Kumogakure's surprise assault was exposed, but backed by the power of the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki, they still succeeded in their mission.
Itano Town's defenses were no match for Kumogakure's elite squad, especially with a Jinchūriki in their force.
By the time Orochimaru arrived, Itano had already fallen into Kumogakure's hands. He had no choice but to retreat to Konoha's front lines and report the situation.
The news reached the Hidden Leaf Village immediately.
The Hokage was furious.
When he learned that Kumogakure had launched an ambush and even taken Itano Town, he lashed out in anger, sweeping the documents off his desk.
But in the end, he could only collapse into the Hokage's chair.
After a long silence, he picked up the pipe on his desk, took a deep drag, and felt the sting of the tobacco in his mouth.
In just one year—
His most beloved student had died, his most promising son was gone, Konoha had fought Kirigakure to a stalemate, signed a humiliating treaty, issued a formal apology, and nearly suffered an invasion from Iwagakure.
And now, Kumogakure—who had long since withdrawn from the war—was returning to the battlefield...
Tobirama-sensei once said that a shinobi bears a blade in their heart, a symbol of suppressing emotion and showing no weakness.
As the one in power, this applied even more so.
To be a true leader, one must not show joy or anger outwardly.
But right now, he was struggling to contain himself.
"What should I do…"
The weary and aged face of Hiruzen Sarutobi was filled with sorrow. His slightly clouded eyes seemed to see a vision of the armies of Iwagakure and Kumogakure marching upon Konoha's gates.
"No… I can't let this happen. I absolutely won't allow it."
"Konoha cannot fall in my hands. Never!"
But how could he reverse the dire situation?
Sarutobi's hands trembled slightly. He took another long drag from his pipe, mind racing through possibilities.
With Ōnoki still active, a joint strategy using the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki and Minato was out of the question. That left only…
His eyes fell on a framed decree nearby—Konoha's official apology. And with it came memories of a youthful, arrogant boy he'd seen once in the Land of Iron.
He instinctively considered making a deal to request that young man's help.
After all, Konoha and Kirigakure were currently allies, and Konoha hadn't yet completed its reparations. Millions in payments remained.
If he sought help, there was a high chance Kirigakure would approve.
But the thought vanished just as quickly.
According to Minato, who had learned from the Great Toad Sage, that boy had gained terrifying power by devouring souls—a forbidden technique that explained how he'd become the Fourth Mizukage at such a young age.
Fortunately, he was now consumed with political power, which meant his strength was stagnant. That was good—for Konoha and for the shinobi world.
They absolutely could not let him rejoin the war. If he resumed devouring souls, no one could predict how strong he'd become.
So that was not an option.
But what, then, was the solution?
Sarutobi frowned deeply, smoking in silence for a long time.
Eventually, he left the office.
He wandered until he reached Konoha's secret archive.
This vault housed rare scrolls, forbidden jutsu, and secret knowledge—including much of what his teacher, Tobirama Senju, had collected.
With war ever-present, Sarutobi had been visiting this place more often, even opening access to high-level techniques for Konoha's shinobi to bolster their strength.
He selected a scroll and began reading, considering one dark possibility.
Could a forbidden jutsu resolve this?
Among Tobirama's legacy was one such jutsu. A powerful technique that could end Konoha's crisis in an instant.
But it was too dangerous—once used, Konoha would become a pariah, condemned by the entire shinobi world, no matter the war's outcome.
It was a last resort, one Sarutobi would only consider if absolutely cornered.
Frustrated, he picked up another scroll—not a jutsu, but an intelligence report on Kusagakure, where the current front with Iwagakure lay.
It detailed the region's terrain, shinobi strength, and a full assessment of the Grass Village.
He brought the scroll back to his office and began mapping out troop movements of Iwa, Konoha, and the soon-to-arrive Kumo forces.
But no matter how he calculated, there was no path to victory.
"If Iwa and Kumo converge, all of Konoha's current advantages will be wiped out."
"What should I do? Should I really use that forbidden jutsu? Disguise our identity and attack as a third party?"
But everyone would recognize Konoha's jutsu. Hiding their identity would be a fool's move.
Still… if push came to shove, maybe denial would suffice.
"Let's go with that for now… hmm?"
Suddenly, Sarutobi's gaze froze on a line in the scroll's corner.
The handwriting was old, distinct from the annual updates. But the content gripped his attention:
"The ultimate weapon from the Sage of Six Paths' era—Kusagakure once came close to using it to conquer the world."
"A mysterious box that can grant a single wish, if fed with massive amounts of chakra..."
Sarutobi murmured aloud, eyes unreadable.
After a long pause, he shut the scroll. A steely resolve flashed in his eyes.
"All of this… is for Konoha."
...
