Chapter 56: The Pot King's Jealous Fury, Terrifying Calculation
With only trusted people remaining, Hiruzen finally lit his pipe.
But his next words made the Legendary Sannin and Hatake Sakumo change expression.
"We must prepare for war on three fronts."
Tsunade's expression turned grave. "Is it that serious? Does Earth Country truly intend to join the war?"
"The one we need to worry about isn't Earth Country—it's Rain Country." Danzo's voice turned cold. "Those people hadn't declared their positions yet, so I withheld this information. The truth is that Amegakure declared war on Sunagakure."
Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo showed thoughtful expressions, their faces quickly darkening.
"What's the difference? Whether Amegakure declared war on Sunagakure or Sunagakure declared war on Amegakure, isn't it the same?" Jiraiya looked completely baffled.
"Hanzo is picking on the weak." Orochimaru explained. "Water Country isn't on the ninja continent, and Lightning Country is too far away. Among the Five Great Nations closest to Rain Country, only the three neighboring countries qualify."
"Among those three, Wind Country is universally acknowledged as having the weakest overall strength."
"Hanzo wants to use the weakest Sunagakure to measure the combat power gap between Amegakure and the Five Great Shinobi Villages. If you were expanding territory, would you choose resource-rich Fire Country or Wind Country with deserts everywhere?"
"Fire Country, of course." Jiraiya answered reflexively, then immediately realized the implications. His eyes widened. "You mean Hanzo of the Salamander's next target might be our Fire Country?!"
"That depends on how Sunagakure responds." Orochimaru's voice also turned cold. "If Sunagakure displays overwhelming strength, making Hanzo see no hope of victory, it might restrain that man's ambitions. But if the battle is one-sided, or shows no significant gap, the Five Great Shinobi Villages will lose all deterrent effect on this existence standing at the shinobi world's pinnacle."
"At that point, either us or Earth Country will need to face the shinobi world's most terrifying salamander."
Hatake Sakumo added: "Once we truly go to war with Amegakure, Iwagakure and Sunagakure will definitely take advantage of the situation."
"Why?"
"Because of severe economic imbalance." Hiruzen said. "Among the Five Great Nations, Wind Country and Earth Country have the harshest environments. The former lacks resources, the latter is difficult to develop. Without our restraint, they would have already launched wars of annihilation against surrounding small nations."
"Moreover, their enemies aren't just us—there's also Lightning Country and Water Country."
"In the First Shinobi World War, the Second Mizukage and Second Tsuchikage perished together, creating deep-seated hatred."
"Between Earth Country and Lightning Country, though several small nations lie between them, there's no buffer zone like River Country."
"If Earth Country's economic gap falls too far behind them, neither nation will pass up the opportunity to kick them while they're down."
"Right now, Onoki is the most desperate existence among the Five Kage." Orochimaru sneered. "He's even specially trained a group of shinobi without registration files, disguising them as rogue ninja or missing-nin to infiltrate surrounding small nations. They specifically rob passing merchant caravans or assassinate other nations' shinobi to weaken their national power."
"That little old man is so underhanded?!" Jiraiya's face filled with disbelief.
"That's precisely why we must prepare for three-front warfare." Hiruzen's gaze grew profound. "Once the great conflict truly erupts, it will be a prolonged campaign. For their families' sake, the clan heads cannot possibly lead forces to the front lines personally. You five are the people I trust most."
"Once they submit their lists, select your subordinates, organize your units, and be ready to deploy to the borders at any moment."
"Yes!"
The Legendary Sannin and Hatake Sakumo straightened solemnly. Danzo likewise responded, though his heart felt deeply uncomfortable.
Whenever Hiruzen issued commands, he couldn't help recalling that moment of choice years ago.
Though he'd been weak then, he'd ultimately made his decision—willing to come forward to buy time for Tobirama-sensei and his companions.
But Hiruzen's faster action had cost him the Hokage position.
Every time he remembered, Danzo felt profound regret.
If he'd stepped forward more quickly back then, would he be the one sitting here issuing commands now?
This feeling could probably only be understood by Minato Namikaze in recent years.
Hiruzen naturally didn't know Danzo's thoughts.
After entrusting the five with heavy responsibilities, Hiruzen suddenly looked at Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, did you bring it?"
"I've been carrying it with me, Sarutobi-sensei."
Orochimaru nodded.
Under the puzzled gazes of Jiraiya and the others, a small white snake emerged from Orochimaru's sleeve, spitting out a storage scroll disproportionate to its body size.
Opening the scroll, Orochimaru extracted the sealed contents.
Several kunai immediately appeared before Jiraiya and the others.
"Kunai?"
Jiraiya, expecting something important, looked slightly stunned.
Danzo and the others showed similar confusion.
Suddenly, as though discovering something, Hatake Sakumo picked up a kunai. Staring at the pattern on the silicone grip protector, his pupils contracted. He looked at Hiruzen with shock. "Hokage-sama, these kunai couldn't possibly be..."
Tsunade's expression also changed. She picked up a kunai and examined it carefully, her voice filled with disbelief. "This is... Second Grandfather's Flying Thunder God kunai?!"
Danzo likewise grabbed a kunai. His eyes, hands, and heart all trembled slightly.
"That's correct. These are all Flying Thunder God kunai." Hiruzen smiled and nodded, his pipe-smoking manner carrying subtle pride.
Like him, Orochimaru also wore satisfaction at their reactions.
Seeing Hiruzen confirm it, Tsunade immediately pressed: "This isn't Second Grandfather's pattern. Who learned Second Grandfather's Flying Thunder God Technique?"
"Satsu and Mio's child." Hiruzen didn't hide the truth.
"Satsu and Mio's child?"
Tsunade and Jiraiya looked slightly stunned. Hatake Sakumo and Danzo rapidly searched their memories for these two names and faces.
Jiraiya reacted first, looking at Orochimaru. "Satsu and Mio's child—that's your student, isn't it?"
"Gojo Yoru, the boy Kushina admires?" Tsunade likewise remembered, completely committing Yoru's appearance to memory.
Danzo clenched his fists, burning with jealous fury.
Kushina. Kushina Uzumaki. The Nine-Tails jinchuriki...
The child of Gojo Satsu and Gojo Mio. Wielder of the Flying Thunder God Technique. The person admired by the Nine-Tails jinchuriki. Orochimaru's student...
Hiruzen, you've secretly grew such a secret weapon, paving the way for your disciple. What terrifying calculation!
At this moment, Gojo Yoru officially entered the high-level attention list.
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