Jiraiya drew in a deep breath before speaking.
"According to frontline intelligence, a massive chakra reaction appeared in Kumogakure. And based on ANBU reports… Kumogakure may have already fallen!"
"…"
The moment those words landed, the entire meeting fell into dead silence.
Everyone present froze, unable to find words. It was as if their ears were playing tricks on them.
Kumogakure… had fallen?
But wait—they hadn't even officially gone to war yet. What on earth was going on?!
"You can't be serious, can you?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was the first to recover, though disbelief filled his face.
"What exactly happened? Could it be… Ōtsutsuki Genshiki has arrived?"
That battle between Ōtsutsuki Genshiki and the Akatsuki outside Konoha could only be described as earth-shattering.
With his own power alone, he crushed the entire Akatsuki and even summoned a meteor.
That was nothing like something a human could do.
Even now, the landscape outside Konoha had been drastically altered, making it impossible not to draw such conclusions.
"If he launched a surprise attack on Kumogakure and simply dropped a meteor, there's no way they could have defended against it…"
At that thought, not only Sarutobi Hiruzen, but also Genji and Ōnoki grew visibly grim.
None of them knew how they could possibly deal with an assault from Ōtsutsuki Genshiki.
"It wasn't that guy…"
Just then, as the three men wore their darkest expressions, Jiraiya scratched his head and finally clarified.
"According to ANBU reports from there, the attackers were three people."
"Three?"
Hiruzen and the others stared in shock, exchanging glances. At that moment, Tsunade also spoke up.
"That's right—three. They attacked from the sky, bombarding many of Kumogakure's key facilities and even raiding the Raikage Building."
"…"
"One of them carried out a solo assault, while the other two pressed the attack, using techniques similar to Lava Release and Boil Release."
"…"
At this, Ōnoki and Genji traded a look.
Damn it.
This kind of déjà vu… could it be—
"Then what about the last one?"
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen's body trembled slightly now, his eyes wide with disbelief as he looked at Tsunade and Jiraiya.
"For Kumogakure to fall isn't so simple. Even though their Kage is dead, they have vast experience—and two jinchūriki besides."
"Wood Release."
Tsunade, understanding what Hiruzen was really asking, let out a heavy sigh before speaking with grave solemnity.
"I've already received clear confirmation. It was Wood Release."
"Wood Release?!"
This time, even Ōnoki and Genji gasped sharply. Especially Ōnoki—his eyes widened in disbelief as he turned toward Hiruzen.
"Don't tell me—you're saying he's mastered Wood Release as well?!"
"Gen… that boy never once mentioned anything like this."
Hiruzen could only give a wry smile, his face full of disbelief.
"It's… really confirmed?"
"Yes. Confirmed."
Tsunade nodded. In fact, before coming here, she had been with her two grandparents—it was they who first discovered the problem!
She still couldn't forget the expressions her two grandparents had worn earlier.
That look—terror, shock, and disbelief all mixed together. It was the first time she had ever seen them like that!
"I understand. So the ones left in the village must be clones."
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his brow as he spoke.
"Have their clones come here. Also, notify our forces to make every necessary preparation."
"Got it."
Jiraiya and Tsunade nodded. Ōnoki and Genji, however, still seemed unable to recover their wits.
Anger, yes, there was that—after all, the man they had all but 'appointed' as Kage had slipped away without a word to undertake something so dangerous.
That was outrageous!
But joy too—very real joy. Kumogakure had been taken down so easily?
The word fallen was not something to be thrown around lightly!
Even if they didn't yet know the full state of Kumogakure, by no means could it have been simple.
"What an unorthodox way of waging war… It seems Konoha is truly returning to its former days," Ōnoki let out a wry smile.
Genji, frowning, suddenly asked: "Is Kitagawa Gen part of the Senju clan?"
That question instantly caught Ōnoki's attention too, and he leaned forward, just as curious.
"That…"
Hiruzen froze for a moment, then gave a helpless smile and shook his head.
"I don't know. But even if he isn't, it wouldn't be strange."
"That child's talent is beyond imagination."
Whether or not Kitagawa Gen belonged to the Senju clan—this question wasn't troubling only Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Inside the ANBU research chamber, Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama were both dumbfounded as well.
At this point, neither of them had the mind to continue their research. What they sensed—they hadn't even told Tsunade everything.
