ushernet Chapter 149 The Chess Player on the Edge of Konoha Village
Chapter 149 The Chess Player on the Edge of Konoha Village
In stark contrast to the bustling dam construction site, the atmosphere was completely different in a quiet forest clearing on the edge of Konoha Village.
Sakumo Hatake, dressed in a durable farm work uniform, sat cross-legged on one side of a huge tree stump.
Opposite him sat Nara Deer Antlers, also sitting cross-legged.
Between the two, there was a Go board.
The black and white pieces on the chessboard are intertwined, and the battle is fierce, but the two players are in different postures.
Shuo Mao frowned, one hand supporting his chin, the other holding a white chess piece suspended above the board for a long time without being placed.
His expression was even more solemn than when he faced hundreds of enemies on the battlefield.
Nara Shika yawned lazily, tears welling up in his eyes.
"This is so troublesome."
He stretched, and his bones made a slight cracking sound.
"My dear manager—could you please get off the train faster?"
"You've been playing since dawn, and it's almost midday now. Are you planning to play this move straight into noon?"
"Why is playing chess like you're planning a three-year rice planting program?"
Shuo Mao ignored his urging, his gaze still intently scanning the small area of the chessboard.
"Deer antlers, you don't understand."
"This territory, my dragon is about to be slaughtered by you, this is a matter of my dignity as a chess player."
"dignity?"
Nara Deer Antlers seemed to have heard some incredible joke, and finally reluctantly opened one eye.
"When you personally hold award ceremonies for your high-producing sows every Sunday evening to make them happy, do you ever think about the issue of dignity?"
Sakumo's cheek twitched slightly.
"That's to improve the overall postpartum care of Konoha dolphins; it's a scientific breeding method personally approved by the Hokage."
He put down the chess piece in his hand, then picked it up again.
"Those guys from the Akimichi family have already figured out seventeen different ways to grill meat. If the quality of the meat I have isn't up to par, that guy Torifu will be crying in front of me."
Deer Antlers shook his head helplessly, slowly took out a still-warm fried dough stick from the paper bag next to him, and took a big bite.
Click.
The crisp sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet forest.
"Hmm, these fried dough sticks really taste good."
He mumbled incoherently as he chewed.
"The food at Sarutobi Breakfast Shop is truly exceptional."
Sakumo's gaze remained fixed on the chessboard, as if he hadn't heard what he said.
Seeing this, the deer antlers sighed again.
"Ahem, well..."
He swallowed the fried dough stick in his mouth, then crept closer furtively.
"Did you bring any alcohol?"
Sakumo paused slightly in the hand holding the chess piece.
He finally raised his head and looked at the Nara deer antlers with the eyes of someone looking at a monster.
"liquor?"
"Fried dough sticks with alcohol?"
"Don't you think...it's a bit abstract?"
Shuo Mao made a rare joke, as he simply couldn't understand the thought process of his genius strategist.
"Life is short, so let's enjoy it while we can."
The deer antlers shook its head confidently.
"Anyway, I'm just idling around."
Sakumo shook his head and refocused his attention on the chessboard.
These crisscrossing lines were more troublesome to him than the most complex enemy formations on the battlefield.
Since taking over the farm, he has become accustomed to working with the land.
Sow in spring, cultivate in summer, harvest in autumn, and store in winter.
Everything grows according to its own laws. As long as you put in enough patience and hard work, the land will always give you the most honest reward.
But Go is a completely different matter.
Every step was fraught with uncertainty, calculation, and unfamiliar detours and tests that were completely foreign to this ninja who was used to killing with a single blow.
"Tsk."
Sakumo clicked his tongue impatiently, and finally casually slapped the chess piece in his hand onto a corner of the chessboard.
Nara Shika glanced at it, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.
"Terrible move."
"..."
Sakumo's cheek twitched.
Just then.
The birdsong in the woods suddenly disappeared.
The leaves, which had been rustling in the breeze, fell into an eerie silence.
A glint of light flashed in Nara Shika's perpetually sleepy eyes.
His fingers, which were holding the fried dough stick, twitched almost imperceptibly.
But his face still held that lazy expression.
He even yawned again, as if he really was just an idle person who got up early to play chess with someone.
Shuo Mao's brows relaxed in that instant.
His body, which had been tense from thinking, quietly relaxed.
……
at the same time.
In the shadows of the forest, a dozen dark figures, like chameleons blending into their surroundings, moved silently and swiftly between the treetops.
Their movements were swift and synchronized; they landed without even disturbing a single leaf.
These people were the elite "Water Demon Squad" sent by the Third Mizukage, Mizuki, to harass Konoha.
The captain leading the group was a seasoned Jonin with extensive experience.
His eyes were sharp as he constantly scanned his surroundings, searching for the best infiltration route.
According to the plan, they will cut into this weakest point in the defense and create a minor disturbance in Konoha Village to attract the attention of the higher-ups.
This is just a smokescreen.
They were sacrifices made to buy time for the true main attacking force to crush the land of whirlpools.
The captain was fully aware of this, but he had no complaints whatsoever.
Any sacrifice is worthwhile for the future of Kirigakure.
Suddenly, he raised his hand and made a gesture to stop moving forward.
The entire squad seemed to be put on pause instantly, freezing in place and lying prone in their respective hiding places.
The captain's gaze fell upon an open space not far ahead.
There were two figures there.
Two men were sitting cross-legged on either side of a tree stump, playing Go.
One of them was... eating fried dough sticks?
What happened?
Why would anyone be playing chess here at this time and place?
The captain's brow furrowed instantly, a strong sense of unease welling up inside him.
Not right.
This is the edge of Konoha's defense line; ordinary villagers would never appear here.
and……
His gaze fell on the white-haired man.
The man was dressed in ordinary farm work clothes, but a short knife wrapped in white cloth was casually hanging at his waist.
That look...
That white-haired guy...
A name that was almost legendary exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.
Konoha White Fang!
A fine layer of cold sweat instantly seeped from the captain's forehead.
How could it be him?!
Why is this god of war, who single-handedly turned the tide of the war in western Konoha during the Second Shinobi World War and was both hated and feared by the Sand Village, sitting here playing chess like a farmer?
trap!
This is the only explanation!
"..."
Just as he was about to give the order to retreat using a coded signal, a lazy voice, tinged with a hint of complaint, came clearly from the open space.
The voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to possess a peculiar penetrating power, precisely drilling into each of their ears.
"The Hokage is truly amazing; he actually predicted that you would take this path."