Chapter 488

Of course, considering that this reputation didn't sound very good, Koharu Utatane had a sudden idea and hoped that Iwagakure could cooperate with Konoha to jointly resist the Land of Lightning.

That is, Kumogakure!

The Iwagakure delegation considered it for a moment and finally agreed.

After all.

Since the attack on Konoha had failed, and they didn't require compensation, it was certainly worth considering fighting Kumogakure together.

Not to mention.

Iwagakure and Kumogakure were mortal enemies to begin with!

As the sun set behind the mountains, Hiruzen Sarutobi set off personally to see the Iwagakure delegation off.

At the gates of Konoha.

Watching the backs of the Iwagakure delegation leaving, and looking at the sunset filling the sky, a faint smile curled at the corner of Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth.

"Hmm, not bad!"

"Finally solved a worry!"

"With Iwagakure cooperating to resist Kumogakure, and Kirigakure helping to resist Sunagakure, the end of the war is near."

"Once the war is over, I can retire."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said softly.

He looked full of emotion.

Yes.

Only he knew in his heart that since Sakumo Hatake's suicide, his reputation in the village had begun to decline.

Many ninja clans had quite a few complaints about him.

Immediately after.

With the start of the Third Great Ninja War, the huge death rate of ninja academy students made countless civilians unhappy with him as well.

If it weren't for the Will of Fire being used as a fig leaf to brainwash them, these civilian ninjas might have already reached their limit!

Developing to the present, Uchiha Jin's rise.

And the several confrontations with the Konoha higher-ups, the ninja clans were even more restless.

The Aburame and Inuzuka clans had high-profile choices to join the Uchiha camp.

Although other ninja clans hadn't made a move yet, it was imaginable that they must have already had similar preparations in secret.

Once the situation went wrong, they would definitely change sides.

All these things made Hiruzen Sarutobi truly tired.

He knew in his heart.

If this continued, the Uchiha might really rise.

And his reputation was already hard to change, so he had to choose to take a step back voluntarily.

Voluntarily abdicate, support a puppet, and move from the light to the shadows.

Put Minato Namikaze, a puppet with a good reputation, directly on the front stage of Konoha, while Konoha's power would still be firmly held in his own hands.

With Minato Namikaze there, the Uchiha would have no excuse to attack.

The major ninja clans wouldn't easily support the Uchiha, and he could continue to hide behind the scenes, firmly holding the power of the entire village, and let Konoha continue to operate according to his own ideas.

"Koharu, Homura!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile: "The future of Konoha will depend on you two."

"After this war ends, you must support Minato well."

"He is still young and needs the guidance of his elders."

"I've been busy for so many years, it's time for me to have a good rest."

"You two, keep it up!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was relaxed.

His idea was actually very simple, because he knew that signing this peace agreement would definitely require these two old friends to take the blame.

So, give them some benefits.

He even explicitly told them that even if he retired in the future, they would still be the real-power elders of Konoha.

But, it was a pity.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado didn't feel his good intentions.

They simply thought this was a warning to them.

Don't think that just because I retire, you two will dare to disobey.

There is a price for everything.

If you don't want to be real-power elders of Konoha, there are plenty of people who can replace you.

So, be obedient and there will be candy.

Otherwise.

He, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had plenty of ways to handle these two elders.

"Hiruzen, don't worry."

"We will cultivate Minato well."

The two said quickly.

They looked humble, appearing as if they followed Hiruzen Sarutobi's lead.

However, in their hearts.

They had long hated Hiruzen Sarutobi to death; their eyes flickered non-stop, and they were thinking about how to stimulate Danzo a little after getting off work, so as to stab Hiruzen Sarutobi in the back.

Boom!

At this moment, a loud noise came.

They turned their heads subconsciously, and then saw outside the village.

At the edge of the Forest of Death, two huge energy giants were fighting crazily.

One blood-red giant, one purple giant.

Every collision between them produced a huge roar.

Large swaths of forest were destroyed, and the earth kept cracking.

"Uchiha! Susanoo!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered.

His expression instantly became extremely gloomy, and his whole body even began to tremble slightly.

Yes.

They were disciples of Tobirama Senju and had seen Uchiha Madara's power with their own eyes; in particular, one of their fellow disciples, Kagami Uchiha, was one of the Mangekyo holders.

Susanoo was certainly no stranger to them.

But the problem was.

The two Mangekyo holders of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Jin and Shisui, why would they suddenly start fighting?

Wait...

Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi reacted instantly.

Holy crap!

Last night, in order to stabilize Shisui, he seemed to have indeed promised to support him.

So...

Shisui, this guy, wouldn't have acted directly, would he?

Damn it.

Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's scalp felt like it was going to explode.

I was just fooling you, I just wanted to stabilize you!

Before thoroughly investigating your situation, and before Shikaku Nara, the strategist, returned, I never thought about truly bringing you into my own ranks, okay?

That statement last night, I was just saying empty words!

If you can't even understand that, are you a stupid pig?

But, forget it.

Because Hiruzen Sarutobi reacted instantly, it seemed that apart from Jin, who was a freak, the brains of other Uchiha were simple to the extreme.