Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou-Chapter 243: Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou []

Power Stone Goal this week. Reach 1000, I will give you 3 Extra Chapters. I know you can do it guys.

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"What?! You're saying that Konoha has set up an ambush and the retreat path for the Cloud Village has already been cut off?"

At the border of the Land of Fire, while the hidden Iwagakure forces were advancing swiftly, a piece of urgent intelligence suddenly arrived, causing Onoki's expression to change drastically in shock.

"Lord Third Tsuchikage, this information was sent by one of our deep-cover spies in Konoha at the cost of their life. Konoha has already laid an inescapable trap along the border..."

Hearing this report, Onoki's face turned extremely grim, and he quickly ordered the Iwagakure forces to halt their battle plans.

"Lord Third Tsuchikage, the Cloud shinobi have likely already fallen into Konoha's trap. We..."

Before the words could be finished, Onoki gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice:

"Retreat! At the same time, send a message to the Cloud shinobi, telling them that the information has been leaked. Konoha has set up an ambush, and we Iwa shinobi have suffered heavy casualties..."

Onoki's cunning and craftiness shone through once again.

...

As thousands of elite Iwa shinobi retreated, far away at the Konoha border, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, revealing a sinister and cold smile.

"Orochimaru-sama, traces of numerous shinobi were found in the distance, but they've disappeared again."

Hearing this, Orochimaru let out his distinct raspy laugh.

"Hehe, Onoki is indeed as cautious as ever. While caution does reduce the likelihood of mistakes, it also causes one to miss many opportunities."

Amid Orochimaru's raspy laughter, the Konoha outpost behind him was surrounded by numerous ambushes, with only about two thousand Konoha shinobi stationed there.

If Onoki had pressed forward with his elite forces at this time, there would still have been a chance for a decisive battle.

However, Onoki was too cautious. As soon as he realized Konoha was aware of their plans, he refused to press on.

The operation had been a gamble, assuming Konoha was unprepared. Once Konoha was on guard, the element of surprise was lost.

As for the situation with the Cloud shinobi?

What did that have to do with Onoki?

As long as it wasn't his Iwa shinobi dying, it didn't concern him in the slightest.

However, the direction in which the Iwa forces retreated seemed a little off, causing unease among the retreating shinobi.

...

"Lord Third Tsuchikage, our retreat path has deviated..."

"Deviated from what?"

Onoki's sharp voice cut through as he turned to glare at the shinobi behind him, his expression dark and foreboding.

"This war has reached the point where there's no longer any need to continue. All the major villages have suffered heavy losses, but Konoha's foundation will allow it to recover faster than anyone else. No matter how hard we try, Iwagakure can never catch up to Konoha!

Right now, however, there is an opportunity!"

Onoki's eyes revealed a chilling determination.

"The Lands of Waterfall and Frost!"

His gaze burned with resolve.

Hearing this, Onoki's trusted Iwa shinobi couldn't help but gasp in shock, blurting out:

"Lord Third Tsuchikage, the Lands of Waterfall and Frost have always been under the influence of the Land of Lightning. We're allies with them..."

The shocked shinobi's voice grew weaker as he spoke, while the other Iwa shinobi behind him showed flickers of understanding in their eyes.

Onoki scoffed disdainfully, "Allies? The alliance among the four Great Shinobi Villages was already shattered thanks to those fools in Kirigakure and Sunagakure."

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"Since the alliance is broken, are we just going to sit back after the war and watch Konoha rise again? This is our chance to secure enough resources for Iwagakure!"

With a wave of his hand, Onoki led his elite forces decisively toward the Lands of Waterfall and Frost.

These two small countries had long been influenced by the Land of Lightning, and even the Land of Earth had some hidden ties to the Land of Waterfall.

But in the chaos of war, if they couldn't seize resources from Konoha, they would have to turn their sights on these small nations.

"Everyone, disguise yourselves as Cloud shinobi! Paint your skin black!"

Onoki was the first to take the lead, painting his skin. His exposed eyes showed no trace of shame.

This was the way of the ninja!

The Cloud already had a bad reputation, so what did it matter if it got worse?

Although this move was rather underhanded, the Iwa shinobi, thinking of the resources they would seize to restore their village, silently accepted the plan.

Soon after crossing the forest, the entire unit was disguised as Cloud shinobi, wearing Cloud headbands and sporting dark skin.

After all, it wasn't their fault—it was the Cloud's doing.

...

Meanwhile, on another battlefield, the Cloud shinobi were retreating in disarray.

"Father, the Iwa shinobi have sent word. They were ambushed by Konoha during their assault... The information was leaked, and they warn us to be cautious..."

