"Advisor-sama... Advisor-sama is dead!"
The piercing scream echoed throughout Kirigakure Village. Hearing the distressed cry, the faces of Aoi and Gonbee changed dramatically.
Swoosh!
Swoosh!
The two instantly leaped up, throwing all decorum to the wind.
They left the bewildered and murmuring crowd on the ground behind them.
"Advisor-sama!!!"
Upon entering and seeing the bloody, aged figure slumped in the chair, both their hearts shattered, and their footsteps were momentarily frantic.
"Advisor-sama..."
Gonbee rushed forward to check for breath. He really stopped breathing?!
He exchanged a look with Aoi beside him. In each other's eyes, they saw utter shock and helplessness!
The sky was falling!
These two, especially Gonbee, had followed the Advisor for decades, and their bond was exceptionally deep.
They both knew that Kirigakure's current stability was entirely due to the Advisor's management.
More importantly, given the current international situation—with Kumogakure having completely lost its Jinchūriki and even its Kage dead, and Sunagakure having suffered a devastating defeat—the world was on the brink of war.
In such a turbulent Ninja World, the village, already weakened by the Bloody Mist era, desperately needed an experienced person to take charge and steer the ship!
And yet, the Advisor died at this moment...
Struck as if by lightning, Gonbee stumbled and nearly lost his balance.
"Gonbee-sama!"
Aoi rushed forward to steady him.
Hoo...
Hoo...
Gonbee took a few deep breaths, preventing himself from being consumed by pure rage and grief.
In an instant, he calmed down, and his eyes suddenly became fierce. "Aoi, we must immediately seal the village. This news absolutely cannot get out!"
His ferocious gaze was like a hawk's, and the two doormen felt instantly targeted by a wild beast.
"Yes! Right now!"
Aoi also snapped back to reality. He immediately rushed downstairs to find trusted ninjas and Anbu to begin issuing commands.
Regardless of anything else, the news of the Advisor's death had to be contained within Kirigakure.
Furthermore, a manhunt for Ao had to be launched immediately.
Though it seemed suspicious, they had to capture him first, regardless of the reason!
After Aoi left, Gonbee's eyes cut like a knife toward the two guards. These two would also need to be investigated.
At the same time, downstairs, the scene was already in utter chaos!
"Did I hear wrong? Advisor-sama..."
"Advisor-sama is dead?"
Someone gasped. "That... that must be fake, right?"
"The one who jumped out was Ao-sama. He was arguing with the Advisor. It can't be that Ao-sama killed the Advisor, right? Why would he?"
"Didn't you hear just now? Ao wanted Terumī Mei to be the Mizukage, but Advisor-sama favored Zabuza-sama."
"This..."
Someone who heard this reason stuttered continuously, unable to utter another word.
But, how could their respected Advisor-sama just die like that?
He couldn't believe it, and no one else could accept it either.
Suddenly.
Aoi leaped down from upstairs, his stern eyes sweeping over the crowd. He finally spotted an Anbu member.
"Aoi-san!"
"Aoi-sama."
The Anbu named Aoi-san, a young man with a very honest face, stepped out of the crowd.
"Gather all Anbu and block all information regarding the recent incident.
"Also, launch a full-scale search for Ao!"
"Yes!" Aoi-san vanished with a swoosh.
Aoi was also preparing to leave to take charge of the situation, but he glanced coldly at the dozens of ninjas present. "You all know how to keep a secret, don't you?"
"Understood! Aoi-sama!" xN
Swoosh!
After Aoi left, everyone exchanged glances, immediately realizing that what had just happened was likely true.
On a nearby rooftop.
Naruto stood quietly and coldly.
His figure seemed to blend with the surroundings, completely inconspicuous, yet he had witnessed everything that transpired.
"So they're actually trying to suppress the news just like that?"
A hunting smile curled on Naruto's lips. "Too bad. I won't let you get away with being so calm."
He opened the chat interface.
[Uzumaki Great Unification: Advisor's Death.jpg]
Naruto sent the photos, taken using the game camera, to Tetsuchu.
