get-shopping #152 - Chapter 152: Poisonous Scheme
#152 - Chapter 152: Poisonous Scheme
Half an hour later, at the Sand Village Ninja Hospital.
The Kazekage, Rasa, stood in the hallway, flanked by Maki and a group of Anbu ninjas.
After a while, Yakushimaru, wearing a white coat, mask, and gloves, emerged from the nearby medical room, his expression grave.
"Reporting, Lord Kazekage, both of them died from poisoning, and the poison they ingested... is the specially made potent poison used in our Sand Village puppets."
Upon hearing this, Maki instantly broke out in a cold sweat, and the Anbu behind him trembled.
"That's impossible, Lord Kazekage! The deaths of these two Cloud and Stone Village ninjas were not the work of our Anbu!"
At this moment, Rasa, who had vaguely sensed the scheme hidden beneath this strange scene, remained calm, but his eyes held a reprimanding gaze.
"Maki, as the leader of the Anbu, you are acting far too unprofessionally!"
Only then did Maki realize that he was indeed panicking too much.
However, it was understandable.
Because the potential consequences of this matter were too terrifying.
"Recount the entire course of events again!"
"Yes!"
In short, during the two hours that the Sand Village was hosting the banquet for the priestess of the Land of Demons...
A Cloud Village ninja named Samui and a Stone Village ninja named Magoi suddenly clashed with the Anbu guarding the entrance.
Rasa was aware of this incident; both of them were clamoring for alcohol.
Although the Anbu ninjas were somewhat displeased, they still provided them with alcohol.
However, the two were still not satisfied. After drinking, they acted drunk, stood at the entrance, and found fault with everything, belittling the Sand Village while obstructing the Sand Village ninjas from entering.
Nevertheless, diplomacy was paramount, especially during such a lively village celebration, so the Anbu ninjas had no choice but to endure.
However, not long after the banquet ended, a scream suddenly echoed from the residences of these two.
The Anbu ninjas on watch were startled and immediately rushed to investigate, only to find both of them dead with the same ghastly appearance: black blood frothing from their mouths, and the wine in the nearby flask spilled all over the ground.
The Anbu ninjas immediately realized something was wrong and reported to Maki, who then brought them to the hospital.
But it was too late!
The leaders of the Cloud Village ninjas, Tsuchikage, and the Stone Village ninjas, Kurotsuchi, also rushed over immediately, acting as if they would declare war on the Sand Village if they didn't receive a proper explanation.
After listening to Maki's account, Yakushimaru also felt that something was strange.
Rasa, on the other hand, had a general understanding and asked Maki.
"Maki, you are the leader of the Anbu, what do you think is going on?"
Cold sweat dripped from Maki's forehead. He knew that if this matter was not handled properly, it could directly trigger a war, plunging the village into an abyss of no return.
"Lord Kazekage, it is absolutely impossible for the Anbu to have done this."
Although Maki couldn't guarantee 100% control over the Anbu, after all, human hearts were unpredictable, and he had only been the leader of the Anbu for a year. However, those who could be here were his trusted aides, and he had great faith in these people.
"Then who do you think did it?"
Maki lowered his head even further, but his mind was already racing. After calming down and understanding, he immediately said.
"Reporting, Lord Kazekage... I... I think it was the Stone and Cloud Villages themselves, in order to frame our Sand Village and launch a war against us!"
"Then do you have any evidence? Right now, all the unfavorable factors point to us. Do you think anyone would believe what you just said?"
"This..."
Maki's face turned grim. This was also the reason for his current anger and embarrassment.
This was a blatant scheme, using the lives of their own village's ninjas as a price to frame the Sand Village.
It was something that the Anbu could not have anticipated, and even if they had, they would have been powerless to stop it.
"What are you prepared to do next?"
Rasa looked down through the window and could see Tsuchikage, a jonin from the Cloud Village, and Kurotsuchi, a jonin from the Stone Village, already blocking the entrance of the Sand Village Ninja Hospital. They were loudly venting their anger, demanding justice from the Sand Village.
The Sand Village Ninja Hospital already had a large number of people, and the appearance of two ninjas from the Cloud and Stone Villages attracted even more attention. There were not only civilians from the Sand Village but also people from other countries.
In addition, the curfew was not enforced today because of the festival, making the Sand Village lively even at this late hour.
It seemed that this was also part of the Cloud and Stone Villages' plan.
Indeed, one should not underestimate anyone in this world.
Compared to Rasa's calmness, Maki's mind was racing, but under such a blatant scheme, he still couldn't think of any solution and could only tremble and say with cold sweat dripping down his face.
"Reporting, Lord Kazekage... I... I..."
Seeing this, Rasa felt somewhat helpless but didn't say much. Even he probably couldn't have prepared in advance for this stunt pulled by the Cloud and Stone Villages.
Now, under the Cloud and Stone Villages' blatant scheme, the Sand Village was suddenly at a disadvantage in terms of public opinion.
And it was the kind that couldn't be proven otherwise.
Then, there was only one way.
"Remember, Maki, when the facts are completely against us, there is only one way to get out of the predicament, and that is to completely muddy the waters!"
After saying that, Rasa glanced at Maki meaningfully and then left on his own.
Maki, still with cold sweat on his forehead, pondered the words the Kazekage had just said, and suddenly his eyes lit up...
--------------------------------------------------
At the entrance of the Sand Village Ninja Hospital.
Tsuchikage and Kurotsuchi each stood in a corner, surrounded by a crowd of people, chattering about something. Some people who seemed to enjoy joining in the fun were enthusiastically telling the newcomers everything that had happened here.
In this way, one told ten, and ten told a hundred.
These people were, of course, spies that the Cloud and Stone Villages had planted within the Sand Village long ago.
The two looked at each other and then quickly averted their gazes.
Although it was only a brief glance, they both understood in their hearts that they needed to work together next.
Having used the lives of their village's ninjas as a price, they now had complete control over the next plan.
Just then, Maki led the Anbu ninjas out of the hospital entrance.
The two immediately stepped forward and asked with cold expressions.
"Minister Maki, how are our village's ninjas?"
Maki ignored them and looked around, asking.
"Mr. Tsuchikage, Mr. Kurotsuchi, can you tell me where the other ninjas from your villages who came with you this time are?"
The two were stunned.
Tsuchikage felt that something was wrong and said.
"Minister Maki, this doesn't seem to have anything to do with what I'm asking about right now?"
"Hmph... how could it not have anything to do with it?"
Maki said with a smug smile on his face.
"Let me tell you two where your subordinates are. They are now in our Anbu's interrogation room..."