Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 35 Catching a Turtle in a Jar: The Hokage's Brilliant Prediction

Konoha's main camp, the command tent.

Unlike the tense atmosphere of war outside, the atmosphere here can only be described as "leisurely".

Uchiha Kagami sat upright in the main seat, meticulously wiping his ninja sword.

Yamanaka Taichi closed his eyes to rest, as if he had already fallen asleep.

Akimichi Torifu was even more extravagant. In front of him was a huge food box, and he was munching away on the rice balls inside, his mouth dripping with oil.

The only one who looked like he was actually working was Nara Deer Antlers. However, he just lazily yawned, propped his chin up, and stared at a moving dot of light on the sand table in front of him, his eyes filled with boredom.

"Ugh... this is so boring."

Nara Shikaku stretched and complained to Uchiha Kagami, "Kagami-sama, don't you think the Hokage is being a bit too harsh?"

Uchiha Kagami paused in wiping his ninja sword, looking at him with a puzzled expression: "Shikaku, what do you mean by that?"

"Isn't this like the teacher slapping the standard answer in your face before the exam?"

Nara Shikano pointed to the dot representing the Loess Army on the sand table, looking utterly hopeless. "We can predict exactly which direction they'll come from, when they'll arrive, and how they'll dig their way in. This battle is completely devoid of any skill or challenge."

Akimichi Torifu swallowed a large mouthful of rice ball and mumbled in agreement, "Yeah, yeah, I'm so bored I'm practically going crazy. Kashino, do you think we can make them pay for my rice balls when we catch them? I've already eaten three extra boxes while waiting for them."

Without even opening his eyes, Yamanaka Daichi said calmly, "Torifu, you just want an excuse to eat another box, don't you?"

Uchiha Kagami listened to the conversation between the three and couldn't help but laugh and cry.

Before the battle, the Hokage did indeed give him a "special tip".

The tip detailed a "subterranean surprise attack" tactic that Iwagakure might employ after their conventional attack failed. It even clearly indicated the principles of the ninjutsu the enemy might use, the depth of their infiltration, and the best location for the surprise attack.

At the time, Uchiha Kagami found it somewhat unbelievable, but out of absolute trust in the Hokage, he and Nara Shikaku, based on this clue, set up this inescapable trap.

Now it seems that the Hokage's wisdom is beyond mere foresight; it's practically a "divine prophecy."

"Okay, stop complaining."

Uchiha Kagami said seriously, "The guests will be arriving soon. Everyone, be alert and get ready to welcome them."

Just then, an Uchiha reconnaissance ninja flashed into the tent and knelt on one knee: "Reporting to Lord Kagami and Lord Shikanobu! The target has reached its designated position directly below, and the energy reaction is rapidly increasing. It is expected to burst from the ground in ten seconds! Everything is under control!"

"understood."

Nara Shika lazily waved his hand, "Tell everyone outside to stand back so they don't get splashed with mud."

He stood up and slowly walked outside the tent.

At this moment, a large open space had been cleared in the center of the camp. The Konoha ninjas around them were not panicked at all. Instead, they watched as if they were watching a show, pointing and whispering from a distance.

"Here it comes!"

"Look closely, everyone! This is the 'groundhog emerging from its hole' that the Hokage predicted!"

"Bet placed! Guess how they'll come out?"

Listening to the lighthearted teasing of his companions, Nara Shikazu shook his head helplessly.

He put his hands in his pockets, looked at the center of the open space, and uttered two words softly.

"How stupid."

……

boom--!

The ground suddenly exploded, sending soil and rocks flying everywhere!

Huang Tu took the lead, leading his twenty most elite men, and emerged from the ground in an extremely dashing manner.

"Hahahaha! Konoha ninjas, feel the pain..."

Huang Tu's grand words were only half-said before getting stuck in his throat.

Because the scene of panic and scattering that he had envisioned did not occur at all.

They were greeted by an empty space and hundreds of pairs of eyes staring at them as if they were idiots.

All the Iwagakure ninja were stunned.

What's going on? Is this a welcome party?

Before they could react, a strange sensation suddenly came from the ground beneath their feet.

It wasn't solid ground, but rather a sticky, swampy feeling.

"Oh no! It's a trap!" Huang Tu's expression changed drastically. He immediately realized that they had rushed into an area that had been modified in advance. The ground beneath their feet had long been transformed into a terrible quagmire by mixing earth magic with some kind of clay.

"Trying to run? Too late."

A lazy voice came from behind.

"Ninja Art: Shadow Imitation Technique!"

The shadow of the Nara deer antlers stretched and forked on the ground like a venomous snake, connecting with the shadows beneath the feet of every Iwagakure ninja at an incredible speed.

"Varied……?!"

Huang Tu felt his body stiffen and completely lose control. He remained in the position he had just emerged from the ground, unable to move, and the confident smile on his face froze completely, making him look utterly ridiculous.

The twenty men behind him were also frozen in place by the Shadow Imitation Technique, each turning into a statue of a different shape.

"Alright, it's my turn."

Akimichi Torifu patted his stomach and stepped forward.

"Partial Multiplication Technique!"

boom!

A hand as large as a small mountain descended from the sky, carrying an unparalleled sense of oppression.

The Iwagakure ninjas were terrified, thinking they were about to be smashed into mincemeat.

However, when the giant hand landed on their heads, it suddenly slowed down, and then... gently, one by one, it lifted them out of the mud like chicks and neatly placed them on the open ground to the side.

The whole process was full of indescribable drama.

Immediately afterwards, Yamanaka Taichi also made a move.

"The Art of Mind Transference!"

Just to be on the safe side, he randomly controlled a seemingly stubborn Iwagakure ninja, making him throw away the kunai in his hand, then put his hands on his head and squatted on the ground.

At this point, the battle is over.

From the moment they emerged from the loess soil to their capture, the entire process took no more than thirty seconds.

There was not a single scream, not a single drop of blood.

On the Konoha side, not a single person drew their weapon.

Huang Tu was bound by shadows, unable to move his body, but he could move his eyes. He looked at the unharmed Konoha ninjas around him, some even pointing and whispering about him, and at Uchiha Kagami walking towards him with a calm expression, his face filled with disbelief.

The humiliation of being completely outclassed in intelligence almost made him vomit blood.

Staring intently at Uchiha Kagami, he forced out a few words through clenched teeth:

"How is that possible... How did you know?!"