The conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha had existed for a long time.
It could even be traced back to the era of Uchiha Madara.
After all, the Uchiha clan had only joined the village after being subdued by Senju Hashirama.
At that time, however, many clans in the village held grudges against the Uchiha.
It was only under the mediation of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, that these grudges were set aside.
Though the hatred was buried, the Uchiha were still subtly targeted.
According to Orochimaru's knowledge,
the Uchiha had fared relatively well only during the lifetime of the First Hokage. After his passing, their situation began to deteriorate.
Even then, they were merely monitored and distrusted.
They lacked none of the privileges they were entitled to.
But when his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, rose to power, the hostility toward the Uchiha reached its peak.
Hiruzen did strive to restore the village to its former glory.
Yet despite his efforts, the village only declined further.
Though he claimed to want to reconcile with the Uchiha,
his actions gradually pushed them to the margins.
It was only due to Konoha's shortage of manpower that the Uchiha were reluctantly allowed to contribute.
Otherwise, they were subjected to relentless scrutiny.
In the past, Orochimaru wouldn't have cared how Hiruzen treated the Uchiha.
But Uchiha Kin was different.
To Orochimaru, he was special.
His appearance had been impeccably timed.
Nawaki's death had not only pained Tsunade—who truly understood Orochimaru's grief?
Jiraiya knew, yet he had done nothing, hadn't he?
And at this critical juncture, Uchiha Kin had emerged. In a way, Orochimaru had come to see him as Nawaki's replacement.
Though not formally his student, their bond surpassed that of master and disciple.
Therefore,
he would not allow his disciple to suffer because of the strife between the village and the Uchiha.
Moreover, the ninjutsu Kin developed was steadily strengthening Konoha's power.
Orochimaru chose to suppress the intelligence report.
Though this displeased some of the jonin present,
none could challenge Orochimaru's authority as the commanding officer.
His prestige was simply too high.
They had no choice but to swallow their discontent.
Poof!
A cloud of smoke erupted as a ninja appeared before Orochimaru, kneeling on one knee to deliver his report.
"Lord Orochimaru, the latest intelligence from the Land of Wind: two days ago, Hanzō of the Salamander from Amegakure clashed with Chiyo from Sunagakure. The battle remains unresolved."
Orochimaru pondered for a moment before asking,
"Was their confrontation witnessed directly?"
That old hag Chiyo's strength should have declined by now. According to intel from the Land of Rivers, her puppets had been destroyed by the White Fang.
Even if repaired, they couldn't have been restored so quickly.
She was no match for Hanzō, who bore the title of "Demigod."
"Lord Orochimaru, our operatives couldn't see the two combatants directly."
"Their battlefield was shrouded in toxic gas, with numerous Rain and Sand ninja fighting nearby. Our people couldn't approach the heart of the conflict."
Both Hanzō and Chiyo were renowned for their use of poison, especially Hanzō, whose presence alone filled the air with deadly mist.
This was precisely what Orochimaru had anticipated.
"Any news from Iwagakure?"
Orochimaru turned to the others in the command room.
With Amegakure holding off Sunagakure, the Rain ninja's limited numbers meant Iwagakure now had room to maneuver.
One of the jonin promptly responded, "Lord Orochimaru, Iwagakure has recently been pulling back its defensive lines. Their intentions are unclear, but they're adopting a wait-and-see stance toward the Land of Rain."
A hint of calculation flickered in Orochimaru's narrowed eyes.
"Notify Jiraiya immediately. Iwagakure may be preparing to attack his position."
"Understood."
A ninja acknowledged the order and vanished in a swirl of smoke.
At such a critical moment,
Iwagakure wouldn't remain idle.
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion suddenly rocked the area,
causing the group to stagger.
"Let's go. It seems the Rain ninja have mustered considerable force this time."
The others were already accustomed to this—such attacks occurred at regular intervals.
This was the Rain ninja's Suicide Squad in action.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Clouds of smoke erupted as
the group disappeared from the command room.
Not far from the Konoha camp, trenches had been dug across the plains.
These were defenses erected to prevent enemy ninja from entering the Land of Fire.
When operating in other nations, Konoha only established outposts.
Orochimaru and his team materialized here,
observing the Rain ninja relentlessly charging the trenches.
One of them frowned in confusion.
"Are these Rain ninja not afraid of death? How can there be so many willing to die?"
The intervals between the Rain ninja's assaults were alarmingly short.
Even Konoha couldn't muster so many fearless shinobi.
Beside the speaker stood Might Dai, now clad in a ninja flak jacket over his signature jumpsuit.
The usually carefree Dai wore a somber expression, his face lined with worry.
In response to the other ninja's words, he spoke slowly,
"They've endured too much suffering. Their homes, turned into battlegrounds, have been destroyed. For their country, their village, and their families, they have no other choice."
They could either throw their lives at the enemy or wait for the enemy's blades to fall.
What seemed like a choice was, in reality, a grim inevitability.
Might Dai could feel their despair and fury.
The others dismissed his words, hardened by the cruelty of war.
To them, this was simply the way of things.
But the speaker was Might Dai—a ninja who had saved countless lives, one whom many now regarded as Orochimaru's equal.
And Orochimaru had never disputed this.
"Lord Dai, for Konoha's sake, we too have no choice,"
a nearby ninja offered in consolation.
Yet his words held a bitter truth: if the enemy broke through into the Land of Fire,
Konoha's ninja would face a similar fate.
"Then!"
A surge of green chakra erupted around Might Dai as his face flushed crimson, his pupils vanishing.
Eight Gates Formation: Sixth Gate—Open!
"I will honor them with my full strength."
The next moment,
a streak of green light flashed across the battlefield.
A Rain ninja, his body wrapped in explosive tags, roared with frenzied determination, saliva dripping uncontrollably from his mouth—a testament to his terror.
Yet despite his fear, his charge toward Konoha never faltered.
"Die, Konoha scum!"
As the explosive tags on his body ignited, he sought to take these demons of Konoha with him in death.
Even one would be enough—just one!!!
The green light materialized before him, and before he could react, a kick landed squarely on his abdomen,
sending him flying backward.
Midair,
BOOM!!
A violent explosion erupted.
"The Green Beast—Might Dai!!"
Another Rain ninja, eyes bloodshot, recognized Konoha's second-in-command and charged without hesitation.
He too was launched skyward with a kick.
BOOM!
...
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(End of Chapter)