"Lord Orochimaru, the intel is confirmed—the Box of Ultimate Bliss really does exist in Kusagakure!"
Two figures stood on the branches of a towering tree.
Minato Namikaze, just returned from reconnaissance, spoke with grave urgency. "They treat the Box as a sacred treasure. Dozens of Grass-nin guard it. With the ongoing instability from the war, they're preparing to relocate it."
"A useful lead," Orochimaru rasped, eyes fixed on the distant village. "Still… I've found something better. If the Box fails, we can use this instead."
"This?"
"Yes—the Seven-Tails."
Orochimaru licked his lips, his vertical pupils gleaming like a predator's.
"Back in the First Hokage's day, the tailed beasts were distributed among the nations. The impoverished Wind Country kept the One-Tail, but sold the Seven-Tails."
"I always thought that tale was a myth, but it's true. The buyer? Takigakure—the Hidden Waterfall Village, right next to the Land of Grass."
"What?!" Minato's eyes widened. "Lord Orochimaru… but Taki is our ally—"
"So what?" Orochimaru interrupted coldly. "We can't use Kushina to charge the Box with chakra. But the Seven-Tails? Much easier."
"And if we need an excuse… a failed sealing in a minor village, the beast goes berserk and disappears… sounds reasonable, doesn't it?"
Minato fell silent. Then nodded.
Indeed, if the choice was between risking Kushina and taking the Seven-Tails, there was no question.
"We'll split up. Move fast—Taki still has the beast sealed. I'll retrieve it. You secure the Box."
Without waiting for a reply, Orochimaru vanished in a puff of white smoke.
Minato stared silently at Kusagakure, clutching his Flying Thunder God kunai.
"All of this… is for the village."
Against low and mid-level shinobi, the Flying Thunder God Technique was unstoppable.
In a flash, the guards protecting the Box of Ultimate Bliss were cut down before they even realized what hit them.
Minato walked calmly through the blood and bodies, stopping before a massive gray-black cube, each side carved with a different expression—joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. A sinister chakra pulsed from within.
"Can you really help us save Konoha…?"
The box seemed to respond. As Minato whispered to himself, one of the carved faces twitched slightly, its grimace growing even more horrific.
"INTRUDER! ALERT!"
"Damn it, he's after the Box of Ultimate Bliss!"
"Hurry!"
Voices rang from outside. Minato shook his head, placed his Flying Thunder God seal, and vanished with the box just before the guards arrived.
By the time they reached the chamber, the Box was gone.
But things weren't going as smoothly for Orochimaru.
Though the journey from Grass to Waterfall took little time for someone of his speed, a new obstacle had appeared.
"Seems I've stumbled into something… troublesome."
Three figures in black cloaks with red clouds blocked his path.
Orochimaru's face grew serious.
"The legendary bounty hunter Kakuzu… the man who killed the Third Kazekage—Sasori of the Red Sand… and…"
"Those eyes… the Rinnegan?!"
Wearing his standard Konoha jōnin attire, Orochimaru licked his lips, gaze sharp.
"Renegade shinobi from every village… forming a new force in the shadows, huh?"
"There is no 'shadow.' Akatsuki was born of a god's will."
Pain's voice was cold and expressionless, his pale violet Rinnegan fixed on Orochimaru.
"Calling yourself a god? That's quite the claim."
Orochimaru sneered. He'd come to secure the Seven-Tails for Konoha, but now—what a find.
Kakuzu and Sasori didn't worry him. But those eyes—the Rinnegan, said to belong to the Sage of Six Paths himself…
"If I could claim them… there's no war I couldn't win."
"Well then… care to step aside? I'm rather pressed for time."
"Step aside?" Kakuzu's eyes glowed green. "Orochimaru of the Sannin—your head is worth a fortune."
"Curiosity kills, Orochimaru," Sasori added with a smirk. "Lose you, and Konoha might fall apart entirely."
"So this is a fight, then?"
"Of course. I'd love to see Konoha crushed by Iwa and Kumo," Sasori said, stepping forward. His gaze locked on Orochimaru's forehead protector, old memories stirring.
His killing intent surged.
"I'll handle this one. Stay out of it."
"…Fine."
"As long as I get the bounty, I don't care," Kakuzu muttered.
They stepped back as Sasori unfurled a scroll. With a puff of smoke, the puppet of the Third Kazekage appeared.
"You turned the strongest Kazekage into a puppet… Sasori of the Red Sand, you truly are a genius."
"Flattery won't save you, Orochimaru."
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Shower!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Iron sand rained like a storm. Orochimaru countered with a fierce wind jutsu, blocking the attack.
From the shadows, a figure in a white haori, marked with a large kanji for 'Six' "六" on the back, observed the battle.
"Well now… this looks like quite the spectacle~"
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin