"Sigh, that crazy girl? Don't even mention her. We had a fight a few years back and she ran off—no idea where. But don't worry, I've already sent people to find her. I gave strict orders: she must be found within three months."
"Three months? If Konoha parades the Nine-Tails around here in those three months, we're all dead!"
Jinghang felt his head pounding. He remembered from the original manga that this Two-Tails jinchūriki really did have a peculiar personality—sometimes proud as a queen, sometimes gentle as a servant, and when she threw tantrums, she didn't care whose face she stepped on. But stroke her the right way, and she'd be incredibly obedient.
Now he couldn't count on his own village's Shukaku or Son Gokū, and Kumogakure's Gyūki and Matatabi were also out of reach. Without any "nuclear" weapons in hand, his backbone just couldn't straighten.
"Don't worry, little brother. We may not have Tailed Beasts, but we have these! Bring them up!"
Jinghang looked up and instantly perked up.
The Kōkinjō! The Shichiseiken! The Bashōsen! The Benihisago! The Kohaku no Jōhei!
All treasured tools of the Sage of Six Paths!
"So? With these babies in hand, can we take down a Tailed Beast?"
Third Raikage said proudly.
"Uh..."
Jinghang pondered for a moment.
"If the ninja using them coordinate well, taking down the Three-Tails shouldn't be too difficult."
"What about the Nine-Tails?"
"No chance."
Jinghang shook his head decisively.
There was just no helping it—the old Sage of Six Paths played favorites.
Uzumaki Naruto with half a Nine-Tails and Killer Bee's Eight-Tails had already managed to fight seven Tailed Beasts at once.
Now Naruto's mom had a whole Nine-Tails inside her. How many lives would it take to fill that gap?
"I do have a tactic, but the manpower cost is pretty steep."
Jinghang mused briefly.
"How steep?" Third Raikage asked.
"At least eighteen elite ninja at near-Kage level!"
Compared to the Wind-Lightning Alliance's drinking and celebration, Konoha Village was shrouded in gloom.
Danzō's Northern Army had marched day and night, finally returning to Konoha just before Kumogakure's forces could set their trap. But the moment he arrived, Hiruzen Sarutobi stripped him of command on charges of burning the city.
The Konoha leadership had carefully considered this charge.
Using military defeat as grounds for punishing Danzō clearly wouldn't hold water—after all, Hiruzen Sarutobi's Eastern Army had suffered an even worse defeat. If you punish me, shouldn't you commit seppuku?
But using the city-burning charge made sense. Ninja wars affecting innocent civilians was common, but this kind of wanton, brazen killing and arson was inexcusable. At best, it showed disregard for life; at worst, it was utterly inhumane. With Sunagakure's deliberate propaganda, the whole ninja world was in an uproar, with nearly everyone condemning Konoha's brutality. Put this before Earth's international war tribunal and a crimes-against-humanity conviction would be a slam dunk—they'd string him up and hang him.
But facing the questioning of Konoha's council of elders, Danzō showed unusual defiance.
"I gave the order to burn the city. No one else bears responsibility. It was the only method I could think of to stop the Suna army. If the village wants to hold me accountable, I'll bear it alone, without complaint or regret. I have only one request: let me die on the battlefield, so I can at least take a few Suna ninja with me."
Then he adopted a "dead pig fears no boiling water" attitude, letting the elders denounce his crimes.
When word got out, the Northern Army soldiers who'd fled back to the village erupted. They "spontaneously" organized and petitioned at the Hokage Tower, even displaying a massive banner reading "Danzō Is Innocent" with five thousand bloody handprints.
Standing upstairs watching the agitated crowd, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was dark as water. With the Suna-Cloud alliance at their gates, the village's forces were already stretched thin. If internal division erupted now, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Dealing with Danzō at this moment was clearly inappropriate. The Northern Army comprised a third of Konoha's current total forces. If trouble broke out now, they'd collapse before the enemy even attacked.
Helplessly, Hiruzen Sarutobi had to issue a special pardon: "Regarding Shimura Danzō's burning of Amegakure to ensure the army's retreat—though his actions were deplorable, the situation was urgent and understandable. Given Konoha's current crisis, his punishment is temporarily suspended pending future review."
The moment this order was issued, the crowd erupted in cheers and quickly dispersed.
Afterward, Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored everyone else and summoned only Orochimaru to his office.
"How about you take over Danzō's intelligence network?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said through gritted teeth.
"Sensei, at a time like this, please don't speak in anger."
Orochimaru said calmly.
"Anger?! Did you see that? Five thousand ninja surrounded the Hokage Tower—what do you call that?! That's forcing the palace! That's rebellion! If I let him continue controlling Konoha's underground forces, in two days I'll be bowing and scraping to him!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed the table, his anger maxed out.
"Sensei, no need to get upset. Now really isn't the time to deal with Danzō."
Orochimaru said soothingly.
"Not killing him is already the greatest mercy. I'm just removing his ANBU commander position—what's wrong with that?! Take over as quickly as possible!"
"Sensei, I understand your emotions, but you know that at this life-or-death moment, intelligence work is crucial. If there's any mishap, Konoha could face the danger of collapse.
Besides, Danzō has controlled ANBU for years—his influence is deeply rooted. If you make me take over, where would I even begin? It would just delay things. This can only be handled slowly after the war."
Hearing Orochimaru's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi gradually calmed down. He was crystal clear inside—naturally Danzō couldn't be replaced at this time. But today's Northern Army demonstration at the Hokage Tower was an open challenge to his authority as Hokage—something unprecedented since he became Hokage. How could he not be emotional?
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's emotions gradually stabilize, Orochimaru continued.
"In my view, we might as well handle the surface issues first, then deal with ANBU matters. Let's finish the war before addressing everything else."
"Surface issues?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was puzzled.
"The three-pronged attack on Suna has already failed. The Eastern, Northern, and Southern Armies no longer need to exist. Sensei might as well use this opportunity to reorganize the ninja forces. This way, all the favors Danzō granted the Northern Army ninja will naturally disappear."
"Mm, good idea."
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but nod.
Orochimaru's move was indeed brilliant—one reorganization would scatter Danzō's carefully accumulated popularity and prestige.
"Orochimaru, the village has reached its most dangerous moment. You'll be carrying a heavy burden."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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