The laughter echoed through the meeting tent as Hiruzen-sensei, with a glint in his eye, faced Orochimaru. The young ninja observed the seasoned leader, thinking about the tough decisions he had to make.
Regrettably, time has a way of erasing everything. Will Hiruzen-sensei remain as resolute in the future as he is today?
"Lord Hiruzen, a decisive battle with Cloud now is absolutely impossible! We should consider the long run!" pleaded one advisor.
"Yes, Tobirama-sama hasn't returned. We should plan for the future," added another.
"That's Danzo-sama's task. We just need to contain Second Raikage Ai," a third suggested.
Orochimaru, however, incurred the wrath of a fellow ninja by speaking out against this cautious approach. Hiruzen remained firm, ignoring the dissenting voices.
"This decision is mine alone, and Orochimaru has no part in it. He's right," Hiruzen asserted.
Undeterred, Hiruzen proceeded to contact Danzo for reinforcements, emphasizing the need to neutralize the threat posed by Ginkaku and Kinkaku. Civilian casualties were to be minimized.
Orochimaru, recognizing Hiruzen's decisiveness, nodded approvingly. Despite Hiruzen's not having reached the peak of his strength, Orochimaru respected his unwavering determination.
Tsunade looked at Orochimaru at this time, and there was longing and yearning in her eyes. Not only was he powerful, but he could discuss strategic matters with his teacher at a young age. Perhaps such a ninja is the real genius.
The other leaders, too, though not fully agreeing with Orochimaru, were impressed by his demeanor and overlooked his age.
Hiruzen wasted no time in preparing to contact Danzo, leaving Orochimaru an opportunity to slip away unnoticed.
"Konoha and Cloud fighting to the death... it's unlikely to yield a victor for quite some time. The ninja world may descend into chaos, with an unresolved ending," Orochimaru mused.
Looking up at the ominous sky, Orochimaru sensed a faint trace of blood in the air.
"I'm here to participate in the war for the sake of Jiraiya and Tsunade, as well as various orders. However, my strength's growth is hindered. The white-scaled snake and my own devouring talent have limitations. My age prevents rapid development, and I'm nearing a bottleneck."
Orochimaru sighed, his thoughts echoing in the solitude of his contemplation. "If I can't eliminate foes of quasi-kage level or surpass the blood-based limitations, my current strength has reached the pinnacle for a ninja of my age."
The weight of time pressed upon him. His body, hindered by age, denied the rapid development of ninja prowess. Improving through practice seemed futile, pushing Orochimaru to seek alternative paths for enhancement.
Considering the prospect, Orochimaru contemplated an expedited emergence of hormones using medicines, potentially bolstering both himself and Jiraiya.
Jiraiya, the mentor of the future son of prophecy, held unparalleled importance. To influence the overarching plot, Orochimaru needed to monitor Jiraiya closely.
Altering certain plotlines to safeguard Jiraiya's fate became imperative. Operating at his current level on missions risked encountering peril.
Even Tsunade, with her unique position, represented potential leverage. As long as she lived, her eventual ascent to Hokage guaranteed a measure of protection for Orochimaru, regardless of his actions.
These considerations stemmed from Orochimaru's pragmatic perspective, fueled by self-interest. However, the Sannin's bonds were not solely based on utility; personal relationships among them ran deep, making Orochimaru unwilling to witness harm befall his companions.
"Uh... the main body... how are you faring?"
Seeking privacy in the shadows, Orochimaru closed his eyes, attempting to establish a mental link with Takeshi through the connection between the clone and the original.
"...I see, your plan holds merit, but I'm at a crucial juncture now, Tobirama... I'm about to take action!"
Takeshi, stationed at a distance from the battlefield, stood silently. His essence enveloped him, and the wind carried away the dust stirred by its force.
Takeshi's expression was vacant, devoid of focus on any particular individual. There was no hint of emotional fluctuation.
