesses trembled with fear, but dared not resist.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's temperament has changed drastically in the past few days. He will kill people at the slightest dissatisfaction, and the area outside the hall is already piled with corpses.
In the corridor outside the main hall, several Sarutobi Clan guards were pacing anxiously. They had just received news from within the clan that a bounty had been placed on the head of the entire clan, but none of them dared to go in and persuade their clan leader.
The clansman who had tried to persuade him had already been burned to a crisp by his fire escape technique.
Outside the city, the second prince looked at the tightly closed city gates and sneered, "Hiruzen Sarutobi, has he given up all hope? He hasn't even bothered to guard the city gates?"
The third prince frowned slightly: "The more insane he becomes, the less we can allow him to live. Today we must break through the palace, kill this traitor, and then we can discuss how to divide the territory..."