Konoha: Uchiha Extremists? Offering Loyalty!

Chapter 203 Cautious Orochimaru

"Investigate!"

"Order the Anbu to compile a detailed account of the events leading up to this incident into an intelligence report and send it to the front lines for the Hokage to handle!"

Orochimaru paced anxiously back and forth in the office.

No direct response was taken.

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru!"

After the staff officer who had given the report left the office, Orochimaru instantly regained his composure, sat back down, and continued to handle official business.

Besides stealing the Sharingan, what else did Danzo Shimura do?

He didn't know.

It's impossible to step in blindly.

The mere act of stealing the Sharingan was enough to sentence Danzo to death.

His power comes from the Third Hokage, and he is only responsible to the Hokage.

There is no need to be accountable to the leader of the root.

It wouldn't hurt to have a little fight.

The fact that a village can fight amongst itself but not break apart is not necessarily a bad thing.

Orochimaru found the records of the Root base and selected the 'Danzo legacy' that suited him.

Later still.

I'm afraid I won't get a share.

"Get out of my way! I need to see Orochimaru! I am an elder of the village, and you, a special Jonin, dare to stop me!" Mitokado Homura's roar came from outside the office.

The roar continued for over a dozen times, but it still didn't reach the Hokage's office.

Orochimaru smiled and put down the scroll. The 'debt collector' had arrived.

"Mr. Mitarai, please let Elder Mitomon in."

"Yes!" A muffled reply came from outside the door, and Mitokado Homura finally walked into the office.

"Elder Mitomon, what brings you here in such a hurry?" Orochimaru asked, his expression turning anxious again.

"Orochimaru, don't tell me you don't know Danzo is dead and his body is hanging at the village gate!" Mitokado Homura said angrily, "If you don't deal with the Uchiha, I won't hesitate to unite the clans and impeach you!"

"Look, he's in a hurry again." Orochimaru sighed. "Elder Mitomon, are you hiding a little bit of the truth? For example, that Shimura Danzo has a Sharingan embedded in his eye?"

Mitomon En choked for a moment, his heart filled with great shock.

How long has it been?

Danzo's body was discovered in just over an hour.

In such a short time, Orochimaru understood the whole story?

"Shimura Danzo is, after all, a Jonin of the village. Even if something goes wrong, it should be left to the village to handle. How can they abuse their power? Let alone kill someone!" Mitokado Homura changed direction and said angrily.

What to do about the village?

When Shimura Danzo plundered his allies last time, there was no real punishment whatsoever.

Orochimaru muttered to himself.

"So, Elder Mitomon, what do you mean?"

"The Uchiha clan must be severely punished to clear Danzo's name!" Mitokado Homura insisted.

"Is that so?" A burst of summoning smoke erupted beside Orochimaru, and a snow-white python coiled around his arm, its head spitting out a scroll.

After Orochimaru released the summoning, he quickly read the latest scroll without making a sound.

Seeing this, Mitokado Homura's expression turned slightly angry, and he wanted to continue applying pressure: "Orochimaru..."

"Uchiha Yuuki!" Orochimaru interrupted loudly.

He tossed the scroll to Mitokado Homura and read it aloud clearly: "Uchiha Yuuki, near the Cherry Blossom Bridge and Cherry Blossom Forest in the Land of Fire, discovered the Third Raikage's whereabouts. A great battle ensued, and the Raikage lost one of his arms. Victory."

"Oh, right." Orochimaru turned to look at Mitokado Homura: "Elder, what were you saying just now?"

"I said..." Mitokado Homura said firmly, "The Uchiha clan must give an explanation and clarify what exactly happened!"

hiss.

That Uchiha brat is absolutely terrifying!

The Third Raikage!

That was a top-tier Kage-level powerhouse, known as the strongest spear and the strongest shield in the ninja world!

Even Hiruzen wouldn't dare say he's guaranteed a victory!

