Crackle, crackle...
Blue electric arcs appeared around him. The Fourth Raikage frowned and said in a deep voice, "Am I to understand that as a threat?"
"Wrong, it's just a reminder."
Orochimaru rested his head on his hand, his eyes narrowed. "I already gave you a reminder when I summoned the snakes, but you, it seems, don't appreciate the favor."
"Damn you!"
The Fourth Raikage slammed his hand on the table. With a 'bang,' cracks spread across the stone table like a spider web.
"Pointless anger, it only makes me look down on you more."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, placing a hand on the stone table, smoothing out the cracks as if calming rippling water, making it flat again.
The Fourth Raikage's expression darkened. Lightning coursed through him, turning into electric arcs that jumped onto the stone table, instantly making it full of dents and holes.
But even with Lightning Release's advantage over Earth Release, it couldn't completely destroy the table's structure.
Seeming unwilling to accept this, more electricity poured from his palm, consuming the table.
Orochimaru grinned, opening his right hand, also putting effort into it.
The small stone table became a stage for their standoff. Inch by inch, Senjutsu Chakra canceled out the lightning, smoothing out the grooves on the table. Anyone could see who was winning.
Dodai frowned and said in a low voice, "Orochimaru, starting a war after peace talks, such fickleness is blackening Konoha's name."
"Heh, does Konoha even need to be blackened?"
Orochimaru raised his right hand, allowing the Fourth Raikage to destroy the stone table, then quickly formed hand seals, instantly restoring it.
Mocking him, he said, "Konoha's reputation is not for you Kumogakure to judge. Instead of worrying about that, you should consider whether you want war or peace."
"War or peace?"
Dodai repeated the words, glancing at the Konoha Ninja behind Orochimaru, his face showing surprise. He suddenly asked, "War? Is this your idea, or Konoha's idea?"
Orochimaru noticed his gaze and laughed. "Of course, it's just my own idea. Don't worry, if you choose war, you'll only face my 'own power'."
The Fourth Raikage scoffed, "Your own power? I bet that includes Ryuuchi Cave too."
Orochimaru grinned, not denying it.
With his own strength alone, he could defeat the Fourth Raikage, but the AB combo would be troublesome. If you add dozens of elite Jonin, even he would have to run away.
His battle power did increase, but he's still at the Fourth Raikage's level.
Dodai turned his gaze to the three Snake Princesses and said in a deep voice, "Sages of Ryuuchi Cave, are you going to let Orochimaru drag Ryuuchi Cave into the war?"
"This is a ninja war, a human war!"
The Three Great Sage Lands have participated in wars before, but never to this extent, usually just sending out three or five summoning beasts.
But now, according to Orochimaru's plan, it's clear that Ryuuchi Cave will be putting in all their power, using its power to fight against a ninja village.
Even Mount Myōboku, which has always supported Jiraiya, has never done this. Moreover, Mount Myōboku is in a desert oasis far west of the Land of Wind, which would take ninja a month to reach on foot, so they have little to worry about...
But Ryuuchi Cave is in the ninja world, which isn't a secret to the ninja world's higher ups.
It's easy to imagine that after this war, all the ninja villages would increase their vigilance against Ryuuchi Cave, and perhaps if someone unites them, they'll destroy Ryuuchi Cave at any cost.
They're not one of us, and their intentions are definitely different. What's more, Ryuuchi Cave has the power to influence the situation in the ninja world, making them a huge threat.
Faced with Dodai's question, Ichikishimahime and Tagitsuhime showed disdain. But Tagorihime, the eldest, licked her lips and smiled sweetly,
"Ryuuchi Cave never massacres regular people, and we have no intention of taking over human territory after the war. The reason we're getting involved in the war is simply because we were hired by Orochimaru. There's no difference between what we do and what you ninja do."
"As long as you can afford the price, it's not impossible for us to accept your offer instead."
Negotiating your value with your employer's enemy in front of him is something only the most untrustworthy ninja would do.
Running into this type of ninja is like having rotten luck.
However, Orochimaru, the client, didn't change his expression. He still had a smile on his face, not minding at all.
Ryuuchi Cave's position was as expected. They wouldn't dare to fight humans on their own.
This isn't out of fear of ninjas. Even if the Five Great Ninja Villages joined together, in an underground cave like Ryuuchi Cave, fighting the White Snake Sage, who controls 'Inorganic Reincarnation,' is basically a suicide mission.
But, the ninja world is more than just ninjas. Pure Land has a thousand-year-old geezer who wouldn't sit back and watch the White Snake destroy his base of operations.
Compared to the White Snake Sage, the Sage of Six Paths is like Orochimaru compared to a normal Jonin. They're not on the same level; the former can easily crush the latter.
Even with Ryuuchi Cave's position, Orochimaru wasn't worried at all because Kumogakure couldn't afford the White Snake Sage's price.
He had only temporarily fooled them with words like 'future' and 'prospects.'
No one else present knew the inside story. After Tagorihime's words, the Konoha side looked worried, while the Kumogakure Ninja were encouraged, imagining that with Ryuuchi Cave's help, Konoha would no longer be a match for Kumogakure.
Dodai felt that things weren't that simple. He glanced at the fearless Orochimaru, then turned his gaze to Tagorihime and asked, "What do you want?"
Tagorihime raised a finger to her red lips and smiled. "It's not that easy to know. The answer is in Ryuuchi Cave. Those who don't meet the White Snake Sage don't have the ability to pay the price."
In other words, there's no possible way for them to betray their client right now.
Dodai's face darkened, feeling extremely troubled. His mind was racing, thinking of countermeasures with all his might, but Orochimaru didn't give him the time.
"How is it? Have you considered it?"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "War or peace, it's all up to you. If you choose to fight, it's best to do it right here, right now."
"Otherwise, I can't guarantee where the next battlefield will be."
Threat. A blatant threat, without the slightest hint of hiding it.
The Fourth Raikage's forehead bulged with veins, filled with uncontrollable anger, but it was just as Orochimaru had said, pointless anger.
A threat is a threat because it's very effective.
Orochimaru himself is a top ninja. His own strength, mobility, and counter-reconnaissance abilities were unmatched in the ninja world. He could infiltrate Kumogakure anytime, and with Ryuuchi Cave's help, he could start a major war at will.
Kumogakure could only passively defend and couldn't even go on the offensive because Orochimaru wasn't using Konoha's forces.
After thinking for a long time, the Fourth Raikage slumped back into his chair with a thud, showing on his face how frustrated he was.
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