Tobirama, a formidable sensory ninja, and Ebizō, possessing similar abilities, were under his scrutiny.
"Hu... hu... Didn't expect the Second Hokage-sama to stoop to such tactics. Isn't this beneath his stature?"
In the distant battlefield, near the Land of Wind, a scene of devastation unfolded. Dry, hilly terrain transformed into a landscape marred by craters and puddles.
Motionless sand ninjas lay sprawled across the muddy ground, while others struggled to rise. Their eyes, fixed on Tobirama's imposing figure, betrayed an indescribable fear.
A sudden assault by Tobirama and a few Anbu nearly decimated the hundreds of ninjas led by Chiyo and Ebizō.
"Cough, cough!"
Chiyo, attempting to speak, was met with violent coughing. Ebizō hurriedly supported her, anger and fear etched on their faces.
"If your Land of Wind instigates war, prepare for a devastating response. Konoha does not fear direct confrontation, but we won't tolerate incessant provocation and hidden motives."
Tobirama's gaze, devoid of emotion, rested on the two puppet masters before him. Their once-formidable puppets now lay scattered on the ground, reminiscent of discarded refuse.
Tobirama faced both of them alone, executing a merciless onslaught.
"Lord Chiyo, Lord Ebizō, let's move! I'll provide cover!"
A dozen remaining Sand Ninja, though still recovering from the previous assault, gritted their teeth and mustered the courage to launch a counterattack.
Puppets were summoned one after another, rushing at Tobirama with a squeak. Countless arms and poisonous needles surged towards him with undeniable force.
"Lord Tobirama--"
Just as Tsushima prepared to make a move from the side, Tobirama's eyes twitched.
"Damn, it's swift. Seems like you were ready for this."
Without hesitation, Tobirama clasped his hands together, conjuring a tornado-like water flow out of thin air. The water cascaded like a waterfall, sweeping away all the puppets and attacks in an instant. Uncontrollably, the puppets drifted like debris in the tide.
"Cough-"
The massive water flow formed a river, scouring the Sand Ninja in its path. Like an unstoppable sea wave, it overwhelmed a few Sand Ninja who hastily built an earthen wall to resist. However, the wall was no match for the water's height, instantly washed away and swallowed.
"Damn, Tobirama, I'll fight you!"
Chiyo, still strong, had not escaped. She had only recovered a bit of chakra when a dozen corpses closed in on her.
Tobirama wasted no words. Chiyo attacked first, and a punch, more potent than the ninjutsu, struck her down.
"Elder sister--!"
Unable to resist, Chiyo was pushed away by Ebizō, then sent airborne by a powerful punch, crashing into a sand dune, severely injured.
"The obstruction, are you that impatient? Water Escape, Water Breaks Waves!"
Chiyo, in desperation, fled.
Tobirama forcefully spewed an ultra-high-pressure water column at Chiyo, a lethal move that resembled a sharp blade. Takeshi, observing from a distance, was horrified. Was Chiyo going to die here?
Tobirama and over a dozen Anbu had been waiting on the Land of Winds battlefield for Chiyo for a long time. Finally seizing the opportunity to chase and intercept, Tobirama used power surpassing the ordinary kage level to eliminate the Sand Shinobi surrounding her. His goal: to wipe out all of Sand Shinobi's puppet master troops.
With Tobirama's overwhelming power, Chiyo and Ebizō struggled, surviving only with the help of their subordinates. After Tobirama's devastating blow, fear finally etched across their faces.
"Pfft—"
In a critical moment, Chiyo's survival instinct drove her to mobilize remaining chakras. Using chakra strings, she assembled two ten-man puppets from Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets, shielding herself from Tobirama. She skillfully evaded boulders entangled in the strings.
Tobirama's Water Ninjutsu cut through the two legendary-level puppets effortlessly. The incisions were smooth, and a piece of Chiyo's arm flew into the air.
********
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