The Gradually Collapsing Front Line

"Oh, so that fellow, the Third Raikage, has begun his final counterattack."

Inside his base of operations, Guo Wang had already removed the bandages from his eyes. A pair of Three Tomoe Sharingan emerged within his cold, piercing gaze, causing Orochimaru and Aburame Torune, who stood to the side, to glance over repeatedly.

"I imagine he received intelligence regarding our ceasefire with Iwagakure and is now clearing the board before the final decisive battle."

As Danzo's right and left hands, and with Orochimaru always putting in minimal effort, Aburame Torune had long been the Root's most relied-upon strategist, enforcer, and laborer. While he couldn't compare to that genius strategist from the Nara Clan, his basic analysis of the battlefield situation was still well above average.

"Does he intend to use his peerless martial might to force us, Konoha, and Kumogakure to sign the same ceasefire agreement? If that's the case, our plans have become quite troublesome."

Orochimaru had only just finalized the plan to invade the Land of Water with Danzo, and now the front line in the Land of Lightning was collapsing; he couldn't help but frown, his expression slightly displeased.

"That idiot Jiraiya, he can't even handle a task like this."

Hearing this, the corner of Aburame Torune's mouth twitched. He wanted to speak, but remembering the glorious record this lord had achieved on the front lines of the Land of Earth, he realized there was some truth to the statement.

If one had to choose between the Raikage and the Tsuchikage as an opponent, more than half of all people would choose the Raikage.

At least the Raikage's techniques were still within the realm of what a ninja could comprehend, whereas no one dared to block—or could block—the Tsuchikage's Dust Release!

"Lord Jiraiya at least held off the Third Raikage for half an hour, buying time for the main army to retreat."

Listening to the words of his right and left hands, Guo Wang scanned the latest battle report sent by the Cipher Division with a single glance.

[Konoha Year 47, March 2nd: The Third Raikage led his Shadow Guard in person and routed the Sage Mode-empowered Lord Jiraiya. The Land of Lightning front has collapsed. Konoha ninjas are being hunted by the Kumogakure AB Duo. Fortunately, the Jonin Namikaze Minato arrived in time to prevent further invasion by Kumogakure. The war situation is unfavorable; please, Lord Hokage, make a decision as soon as possible!]

"This is the result caused by Hiruzen's cowardice."

Mimicking Danzo's tone, Guo Wang set down the scroll, his eyes filled with indignation.

"I imagine it won't be long before Lord Hokage's decree is issued. After all, you are Konoha's strongest Wind Release user."

Aburame Torune, who considered himself a ninja who had inherited the Will of Fire, thought first about how to solve the problem and overcome the crisis whenever Konoha was in danger.

"My injuries from my last clash with the Raikage have yet to heal; I refuse the summons."

Guo Wang, who possessed not a shred of the Will of Fire, uttered the words Danzo would have said. Orochimaru sneered, and Aburame Torune felt a bit anxious, but knowing his master's temperament, he didn't ask for trouble.

"This is a good opportunity, the Third Raikage—a perfect opponent. You could use him to verify whether the complete 'Kyōka Suigetsu' is truly as invincible as you claim."

"That day will come, but not now."

Those who appear on stage first are merely characters. Although Guo Wang didn't care about Konoha or the Hokage, he had to admit that the identity of Danzo provided him with many conveniences. Unless necessary, he was unwilling to discard the vast power of the Root.

If possible, he even wanted to go further.

Although becoming the Hokage wouldn't help much with the accumulation of his own power, it was the obsession of the body's original owner, which could be considered a way to put his own mind at ease.

"Speaking of which, this is a rare opportunity to mock Jiraiya. He always claims he is invincible after entering Sage Mode, but he has failed twice now. It seems he is still the same old braggart."

Hearing this, Guo Wang knew that Orochimaru had, to some extent, inherited a bit of the Will of Fire.

After all, he was a disciple of Sarutobi.

"Exactly. Refusing the Hokage's summons outright would leave a stain on my reputation in the village. If Hiruzen's order comes down, you will lead the Root's personnel to the Land of Lightning battlefield in my stead. With the Raikage's strength, you, Jiraiya, and Minato—even if you can't defeat him, blocking his advance shouldn't be a problem."

Orochimaru, however, shook his head and refused.

"Why bother with that idiot's life? With that time, I'd rather conduct a few more sets of Living Corpse Reincarnation experiments. Besides, hasn't the war with the Land of Wind already ceased? Let Tsunade make the trip; Jiraiya was heavily wounded by the Raikage."

Princess Slug, although she had encountered some issues herself following the continuous wars, possessed medical ninjutsu that was unparalleled under the heavens. If she were on the battlefield, the morale of their side would increase by at least thirty percent.

"As you wish. Torune, you will take Orochimaru's place and prepare for war."

Guo Wang issued his final order, and then the Three Tomoe in his eyes suddenly became illusory, eventually vanishing into nothingness, and his scarlet pupils returned to their usual pitch black.

"Oh, so you have already fully mastered the Mangekyo?!"

"Orochimaru, don't think that just because you have reached this level, you can be disrespectful to your superiors. Whether it is me or Hiruzen, we are both far stronger than you imagine."

In the identity of Danzo, any of Konoha's records could be accessed, including so-called forbidden techniques.

During these days of adapting to this aging body, Guo Wang had thoroughly mastered the mysteries of Chakra. Having familiarized himself with the original body's Wind Release nature, he also utilized the training notes of generations of Konoha Jonin to develop and master the four natures of Water, Fire, Earth, and Yin. Aside from the Lightning and Yang attributes, he had restored the power of Danzo's prime.

If he added the "Kyōka Suigetsu" of his eyes, even against Konoha's strongest Hokage, he felt he could defeat him.

"I have always held you and the teacher in awe."

After Orochimaru finished this sentence with a smile, his figure turned into a puddle of mud and vanished from the Root.

Land of Lightning!

A golden flash, carrying a brilliant blue-green radiance, slammed heavily into the chest of the giant who had entered the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. However, the Rasengan, which had always been invincible, left only a faint wisp of smoke when faced with the sturdiest body under the heavens.

His figure flickering, the fastest teleporter in the ninja world dodged the Raikage's Lariat, then Namikaze Minato circled behind the Raikage. The special Kunai in his hand was infused with wind-attribute chakra, and the extremely sharp, invisible blade erupted with faint, shattering light, causing the very void to begin to distort.

But as it swept across the Raikage's cervical spine, it could only leave behind a pale red mark.

"This is troublesome!"

Moving his position once again via his mark, Namikaze Minato couldn't help but smile bitterly as he looked at the special Kunai in his hand, which had cracked from the recoil of the Lightning Release.

"I considered myself a master of Wind Release, but is the gap between me and Senior Danzo really this large?!"