Konoha, Because of Me, Has No Room for Danzo

"So, what is your answer?"

Orochimaru's lips curled, a distinct smile appearing on his face—an expression that was sinister yet sincere. He looked at Shisui as if he were watching a sacrificial offering walking willingly into the maw of a serpent.

Coaxing? Coercion?

Such low-level tactics were entirely unnecessary.

He only needed to lay the facts before Shisui, and the boy would make the choice himself.

This choice was already fated, and it would stem entirely from his own will.

It is better to make someone submit to their own will than to force them to submit to another's.

He wanted to protect the village and his clan; when the two could not be reconciled, he would waver, caught in a dilemma.

But if there truly were a path before him that could satisfy both, this man would walk it with more determination than anyone else.

The Genie had used a specific term to describe Shisui: a saint.

It sounded remarkably fitting.

Orochimaru licked his lips. He used to despise such people, especially those who possessed great strength.

Because they cared nothing for personal gain, they were difficult to cooperate with, despite their immense utility.

And to fulfill their visions for the collective was too difficult and cumbersome, a net loss in effort.

The Genie, however, had provided him with a new perspective.

For things that benefited the collective, these idealists would spare no effort, even without receiving anything in return.

So, if one were to hide or package their own interests to align with the collective good, couldn't they pay a smaller price?

Orochimaru couldn't help but admire the thought; truly, a black-hearted merchant and a filthy parasite!

Still, it was undeniably effective.

A light, airy phrase like "for the sake of the village" or "for the sake of the clan" was enough to make a powerhouse who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan serve with absolute devotion.

How terrifying!

If it were before, when his interests conflicted with the village, he might have left to start his own venture, wasting who knows how much time.

The more clearly Orochimaru thought about this, the more he loathed Danzo.

A wood-boring worm; Konoha could not tolerate a second one!

Under Orochimaru's "sincere" words, the last trace of inner turmoil vanished from Shisui's heart.

With emotional interference cast aside, Shisui thought calmly and shook his head at Orochimaru. "Lord Orochimaru, I am no match for the Eight-Tails. Even against the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, I could not hold her back for long, even if I fought to the death."

This was not an excuse, but a clear judgment of the battlefield based on having experienced Yugito's power after her Tailed Beast transformation.

At fourteen, his body had yet to fully mature, not to mention that his Mangekyo Sharingan was a genjutsu-type eye, which placed a heavy burden on his constitution.

After a moment of thought, Shisui added, "If I could capture the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, perhaps my ocular jutsu could be of use."

Shisui explained the effects of his Mangekyo ocular jutsu, Kotoamatsukami. As he spoke, he watched Orochimaru's expression, and seeing that his smile remained unchanged—still that same sinister look—he felt a slight sense of relief.

Kotoamatsukami could "permanently and completely alter a person's thoughts and will." It was a legendary ability that no one would fail to fear. Shisui interpreted Orochimaru's reaction as trust, which moved him deeply.

"Capturing the Two-Tails Jinchuriki alive is too difficult."

Orochimaru rejected the idea without hesitation.

Are you kidding? Using it once would result in a cooldown period of over a decade; such a massive overdraft was not part of his plan.

Fearing that Shisui might act on his own, Orochimaru added, "The cost of using your ocular jutsu is too high. Do not attempt it lightly in battle, especially against a Jinchuriki. Their chakra is mixed with that of the Tailed Beast, so the probability of your ocular jutsu failing is too high."

This had been Shisui's initial concern, which was why he had proposed capturing the Jinchuriki alive.

But with that method rejected and unable to hold off the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki himself, Shisui was at a loss and couldn't help but look toward Orochimaru, hoping he had a solution.

Unless absolutely necessary, Shisui did not want his clansmen to suffer heavy losses.

"I have already considered the gap in strength between you and the Two-Tails Jinchuriki."

Orochimaru took a pale green vial from a scroll and handed it to Shisui.

This was the Yamato-brand Genetic Serum. While called a genetic serum, it was more accurately described as a cellular serum. It was essentially a cell-fusion fluid that could replicate and proliferate at the cellular level, strengthening the host's physical constitution.

The results were decent, though the price was quite high; if one included the failed batches, the average price per vial was ten million ryo.

One had to realize that the bounty for an elite Jonin of Konoha on the black market was only a little over thirty million ryo.

This single vial was worth one-third of a Jonin's life.

However, Orochimaru was never stingy with money when it came to people of value.

Orochimaru smiled. "Drink it; it will strengthen your constitution."

Shisui pulled the stopper from the vial and drank it without a second thought; he could think of no reason why Orochimaru would want to harm him.

Then, Shisui collapsed to the ground, his body seized by spasms and convulsions. He clutched his throat with both hands, suppressing a groan of agony.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Judging by this reaction, it seems his gains will be greater than mine."

Although there was little resentment left in his heart now, seeing this scene, Orochimaru couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Even when it comes to popping pills, there is actually a hierarchy of bloodline superiority.

Suppressing these distracting thoughts, Orochimaru refocused his mental energy on contemplating the battlefield situation.

As of now, all arrangements were proceeding in an orderly fashion; all that was missing was the right opportunity.

The following day, at dusk.

The fortress, which had only had its defensive barrier completed for a little over a day, had been completely abandoned by the Konoha ninja forces led by Orochimaru, and was now occupied by newly arrived reinforcement squads.

The two Hokage Advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, exchanged a glance before turning their gazes toward the direction where Orochimaru and his men had vanished.

"Orochimaru is being far too aggressive."

Thinking back to how he had tossed the fortress to them as if it were trash, Utatane Koharu's brows furrowed once more.

Setting aside personal feelings, she did not approve of Orochimaru's methods.

Now that a foothold had been successfully established, it would be far safer to advance gradually and drive Kumogakure out of the Land of Fire; attempting to achieve victory in a single stroke, regardless of success or failure, would result in heavy losses, and the latter could potentially cause the entire war effort to collapse, leading to the loss of the hard-won foothold.

This was clearly a poor strategy.

Yet, Orochimaru acted arbitrarily; even though she had lowered her pride to persuade him, the man had turned a deaf ear. Furthermore, the captains of his ninja squads acted as if they had been drugged, obeying his every command.

Mitokado Homura did not respond to this complaint, merely watching the setting sun as he lit a cigarette.

Utatane Koharu frowned and demanded, "Are you saying you support Orochimaru's approach?"

"No, I didn't say that."

Mitokado Homura exhaled a cloud of smoke and said slowly, "It's just that, if we followed our own methods, would we be able to re-establish a foothold along the border overnight?"

Utatane Koharu was momentarily lost for words.

"The fact that Orochimaru could do it proves he is better than us."

Mitokado Homura flicked away his cigarette butt and added, "Of course, if he fails, I will not be lenient; I will join Hiruzen in stripping him of his command."

Having said that, Mitokado Homura turned his gaze back toward the dense forest, which was gradually being shrouded in darkness.

There was one thing he hadn't said: Konoha could not afford a war of attrition right now.

Root was holding off Iwagakure, and Jiraiya was stationed on the border of the Land of Wind, but the defensive line toward the Land of Water had been abandoned.

Although Kirigakure was currently mired in internal turmoil, there was no telling when they might stabilize.

Konoha truly could not afford to drag this out.