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This battle had been exhausting for Hatake Sakumo. Watching the wounded yet joyful shinobi around him on the battlefield, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Feeling the faint chakra left in his body, he shook his head.
Beside him, the support staff approached. Hatake Sakumo addressed them directly, "Get the number of deaths, and move the wounded to the rear for treatment. Have everyone who can still move start clearing the battlefield. We need to collect these White Zetsu remains. Leave nothing behind!"
"Yes, Lord Sakumo!"
The staff quickly passed down the orders, and everyone set to work, understanding their roles.
The battlefield bustled with activity as Hatake Sakumo sat down, his gaze fixed on a distant point with a solemn expression.
Since the start of the battle, he'd had the unsettling feeling of being watched. The sensation was peculiar; though he couldn't confirm it, his long-honed instincts suggested it was no mere illusion.
Because of this, Hatake Sakumo kept his guard up even as the battle drew to an end.
There were too many mysteries in the shinobi world, and Hatake Sakumo knew he couldn't solve them all, especially with the potential threat of a hidden observer. This made him all the more vigilant.
On the battlefield, cleanup continued. The sheer number of White Zetsu made the task daunting.
Then, suddenly, Hatake Sakumo stood, gripping his short blade in a reverse hold, his body lowered in a stance of readiness.
In the distance, a figure calmly emerged from the ruins.
Hatake Sakumo's pupils narrowed as he recognized the man.
"Hyūga Iroha!"
Hyūga Iroha strode forward, ignoring the Konoha shinobi surrounding him, heading directly toward Hatake Sakumo.
Hatake Sakumo raised a hand in a signal to prohibit any attack. The order was relayed, and the surrounding Konoha shinobi quickly parted, allowing Hyūga Iroha to approach.
Although he didn't fully understand the situation, Hatake Sakumo had a reason for issuing such an order; he knew Hyūga Iroha was now an enemy.
Hyūga Iroha drew closer, unaffected by the shinobi around him. He looked at Hatake Sakumo calmly, a faint smile on his face as he spoke.
"You've done well. Tens of thousands of White Zetsu wiped out in one battle. Truly befitting of Hatake Sakumo, Konoha's White Fang."
Hatake Sakumo frowned, stepping down from the broken mound, stopping a little over ten meters from Hyūga Iroha with a serious look.
"So, you've been hiding in the shadows this entire time?" he asked.
Hyūga Iroha nodded, smiling. "It seems you sensed my presence from the start? Impressive. I was certain my hiding skills would keep me undetected, especially from such a distance."
As if struck by a thought, Hyūga Iroha suddenly remarked, "Is it a sixth sense? Your awareness is indeed sharp—sharper than mine, in this regard!"
"You came here just to praise me?"
Hatake Sakumo frowned.
Hyūga Iroha smiled and shook his head. "Praise? No, no, no, of course not. I'm here on orders from Lord Uchiha Madara to deliver a message."
Hatake Sakumo felt his heart sink, but he remained silent, awaiting the next words.
"From this moment, Lord Uchiha Madara declares war on the entire ninja world. Whether it's Konoha or any other village, they're now enemies of Lord Uchiha Madara. This is merely a prelude."
"Half a month from now, Lord Uchiha Madara will initiate a decisive battle against Konoha here. Prepare yourselves."
Hatake Sakumo gripped his short blade tightly, taking a deep breath, his gaze hardened with murderous intent. "So, all of this was orchestrated by Uchiha Madara. He's alive, isn't he?"
Hyūga Iroha nodded with his usual smile. "Indeed. The White Zetsu have always acted under Lord Uchiha Madara's orders, including the Jinchūriki and the attacks on other villages."
"Why would you do this?" Hatake Sakumo asked in a deep voice. "You're a Konoha shinobi. Why betray the village?"
"No reason."
Hyūga Iroha shook his head, rising slowly into the air, and said with a condescending tone, "Lord Sakumo, please inform the Hokage and the entire ninja world. Madara-sama will defeat you all—the future of the ninja world belongs to Uchiha Madara!"
With a slight nod, he vanished in an instant.
The battlefield fell silent, and all eyes turned toward Hatake Sakumo, awaiting his orders.
Hatake Sakumo took a deep breath and then called out, "Continue your work! No matter who the enemy is, Hokage-sama has the power to handle everything! Don't be swayed by an enemy's words—I will stand before you, and Hokage-sama is watching over us!"
"Yes!" everyone responded loudly.
Although the atmosphere grew more solemn, Hatake Sakumo's words reassured them, bringing a sense of relief.
In recent years, everyone had witnessed remarkable changes, and the strength of the Hokage was firmly established in their hearts.
Each shinobi knew their own growth well. With the Hokage, even if the legendary Ghost of the Uchiha, Uchiha Madara himself, were to attack, what could he accomplish? The Hokage is invincible! This belief was deeply ingrained in the hearts of the Konoha shinobi.
Hatake Sakumo frowned slightly, gazing at the empty space where Hyūga Iroha had disappeared, before returning to his duties.
There was much to do, and he couldn't remain idle.
Post-battle tasks awaited, and cleaning up the battlefield was only the start. The bodies of the White Zetsu held significant value. Ishigami Hara had informed Hatake Sakumo of this before he left.
Hatake Sakumo understood the importance of this, so he made every effort to leave no White Zetsu remains behind.
Others might not realize it, but as the head of Anbu, Hatake Sakumo was fully aware of Ishigami Hara's plans to develop ninjutsu that would involve White Zetsu, making their collection essential.