Night had fallen, but the Hokage's Office was still brightly lit.
The four members of Konoha's upper leadership had gathered in one room. After the general situation was explained, it was time for each of them to state their opinion.
Shimizu Uzuki's awakening was certainly a pleasant surprise. However, this young Konoha shinobi could not currently provide support to the village. It was foreseeable that, for quite a long time to come, he would be absent from the rest of the war—perhaps even until it ended.
But that was not the root cause of the meeting's extremely oppressive atmosphere.
Because beforehand, Danzō had already learned from the Third Hokage that his proposal had been rejected.
He, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had actually refused!
Not only had he rejected Danzō's proposal, he had made Namikaze Minato the commander of this mission.
And what Danzō had not expected even more was that the Third Hokage had actually maneuvered against him as well. Shimura Danzō now had to set out for the Kikyo Pass front and replace Minato and Orochimaru there.
That meant Danzō had no chance to slip away.
If he were in Konoha, he could still find a way to head to Amegakure alone and use a substitute as cover.
But on a frontline battlefield like Kikyo Pass, with him serving as the supreme commander, how could he possibly leave?
This was clearly meant to obstruct him from going to the Land of Rain.
"Hiruzen, why?"
Danzō stared fixedly at the Third Hokage, as though trying to see the truth from his eyes.
"Danzō, your body is not actually suited to accompanying the Anbu on this expedition. You should know that with only one arm now, you cannot even complete hand seals."
"And Torifu is already gone. I do not want another old friend of mine to risk his life again."
"Because that person… is Uchiha Madara."
For a moment, the Third Hokage's voice carried an indescribable desolation.
Akimichi Torifu's death had actually left a deep impact on all the members of Konoha's upper leadership.
When they were young, they had all been students of the Second Hokage, shedding blood for Konoha together and fighting for victory together.
Although they had ultimately brought the Second Shinobi World War to an end, their teacher and Kagami had passed away one after another.
Now, even Torifu was gone.
Only the four of them remained.
"Hiruzen's body is not what it used to be, and neither is mine. You were also badly injured this time… We have already shed enough blood for Konoha. Let it go."
Seeing that the atmosphere had stiffened again, Mitokado Homura immediately stepped in to smooth things over.
Utatane Koharu also agreed. "That's right, Danzō. We have to accept that we are old. Now is the time to give the younger generation more opportunities."
Three against one.
A complete defeat.
Danzō took a deep breath, then said in a low voice, "Fine. Then we will do as you say."
His gaze burned as he stared at the Third Hokage.
"Then I will set out for Kikyo Castle as soon as possible and complete the handover with Orochimaru and the others."
…
Land of Fire, Kikyo Pass.
Orochimaru's sharp gaze passed over layer after layer of mountains, fixed on the distant allied forces of Sunagakure and Iwagakure, which had remained motionless for a long time.
Suddenly, a sharp whoosh came from behind him.
"How is it?" Orochimaru asked in a deep voice.
The Konoha shinobi responsible for scouting enemy intelligence lowered his head and replied, "We still have not detected any movement from the enemy."
"No movement is the greatest movement of all."
Orochimaru's gaze immediately turned extremely cold.
"Summon all corps commanders at once. I will hold an emergency meeting immediately."
"Yes!"
The Konoha shinobi left. But not long after, another soft ch suddenly came from behind him.
It was the faint sound of a shoe sole stepping on earth.
And that soundless Body Flicker Technique…
Orochimaru asked without turning his head, "Is that you, Minato?"
"Yes, Orochimaru-senpai."
Minato, his golden hair shining brightly, stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Orochimaru.
"The Anbu's latest report is the same as before. The enemy still hasn't made any movement."
"That matches the intelligence I received."
Orochimaru gave a cold snort.
Do they really think I'll wait here for them to finish all their preparations and sit helplessly until death comes?
"Then what do you intend to do, Senpai?"
"Tonight, I will personally lead a unit and launch a night raid on their camp."
"But wouldn't that be… too reckless?"
Minato frowned slightly. Orochimaru's extremely freewheeling style of command really made it difficult for others to feel at ease.
Although the two of them had already worked together for more than a year, Minato still had not fully gotten used to Orochimaru's unrestrained way of thinking in battle.
After all, they did not even know what the enemy was plotting right now, yet Orochimaru wanted to lead people in a night raid on the enemy camp.
To go against expectation like that—how bold.
"The reason Konoha lost the last Battle of Kikyo Pass was that the commander was too conservative."
Orochimaru's philosophy of warfare had always been to take unconventional paths and not be bound by traditional forms.
"In this kind of tug-of-war where the strength of both sides is nearly equal, only dangerous moves can create a chance to annihilate the enemy and win."
"But what if the enemy is deliberately trying to make us reveal an opening, and this is the trap they set?"
An inexplicable force filled Orochimaru's voice.
"Then let them come kill me."
"As long as they expose themselves, then you… can harvest them freely."
This was an adventurous battle in which he entrusted his life to Minato.
If he did not completely believe in Minato's strength, Orochimaru would absolutely never take such a risk.
What a heavy trust.
Trust from his teacher's comrade, from Orochimaru of the Sannin.
So Minato put away his earlier doubts and replied seriously, "Understood!"
"This battle may very well be the end of the Third Shinobi World War…"
Orochimaru seemed to have already foreseen the enemy's future, but then he suddenly frowned.
"Hmm?!"
Several Anbu shinobi abruptly appeared before the two of them.
Root!
"Lord Orochimaru, Namikaze-senpai, Lord Danzō has arrived at Kikyo Pass."
The Root shinobi spoke coldly, without the slightest trace of emotion.
"He is waiting for both of you in the camp right now."
Danzō?
What was he doing here?
…
"That is why I have come here… You two need to make a trip to the Land of Rain."
Orochimaru asked, "Who is the commander of the Amegakure operation?"
Although Minato had shone brilliantly in this Third Shinobi World War, and the "Yellow Flash" was famous throughout the shinobi world, Orochimaru's reputation as one of the Sannin had now reached its peak with the reappearance of Wood Release.
It could be said that the Konoha shinobi at Kikyo Pass trusted Orochimaru more than any other commander.
There was no reason the command authority for a mission like this would be handed to…
"Namikaze Minato."
Danzō's gaze remained fixed on Orochimaru.
Minato scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed.
"Could there be some mistake?"
But how could Danzō possibly treat such a matter as a joke?
"…Interesting."
Orochimaru's gaze grew increasingly cold.