Hearing the Raikage ask for advice, Shikasuke could not help but pull a wry face.
"Um—"
Shikasuke hesitated, but in the end, he told the truth. "Although saying this may hurt morale, if you ask for my advice, then my advice is—
Withdraw immediately. Do not engage Uchiha An in any conflict."
"Our target is the Land of Fire. We can enter through the Land of Hot Water instead. At worst, we can just give the Land of Rice Fields to Orochimaru."
"Anyway, this is merely a barren little country with no special products. There is absolutely no need to waste our forces here."
"Hm?" After hearing this, A's brows shot up. "What kind of joke is that? How could Kumogakure retreat without fighting when facing an enemy?"
"Uchiha An has a grudge against Konoha, but he has no grudge against Kumogakure!"
"If possible, I was even planning to recruit him!"
"That's the Uchiha Clan, the Sharingan! You have no idea how badly our village wants them!"
"You people from Konoha don't want him, but we do!"
"I heard his Complete Body Susanoo is terrifyingly huge. The things written in the intelligence report look like utter nonsense just from reading them. Have you seen it with your own eyes?"
"Ah—" Shikasuke was momentarily at a loss for words, then gave an awkward laugh. "I have not seen it myself, but I have spoken with many people who have. I fear the contents of that intelligence report were not exaggerated in the slightest!"
"As for recruitment, I am afraid Uchiha An may not be willing."
"He even dared to kill the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the nobles. He has likely gone mad long ago. It is simply impossible for him to join any ninja village."
"Whether it works