After hearing his son's hurried report, the Third Raikage was initially startled, but then sneered in frustration:

"You believe that? According to the plan, they're much closer to Konoha than we are. By all rights, the Iwa shinobi should've attacked first. Yet here we are retreating, and only now they send a warning? Can't you see through this?"

Scolded by his father, the future Fourth Raikage, A, realized his oversight. Thinking it through, his expression quickly turned to one of anger and frustration.

He wasn't an idiot!

The timing was clear—they had launched their attack first.

"Damn Onoki!"

At this moment, the fragility of their alliance was laid bare. When mutual interests are aligned, past animosities could be set aside for cooperation.

But as soon as there were no shared benefits, the alliance proved meaningless.

"Lord Raikage, bad news! Our retreat path has been blocked—it's Konoha's Mangekyo Uchiha Shirou and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"

The Cloud shinobi, already retreating in disarray, were thrown into panic upon hearing that enemies were ahead.

"Lord Raikage, we'll cover your escape!"

"Damn it! Everyone, fight your way out!"

"Silence!"

The Third Raikage's voice boomed as he realized that Konoha had laid a perfect trap. Escaping wouldn't be easy.

"A! From this moment forward, you are the Fourth Raikage of the Cloud Village!"

His declaration shocked the surrounding Cloud shinobi.

To name a Fourth Raikage at this moment was to signal the Third Raikage's intention to make the ultimate sacrifice.

"Father!"

"All Cloud shinobi, listen up! You are the elite of the Cloud Village. Protect the Fourth Raikage and break through. I will cover your retreat personally!"

...

In the distance, Konoha forces were closing in.

"Lord Shirou, I sense the Third Raikage's chakra ahead. He's charging straight toward us..."

Shirou's Mangekyo Sharingan glinted as he gazed at the raging chakra in the distance, smiling faintly.

"The Cloud shinobi are desperate. All Konoha forces, focus on stalling them!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Third Shinobi War, though nearing its end, continued to evolve dramatically. What should have concluded long ago had dragged on to this point.

Faced with certain defeat, the Third Raikage fulfilled his duty as a Kage, knowing his age and potential had reached their limits. He chose to sacrifice himself to give his village's elite a chance to escape.

Meanwhile, back in Konoha, reports from the frontlines were already arriving.

...

Konoha, Hokage Office Building.

"Hokage-sama, we've discovered the battle plans of the Cloud and Stone shinobi on the frontlines. Because of the urgency of the situation, Lady Tsunade and Lord Shirou have joined forces..."

The frontlines were already engaged in battle, and only now had the information been relayed back. At this moment, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wasn't naïve. Judging by the arrangements, this intelligence must have been discovered at least a week ago, or even earlier.

"Hiruzen! This is outrageous! Such critical intelligence and it's only being reported now?"

"Exactly! What is Tsunade thinking? Does she not trust us? Or what? How can this information be considered urgent if there's been enough time to mobilize so many shinobi from Kikyo Mountain? Was this intelligence only discovered three days ago?"

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were immediately enraged. They had just been preparing to select the Fourth Hokage, only for the frontlines to completely disregard their authority like this.

If Tsunade or Shirou were truly to ascend to power, would there still be a place for them?

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression also darkened. Tsunade's actions were not just a matter of distrust—they were intended to credit Uchiha Shirou with the success.

"Tsunade, is this because of the rumors spreading in the village recently?"

Hiruzen muttered to himself, still thinking that Tsunade was angry about the rumors regarding human experimentation, which had led to the Three Legendary Sannin being disqualified from the Hokage candidacy.

"Hiruzen, we've already finalized the peace talks with the Hidden Mist, and the Hidden Sand Village has also sent an envoy. Right now, peace is more important than anything else."

"Indeed. If this move provokes the Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud, the village will remain mired in the quagmire of war, while the Hidden Sand and Hidden Mist recover."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu analyzed the current situation with heavy hearts.

Peace was so close to being achieved, yet Tsunade seemed focused on her satisfaction rather than the broader picture.

From their perspective, perhaps they weren't entirely wrong. After all, they were getting old, and their priorities had shifted from advancing Konoha to ensuring stability above all else.

With peace established, Konoha's deep foundation would allow it to develop just as it did after the First Great Ninja War. In less than twenty years, Konoha could once again become the strongest village in the ninja world.

Wouldn't that be better?

As the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke, sinking into deep thought. After a long silence, he finally set down his pipe, lightly tapped the table, and said in a low voice:

"Send a message to the frontlines: Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade are to cease targeted warfare. Jiraiya will negotiate a ceasefire with the Hidden Sand, while Orochimaru and Tsunade will separately handle the Hidden Stone and Hidden Cloud.