[Uzumaki Great Unification: Tomorrow, I want this news to be known by absolutely everyone in the Ninja World!]
[Mizunuki Tetsuchu: Understood, Boss!]
Closing the chat interface, a glint of amusement flashed in Naruto's eyes.
"Kirigakure... a storm is coming~"
Swoosh!
After a flash of light, Naruto disappeared.
The news that Kirigakure Village desperately wanted to suppress would spread across the world with extreme speed tomorrow, thanks to the assist from Naruto and the news conglomerate!
Of course, as beta testers, Konoha already knew the news that very night.
That night, Konoha Village.
Peaceful and harmonious Konoha was draped in a night veil. Lights glowed in every home, and the shopping district was still bustling.
Meanwhile, Tsunade, the Hokage, was miserably working overtime in the Hokage Tower, sorting out the complex affairs after the transfer of power.
"Knock, knock—"
A knock suddenly sounded at the door.
"Come in!"
Tsunade was too busy to look up, her head still buried in the stack of documents on her chest.
"Tsunade-sama!"
An Anbu member entered. "A message from Root—the Advisor of Kirigakure was killed by the Kirigakure Jonin Ao. Ao is currently being fully hunted by Kirigakure!"
"What?"
Tsunade looked up, startled, her face filled with disbelief.
After familiarizing herself with the situation over the past few days, she remembered that the Advisor was a figure equivalent to the Mizukage in Kirigakure. And Ao was the one who famously acquired a Byakugan during the war, wasn't he?
Why would the 'Byakugan-wielder' Ao suddenly assassinate the Advisor and flee?
Tsunade momentarily wondered if she had become confused from working too long!
"Say that again!"
"The Kirigakure Jonin Ao killed the Kirigakure Advisor and fled. He is currently being fully pursued by Kirigakure!"
"Thump—"
Tsunade slammed her fist on the desk!
This was truly unexpected!
But...
What would happen next?
She had a rough guess, but with so many major events recently—the chaos in the Land of Lightning's Kumogakure and Sunagakure's defeat—she couldn't precisely determine the immediate outcome.
"Quickly get the Third Hokage and the Jonin Commander Nara Shikaku over here for consultation!"
"Also..."
As the Anbu was about to leave, she called out again, "Have Naruto come here as well."
"Yes!"
Naruto himself was, of course, not in the village; he was resting comfortably at his vacation hotel!
This entire matter was being handled by Uzumaki Takenoko (Naruto's clone).
The lights in the Hokage Tower remained lit until dawn.
The Next Day.
A news story appearing on the front page spread across the world like an earthquake!
The Ninja World Daily:[Kirigakure in Chaos: Jonin Ao Murders Leader Advisor and Vanishes]
As the most authoritative newspaper in the Ninja World, The Ninja World Daily remained quite 'neutral'—as long as Naruto's interests were not involved!
Of course, it was only seemingly neutral, but actually very un-neutral!
The Land of Water Observer:[Insane! Ao Murders Advisor-sama on the Spot to Make Terumī Mei Mizukage!]
As the 'war front' newspaper, The Land of Water Observer naturally included a lot of personal bias.
The 'Advisor-sama' was referred to affectionately, and the article praised the Advisor's achievements, making it seem highly respectful.
It even immediately held an 'online' funeral for the Advisor.
However, the second half focused heavily on the point that 'Ao did this to make Terumī Mei Mizukage.'
The great Advisor-sama was brutally murdered by the criminal 'Ao'! Ao is utterly despicable!
What about Terumī Mei behind Ao, or rather, that woman?
The Land of Water Observer didn't state it directly.
But in the conclusion, it sarcastically noted: Who knows what role that woman played behind the scenes?
Alas~
Our beloved Advisor-sama! You will forever live in our hearts!
The entire article never mentioned Terumī Mei by name, yet it spoke only of her.
The Land of Waves Times:[Shock! A Jonin Kills a Kage Over THIS Kind of Issue!]
The Land of Lightning Honest Man Report:[Appalling! Kirigakure in Turmoil, Jonin Assassinate Kage-level Elder!]
With the arrival of the second day, countless people saw this news story.
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