130. The Hidden Leaf Leaders, Each with Their Own Agenda

Hidden Leaf Village, Intelligence Headquarters.

A Yamanaka clan member wearing a headset suddenly opened his eyes, his face etched with shock.

"What is it?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, his brow furrowing.

"Report, Lord Hokage! Frontline intelligence: the Hyuga clan's vanguard unit has been ambushed and completely wiped out. Clan leader Hiashi Hyuga has been captured," the man reported urgently.

Upon hearing this grim news, the expressions of everyone in the hall shifted.

However, another intelligence operative immediately added: "Currently, our main force has arrived at the Village Hidden in the Mist and is engaging the enemy in direct combat."

"How much military strength does the Mist still have?" Danzo Shimura asked from the sidelines.

"This... according to reports, only one person from the village has come out to face our army."

The operative hesitated, frowning. Clearly, even he doubted whether the report from the front lines was accurate.

"One person? Who is it?" Upon hearing this, Hiruzen set down his pipe, his brow deeply furrowed as he pressed for an answer.

"The individual claims to be the Fifth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist, Kisame Hoshigaki."

As the operative spoke, he handed over the dossier prepared on Kisame Hoshigaki.

Kisame Hoshigaki?

Hiruzen felt he had some impression of the name. As he flipped through the documents, he finally recalled that this was the person who had taken first place in the Chunin Exams held in the Hidden Leaf a year ago.

According to the intelligence, following that event, Kisame had committed a serious murder and was sent to the Blood Prison of Hozuki Castle to serve his sentence. For some unknown reason, he had now returned to the Hidden Mist and become the new Mizukage.

As the Fifth Mizukage, the most notable highlight of Kisame’s resume was his age: he was only fourteen. Aside from that, his record could not be called exceptional, nor could it be considered outstanding. It was impossible to discern on what grounds he had become the Mizukage.

"It seems the Hidden Mist is truly at its wits' end and devoid of masters, pushing a fourteen-year-old brat like this to be Mizukage. This Kisame Hoshigaki does not appear to possess any remarkable qualities," Danzo said, skimming the file with a dismissive tone. Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado nodded in agreement.

However, the Legendary Sannin exchanged glances, all feeling that something was amiss.

Noticing the expressions of his three students, Hiruzen asked curiously, "Do you have any insight regarding this Kisame Hoshigaki?"

At this, Orochimaru stepped forward and answered: "Teacher, as far as I know, although Kisame is young, he is not some simple-minded, hot-blooded kid. He is deep-thinking and his methods are extremely ruthless. He would never commit such a suicidal act as taking on an army of five thousand alone; there must be a hidden agenda."

Oh?

Hiruzen felt a tinge of surprise. To receive such an evaluation from Orochimaru was enough to show that Kisame was no simple adversary.

At this moment, Jiraiya added: "I have seen this Kisame a few times, but I haven't had any in-depth contact with him, so I don't know him well. Tsunade, however, filmed a movie with him and likely understands him best. Furthermore, when we went to rescue Kakashi recently, we encountered him. That guy seems to be the only surviving Anbu ninja of the Hidden Mist."

Having said this, he looked toward Tsunade.

Under the gaze of everyone, Tsunade took a deep breath and said slowly to Hiruzen: "That bastard infiltrated the village some time ago and kidnapped Shizune. Lord Hokage, please allow me to go to the front lines. I must defeat that guy with my own hands and rescue Shizune from his clutches."

Hiruzen contemplated for a moment, then gestured for Tsunade to remain calm, urging her not to be impulsive.

"The Hidden Mist’s momentum is spent; a single Kisame Hoshigaki is destined to stir up little trouble, and it is impossible for him to change the outcome of this war. We must trust the Leaf ninja on the front lines; they will surely return in triumph with news of victory," Hiruzen said, taking a puff of his pipe with confidence.

However, as a precaution, he asked Minato Namikaze, who was standing nearby: "Minato, using your Flying Thunder God Technique, how long would it take you to reach the front lines from here?"

Minato had not participated in this operation against the Mist due to other assignments. However, Hiruzen had arranged for Anbu to bring Minato's Flying Thunder God kunai to the front lines, establishing several teleportation markers along the way.

"Reporting to the Hokage, it would take me approximately ten minutes."

Minato estimated the time, offering a relatively conservative figure.

Ten minutes?!

Hearing Minato's answer, everyone was shocked. The distance between the Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Mist was thousands of miles, yet for Minato, it would take only ten minutes to arrive—what an incredible feat.

Minato Namikaze was not only the sole person to inherit the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique but had also improved upon it. With his enhanced version, Minato could treat the entire ninja world as his own backyard. This was the "Yellow Flash" of the Leaf, an unprecedented genius.

"Hmm, very good."

Hiruzen nodded, feeling much more at ease, and cast an appreciative look at Minato. "When the next report arrives, if the frontline forces successfully capture the Mist, that is ideal. If any accidents occur, you will head out immediately to provide support."

"Yes," Minato replied respectfully.

Orochimaru’s expression darkened as he witnessed this. From the current situation, after the Third Shinobi World War ended, Hiruzen, who had been Hokage for thirty years, would surely step down. At that point, the Leaf would hold an election for the Fourth Hokage.

Orochimaru had originally held a significant advantage, but Minato’s performance of late had become increasingly dazzling, triggering a severe sense of crisis in him. For several years, Orochimaru had been conducting human experiments in secret, violating regulations, which had drawn the Third Hokage's attention and led to repeated warnings. To him, becoming the Fourth Hokage was the only path to resolve his current predicament. If he failed, his fate would likely be tragic.

Since the start of this war, Orochimaru had worked hard, but his spotlight had been entirely eclipsed by the rising star, Minato. Thinking of this, Orochimaru glanced at Danzo, exchanging a subtle look.

Danzo did not like Minato either. He and Orochimaru were in the same boat; the latter's research on Hashirama's cells was funded and sanctioned by him. In Danzo's view, Minato was merely a puppet of Hiruzen. Even if Hiruzen stepped down in name, he could continue to manipulate the village's major affairs through an obedient pawn like Minato. To deal with Hiruzen, he had to find a way to target Minato and ensure he could not become the Fourth Hokage.

The people in the hall were all lost in their own thoughts. Whether it was the Sarutobi faction or the alliance between Danzo and Orochimaru, all were intentionally or unintentionally plotting for the Fourth Hokage election that would follow the war.

But both sides ignored, or perhaps never even considered, one question: What if, in the end, it was the Hidden Leaf that lost the war?