Operation Against Kumogakure Meeting, Thoughts on Expanding the Spoils of War

Konoha.

Hokage Office Building.

After Shimura Danzō hurried back to the village overnight, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately convened an emergency meeting.

Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Hatake Sakumo, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tsunade...

"Report the situation, Assistant." Seated at the head of the round table, Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a grave expression.

Shimura Danzō nodded and began recounting the situation to everyone present.

"Based on several dozen days of infiltration and intelligence gathered by the squad through multiple channels, we can now confirm that Kumogakure's Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Blue B, is in an extremely unstable state, just as the Hokage predicted."

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"Kumogakure villagers have repeatedly mentioned that the Eight-Tails has gone berserk more than once. People in the taverns who knew the details secretly mentioned that this is already the third Jinchuriki replacement in a short period."

"Blue B is the nephew of the Third Raikage. Both his father and uncle were previous Jinchuriki who died after going berserk."

"Our spies also witnessed Blue B unconsciously leaking Tailed Beast Chakra, causing a small-scale panic within Kumogakure."

Utatane Koharu asked, "How can we be certain that this so-called insider's intelligence was accurate? Could it have just been drunken talk, an outburst from someone dissatisfied with Kumogakure?"

"We already killed him and extracted the intelligence from his mind." Shimura Danzō snorted coldly. "He was from the Kumogakure Sealing Squad."

"His memories also indicated that Kumogakure's Sealing Jutsu is not particularly powerful. The sealing technique used by its Jinchuriki is called the 'Iron Armor Seal,' and the Third Raikage has repeatedly expressed his hope to improve it."

"During routine seal inspections, Blue B also takes medicine to stabilize his mind and prevent himself from going berserk."

That cold snort showed just how dissatisfied he was with Utatane Koharu's doubts.

Infiltration and assassination were his specialty! How could he possibly fail to verify an intelligence source?

But Utatane Koharu did not care. She merely nodded, indicating her approval.

That was her duty.

An Advisor's role was to help the Hokage verify and settle every uncertain possibility, even if the questions she raised might seem like nitpicking.

"In summary, the chances of successfully leading a squad in a surprise attack on Blue B are very high. Following the Hokage's orders, we first returned to the village to make a further report."

Shimura Danzō added that sentence and looked toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

His feelings were complicated.

First, he felt that Hiruzen's thinking was remarkably sharp. From analyzing the motive behind Uzumaki Kushina's kidnapping and using the data on the friction between Kumogakure and Iwagakure, he had inferred the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki's condition.

That was something he had not considered at the time.

Second, he felt that Hiruzen was still not decisive enough. He could clearly have claimed this credit for himself...

Yet they had to return to the village to report, affecting the timing.

The intertwining emotions made Shimura Danzō unable to resist slipping in a small, sarcastic jab.

Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi remained composed, smiling inwardly.

If Shimura Danzō had become docile after just a little prodding from him, Hiruzen would have found that strange instead...

After all these years of clashes and friction, one or two incidents would not be enough to make him truly submit.

"The intelligence basically matches the village's analysis, and Danzō's further confirmation is sufficiently detailed." Rather than responding to Shimura Danzō right away, Hiruzen Sarutobi praised him first.

"Koharu, you said that those two children, Kushina and Minato, possess unusual attainments in Sealing Jutsu?"

Utatane Koharu replied, "Yes. Ordinary Jonin would find it difficult to reach their level of depth. Perhaps it has something to do with the Uzumaki family inheritance."

After visiting them following the mission, Utatane Koharu had gone home and spent some time pondering the techniques Minato and Kushina were researching, only to realize that she still had no clue where to begin.

Thus, when reporting to Hiruzen Sarutobi, she had focused on this aspect.

"Anbu, bring them here."

"Hiruzen, they're just two children!" Shimura Danzō questioned.

Hiruzen Sarutobi signaled for him to be silent with his eyes, then summarized, "There are three main principles we must grasp in this retaliatory plan against Kumogakure."

"First, we must answer blood for blood and strengthen the village's unity."

"Second, we must maintain secrecy. Leaving evidence for the enemy would put us at a disadvantage in public opinion, which could in turn trigger a series of incidents and lead to war."

"Third, when circumstances are favorable, we must find a way to expand our gains."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke slowly. "Blue B is a relative of the Third Raikage, so we cannot merely think about assassinating him. We must find a way to bring back his corpse for research."

"The intelligence in his brain would be valuable once extracted."

"Since we are making a move, we must obtain as many combined results as possible from a single success. This is not a wartime surprise battle between opposing forces."

Shimura Danzō was left speechless.

Not a word had been said about him, yet every sentence was a response to him...

Orochimaru shook his head and laughed. What was Shimura Danzō thinking?

Arguing with his teacher as he was now? Did he really think he could outtalk him...?

"Sensei, if we are to bring back his corpse, then when the Eight-Tails is unsealed, the Jinchuriki must be in a controllable state, completely under our control."

"First, the Iron Armor Seal must be fully Deconstructed. It cannot be forcibly dismantled, or the Eight-Tails will immediately go berserk."

"Second, it would be best if we could place the Jinchuriki under genjutsu or poison him. That would be extremely helpful for concealment."

Orochimaru analyzed, "If he is taking medicine, I can assassinate and replace the physician prescribing it. But I do not have suitable drugs on hand, so I cannot determine how long development will take..."

"What about Ibuse's poison?" Tsunade said. "During the Second Shinobi World War, the village collected some while developing an antidote."

"Using that as a base, I can enhance its paralytic effects within a day."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "Very good!"

Orochimaru agreed as well. "With Ibuse's poison and your modifications, there will be no problem."

"As for genjutsu, if the Jinchuriki is in that state, my genjutsu should work..." Orochimaru pondered. "What do you think, Sensei?"

"When dealing with a Tailed Beast, the Uchiha naturally have the best genjutsu. But their Sharingan are too conspicuous..." Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly. "Bring Kurama Genshin of the Kurama Clan here!"

The Kurama Clan had been an important ninja clan during Konohagakure's early founding.

Their unique Kekkei Genkai could enhance genjutsu, and they had once stood alongside the Uchiha in the field of illusions.

Depriving the five senses, controlling the nerves—legend even spoke of a terrifying ability known as "reality manifestation"...

Kurama Genshin was the current Clan Head of the Kurama Clan.

Jiraiya raised his hand.

"Sensei, I can help with infiltration and retreat! The Toad Hide Technique can evacuate multiple people!"

"Let me go too! I want to do something for Kushina..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "All right..."

"Orochimaru, how are things with the Healthcare Pill? I've given you another burden to bear. Won't you get tired?" Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his Pipe and asked.

"Only the packaging and fine-tuning remain for the Healthcare Pill. I do not need to pay much attention to it for now." Orochimaru smiled. "How could I get tired working for the village?"

"After all, not only Sensei, but even the Hokage's advisor is charging at the front..."

Shimura Danzō narrowed his eyes.

The situation was different now...

He and Orochimaru were competitors for the position of Fourth Hokage, no longer partners as before!

Shimura Danzō had once planned to put Orochimaru in the Fourth Hokage's seat, then have the next generation pass it back to himself...

But now that he himself was qualified to directly become the Fourth, who would still want to choose such an uncertain method?

No wonder this brat was being so proactive!

Developing the Healthcare Pill and volunteering for the assassination...

Fine, compete all you want! I, Shimura Danzō, have toiled my entire life through countless struggles. Could I really lose to some junior like you?

At that moment, the Anbu also brought Kurama Genshin, Namikaze Minato, and Kushina over.

"Lord Hokage!" the three greeted in unison.