"Allen-sama, I shall take full responsibility for Otogakure from this point forward. If there is anything you require, please do not hesitate to command me. Though I may still lack in certain areas compared to Orochimaru-sama, I promise I will not disappoint you."
Upon returning from the Land of Rain, the first thing Kabuto did was clarify his stance with unwavering resolve.
He knew all too well that if it weren't for the man before him, the one branded as the most dangerous individual in the shinobi world, the Allied Forces would never have retreated so easily. Far from foolishly delivering a massive sum of reparations, they would have razed the village to the ground.
Thus, he realized that if he did not position himself correctly, he could be eliminated at any moment.
"Don't be so formal! You should know by now that I dislike management and detest trouble. A talent like yours is the perfect choice to oversee Otogakure. However, I have one condition: I want the cruel method of talent selection from Orochimaru's era to cease. We will adopt slightly more moderate means," Allen stated his demands directly.
How did Otogakure select its Genin, Chunin, and Jonin during Orochimaru's reign?
The answer was simple.
Those willing to participate were released from their cages and forced to slaughter one another until only the survivor remained. Almost every selection process was accompanied by a storm of blood and gore.
Had it not been for Orochimaru's help in solving the problem of the coexistence of Chakra and Nen, Allen would have definitely executed that dehumanized wretch and scattered his ashes to the wind long ago.
Now, with Orochimaru taken out by Sasuke, it was time to change the rules.
Without a second thought, Kabuto nodded. "Understood. Following your will, I shall implement an all-encompassing, structural reform of the Sound shinobi. If there are no further instructions, I shall take my leave to attend to my duties. After all, the village is currently in a state of post-war recovery, and there is a group of people sent by the Resistance who require human body modification and training."
"Go on then. I'm counting on you."
Allen lightly patted Kabuto on the shoulder as a gesture of encouragement.
Staring at Kabuto's receding back, Karin finally couldn't help but ask, "Is that guy the 'key' you selected?"
"What do you think? Quite excellent, isn't he? Using Kabuto as the key and Madara Uchiha as the door to open an unprecedented Great Shinobi War. In this war, we won't just destroy the hidden villages and the shinobi, we will kill the very source of the world's instability," Allen replied with a smile.
Through his keen perception of life energy, he discovered that Kabuto had already transplanted cells from Orochimaru's soulless body and was simultaneously learning the Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave.
He believed that it wouldn't be long before this overlooked genius gained sufficient power.
"He's a terrifying madman! To dare perform such dangerous modifications on his own body..."
Neji, possessing the Byakugan, had undoubtedly seen the abnormalities within Kabuto's body. His tone carried a hint of begrudging respect. After all, there were many who were cruel to their enemies, but very few were this ruthless toward themselves.
"No pain, no gain. When one resolves to walk the path of seeking power, discarding one's life is the most basic level of resolve. Furthermore, the two of you should be nearly finished with your recent training. It's time to head out, stretch your legs, and put a little pressure on those Great Hidden Villages, lest they keep looking for trouble with me whenever they have free time," Allen said, stroking his chin meaningfully.
Although the recent attack was suggested by Obito and orchestrated by Black Zetsu, Allen had gained a new appreciation for the sheer audacity of the village leadership.
He had to admit, even if their strength wasn't much to look at, they certainly possessed a heart for suicide.
They were opportunists to the core. Despite knowing that a "nuclear deterrent" hung over their heads, the moment they heard Allen hadn't shown his face for a long time and suspected he had left Otogakure, they immediately joined forces to launch an invasion without hesitation.
If it weren't for the fact that directly wiping out the remaining Great Nations would severely interfere with his upcoming plans, he would have started with Kumogakure or Konoha to "kill the chicken to warn the monkeys."
"You mean... you're letting the two of us go out and cause trouble for the Great Hidden Villages?" Neji's eyes widened in surprise.
"Exactly. This time, the target is Kumogakure. Bring back the Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails, Matatabi. I want to see if the Fourth Raikage is truly as uncompromising as the legends say."
As Allen spoke, a cold, piercing light flickered in his eyes. This time, he was going to plant the seeds of fear deep within the hearts of the Cloud shinobi. In the future, the mere mention of his name would have them hiding under their beds, trembling in terror.
"Understood. It just so happens I was looking for a durable opponent to test the techniques I've developed lately," Neji agreed without hesitation.
Karin echoed his sentiment. "Please rest assured. Even if we have to dismantle all of Kumogakure, we will bring the Two-Tails Jinchuriki back alive. But are you sure you only want the Two-Tails? Should we just bring the Eight-Tails back as well?"
"Don't be greedy. One bite at a time, one thing at a..."
Before Allen could finish his sentence, Konan, her pale violet hair adorned with a paper flower, suddenly appeared out of thin air. In a toneless, emotionless voice, she spoke: "The swordsmith you requested has been brought here."
"Oh? Where is he?" Allen asked, his eyes lighting up.
"I am here!"
A man who looked to be in his fifties stepped forward. His arms and pectoral muscles were exceptionally well-developed. The calluses on his hands were so thick that even a blade strike wouldn't easily draw blood, a clear sign of long-term, heavy labor.
"I heard you wish to forge an artifact? If you don't mind, may I see the raw materials?" The blacksmith uncle got straight to the point.
From the glint of excitement and anticipation in his eyes, it was clear that he had come here not just for the high commission, but for the chance to forge a truly legendary blade that would endure through the ages. Indeed, this was the lifelong pursuit of most craftsmen, to create a masterpiece that would make people think of their name the moment they saw it.
"Of course! These are the materials I have prepared for you."
Without a word, Allen reached into his waist bag and pulled out Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros, followed by a mountain of materials entirely foreign to this world: Arcanite Bars, Dark Iron Bars, Thorium Bars, Lava Cores, Elemental Cores, and finally, a large chunk of refined Chakra Metal.
"This... this hammer?!!!!!"
With just one look, the blacksmith was deeply captivated by Sulfuras's rugged, wild form and the crimson flames it radiated into the surroundings.
He wasn't the only one; Konan's pupils constricted instantly, her heart filled with shock. Even a layman could tell at a glance that this hammer was a powerful artifact in its own right.
"My request is simple: without destroying the hammer's fundamental structure, reforge it into an incomparably sharp blade. Whatever you need, just ask. Once the task is complete, I will pay you a reward of 100 million Ryo..."