Jiraiya, who was standing by the side, really couldn't bear to watch any longer.
If they continued the assault, Konoha's casualty numbers would become completely unmanageable.
"War is inherently a matter of life and death. Don't release your naivety and foolishness on me, Jiraiya!"
Orochimaru, of course, wouldn't listen to Jiraiya's opinion.
Not only because of Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders, but also because he himself was very eager to study the tailed beast of Sunagakure, to see what was so special about this kind of weapon used by each village for annihilation.
Whether it could really be used to achieve immortality.
Therefore, he was determined to obtain Sunagakure.
As for Konoha's ninjas...
It didn't matter. After Edo Tensei, even if they were killed in action, they could still continue fighting.
No matter how many died, it didn't matter.
———
"How troublesome."
[Iwagakure]
[Tsuchikage's Office]
The aged little old man Onoki looked at the intelligence sent back from Konoha and Sunagakure, feeling hesitant and troubled.
"That organization called Akatsuki actually predicted the current situation between Konoha and Sunagakure in advance... It's really frightening."
A mercenary organization's intelligence capabilities actually surpassed Iwagakure, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
The purpose of this organization was definitely not as simple as assisting in war and making money.
"Now, should we send troops to Konoha as the masked man from Akatsuki suggested, or continue to stand by?"
Onoki found it extremely difficult to make a decision.
Sunagakure had been defeated so quickly. If he sent troops when Sunagakure was already finished, then not only would he get no benefits, he might even be hated by Konoha.
"Report, Lord Tsuchikage, the latest battle report..."
"Speak!"
"Sunagakure has successfully repelled Konoha's offensive in the Wind and Sand Valley of the Desert of Demons, and the situation has currently reached a stalemate."
"They held them off? How did Sunagakure manage that? Orochimaru used Edo Tensei and even summoned the Fourth Kazekage as a puppet, what does Sunagakure have that can resist that?"
"Elder Chiyo of Sunagakure gathered all the puppet masters to take action together, using the Thousand Puppet Performance to hold off Orochimaru's Edo Tensei army."
"So that's how... Looks like Sunagakure really isn't as weak as I thought. Now I feel at ease," After reading the battle report, Onoki finally made his decision.
"Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi, assemble the army. We're going to rescue Sunagakure and stop the weak Sunagakure from being invaded by the brutal Konoha. Maintain peace in the ninja world!"
Finding a perfect justification for dispatch, Onoki floated above the desk with his hands behind his back using the Light-Weight and Heavy-Weight Rock Technique, speaking imposingly.
Helping Sunagakure maintain peace was, of course, just a pretense and an excuse. Iwagakure merely wanted to use this opportunity to seize the benefits of the Land of Fire and the Village Hidden in the Leaves.
"But Father, what if Kumogakure...", In the last ninja war, Iwagakure killed the Third Raikage, and Kumogakure had always been watching them like a tiger stalking prey.
Kurotsuchi was somewhat worried that Kumogakure would pull something from behind.
"There are no eternal enemies. Send someone to tell Kumogakure that Konoha is currently vulnerable, and they should also come to take a piece of the pie," He didn't believe those single-celled fools from Kumogakure could resist the temptation of dividing up Konoha.
"Yes!"
———
"Damn Orochimaru, how dare he desecrate the corpses of fallen comrades! Once this war is over, I won't forgive him!"
[Konoha]
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen slapped the desk in front of him angrily.
Only then did he slowly turn to the person and continue speaking.
"But Orochimaru did it to reduce casualties... Konoha can't keep bleeding like this."
Looking at the casualty statistics in his hand, Hiruzen's heart was bleeding.
How could the deaths and injuries be so severe?
What were the medical ninjas doing?
'Right, Tsunade...'
"Tsunade still hasn't been found?"
If the medical ninja team led by Tsunade were present, the death rate on the front lines shouldn't be this high.
"Well... Although we've found Lady Tsunade's whereabouts, she..."
Clutching his swollen cheek, the ANBU ninja shook his head helplessly.
"I see. You're dismissed."
Tsunade's illness hadn't healed?
Hiruzen couldn't help but mutter to himself.
But even if she hadn't recovered, in such a critical time, Tsunade should return to the village.
He had to send someone to find her again.
"Lord Hokage, the latest report: Lord Orochimaru has successfully broken through Wind and Sand Valley, and all resisting forces of Sunagakure have surrendered. However... the One-Tails jinchūriki of Sunagakure is still missing."
