Chapter 84: Could It Possibly Be the Hidden Leaf Attacking?

The next morning.

Sasuke Uchiha woke early and rushed toward the Naka River Grand Hotel.

He was eager to meet Itachi Uchiha and make him taste the gift he had prepared.

Upon arriving at the Naka River Grand Hotel, Sasuke had barely met the Fawu Force ninja sent to guide him when he blurted out his question.

“Where is Itachi Uchiha’s cell?”

The Fawu Force ninja blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.

He studied Sasuke with a puzzled look.

“Itachi don’t know?”

“Yesterday, Itachi Uchiha left the Naka River Grand Hotel and joined the newly formed Akatsuki unit.”

He paused briefly, then added: “I heard all members of this squad are former inmates from the Naka River Grand Hotel.”

Hearing this, Sasuke was struck like lightning, frozen in place.

His eyes widened in disbelief, his lips trembling, but no sound came out.

What?

Itachi Uchiha already left?

So I came all this way for nothing?

Instantly, Sasuke’s face twisted with rage.

…

As Sasuke Uchiha raged helplessly,

Luo Jie had already arrived within the Land of Earth with his newly formed Akatsuki team.

The Hidden Stone Village was within reach.

Why so fast?

Of course—the Rabbit Talisman!

Faster than light, crossing time and space.

Do Itachi even understand the value of the Rabbit Talisman?

With the Rabbit Talisman’s power, Luo Jie and the Akatsuki members crossed into the Land of Earth in just half a day.

Yet, just before reaching the Hidden Stone Village, Luo Jie suddenly halted.

“Rest for a moment. We’re about to enter the Hidden Stone Village—to pay Old Man Tsuchikage a warm visit.”

Nagato, Konan, and Itachi Uchiha immediately found spots to sit and took a brief rest.

Luo Jie used the time to devise his battle plan.

He pointed at the three of them and said: “Once we arrive, don’t hold back—just create chaos.”

“Tsuchikage and the village’s jinchuriki—I’ll handle them.”

All three knew Luo Jie’s strength; they didn’t think he was boasting.

After all, even Nagato with his Rinnegan had once been treated like a punching bag.

So they nodded without hesitation, understanding Luo Jie’s orders.

Of course, in Luo Jie’s eyes, the three of them were just the atmosphere team, there to cheer him on from the sidelines.

After all, how can Itachi show off without an audience?

Once the Hidden Stone Village surrenders, make each of them write at least ten articles praising me.

…

The Hidden Stone Village.

The future Fourth Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi, trailed closely behind Tsuchikage.

The scene resembled an intern forced to follow her boss.

Under the sunlight, her long, straight legs stood out strikingly.

No wonder they called her the First Leg Tsuchikage—she could probably support the entire village with a leg modeling channel.

“Grandpa, as the village’s Kage, why must Itachi personally lead the ninja army? Can’t Father do it?”

Legplaygirl asked with concern.

Tsuchikage grunted at his granddaughter’s question, his old spine creaking in protest.

“According to intelligence, that brat from the Hidden Leaf isn’t ordinary—he has real strength. Your father isn’t his match.”

He paused, then added: “By the way, where’s Han? Bring him here.”

In Tsuchikage’s view, though the Fifth Hokage was formidable,

the Hidden Leaf had just suffered the Leaf Collapse Plan, with the Third Hokage killed in battle.

Then came internal chaos, with many high-ranking ninja dead or wounded—its strength was severely weakened.

With the Hidden Stone Village’s current power, victory wasn’t impossible.

Moreover, combining Hidden Stone intelligence with the events of the Nine-Tails’ attack on the Hidden Leaf,

Tsuchikage concluded the Hidden Leaf’s current jinchuriki had not yet matured.

Thus, the Hidden Leaf had lost one of its top fighters.

But most crucially, the Hidden Stone Village could not remain passive while the Hidden Leaf seized the Land of Rain.

It was like a neighbor stealing your electric scooter and calling it “shared economy.”

How could Itachi tolerate that?

If the Hidden Leaf can easily take the Land of Rain today, what will they try tomorrow?

Invade the Land of Earth?

Just as Tsuchikage was about to check on the ninja army’s assembly,

a deafening explosion erupted at the Hidden Stone Village’s gate.

Tsuchikage frowned, puzzled.

What happened?

Did the storage depot for explosive tags blow up?

But the sound’s location didn’t match.

Could it possibly be the Hidden Leaf attacking?

Even lightning strikes don’t move this fast.

Tsuchikage immediately activated a ninjutsu.

Earth Release: Ultra-Light-Heavy Rock Technique!

His body was lifted by an invisible force, speeding toward the village gate.

“Grandpa!”

Kurotsuchi snapped back to reality, watching her grandfather depart, her white, long legs blurring as she sprinted after him.

…

At the Hidden Stone Village’s gate, chaos reigned.

The village gate had vanished.

More accurately, it had been physically opened.

Luo Jie stood arms crossed, hovering above the ruins, calmly observing the approaching Stone ninja.

He had already entered Demon Chakra Mode.

This form fused the Chakra of the Fire Demon and the Chakra of the Mountain Demon—a stitched-together monstrosity.

Luo Jie’s demon cloak, built upon the foundation of a wizard’s robe, now incorporated elements of samurai armor, perfectly inheriting the powers of the Demon King and Bōgan.

As chakra continuously drained, the demon cloak grew alive, swelling and expanding into a towering structure, resembling Susano’o.

If Susano’o was the original Gundam, this was the rich kid’s upgraded version.

Itachi Uchiha stood nearby, gazing upward at Luo Jie, his eyes filled with confusion.

What? The Fifth Hokage can use Susano’o?

I heard the Hokage was an orphan.

Could it be… the Hokage is from the Uchiha clan?

I’ll need to check the clan genealogy tonight—see if any illegitimate children were lost.

But the moment this thought surfaced, Itachi crushed it.

Could Itachi even think that?

It’s not right.

Though strikingly similar, this is definitely not Susano’o.

No wonder the Fifth Hokage—without Mangekyo Sharingan, he still wields such power.

At that moment, Tsuchikage’s short figure sped closer.

He looked up and saw a boy in the Hokage robe and hat, floating above the Hidden Stone Village.

Has the Hidden Leaf really attacked?

Tsuchikage’s heart jolted.

But he quickly calmed.

After all, he was an old veteran of the Great Ninja Wars—he still had composure.

(End of Chapter)