[A/N] - Support & Read Up to 10 Advanced Chapters on My Patreon!
....
Nara Shikaku and Konoha's think tank had analyzed Iwagakure.
A vilge's external style often has a lot to do with the personality of its Kage.
Unlike Konoha's ever-flourishing Will of Fire, Iwagakure's style is as tough as their "Will of Stone."
The elder ōnoki once followed his teacher, the Sed Tsuchikage Mū, to seek a peace treaty with Hashirama Senju in Konoha, only to be blocked by Uchiha Madara, who believed in Absolute Power.
Sihen, ōnoki's heart began to pursue ultimate strength, advog the hegemony of great ninja vilges.
ōnoki not only delved into his own strength but also vigorously developed Iwagakure's military power. Under his leadership, Iwagakure reached its peak in both ey and military might.
They began actively seeking ninja wars to divert internal flicts, e excess productivity, and expand their vilge's territory.
During the Third Great Ninja War, ōnoki dispatched thousands of Iwagakure ninjas, using the Land of Grass as a springboard to attempt to annihite Konoha Vilge. They even pushed Konoha's frontline defense forces batil only four people remained.
In the end, it was the current Fourth Hokage who arrived otlefield like a savior.
Bearing the name "Yellow Fsh," he wiped out fifty Iwagakure Jōnin in one go, pletely reversing the battle situatioween Konoha and Sunagakure.
Sihen, the "Yellow Fsh" became a nightmare in the hearts of many Iwagakure ninjas.
It also reminded ōnoki of the fear dominated by Uchiha Madara-that Konoha was still the uable Konoha.
So, ōnoki redirected Iwagakure's forces, using a ninja flood tactic to exhaust the Third Raikage, known as the "stro spear," achieving a huge victainst Kumogakure.
After that.
Iwagakure turned a deaf ear to the ninja world's affairs and focused solely on development. ōnoki spent his life accumuting power, dreaming of leading Iwagakure to surpass Konoha in one fell swoop.
From ōnoki's personality and Iwagakure's performan the ninja wars, they've always wao pursue aernal expansion strategy.
But with the end of the ninja wars aion among the Daimyōs, Iwagakure also began to maintaiively peaceful retions with the Grass Vilge.
Now, Konoha's "Advisor Assassination" i could be shared with Iwagakure, uhe pretext of jointly maintaining ninja world order and severely bating political terrorism by assassins, to carry out a special joint military operatioweewo vilges.
Since Konoha is initiating the "invasion," ōnoki would likely be happy to get involved and take a share. As for the Land of Earth's Daimyō questioning them... ōnoki, at his age, has the faeeded for such debates.
There are no perma enemies in the ninja world, oernal is.
Konoha and Iwagakure, who fought fiercely during the Third Ninja War, seem to be ing together for mutual is this time.
A perfect strategy, no fws!
Nara Shikaku suddenly uood. Past animosities during hostile states had blinded him, causing him tet that Iwagakure could be such a "reliable ally."
'Ah... wait.'
'What am I getting happy about? Wasn't I inally trying to reject this nomination by questioning Uchiha Fugaku's abilities and proposing Orochimaru?'
Nara Shikaku rarely found himself fused, only now remembering what his political demands were.
He wao say more, but Minato beat him to it:
"The specific arras will depend ouation, but I lean more towards Uchiha Fugaku."
Minato uncharacteristically stood firm, rejeg his subordinate's suggestion. But to avoid chilling the hearts of the ninja representatives, he added tactfully:
"Let's leave it at that for now. Let's have Orochimaru e to the Hokage Building to report, and we'll seek his opinion."
"If he passes all aspects of the assessment... I will sider it carefully."
"Kakashi, please go and invite Orochimaru to the Hokage Building."
Minato crossed his arms, his demeanor resolute, indig his decision was final.
He loudly ordered Kakashi, the Anbu squad leader, to deliver the message.
Seeing this, Nara Shikaku could only sigh inwardly.
The Fourth Hokage has ged too mupared to when he first took office; he no longer listens to the advice of veteran subordinates like him.
He only hopes that iure, Minato won't fully lean towards an Uchiha dictatorship...
Deep filled Nara Shikaku's eyes. The Fourth Hokage's partiality towards the Uchiha and Gojo Kaigetsu might lead to the most extreme and worst oute...
[Shadow Side]
....
"Fourth Hokage, Orochimaru has e to report as per your orders."
"May I ask what instrus you have?"
Orochimaru wore the cssioha ninja attire, his voice hoarse, expression indifferent.
He seemed unged for decades.
pared to his fellow Sannin, who indulged in gambling and other vices, he now looked the most like a normal Konoha ninja.