"Hey… was that the True Several Thousand Hands?"
After a long silence, Senju Tobirama finally couldn't hold back from asking. Senju Hashirama hesitated, then gave a small nod.
"If I didn't sense wrong… yes. Unbelievable. He can actually wield that kind of power?"
The True Several Thousand Hands—that was his ultimate technique, one he had used only against Uchiha Madara.
The consumption was immense, and the requirements were extremely strict: it could only be performed in conjunction with Sage Mode.
It was precisely because of these harsh conditions that, the instant it was unleashed, he could recognize the signs without fail.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined sensing someone else using this jutsu!
"Big Brother… do you think Gen might actually be one of the Senju?"
Senju Tobirama spoke again after a long silence, his voice low.
"After all… there's Wood Release."
"Not necessarily. Wood Release was just something I created. The fact that he learned it and can use it isn't impossible."
Hashirama hesitated, but in the end shook his head as he answered.
The Senju clan was not famed because of Wood Release. It was only that Senju Hashirama had mastered it, elevating Wood Release to an unfathomable height.
"No matter what the truth is, let's wait until they return before saying more."
Hashirama sighed, but his expression soon grew serious once again.
"Perhaps… that boy Gen really might be able to stand against Ōtsutsuki Genshiki!"
"Mhm."
Senju Tobirama thought back to the devastation outside Konoha—the destruction even greater than what his elder brother and Uchiha Madara's battle had once wrought—and he gave a nod.
"Never imagined that even after Uchiha Madara's death, we'd still face such immense trouble."
"Ōtsutsuki Genshiki… perhaps in the future we truly will have to rely on him."
The sense of pressure Ōtsutsuki Genshiki exuded was simply overwhelming. No matter who it was, even if left unspoken, none could possibly ignore such a terrifying existence.
While all of them were still discussing Kitagawa Gen's Wood Release and the matter of Ōtsutsuki Genshiki—
Inside a mountain cave in the Land of Lightning, Kitagawa Gen stared at his panel, sinking into silence.
[Side Mission Completed: Kumogakure Crush Plan]
[Reward Obtained: Complete Collection of Kumogakure Secret Arts]
'Complete Collection of Kumogakure Secret Arts? You mean those techniques they looted from others?'
Gen looked completely puzzled. He had thought he might obtain the chakra of a tailed beast—yet instead this thing popped up.
He scratched his head helplessly. It wasn't that the jutsu were bad, but what he truly valued was tailed beast chakra!
'Messing with Kumogakure, fine—but to not even get any tailed beast chakra out of it, isn't that a bit much?'
He glanced at Deidara, still bragging excitedly about their spoils, and at Terumi Mei, who sat in silence beside him.
Gen let out a faint sigh, then slowly rose to his feet.
'Then don't blame me. I was planning to just leave it at that. But now it seems…'
'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki… you're coming again.'
"Hey, Gen, where are you going?"
Deidara had just been excitedly recounting how thrilling the whole thing had been, but when he saw Kitagawa Gen suddenly stand up, curiosity got the better of him and he asked.
Right now, he was buzzing with excitement. But it wasn't because the three of them had managed to pull off something so incredible—what thrilled him was the sheer joy of the explosions.
"I'm going out to take a look. After all, this is still Kumogakure's territory."
Gen shrugged as he answered casually.
"Besides, our clones have already relayed the message. The whole village must be in a panic by now. Get some rest—we'll be heading back tomorrow."
"Tch, so we've been found out. Whatever. We finished the mission anyway, hm."
Deidara clicked his tongue in annoyance, but when he recalled the look of utter shock on Ōnoki's face that the clones had seen, he couldn't help but grin.
"And seriously, you're too much. Couldn't you have at least left one for me to play with?"
"It's already good enough that the matter could be settled so easily. What more do you want?"
Terumi Mei spoke up, sounding a little exasperated, though her heart was just as pleased. After all, this time they had truly completed a task that should have been impossible.
"Let's rest up and get back early. By the time we return, the discussions should be nearly done."
"Tch, I couldn't care less about those matters."
Deidara gave a dismissive snort, then looked at Gen curiously.
"Want me to come along with you? Not like we've got anything else to do."
"Forget it. I'll go myself—it won't take long."
Gen immediately shook his head. He had no intention of dragging Deidara with him.
After all, he was going to stir up some trouble, not conduct an actual investigation!
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