This brat actually managed to chop off one of the opponent's arms.

For a ninja, losing an arm is tantamount to losing the future.

Performing hand seals with one hand is no easy skill!

For a ninja and taijutsu master like the Raikage, losing an arm is a much greater loss!

"Hehehe." Orochimaru chuckled twice.

Arrogant at first, then respectful; it's laughable!

Orochimaru sat back down and sighed dramatically, "Then let's wait."

"Waiting for the Hokage's reply."

Mitokado Yan's face was grim, but he remained silent, tacitly agreeing.

Talking about fairness when the strengths are unequal is nothing but wishful thinking.

At this time, Shimura Danzo's body was still being exposed to the sun at the village entrance.

...

Sichuan's defense line.

The defeated Sand Village retreated rapidly under the sandstorm.

"Kazekage-sama!"

Upon seeing the Third Kazekage appear before them, the Sand Ninja stopped in their tracks and looked toward their supreme commander.

This strongest Kazekage did not make things difficult for his fleeing subordinates, and calmly reorganized the ninja force.

Even with resources from Iwagakure, defeat was to be expected in a one-on-one fight against Konoha.

"Lord Kazekage, a total of ninety-six people have died or gone missing, and eighty-one of them have been confirmed as casualties."

Ebizo, who was in charge of logistics, showed a hint of doubt on his face.

The casualties were not significant.

Something feels off.

"Fewer casualties." The Third Kazekage frowned in confusion, looking at Ebizo. "Which young genius has risen to prominence?"

“No.” Ebizo shook his head regretfully: “The village is too poor. The promotion of ninjas is already very strict. There are almost no geniuses who are overlooked.”

The ninja academy geniuses like Yekura, Rasa, and Aruru performed well, but they were only at the Chunin level.

Chisuna's wife, after giving birth to Sasori, returned to the battlefield and her strength improved rapidly, but she is still some distance from reaching Kage level.

"Sigh, why are there so many talented people in Konoha?" The Third Kazekage sighed, his eyes filled with worry: "The four elders, including Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the younger generation, such as Sakumo Hatake, Tsunade Senju, and Orochimaru. There's also the Uchiha, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who's probably not even that old."

Who knows how many powerful figures are lurking in the shadows?

From the Warring States period onwards, there was a famous and prominent family, the Sarutobi.

Could it be that there are one or two Kage-level powerhouses hiding in private?

Not to mention the Senju and Uchiha clans, whose nominations are even more prestigious.

In addition, there are the Ino-Shika-Cho, Hyuga, Kurama, and other families.

Konoha probably has more than two Kage-level shinobi!

The depth of its heritage is simply incredible!

Despite the seemingly evenly matched situation on the battlefield, Sunagakure and Konoha appear to be evenly matched.

Your own family knows your own business!

The Third Kazekage brought out all the Kage-level shikigami from the village!

Including the Jinchūriki of the One-Tailed Beast!

That's like going all in.

As a result, the Third Hokage also placed a bet, leading a group of reinforcements and personally arriving at the scene!

How is this played?

but...

The Third Kazekage looked somewhat uncertain and asked Ebizo, "I exchanged blows with Hiruzen Sarutobi. He truly lives up to his title as the Professor of the Ninja World. His combined ninjutsu and Five Elements Release techniques are incredibly powerful. The Konoha ninja reinforcements are formidable and have performed like a group of elites."

"But..." The Third Kazekage's doubts grew stronger: "Why do I feel that the pressure on the front lines is not as intense as when Sakumo Hatake was there?"

Neither the Third Kazekage, nor Chiyo, nor Ebizo were intimidated by Konoha's support, nor did they blindly despair.

Instead, they tested the waters at every turn, clashing with Konoha multiple times within a few days.

Ebizo said, "It's not an illusion; the Third Hokage's oppressive aura is indeed not as strong as that of Konoha's White Fang!"

The two exchanged a glance.

Or should we test the waters further?