Chapter 162: Konoha Prepares to Use Its Final Measures
The idea of probing Konoha surfaced in the minds of everyone present.
It was the only explanation for the shift in the First Mizukage's usual style of conduct.
For the sake of a single objective, he had made his move by leveraging the forces of the other three Great Ninja Villages. Not only did he expose Konoha's true strength, but once it was over, he turned against them and launched a surprise attack, nearly annihilating their forces.
Such a person was far too dangerous.
At this moment, a thin layer of cold sweat appeared on the foreheads of everyone in the Hokage's office.
The First Mizukage Yuto's probe was clearly connected to the contingency plan left behind by Lord Senju Hashirama.
In the current shinobi world, if there was anything that could still make the First Mizukage Yuto wary, it could only be the measures Lord Senju Hashirama had prepared.
Looking back now, if the "True Several Thousand Hands" had not appeared at the final moment, Konoha might already have been completely destroyed.
The feeling of having walked along the edge of death caused a flicker of fear to pass through Danzo and the others' eyes.
For a time, the Hokage's office once again fell into an eerie silence.
At the start of this sudden war, there had been many puzzling aspects. With the news of "Yuto's resurrection," everything suddenly became clear.
Kabuto Yakushi swept his gaze over the expressions on Danzo and the others' faces, unsurprised.
When Orochimaru had first told him this news, the shock on his own face had been far more exaggerated than theirs was now.
Koharu Utatane took a deep breath and fixed her eyes on Kabuto.
"Are you certain this information is true?"
"There is no need for me to deceive you. It brings me no benefit," Kabuto replied with a faint smile, calm and composed. "We can postpone the discussion of the deal. Once you confirm the information, we can talk about it then."
Kabuto's confidence did not stem from himself, but from the now-deceased Orochimaru.
As for the deal he kept mentioning, he did not truly care whether it succeeded. Regardless of the outcome, he would reveal this intelligence; he merely wanted Konoha to reassess their view of him.
Given Orochimaru's understanding of someone who once overpowered figures like Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, Kabuto had believed that such a person would not turn hostile and might even choose to ally with him.
Yet the result had been the opposite. Orochimaru had openly attacked the Kirigakure forces and was ultimately slain by the former First Mizukage Yuto.
Orochimaru had not needed to make that choice, yet he had done so anyway. That in itself was strange.
Thus, in Kabuto's view, compared to Kirigakure, Orochimaru had placed greater faith in Konoha.
Deep down, Kabuto also believed in the decision Orochimaru had made before his death.
Danzo, standing to one side, looked at Kabuto with a flicker in his eyes and was about to speak.
At that moment, Jiraiya seemed to notice Danzo's movement first and clapped his hands.
The door to the Hokage's office opened once more.
The two Anbu who had just left reentered the room.
"Kabuto Yakushi, I'll have to trouble you to accompany them for now," Jiraiya said with a light smile. He then turned back to Kabuto. "If your intelligence proves true, I will consider the terms of your deal."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes. With a faint smile at the corner of his lips, he allowed the two Anbu to escort him out of the Hokage's office.
Danzo's eyebrow twitched slightly at the sight, but his face soon returned to its usual expressionless state.
"I never expected that a figure from legend would truly be resurrected. He is even more dangerous than Uchiha Madara. Should we pass this information on to the other villages?" Homura Mitokado asked anxiously.
"Konoha is being watched by all the villages right now," Koharu Utatane said, shaking her head with concern. "The slightest disturbance would immediately draw Kirigakure's attention."
"Fortunately, the First Hokage left behind those contingencies. Otherwise, Konoha might have been more than half destroyed," Homura sighed softly.
"Hmph, not necessarily," Danzo said, his eyes flickering. Though his face remained calm, his heart tightened. "If this was merely a probe, then he has likely obtained the answer he wanted. What awaits Konoha next may well be annihilation."
"It likely won't be long before the next attack on Konoha."
No one present dared underestimate the First Mizukage Yuto, especially given his enmity toward Konoha.
The expressions around the room grew increasingly grim.
With Konoha's current military strength, they stood absolutely no chance against the former "Three Heroes."
The more they understood Senju Hashirama's power, the more fearful they became of the strength Uchiha Madara and Yuto had once possessed.
Moreover, he was not alone. He had the support of Kirigakure, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Jiraiya's brows were tightly furrowed. The intelligence Kabuto had delivered had pushed modern Konoha into an extremely perilous position.
One misstep, and the village could be destroyed in an instant.
Suddenly, Jiraiya sensed something and lifted his head.
Only then did he realize that everyone in the room was looking at him.
"At a time like this, it should be permissible to activate the two contingencies the First Hokage left behind," Danzo said in a low voice, watching Jiraiya's grave expression.
Jiraiya's first instinct was to refuse, but the words reached his lips and were swallowed back down.
Those measures had indeed been left behind specifically to deal with the First Mizukage Yuto.
But…
Seeing the conflict on Jiraiya's face, Tsunade, standing to one side, frowned slightly.
It seemed that before his death, the old man had not only given Jiraiya the key, but had also told him something else—something that caused this hesitation.
Otherwise, at a time like this, Jiraiya would not be reluctant.
"Jiraiya, I hope you won't be as soft-hearted as Hiruzen," Danzo said gravely, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. "In this war, whether in intelligence or strength, Konoha is already at a disadvantage. If we continue to hesitate, the village may truly be destroyed."
Though Danzo did not know Jiraiya well, he understood his former rival Hiruzen Sarutobi better than anyone present.
Only now did Danzo suddenly recall the words Hiruzen had spoken in front of everyone within that other-dimensional space where the scrolls were kept.
"Unless the First Mizukage Yuto is resurrected, even if Konoha is destroyed, those two scrolls must never be used."
At the time, Danzo had thought Hiruzen excessively stubborn. But recalling Hiruzen's expression now, he remembered the complexity and wariness that had lingered in his eyes.
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