Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 138 Sarutobi Enters the Arena, Cage Adds Fire

No one knows what happened in that battle, only that both sides suffered losses. On Konoha's side, the Third Hokage was injured, and many Anbu ninjas died.

Fortunately, the two girls and one boy were successfully rescued. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, finally followed the Will of Fire he had created, protecting the genius and ensuring the safe growth of the next generation.

The Third Raikage also suffered several minor injuries, and only four of the Anbu ninja he brought with him returned.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Teams A and B are still locked in a standoff with Fugaku Uchiha.

After returning to his camp, the Third Raikage did not retreat. Instead, he steadily advanced, gradually encroaching on the border of the Land of Fire.

Although the Uchiha clan was able to resist, Fugaku's eyesight had begun to decline due to the long-term depletion of his Sharingan.

"Chief, this can't go on," a tribesman pleaded. "Our people have sacrificed too much and can't hold on any longer."

Yes, it's just an elder position. The Uchiha clan has sacrificed far too many lives, so many that he's almost gone blind.

However, the position of Konoha Elder is still undecided. Hiruzen Sarutobi has only talked about it and has not yet taken any action. How can the Elder Council be established?

The exact duties and powers of the elders were never explained; all that was said was a dry statement: "I want to establish a council of elders, and I want to divide power."

Sometimes he wondered if this was a carrot thrown by Hiruzen Sarutobi to keep their ninja clan hanging, forcing them to endure and desperately expend their energy, and desperately fight for it.

Fugaku Uchiha remained silent for a moment, then finally sighed, "Let's ask the Hokage for help."

When the news reached Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally couldn't sit still any longer.

Just a few days ago, he defeated the Third Raikage and rescued the Uchiha clan leader's fiancée, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and a genius disciple.

He hadn't figured out how to arrange things yet, but he didn't expect the Raikage to be still launching a fierce attack so soon.

"I can't take it off any more." After looking at the information that had been sent back, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag on his cigarette, threw down his pipe, took off his Hokage robe, and put on his long-unused battle armor.

His gaze was intense as he looked into the distance. "This time, I must personally intervene and quickly end this pointless conflict. Shinnosuke, this is the limit of what your father can do for you."

He silently prayed to himself, because this was the first time he had used public office to avenge himself by using Konoha's help. But this time he had caused serious damage to Konoha. However, he did not regret it, otherwise he would not have been worthy of being a father!

"Land of Grass, Land of Rain, Shiraki, Hanzo of the Salamander, haven't you been forcing me to take action? This time, I'll show you what I'm capable of."

However, before the battle, he still sent a message to his three disciples.

This time he did not require them to fight; he simply kept a sliver of hope that the bond between master and disciples would remain.

However, he was still met with disappointment.

Of the three disciples, only one arrived—Orochimaru, who was injured while researching and was temporarily unable to use his martial arts.

It's still Tsunade creating the medical system. Recently, she's been writing textbooks and adapting ninjutsu. She's also become a bit obsessed, starting to promote the idea that medicine can save lives, save the world, and maintain peace.

Immature, not mature at all!

What's even more regrettable is that Jiraiya still doesn't know where he is. The only person who can contact him is Orochimaru, who only delivers messages for him and never tells him where Jiraiya is.

Again, he doubted himself, wondering where he had gone wrong, and ultimately, he became estranged from his three disciples.

But it doesn't matter, he's not old yet, he can still fight.

Konoha will always be the strongest in the ninja world, and its dignity will not allow it to be challenged. This time, he must act swiftly and decisively to deter all powerful enemies.

Only in this way can Konoha recuperate and rest.

So this time, he gathered three hundred Sarutobi clan ninjas, reportedly emptying his coffers.

Seeing this, the other clans dared not be negligent. After all, the Hokage was representing Konoha and had brought out the full strength of his clan. If they didn't act now, when would they? They also unleashed their hidden power.

The Aburame clan mobilized 50 clan ninjas and prepared to use their secret battlefield weapon—the Poison Pot Technique.

The current head of the Kurama clan no longer concealed his strength. He was already half-mad, and rather than live like this, he would rather go to the battlefield and fight for a position as an elder for the clan.

After that, the Inuzuka clan, the Gekko clan, and various other small clans all contributed their hidden forces. Adding in some commoner ninjas, they managed to cobble together another two thousand soldiers.

On the day of departure, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood on the high platform and went into battle for the first time as the Hokage, clad in armor.

"This time, we'll first take down the Three Kingdoms Alliance, then focus all our efforts on dealing with Kumogakure. After that, we'll reward those who have contributed. As the Third Hokage, I will lead by example and keep my word. The six elder positions will be allocated according to merit this time."

Yes, it's the same old rhetoric again, and it's the Six Elders again.

However, the major ninja clans and commoner ninjas are drawn to this system because the establishment of elders means becoming part of the core circle, which means bringing benefits to the clan and family.

It could even allow one's descendants to receive better resources and education, thus leading them to real power in Konoha.

In no time, the massive army marched headed straight for the border of the Grass Country. This expedition was made without any attempt to conceal its intentions and was extremely ostentatious.

With the strongest Hokage leading the team, they will surely sweep away all evil spirits and monsters, so why bother with such sneaky things?

In less than half a day, the news spread and reached the Three Kingdoms Alliance. Instead of being surprised, Hanzo the Salamander was delighted and laughed heartily.

"Haha, well done! I've been wanting to meet this strongest Hokage for ages!"

He quickly assembled 1,500 troops, a small number but no less imposing.

These ninjas were all dressed in fine armor, wore masks, and carried alloy weapons, including scythes, short swords, kunai, and shuriken.

These weapons were all made from the strongest alloy produced in the Land of Crafts this year. However, no one knew that the so-called strongest alloy actually came from an underground mine in a small mountain village in the Land of Waterfalls.

Three days later, the two armies faced off in a valley and open field on the border of the Land of Grass.

There were no conspiracies or schemes, no sneak attacks or ambushes—soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals.

In the sky, the air ninja and dragonfly users of the Grass Village released smoke bombs and explosive tags, disrupting the Leaf Village's formation.

On the ground, Konoha ninjas and Rain Country ninjas clashed fiercely, their screams and the clash of weapons blending together.

Not far away, the real focus was the battle between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hanzo of the Salamander.

Not long after the battle began, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wielding the Ruyi Jingu Bang, summoned the Enma, which transformed into a Vajra Cage, tightly binding Hanzo the Salamander and his summoned beast, the Salamander.

Hanzo the Salamander suddenly realized that disaster was imminent...