Danzo?
Upon hearing this name, the assembled Jonin fell into contemplation.
Although they do not particularly enjoy dealing with this Dark Ninja, if he could provide support at this time, it might play a crucial role in defending against the Hidden Sand's offensive.
The Jonin meeting concluded, leaving only Orochimaru to wait here for Danzo.
After a few minutes, Danzo walked in from outside the tent, followed by a Root Jonin who stood guard outside to prevent anyone from entering.
"Danzo, why aren't you assisting Jiraiya in the Land of Grass and instead have come to me? I'm too busy for any dealings with you right now."
Orochimaru said in a hoarse voice.
"I've come to assist you in repelling the Hidden Sand. Compared to the battlefield in the Land of Grass, the situation here in the Land of Rain is more urgent."
Danzo replied.
"Even with the people you brought, combined with all the Konoha Ninja here, it's impossible to confront the Hidden Sand head-on. The overall combat power is too disparate, we can only barely resist."
Orochimaru's expression remained calm, not feeling any joy from Danzo's support.
Konoha faces harsh challenges now, and he couldn't be more displeased.
"Not losing is winning. This is your mission in the Land of Rain. With the Hidden Cloud's sudden intervention distracting a portion of the village's forces, the key to breaking the stalemate lies in the Land of Rain, not the Land of Grass."
"Breaking the stalemate?"
Orochimaru frowned.
"Based on my investigation, half of the Hidden Sand's grain reserves are provided by the Land of Rain as protection payments for the Daimyo and nobles."
"I know this."
"Expand the scale of the war, drag the Land of Rain completely into the mess."
Danzo said only this one sentence, believing Orochimaru would understand its meaning.
The suicide of White Fang, and the frequent accidents with the Uchiha and Hyuga, resulted in Konoha being significantly weaker at the start of this conflict compared to the last Ninja War.
With the Hidden Sand and Hidden Rock prepared and time passing, Konoha's situation would only worsen.
"You mean..."
Orochimaru squinted his eyes.
A figure appeared in his mind.
Standing atop a giant salamander, that ninja bestowed the title of 'Sannin' upon them with the indifference of a superior—Hanzo of the Salamander.
Demigod of the Ninja Realm.
Every time he thought of this, Orochimaru felt an indignation from the bottom of his heart.
During that battle, not only were they completely defeated, but they hardly had any ability to fight back, and were given what outsiders saw as an honorary title—Sannin.
Truly a memory of humiliation.
Thus he has always disliked this rain-soaked country.
Including that old man who controls the salamander's air tube—the Ninja Demigod.
"Indeed, just as you suspect. Draw the Hidden Rain Village into the battlefield, thoroughly disrupting the Land of Rain's situation, letting Hidden Rain Village and Hanzo share some of our burdens."
Danzo said.
Orochimaru closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then opened them with a sinister smile, his voice growing hoarse: "Alright, that's indeed a good plan, but how will you get that old man Hanzo to intervene? That old man clearly intends to be a turtle hiding during this Great Ninja War. Otherwise, when the Hidden Sand passed through the Land of Rain, he would have come out himself."
Therefore, in Orochimaru's eyes, this could also be a test from the Hidden Sand towards Hanzo.
After all, at the start of the Second Great Ninja War, the Hidden Sand Village was also beaten by Hanzo to the point of being confused. When they later attacked Konoha, it was from the direction of the Land of Rivers, not passing through the Land of Rain.
This shows the Hidden Sand leadership is also considering their options. Or perhaps, at the start of the war, the Hidden Sand had already reached some agreement with Hanzo.
"According to my intelligence, in recent years Hanzo has become more suspicious and cautious, and the mess in the Land of Rain and Hidden Rain Village has left him physically and mentally exhausted. More than protecting the Land of Rain, he now fears maintaining his 'Demigod' title."
"...Danzo, are you joking with me? If that's the case, how will you make him act and relieve some of the Hidden Sand's pressure for us?"
Orochimaru's brows tightened.
What has Hanzo become, he couldn't care less.
But as Danzo said, Hanzo's determination has waned; he just wants to guard his 'Demigod' honor, no longer being aggressive. How could such a person get involved in this dangerous war to relieve pressure for Konoha?
"No, this is exactly right. Hanzo doesn't want to act, so we must force him to act. Unlike Hanzo, in this national crisis, there are many fearless youths of the Land of Rain wanting to protect this ravaged country. By using them as a springboard, we can force Hanzo out of the Hidden Rain Village."
This way, not only can we reduce the threat from the Hidden Sand, but also weaken the strength of the Hidden Rain, stabilizing the environment around Konoha.
"Then let's do it that way, Danzo."
Orochimaru's eyes cold as ice.
What sets him apart from Jiraiya is that no matter how despicable a plan, as long as it can bring victory to Konoha, he will stop at nothing. Among all this, sacrificing whom, sacrificing how many, are merely cold figures.
Danzo nodded.
It's this willingness to win at all costs that Danzo appreciates about Orochimaru; Jiraiya would never agree to such an approach.
"Rest assured, this is exactly why I came. Root will bear this darkness!"
◎
Hidden Rain Village.
Surrounded by inland seas, the watery land with sharp spires stands like a forest of steel arches, exposed to the torrential rain.