The Underling Wants to Rise Through the Ranks
Just then, several voices rang in my ears again.
Looking up, I was surprised to Kimimaro, Shiro, and Ajisai, the three little guys.
Although the three of them were travel-worn, their expressions were unusually excited.
His little face already showed some determination, and his eyes were even more piercing!
"Did your brother Gui bully you?"
Before he could finish speaking, Zabuza started to get impatient.
"A few little brats, bullying them? Do you think I'm such a shameless person?"
Zabuza glared at Orochimaru with displeasure, while also glaring fiercely at Kimimaro and the other two.
The warning in his eyes couldn't be clearer: if you dare to say anything out of line, you'll be in for a world of hurt!
"Hehe... Zabuza took good care of us along the way. He did most of the work, and we just assisted him."
At this moment, Bai stood up to speak for him, and Ajisai, standing beside him, said with a bewildered expression:
"Yes! Brother Gui even bragged to us about the untold story he had with the Fourth Mizukage back then!"
Orochimaru's eyelids twitched involuntarily upon hearing this.
The Fourth Mizukage wasn't a woman, and it's a story that has to be told. What's there to brag about in a failed assassination attempt?
No wonder this guy can pee in the same pot as Kakuzu!
Zabuza withdrew his gaze after seeing how cooperative they were.
"Hmph! You guys know how to talk. Next time, I'll tell you the story of me and the Third Mizukage that I had to tell!"
The little ones chuckled upon hearing this, and Orochimaru shook his head helplessly.
I gently patted their little heads. They might not be able to help much with this mission, but it would be very beneficial to their growth.
Orochimaru also intended to use this expedition to train them, as they would all be important figures in the future, making this the best time to cultivate their character!
After a brief conversation, Orochimaru dismissed them and sent them home.
Pakura also flashed to Orochimaru's side at this moment.
"According to the intelligence from the Net), the Kumogakure has already detected the unusual activity in the Land of Snow!"
The Land of Snow is adjacent to the Land of Lightning, so it's impossible for such a large-scale migration of people not to be noticed.
It's normal to know; it would be strange not to!
If this were wartime, I would have thought someone was up to something.
Fortunately, the countries are currently at peace, and the ninjas from the Land of Snow are heading south, not towards them; otherwise, they would have already come out to intercept them.
"It's too late by the time they realize it! Have they taken any further action?"
The die is cast, Orochimaru isn't worried, as long as they don't push their luck.
"According to the scouts, the Kumogakure has sent a team of ninjas to investigate the situation. They should be on their way by now!"
At this point, Pakura's expression also became serious. The migration and merger plan for the Northern Lands had just been put on the agenda when it attracted the covetousness of the Land of Lightning. Just thinking about it was a headache.
As the second strongest nation in the Ninja World, the Land of Lightning is a country whose issues deserve serious attention.
If not handled properly, it will lead to constant conflicts. You have to understand that the Northern Lands has only just been integrated and has not even started to get on the right track yet.
Trying to outlast such a behemoth is simply impossible; a nation's foundation cannot be built up overnight.
Orochimaru thought for a moment, then waved to Kisame was nearby.
"Those people in Kumogakure are causing some trouble. Lead a small team to go and warn them!"
Kisame grinned again when he heard there was work to do. He had been resting and recuperating for days, and hadn't accomplished anything, which had made him quite bored.
To what extent is it necessary to achieve this?
Seeing the fleeting bloodlust in his eyes, Orochimaru had no doubt about his professional competence.
This guy is a tough guy who can solo the Four-Tails; his skill level couldn't be higher!
"Warn them first; if they don't listen, kill them all!"
Upon hearing this, Kisame simply nodded expressionlessly, while Pakura, standing to the side, was somewhat surprised.
She couldn't believe Orochimaru was actually daring! Killing someone at the drop of a hat—was that really okay? Wasn't he afraid of offending the Hidden Cloud Village to the death?
However, she was only slightly taken aback, and quickly understood after recalling Orochimaru's life story.
Since joining the Northern Lands, Orochimaru had not hidden his identity from her, so she naturally knew about Orochimaru, a figure renowned throughout the Ninja World.
Previously, Orochimaru acted with impunity, backed by the strongest village in the Ninja World. She thought that now that Orochimaru was going it alone and his career was just starting, he would be more restrained.
Unexpectedly, he's still so headstrong. Either he's a reckless fool who doesn't know how to be patient, or he has something to rely on and isn't afraid of the other side.
It's clearly the latter!
Orochimaru seemed to know what she was thinking, and then smiled:
"As long as they don't launch a full-scale ninja war, we don't need to be timid!"
There was one more thing he didn't say: even if they started a ninja war between the two countries, Orochimaru wouldn't back down.
Minato could do the work of sixty people all by himself, and Orochimaru could do the same, or even better!
Under normal circumstances, two countries are unlikely to launch such a war unless they have a real conflict of interest or deep-seated hatred.
It's true that Orochimaru is a newcomer, but he's not someone you can control. If you push him too far, just go to Kumogakure and let them suffer!
He also wanted to see just how powerful he had become; ordinary opponents simply weren't enough!
Soon, Pakura and Kisame finished their detailed discussion and made arrangements.
"Oh right, go ask Zabuza if he's interested in making the trip!"
That guy has so much energy he doesn't know what to do with, so let him do some manual labor.
If you want to rise to the top, you have to be diligent. If you don't seize the opportunity to stand out, you'll be a wage earner for life.
"A mafia ninja village, interesting!"
Kumogakure is different from other ninja villages; it is said that they have never produced a single Rogue Ninja.
Their shadows were passed down through families until the Fifth Raikage, Darui, changed this situation.
This system also avoids the drawbacks of the master-disciple succession system found in Konoha, since all the Kage belong to their family anyway, and there's no way they can compete for them.
This also reduced many unnecessary conflicts in their village, and each generation of Raikage possessed absolute strength.
They are the undisputed leaders in the village, unlike the Konoha F4 and the various clans who are constantly fighting each other.
In their village, the principle of "the capable rise and the incompetent fall" applies, a principle that Orochimaru greatly admires.
He also planned to adopt this ninja system, so that the ruler would have absolute say internally and be able to stand tall externally.
That's how it is at least in Orochimaru's generation. As for decades later, we'll see after he conquers the Five Great Nations.
"Let him be a dictator. Once we unify the Ninja World, let future generations judge his merits and demerits!"
Following Pakura's instructions, Kisame's squad quickly left the village.
Zabuza, unable to bear the loneliness, followed along. After two and a half years of practice, he felt he was ready to debut!
He also worked diligently to settle the villagers while simultaneously accelerating his efforts to annex the other three countries.
This time, he plans to personally lead the expedition to conquer the Land of Iron, the Land of Waterfalls, and the Land of Grass in one fell swoop, lest things get complicated over time.
We must secure victory before Konoha and the Land of Earth can react.