harleyscars Page 111
Page 111
The First and Second Hokage, resurrected through the Edo Tensei technique, were defeated by Madara Uchiha (who controlled Naruto) and Minato Namikaze (a shadow clone).
He himself was barely saved from death by the Sound Four in the devastating explosion.
In the end, they fled in a sorry state, like stray dogs, and their whereabouts became unknown.
Meanwhile, the already decomposed corpse of Rasa, the Kazekage of Sunagakure, was discovered by the remnants of the Sunagakure ninja in a wasteland on the border of the Land of Wind.
The chilling truth shattered all the Sand Ninja's hopes like a hammer blow—
They were manipulated by Orochimaru, not only serving as cannon fodder but also losing their own shadows.
This discovery completely demoralized the remaining Sand Ninja forces.
Faced with the strong cohesion and counterattack momentum shown by Konoha after defeating a powerful enemy.
Under immense pressure, the elders of Sunagakure decisively issued the order to surrender.
Although Orochimaru's surprise attack and the combined efforts of Sunagakure did catch Konoha off guard, causing considerable casualties and damage.
However, Konoha's foundation remains intact, and its core strength still exists.
In particular, the presence of the Third Hokage at crucial moments, the appearance of mysterious reinforcements (Madara and Minato), and the valiant counterattacks of various clans kept the losses within an acceptable range.
In the subsequent negotiations, Konoha displayed the attitude of a victor, but did not simply exert pressure.
Considering that Sunagakure was also a victim of Orochimaru's conspiracy and had lost its Kazekage, it was severely weakened.
After deliberation with the advisory group, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, proposed relatively restrained conditions:
1. The Land of Wind must pay the Land of Fire huge war reparations every year for five consecutive years.
2. Sunagakure must renew its alliance with Konoha and guarantee with the nation's honor that it will never betray Konoha.
3. The Sand Village must pay an extra high "ransom" to retrieve the captured One-Tailed Jinchuriki.
Sunagakure had no choice but to accept it all.
The dawn of peace has returned between the two countries, though this peace is built on ruins and at a heavy price.
The reconstruction of Konoha Village is in full swing.
After obtaining the Third Hokage's permission, Naruto went to the special dungeon where Gaara the Sandstorm was being held.
The heavy iron door opened, revealing a dark and damp cell.
Gaara sat against the wall, his body wrapped in sealing bandages, his eyes empty and wary.
"Yo! Gaara!" Naruto's energetic voice broke the silence.
Gaara raised his head, his eyes cold beneath the blood-red eyeshadow: "Did you come here to laugh at me? Konoha's hero?"
"Brother Anbu, can you open the door? I'll go in and talk to him." Naruto turned to the two Anbu ninjas guarding the door and said.
Anbu A hesitated for a moment: "This..."
Anbu member B was straightforward: "Go ahead. The Third Hokage has ordered that as long as he doesn't cause trouble, let him be."
He gestured for his companion to open the door: "Be careful, call us immediately if there's any problem."
"Okay!" Naruto readily agreed.
The iron gate opened and closed again. Naruto entered the cell and sat down cross-legged under Gaara's wary gaze.
"What do you want?" Gaara's voice was low and hoarse.
"You are the jinchūriki of Shukaku, right?"
Naruto got straight to the point, pointing to his stomach: "I'm also a Jinchūriki, and inside me is the Nine-Tails."
A look of unbelievable absurdity flashed in Gaara's eyes: "You call a monster of destruction... an old man?"
"Haha, it is a little strange,"
Naruto scratched his head and grinned, "But I'm used to calling you that."
He suddenly stretched out his clenched fist towards Gaara: "Here!"
Gaara stared warily at the fist: "What are you doing...?"
"Uncle Nine-Tailed taught me,"
Naruto's eyes were clear and sincere: "Fist bumping means making friends!"
This word was horribly unfamiliar to Gaara, and even more so, it was full of irony.
The monster inside him only brings fear and slaughter.
He remained silent, his gaze shifting between Naruto's smiling face and the outstretched fist with a complex expression.
Ultimately, it was an impulse that even he himself couldn't understand.
Or perhaps it was a desperate attempt to test the waters, causing him to slowly and stiffly raise his bandaged hand.
He clenched his fist and hesitantly touched Naruto's fist.
