chapter 70:
"We are not afraid!"
The two thousand ninja responded in unison, sounding very determined. But faced with this answer, Aoyama Riuun just laughed.
"Bullshit!"
How could they not be afraid? Those who had experienced war were one thing, but those who hadn't were almost about to wet themselves.
"It's fine if you're not afraid now. Once you're on the battlefield, you'll have plenty of time to be afraid!"
"..."
Hatake Sakumo and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio at the side were a little speechless. As the supreme commander, were those the words he should be saying? It didn't seem like a pre-battle pep talk.
Facing several thousand pairs of eyes, Aoyama Riuun grinned.
"It doesn't matter if you're afraid. Just don't lose the strength to even resist. Even if we die, I will die before you!"
As the supreme commander, Aoyama Riuun naturally had to lead from the front.
"Remember my name. I am Aoyama Riuun, the strongest creature on land, sea, and air!"
"I won't say any grand words, because they are meaningless!"
Here, Aoyama Riuun paused for a moment, his vertical pupils scanning the ninja before him.
"But, I will swear on my reputation to bring you back to Konoha!"
Aoyama Riuun only disliked Konoha's F4. Towards these ninja, he held no ill will. In the end, they were just ninja who couldn't even control their own fate.
"Yes!"
This time, everyone's answer was firm.
Aoyama Riuun nodded in satisfaction and shouldered his mace again.
"As expected of you!"
Hatake Sakumo, at the side, couldn't help but sigh in admiration after seeing this. Although it wasn't a pep talk, the effect was more or less the same.
"Hahaha! Let me see for myself just how brutish those Kumogakure people really are!"
...
"Riuun!"
There was still some time before they officially set out for battle. Orochimaru and Tsunade suddenly sought out Aoyama Riuun.
"The Kumogakure side is dangerous. Be careful. I don't want to be a widow!"
"Don't worry!"
Aoyama Riuun laughed heartily.
But Orochimaru, at the side, suddenly said, "I remember, that Kato Dan was also assigned to the Sunagakure front!"
"Hmm?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Aoyama Riuun, Hatake Sakumo, and Tsunade were all stunned. Others might not know, but Aoyama Riuun and the others knew that Kato Dan had been pursuing Tsunade. Before this, Aoyama Riuun had beaten up Kato Dan more than once.
"What are you looking at!"
Noticing Aoyama Riuun's strange gaze, Tsunade thought he didn't trust her. She rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction.
"Am I that kind of fickle person?"
Since I've made my choice, I definitely won't betray you.
"I never said I didn't believe you!"
Of course, Aoyama Riuun didn't distrust Tsunade.
"I just find it strange, that's all. After all, I haven't seen that Kato Dan for a long time!"
Aoyama Riuun was just surprised. Since he had been taught a lesson, Kato Dan had not appeared in Aoyama Riuun's sight for a long time. For him to reappear under such circumstances was unexpected.
"Tch! It's more or less the same!"
Tsunade rolled her eyes and said. She had no feelings for Kato Dan.
At this time, Aoyama Riuun fell silent for a moment, then said directly to Orochimaru, "That Kato Dan is your subordinate now, right?"
"You could say that!"
Aoyama Riuun nodded. Tsunade was the supreme commander, and Orochimaru assisted her. Now that Kato Dan was on the Sunagakure front, he naturally had to listen to Orochimaru's orders.
"Good!"
Aoyama Riuun nodded directly.
"Find a chance and let him die!"
"..."
You said that so decisively. Hearing this, Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, and the others were all stunned. But after a little thought, with Aoyama Riuun's personality, it wasn't strange for him to say such a thing.
Orochimaru also didn't feel it was strange, he just said淡淡ly, "Kato Dan is, after all, an excellent Jonin of Konoha. I..."
"Consider it a favor you owe me!"
"Alright!"
With Aoyama Riuun's words, Orochimaru directly nodded in agreement.
The others at the side all rolled their eyes. Indeed, truly a loyal and excellent ninja of Konoha.
From the beginning, when Orochimaru informed Aoyama Riuun of Kato Dan's presence, he had his own selfish motives. Whether Kato Dan lived or died was not important to Orochimaru. What was important was Aoyama Riuun's favor.
"Hahahaha!"
Aoyama Riuun laughed cheerfully.
"Hehehehe!"
Orochimaru also laughed along.
"What are you talking about, so happy?"
At this time, Jiraiya also walked over with Namikaze Minato.
"None of your damn business!"
Orochimaru immediately put away his smile and rolled his eyes. Some things couldn't be told to Jiraiya. After all, with Jiraiya's personality, if he knew, he would probably step in and stop it.
"Wow! You smelly snake, how can you be so disrespectful?"
Jiraiya didn't think much of it, just thought it was a joke.
"Tch!"
With a disdainful sound, Orochimaru and Tsunade returned to their side.
"We have to go! Hurry back!"
So, they all left.
Looking around, Jiraiya scratched his head and looked at Namikaze Minato beside him.
"Am I being ostracized?"
"Uh!"
Namikaze Minato shrugged, indicating that he was also at a loss.
...
On Orochimaru's side, after returning to his camp, he naturally saw Kato Dan.
"Not bad at all! Jonin Kato!"
"Thank you for your praise, Lord Orochimaru!"
Kato Dan was a little delighted and answered seriously. After all, with such a difference in status, in Kato Dan's eyes, praise from Orochimaru clearly meant he had taken a liking to him.
Didn't you see the other ninja at the side looking at Kato Dan with envy?
This was Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Sannin, a student of the Third Hokage. In Konoha, countless young ninja wished to be noticed by Orochimaru.
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