NOVEL WEB Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Confrontation
Over the past two days, Sakumo Hatake had gained some understanding of Kato Eirei's status within the Hidden Hot Spring Village.
To put it bluntly, Fuu Akimoto's ascension to leadership of the Hidden Hot Spring Village at such a young age was largely due to his mother's identity.
This wasn't exclusive to the Hidden Hot Spring Village; similar factors also influenced the selection of Hokage in Konoha.
Take the Third Hokage, for example. Though the Sarutobi Clan behind him could not rival the Uchiha or Hyuga Clans, it was still a major clan within Konoha.
Moreover, the Third was a direct disciple of both the First and Second Hokages.
Of course, these were only partial factors in becoming a village leader. Most crucially, one needed formidable strength.
Sakumo Hatake knew he couldn't afford to act recklessly—if Kato Eirei were to die because of him,
Then the Hidden Hot Spring Village and Konoha would inevitably fall into bitter conflict.
Yet he couldn't simply allow Tachiyama Shinsaburo to take away the leader's mother before his very eyes either.
"Crackle!"
Lightning surged violently around the white Chakra Blade, unleashing a thunderous roar. Before everyone stood several followers of the Evil Cult blocking Tachiyama Shinsaburo—who were instantly reduced to ashes.
Dozens fell in an instant, shocking all present.
Tachiyama Shinsaburo's expression darkened as he coldly said, "Sakumo Hatake, aren't you afraid this will provoke hatred from the Hidden Hot Spring Village toward Konoha?"
Sakumo Hatake gripped his tanto firmly, meeting his gaze calmly as he replied, "I certainly am afraid. However, if I stand here while you take away the mother of the Hidden Hot Spring Village's leader, don't you think that responsibility cannot be shifted from my shoulders?"
"So what do you intend to do then?" Furrowing his brow, Tachiyama Shinsaburo realized—Hatake Sakumo was indeed a difficult opponent.
Lifting his gaze, Sakumo Hatake locked eyes with Tachiyama Shinsaburo's unnaturally pale face and said, "Since your ritual hasn't been completed yet, surely you understand what I mean—if I wished to kill you now, even surrounded by this rabble, it wouldn't take me longer than a minute..."
"You won't live long enough to leave, even if you obtain the Bloodthirsty Sickle of Three Moons."
He lifted the white Chakra tanto and aimed it squarely at Tachiyama Shinsaburo.
At that moment, Sakumo Hatake resembled a tiger ready to pounce—an invincible force none would dare challenge.
"My condition is simple: let Leader Fuu speak with you in person. Surely, that's exactly what you want?"
Making his terms clear, Sakumo Hatake emphasized—he held no authority to make any decisions himself.
The abduction of Kato Eirei was not his responsibility either. Oshima Reina had been personally assigned by Fuu Akimoto as her protector.
Upon hearing this, Tachiyama Shinsaburo readily agreed, "Fine. Let him come."
That was precisely the move he needed to make anyway. Kidnapping Kato Eirei ultimately aimed to force Fuu Akimoto into handing over the Bloodthirsty Sickle of Three Moons. This shortcut saved him much trouble.
Once he obtained it, he could immediately complete the ritual. Delay meant danger.
Turning to one of the Hot Spring Ninja, he sneered, "Bring your foolish leader here."
"Crack! Crack!"
The Hot Spring Village Ninja clenched his teeth in frustration, but with his wife being held hostage by Oshima Reina, he had no choice but to comply. He pulled out a bamboo tube from his robe, opened it, and immediately launched a signal flare into the sky.
At the same time, one of Tachiyama Shinsaburo's Cult of the Evil God followers made a similar move.
"Bang! Bang!"
The two distinctly different signal flares shot up together. The warring factions engaged in fierce battle across the Hidden Hot Spring Village stopped fighting at once upon seeing them.
The difference was this: shortly afterward, the expressions of the Hot Spring Village Ninja turned anxious while the Cult of the Evil God followers became even more frenzied, bursting into loud laughter.
At the main entrance of the village, Fuu Akimoto, who had been locked in combat with Ryo Yagura, also changed expression dramatically when he saw the flare.
"Boom!"
Taking advantage of his distraction, Ryo Yagura threw a heavy punch. Caught off guard, Fuu Akimoto barely blocked the blow with the black longsword in his hand.
The Wind Release chakra on the blade burst apart, sending Fuu skidding back nearly ten meters. The impact left his arms numb, but he had no time to dwell on it now.
Because the signal flare signaled the worst possible outcome.
Had the Shelter really fallen?
That couldn't be possible—he knew clearly that Sakumo Hatake was guarding there while Ryo Yagura himself was kept occupied right here.
Within the Cult of the Evil God, there simply shouldn't be anyone powerful enough to threaten the Shelter under Sakumo Hatake's watchful eyes.
"All of you, stop fighting and regroup!" Fuu Akimoto shouted. His eyes were beginning to turn red, but he hadn't completely lost his senses yet and issued the command calmly.
Meanwhile, after seeing another signal flare, the Cult of the Evil God followers gathered together voluntarily as well.
Thus, both sides lined up behind Ryo Yagura and Fuu Akimoto respectively, facing each other in tense confrontation.
Minato's white clothes were now stained with blood and bore several rips from combat.
Though his speed was fast, being vastly outnumbered meant he'd taken a few unexpected hits—though only one minor cut had actually penetrated deep enough to matter, not affecting his ability to fight.
He understood the meaning of that flare as well, his face quickly showing disbelief.
Who else but Ryo Yagura could have threatened the Shelter right under Master Sakumo's nose?
It would take nothing less than a Kage from one of the Five Great Ninja Nations to accomplish such a feat...
Fuu Akimoto and Ryo Yagura stood facing each other. Though filled with urgency inside, the former dared not make the first move—if he did, Ryo Yagura's forces would immediately strike from behind at the Hot Spring Village Ninja ranks.
As their leader, he couldn't afford to act on impulse.
"Move out."
In contrast, Ryo Yagura looked completely unconcerned, saying indifferently before leading his group of Evil God Cult followers westward toward the Hidden Hot Spring Village.
Fuu Akimoto frowned but immediately gave chase.
Even now, his mind still struggled to grasp what exactly had happened back at the Shelter.
Across the entire Hidden Hot Spring Village, both the Hot Spring Village Ninja and the Cult of the Evil God followers converged toward the western Shelter.
The two opposing factions were rapidly growing as more people gathered, while Oshima Reina, who was holding Kato Eirei hostage, found herself caught right in the middle. Standing directly in front of her was Sakumo Hatake, his eyes fixed intently on Tachiyama Shinsaburo.
Faced with Sakumo, Tachiyama Shinsaburo naturally dared not act recklessly.
The Hot Spring Village ninja were gradually grasping the situation, their eyes burning with hatred as if they wanted to tear Oshima Reina apart limb from limb. Yet she remained utterly unmoved by their murderous glares.
Just then, a tall and sharply built man suddenly rushed out from the crowd. When he saw what was happening, disbelief immediately flooded his face.
"Reina, what exactly are you doing?" Fuu Akimoto's voice was hoarse, his eyes bloodshot.
Oshima Reina, however, calmly shifted his mother—the hostage—slightly aside and answered with a cold, distant tone like that of a complete stranger.
"As you can see, your mother is now my hostage."
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