The instant the two fists touched—
Gaara felt a moment of dizziness, and the scene before his eyes changed instantly!
It was no longer a dark dungeon, but a huge Japanese-style room.
If it weren't for the crimson chakra beneath his feet, he would have thought he had wandered into the wrong place.
An immense and terrifying pressure instantly enveloped him!
"Hey kid, welcome!"
A deafening, mocking voice boomed like thunder!
Gaara suddenly looked up and saw an enormous fox face covered in crimson fur almost right in front of him!
Those blood-red beast eyes, burning with ferocity and cunning, were staring straight at him!
"Wow--!"
Even with Gaara's strong will.
This sudden close-up "face-to-face kill" terrified him, causing him to scream and take several steps back.
"Hahahaha!"
The Nine-Tailed Fox let out a deafening laugh, its massive body swaying slightly with pleasure: "I'm dying of laughter! It clearly has a stupid raccoon locked inside its body, yet it still gets scared by me! Hahahaha!"
"Nine-Tailed Fox, don't scare the guests."
A gentle voice came.
Gaara looked in the direction of the sound and saw a handsome young man wearing a white divine robe and with dazzling blond hair floating not far away, with an apologetic smile on his face.
“Gaara-kun, I’m sorry, my friend here is a bit mischievous.”
"Hmph!" The Nine-Tailed Fox flicked its massive tail and snorted in dissatisfaction.
"It's so boring being around two taciturn old men all day. When a new face finally appears, wouldn't it be a shame not to tease him a bit?"
It glanced meaningfully at the top of its head.
Gaara then noticed that a figure was sitting cross-legged on Kurama's mountain-like head!
The man had long black hair, and his scarlet eyes exuded a cold and majestic aura. Just a glance from him was enough to send a chill down his spine.
He didn't know this person, but he felt that if he said the wrong thing, he would die here today.
"Oh? An old man?"
Madara's voice was deep and tinged with amusement: "You, you scruffy fox, are older than Minato and me combined, aren't you?"
The nine-tailed fox's enormous body seemed to shudder, but it still retorted, "Mind your own business! I'm happy to do it!"
It seemed to remember its business, and impatiently slapped the scarlet "ground" beneath it with its huge paw: "Hey! You stinky cat! Get out here! If you keep playing dead, believe me, I'll drag you out and beat you up!"
"You stinking fox! What's gotten into you now?!"
A sharp, irritable voice rang out.
A gigantic tanuki-like figure formed from sand emerged from the crimson sea of chakra, its single eye blazing with fury: "I was sleeping soundly! What did I do to offend you?!"
"Hehe, you've finally shown yourself!"
A mischievous glint flashed in the Nine-Tails' eyes, and its massive body pounced forward with an agility disproportionate to its size!
"Holy shit! You stinky fox, what are you doing?!"
Caught off guard, Shukaku was tackled to the ground by Kurama.
"What are you doing? I've been holding back for too long! I'll use you to loosen up my muscles!"
With a savage grin, the Nine-Tails mercilessly unleashed a barrage of "friendly" heavy punches on Shukaku's sandbag-like body!
"Ouch! That hurts! You wicked fox! Be gentle!"
"Serves you right for playing dead! Serves you right for not coming out!"
"I'll fight you!"
The two tailed beasts grappled together like they were in a street fight (one-sided beating), with sand and red chakra fragments flying everywhere.
Although Shukaku fought back fiercely, it was no match for Kurama in terms of strength, speed, or "backing".
He was quickly beaten black and blue, and his once solid sand body became somewhat loose.
Chapter 126 Three Old Rogues
"Enough! You stinking fox!"
Shukaku finally managed to break free and roared angrily, "You're just a poor wretch locked up like me, do you think you're so great?!"
Nine-Tailed Fox stood up triumphantly, its massive claws on its hips and chin held high: "That's right! I'm awesome! Look closely at who's sitting on my head!!"
Shukaku covered its swollen "face" and glared angrily at the top of Kurama's head. When it finally saw the figure with long black hair and scarlet eyes...
His eyes widened instantly, and his voice changed tone: "U...U...Uchiha Madara?!"
The nine-tailed fox became even more smug and pointed with its paw at the blond youth next to it: "Take another look and see who this is?"
Shukaku's gaze shifted to Minato, and he gasped again: "Namikaze Minato?!"