"Excellent. Orochimaru didn't let this old man down... cough, didn't let the village down!"
Though the casualties were heavy, at least Sunagakure had been conquered.
Next, with resources from two major ninja villages, Konoha would no longer find it a fantasy to deal with the other three great ninja villages and unify the ninja world.
Hiruzen joyfully took a puff of his pipe.
"Lord Hokage, emergency military intelligence! Iwagakure's army has crossed the Land of Grass and entered the border of the Land of Fire!"
"What?"
Before Hiruzen could enjoy the good news, the intel from another ninja caused him to choke on the smoke he just inhaled.
How could that Onoki guy act so quickly? This was completely inconsistent with his usually cautious and hesitant nature.
Where did things go wrong?
Realizing that Iwagakure's army, just like in the Third Ninja War, was pressuring the Land of Fire through the Land of Grass, Hiruzen could no longer maintain his former composure.
With Konoha's current condition, if Iwagakure's ninja army launched an all-out assault, they might truly be unstoppable...
"What about Kumogakure? Any movement from them?"
"No, we've only seen Iwagakure's ninjas."
"Then it's not too bad. Notify the front lines: have Jiraiya and Shikaku lead a force to hold and take over Sunagakure. Orochimaru and the rest are to return immediately to defend Konoha!"
"Yes!"
"And notify all ninjas in the village, Konoha has reached the moment of life and death. Everyone must prepare to repel Iwagakure's invasion!"
During the time it took for Orochimaru to return with his army, Konoha could only rely on its existing forces to resist Iwagakure.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
"Wait, send someone to release Danzo... No, I'll go see him myself."
Sensing the urgency of the situation, Hiruzen couldn't help but begin to miss his old friend, Danzo.
Compared to young ones like Orochimaru and Itachi, it was indeed Danzo, his intimate comrade from the same school, whom he found more comfortable to use.
"What? Danzo isn't in the place he was under house arrest, it's just a substitute? Then where is he now?"
But before Hiruzen could reach Danzo's detention location, he received bad news from his subordinates.
"Is he trying to rebel? Notify all ANBU for assembly!"
"Yes!"
Something was wrong, why would Danzo trip him up at a time like this?
This was too unusual.
The unease that Hiruzen had felt since the day of the Chūnin Exams was growing stronger.
Where did things go wrong?
———
[Kumogakure]
"Big bro, Sunagakure's already been wiped out by Konoha. This is just too..."
'Surprised, amazed, shocked...'
Killer B rapped out multiple adjectives in one breath.
"Now we're still staying put? That's not like you at all, Big Bro."
Unlike the usual hot-headed and impulsive Fourth Raikage, today A seemed much more composed.
He wasn't shouting about attacking Konoha, nor yelling about ambushing Iwagakure to avenge their father, the Third Raikage.
When had this change begun?
Killer B couldn't help but reflect, then quickly realized that this change in the Raikage seemed to have started from that day.
The day his arm was cut off by that Uchiha.
"B, Konoha is badly wounded now and definitely can't handle Iwagakure. But with us behind them, Iwagakure won't dare go all out either, so we just need to stay still and watch them wear each other down."
When Iwagakure and Konoha had worn each other out enough, that would be the moment for Kumogakure to move.
As for Kirigakure, who had allied with Konoha... that was indeed a variable.
But the bigger variable, or rather the thing that made A feel persistently uneasy, was still his younger brother's body.
Ever since his arm was cut off because of him, even though Killer B had a new arm attached, he still couldn't perform at his previous level.
Not to mention, whenever it rained or snowed, or during gloomy weather, the stitched wound on Killer B's arm would become unbearably painful.
Their AB Brothers' combined special technique, Double Lariat, could no longer be used.
Though Killer B's other hand was perfectly fine, it simply couldn't cooperate with A like his dominant hand used to.
"Before sending troops, we must heal your arm."
Killer B's severed arm was A's lifelong pain.
"But this can't be healed... besides, I'm already used to it. It won't affect my strength too much."
Killer B didn't believe anyone could heal an old arm injury that was over a decade old.
"It can be healed, if it's done by her!"
"Who?"
"One of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, known as the strongest medical ninja, Tsunade-hime!"
"Oh, her! But would someone from Konoha even consider helping us?"
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