Minato calmly observed this senior.
If possible, he genuinely hoped Orochimaru stood with Konoha and that the intelligence Kaigetsu-kun had given him was fabricated.
If that were the case, Minato wouldn't know how relieved he'd feel.
But reality was cruel. The one who looked most like a normal Konoha ninja-Orochimaru-was actually the one most in the wrong.
The other two... were just using their Sannin privileges to stay away from the vilge for extended periods.
"Orochimaru-sensei..."
"Please, have a seat."
It's said that Kage are natural politis; even someone as ho as Minato could act fwlessly when needed.
Even though he had already sentenced Orochimaru in his heart, he still maintained a friendly demeanor.
"The following information is top secret. After you leave this office, only you should remember it."
Orochimaru sat opposite Minato, his snake-like eyes narrowing, heart rate accelerating.
He realized that the opportunity he had been waiting fht e from Minato's mouth.
"Please go ahead."
"We at Konoha pn to unch a blitz operation against the Grass Vilge at some point. We aim to eliminate forces within the Grass Vilge opposing Konoha and the Kumogakure units statiohere."
"Because the blitz operatioo be pleted in a very short time, achieving our predetermined results as swiftly as white lightning."
"Therefore, the ander of the strike force has very high requirements."
Minato briefly expihe mission's background.
Hearing this, Orochimaru's heart raced.
An opportunity! The opportunity! The ce he had been waiting for was finally here!
Invading the Land of Grass? Ninja flicts-how b; he couldn't muster any i.
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes g the map, looking at his pnned base location-[Land of Rice Fields]
This was a small try with ninjas but no ninja vilge.
Using it as a hideout while establishing a ninja vilge to serve him, handling dirty work, capturing experimental subjects-it couldn't be more suitable.
Retly, Orochimaru had beely sending funds to his subordinates pnted in the Land of Rice Fields to prepare the initial base.
Everything was ready; all that was missing was his defe from Konoha.
Konoha assigned him the task of leading a strike force to attack the Grass Vilge. Between the Land of Grass and the Land of Rice Fields were two tries-it's a bit far, but that's okay; it would help fuse Konoha's pursuit.
In a fsh, Orochimaru had already pnned his escape route.
He was just short of saying to Minato:
"Your words will be: 'Orochimaru-sensei, are you willing to serve as the ander of the strike force?'"
However, Minato's words nearly broke his posure.
"Orochimaru-sensei, before you came, we internally discussed who to entrust with this important task. The result was to appoint the current head of Konoha's Police Force, Uchiha Fugaku, as the ander of this White Blitz Operation."
"I called you here to ask your opinion on this appoi."
"After all, as one of the Sannin, you have signifit input on this matter."
Minato amicably pulled out his metaphorical kabbing into Orochimaru's heart o at a time.
Sure enough... Orochimaru's snake-like eyes seemed to freeze for a moment. His usually indifferent face was now filled with astonishment and fusion, along with a hint of... anger!
Yes, anger!
Oh of pursuing immortality, Orochimaru had nearly eradicated his emotions as a ninja.
But Minato's words reignited his anger.
Almost instinctively, he said: "Why not me?"
But realizing that his tone showed excessive desire for the position of "strike forander," Orochimaru added:
Minato smirked slightly. "You mean, Orochimaru-sensei has absolutely no personal motives?"
"Of course."
Orochimaru's tone became increasingly calm: "My heart and as are as clear as a mirror; everything I do is for Konoha."
"Is that so!"
Minato seemed deeply moved. He slowly stood up, his eyes showing a certaiermination.
He turned around, looking out the window at Konoha's bustling streets, leaving only the back of his Hokage robe for Orochimaru to see.
"After careful anizational researd discussion, we have officially decided to appoint the current head of Konoha's Police Force, Uchiha Fugaku, as the ander of this White Blitz Operation."
"Orochimaru-sensei, you may leave now."
Creak-
It sounded like something crag.
Tiny cracks appeared on the wooden floor beh Orochimaru's feet.
Targeted! This was btant targeting, political persecution from the Fourth Hokage's small team!
Although he no longer cared about Konoha's political ecology and wasn't clear about the power struggles between the Fourth Hokage, his teacher, and Danzo, the Fourth Hokage's decision was blog his path!
Orochimaru's face darkened. He said slowly, enunciating each word:
"I have shed blood for Konoha; I have shed tears for Konoha! Fourth Hokage, you ot treat me like this-I want to see Lord Hiruzen!"
...
Support & Read 10 Advanced Chapters. Ahead of the rest!
https://p-atreon./dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
There is 8 Exg Fanfics already avaible on my Patreon!