At this point, there's no intention to continue fighting. Tell Tsunade to avoid escalating the war unnecessarily. The village can no longer bear such a burden..."

"Understood!"

As Hiruzen's orders were issued, an ANBU operative responded sharply and disappeared from the office.

However, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu frowned and said, "Hiruzen, Minato is already preparing to head to the Land of Fire, and we two are also making plans to travel. But now, with Tsunade's growing influence..."

What made them most uneasy at the moment was Tsunade. As for Uchiha Shirou, despite his Mangekyo Sharingan and considerable strength, the Uchiha Clan carried inherent disadvantages.

"I will personally take responsibility for the human experimentation scandal and, at the same time, officially cancel the Sannin's eligibility for the Hokage candidacy. This will serve as an explanation to everyone."

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head and looked calmly at his two old friends, his expression filled with quiet resolve.

"But..." The two were still worried—after all, Tsunade's reputation was undeniable.

Hiruzen, however, immediately saw through their concern. He lightly tapped the table with his pipe, speaking with a meaningful tone:

"How many shinobi are on the frontlines? When the war on the frontlines was at its most brutal and dangerous, we deliberately concealed much of the truth to stabilize morale in the village.

Now that this great battle has cost countless shinobi their lives, we will release the news from the frontlines to calm the villagers' hearts."

As Hiruzen's words sank in, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu suddenly understood.

Indeed, how many shinobi were truly on the frontlines? In Konoha's rear, it was they who held authority. Additionally, they weren't taking credit for the achievements themselves.

If Tsunade and her forces won, they would naturally spread the news of victory—but it would be they who controlled the narrative.

They would emphasize the sacrifices of Konoha's heroes while downplaying the contributions of Tsunade and Shirou.

"But that won't be enough."

As if struck by another thought, Hiruzen furrowed his brow slightly. To ensure things went smoothly, he placed his lit pipe back in his mouth, took a deep drag, exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, and said softly:

"Minato Namikaze's contributions in the Land of Bears can be highlighted as the turning point that laid the foundation for peace—this led to the Hidden Mist peace talks and the Hidden Sand's wavering stance.

After that, Jiraiya decisively joined forces with Minato to strike, and the Hidden Sand's willingness to negotiate with the village should be widely publicized. And as for Tsunade and Orochimaru..."

At this moment, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu nodded in satisfaction, smiling.

They were experts in this kind of maneuvering.

Tsunade's contributions might be the greatest, but they could attribute them to the collective efforts of the Three Sannins, sharing the glory among them. They would also highlight the sacrifices of Konoha's fallen heroes.

By focusing on these heroes, they would naturally overshadow Tsunade and Shirou's achievements. After all, who would compete with fallen heroes for glory?

Through this strategy, the narrative would shift: the victory was the result of countless sacrifices by Konoha's heroes and the teamwork of the Three Sannins.

As for Minato Namikaze's contributions, they would neither exaggerate nor understate them. They would simply amplify their publicity efforts while subtly downplaying Uchiha Shirou's involvement.

The Sannin's reputation could be elevated—it didn't matter, as their Hokage candidacy had already been revoked. Hiruzen himself, as their teacher, would take responsibility for the human experimentation incident and cancel their eligibility, presenting himself as a selfless and noble leader.

Thus, even if the Sannin's reputation grew, it wouldn't pose a threat.

"Homura, Koharu, you two head to the Land of Fire immediately and emphasize the importance of Tsunade being influenced by the Uchiha. As for Minato, I am confident he will gain the trust of the daimyo's court."

When Hiruzen mentioned Minato Namikaze, a confident smile appeared on his face. This apprentice, who surpassed even a disciple, was the ninja he was most proud of.

Not only had Minato inherited his Will of Fire, but his status as a commoner would also make him the perfect candidate to connect with the daimyo's court.

Currently, there were two candidates for the Fourth Hokage: a commoner and a Uchiha.

Would the daimyo's court, which included a branch of the Senju Clan, ever choose a Uchiha?

Impossible.

Especially after learning that Tsunade had been influenced by the Uchiha, and considering how the Senju Clan in the village was almost becoming a part of the Uchiha Clan, how would the Senju Clan in the daimyo's court react?

It would likely even strain Tsunade's relationship with her clan.

Therefore, the trip to the daimyo's court was Hiruzen's trump card.

From the beginning, their goal had been to eliminate Tsunade from the race.

Such was the natural disadvantage faced by the Uchiha.

Thinking of this, Hiruzen smiled with satisfaction. Perhaps Uchiha Shirou's prestige surpassed Minato's, but as far as the daimyo's court was concerned, he stood no chance.