As the situation in Konoha Village underwent tremendous changes, everything became shrouded in mystery.
The revelation of Hiruzen Sarutobi's true colors also caused the reputation of the entire Sarutobi Clan to plummet, becoming notorious.
However, due to the overall interests of Konoha Village and the need to maintain superficial peace in the border regions, various forces in other border areas could only choose to turn a blind eye to these changes, continuing to silently fulfill their duties and maintain a facade of harmony.
They were unwilling to dwell too much on these issues, choosing instead to remain aloof, letting the major factions within Konoha Village contend amongst themselves, and waiting for the final situation to become clear before expressing their stance.
At most, they inwardly warned the Sarutobi Clan and secretly maintained their vigilance.
But that was all; they could not take more substantive action, fearing that any move might trigger internal strife within Konoha.
However, what was unexpected was that the development of events far exceeded everyone's predictions.
Could it be that the Sarutobi Clan was truly cursed, full of toxicity?
Konoha Village had been constantly bled dry by Hiruzen Sarutobi, suffering immense damage.
And now, would this base headquarters also be destroyed at the hands of that scoundrel, Sarutobi Riri?
For a time, various speculations and accusations surged like a tide.
Some believed that this scoundrel must have secretly betrayed the base's intelligence for profit, allowing the enemy to set such precise traps.
Some firmly believed that he had cut corners in his work, leading to flaws in the defensive line, which forced others to their deaths.
Even more people inwardly asserted that it was precisely because of the Sarutobi Clan's hypocrisy that the frontline intelligence personnel became disaffected and were no longer willing to serve Konoha, fearing that after their deaths, everything in their homes would be confiscated, and their children would be sent to orphanages to be turned into assassins.
This was not impossible.
In fact, this was just one trivial matter among the various rumors that had already been exposed in Konoha.
It was such trivial matters that filled the frontline Ninja with apprehension, fearing that their families would have no support after their deaths.
It was with such feelings.
Compared to previous wars.
During this surprise attack in the war, many Ninja from the base in River Country who were sent to the front lines for reconnaissance, in despair, did not choose to sacrifice themselves for the fire will in a mutual destruction attack, but rather hesitated and immediately chose to surrender.
This was unimaginable in the past.
At that time, even if someone surrendered, it was only a few individuals, unlike now, where they surrendered in droves.
Because, in the past, even if they surrendered, they would believe that under the protection of the fire will, their families would be properly settled and have enough opportunities to survive in this cruel world, so they did not regret death, nor did they fear death, believing that their deaths were justified.
But now, they were afraid, they were terrified.
They were no longer willing to believe in the fire will.
Therefore, even if there was a one-in-ten-thousand chance, they wanted to live and give their families a glimmer of hope.
This illustrates the change in mindset of the frontline personnel.
The other high-ranking officials at the base were not unaware of this. Especially with the propaganda from the surrendered Konoha Ninja in the surrounding encirclement, the high-ranking officials of this base could naturally see some changes in people's hearts.
Under these circumstances.
Everyone's anger and disgust towards this scoundrel of the Sarutobi Clan reached its peak.
They felt that their families, themselves, and the self-preservation actions of other Konoha Ninja, as well as Konoha's severe weakening, were all seriously harmed by the actions of the Sarutobi Clan.
Thus, Sarutobi Riri, that scoundrel, became the target of all blame, bearing everyone's resentment and scorn.
At this moment, Sarutobi Riri's heart was also filled with despair and confusion. He couldn't understand why they had been completely surrounded by the enemy without receiving even the slightest signal or information.
“Who is it?” Sarutobi Riri roared, “Has someone betrayed Konoha? Did they sell out our intelligence personnel's routes, leading us into such a desperate situation?”
However, no matter how he roared, the reality was already before him—the entire base was tightly surrounded by the enemy.
Numerous barriers distributed outside not only prevented the summoning of any summoned beasts but also specifically used a space isolation array to completely seal off the area.
This meant that if they wanted to break through, they could only rely on their own strength to fight a desperate battle against the enemy.
But, facing such a vast disparity in military strength, how much chance of winning did they have? Each person would have to face at least 20 opponents, and under the overwhelming barrage of Ninjutsu, they would be pulverized without any defensive measures.
What's more, they were already in a state of being surrounded. They were squeezed into a small base. As soon as they touched the barrier, they would be instantly killed, unable to resist at all.
There were only 400 people in the base in total, while the enemy had a full 8,000, which was 20 times their number!
Such a disparity was simply a world apart.
“A 20-fold difference!” Sarutobi Riri's voice was tearful, “How are we supposed to fight? This is clearly a battle to the death!”
Sarutobi Riri was furious, cursing, “Damn it! Damn it! I am a person who has rightfully inherited the name of Sarutobi Riri, am I to die so ignominiously today? This is utterly detestable! Why on earth? How did things turn out like this? I should have been here to achieve great things and make a name for myself! What in the world is going on?!”
His heart was filled with anger, and he kept complaining, unable to understand why the Ninja of Sand Ninja Village had suddenly become so powerful.
If the other side hadn't still harbored the thought of making them surrender, they would probably have been completely annihilated by now. However, now they were heavily surrounded and had reached a point where they had to make a choice—to fight to the death, or to surrender in humiliation?
If they chose to fight, it would undoubtedly be a dead end; but if they chose to surrender, it would mean betraying the fire will.
So, what was the price of betraying the fire will?
The answer was self-evident. Although Sarutobi Riri's body did not speak, his heart already knew the consequences.
In the past, those who betrayed the fire will would all be declared dead by the Anbu and Root; even if they were brought back to Konoha openly, they would be secretly eliminated.
As a Ninja from the Sarutobi Clan, he was well aware of this cold execution process.
He certainly understood that once he was the first to betray, he would basically be dead for sure.
Especially in this critical situation.
At this crucial moment when Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura were vying for power in Konoha Village, if he, a member of the Sarutobi Clan, dared to surrender, even Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, would not let him go and would surely use his head to wipe out the shame.
However, it was clear that Sarutobi Riri simply did not want to die!
“If other high-ranking officials were to speak up and surrender, and I then made a reluctant compromise, it would be much easier.”
Thinking of this.
Suddenly, Sarutobi Riri seemed to have thought of something, his eyes flashing with brilliance. He immediately fixed his gaze on Nara Ikki beside him, “Right now, I have to rely on my old friend!” So, Sarutobi Riri looked at Nara Ikki, his wildly staring eyes seemingly spitting fire, as if conveying some message to Nara Ikki.
I don't want to die!
Find a way to save us!
Nara Ikki, who was quite familiar with him, naturally understood his thoughts.
But Nara Ikki was not too keen on offending all the high-ranking officials at this moment, just to stick his neck out for Sarutobi Riri.
However.
Just then, a genjutsu suddenly echoed in Nara Ikki's mind: “Ikki, you wouldn't want to go back and not even see your wife who just gave birth and your child, would you?”
These words were like a clap of thunder, exploding in Nara Ikki's ears, making his whole body tremble. He cursed inwardly, “You scoundrel, you don't want to surrender yourself, so you're making me stick my neck out! If I say that, will I even have a way to live when I go back?”
“After all, even a strong person like Sakumo Hatake was forced into a corner and ultimately died tragically. If I betray the fire will, I will definitely be treated as a traitor when I go back, tortured and executed with various terrifying punishments. There will be no chance of survival whatsoever! Even my wife and child will bear the stigma.”
However, as soon as he thought of his wife who had just given birth and his wailing child, as well as Sarutobi Riri's threatening gaze at that moment, all of Nara Ikki's rebellious emotions instantly vanished without a trace, and he fell silent.