Shikaku Nara: "We've fallen into the trap!"

Jiraiya had fallen, and in the end, it still had to be Minato who stepped up.

Awkwardly enough, many of those who had originally supported Jiraiya chose Orochimaru when it came to the debate over who should become Hokage between Minato and Orochimaru.

Their close relationship with Minato was one thing.

When it came to arguing over the best candidate for Hokage, they still favored Orochimaru.

No matter how Konoha fought amongst itself, Madara could not care less about these things.

He only knew that Obito's body was almost fully recovered, and it was time to get moving!

Kirigakure was attacking once again, and the village was currently discussing countermeasures, primarily focusing on who should be sent to engage Kirigakure.

Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally wanted to arrange for Minato to go, though he knew he would have to struggle against Orochimaru once more to decide who would ultimately be sent.

But today, he was very surprised.

"Teacher, since Kirigakure is attacking, let Minato go and resolve it."

Orochimaru had actually taken the initiative to suggest that Minato go to the Kirigakure front line.

Did he take the wrong medicine? Hiruzen Sarutobi wondered to himself during the Jonin meeting.

Could it be that Orochimaru had colluded with Kirigakure, preparing to sell Minato out and have him killed?

He had heard that in the neighboring Sunagakure, there was someone named Pakura who, because her personal prestige was too high, had been betrayed by Rasa to Kirigakure and died in a Kirigakure ambush.

No...

Minato possessed the Flying Thunder God and could escape.

Yet, for some reason, he still felt a sense of unease in his heart.

Orochimaru was acting far too strangely today.

This was military merit! He was actually handing it over to Minato instead of fighting for it himself.

After much deliberation, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to send Minato to battle anyway. There was definitely a conspiracy behind Orochimaru's actions; although he didn't know what it was, as long as he provided Minato with the most luxurious lineup, it would be fine!

Originally, Jiraiya was supposed to continue overseeing the Iwagakure front line until the end of the Third Great Ninja War.

Hiruzen Sarutobi made adjustments, sending Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu to replace Jiraiya's position.

Jiraiya would instead accompany Minato to Kirigakure to quickly pacify the battle.

Not only that, the lineup Hiruzen Sarutobi arranged for Minato could be called a luxurious dream team!

Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Choza Akimichi, Aburame Shibi, Hyuga Hiashi, Hizashi Hyuga, Uchiha Fugaku, Tsume Inuzuka... even his own son, Anbu Captain Shinnosuke Sarutobi, was sent to escort Minato.

This showed just how much he cherished Minato.

He had sent all of Konoha's main pillars to Minato; any conspiracy Orochimaru might have had in collusion with Kirigakure would be completely crushed.

With this lineup, they could even fight if the First and Second Hokage were resurrected.

If they could lose with this lineup, then only the resurrection of Uchiha Madara to take revenge on Konoha could explain it.

"Teacher, you really do have your favorites." Orochimaru's sudden weakness left Hiruzen Sarutobi momentarily stunned.

So that was it...

Was it another probe?

Sigh...

If you had just listened to your teacher, why would we have ended up like this?

Even though Orochimaru showed weakness, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained on guard, ordering Minato to be careful, and then even more careful, as he set out with this lineup.

He was also afraid that once these people left, Orochimaru might launch a coup at home, so he kept his daughter-in-law and half of the Anbu in the village to guard against any moves by Orochimaru.

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought and calculated carefully, and then he smiled; Orochimaru would have no chance for his conspiracy to succeed.

Three days passed, and an unexpected person arrived in Konoha.

The Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire.

The carriage of the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire arrived at the gates of Konoha around noon.

The black-lacquered carriage, pulled by six pure white steeds, shimmered with a calm luster under the sunlight.

On the carriage door, the Fire Fan crest of the Land of Fire was embroidered with extreme precision.

Orochimaru and Zhengyi had been waiting at the main gate for a long time; it was they who had invited the Feudal Lord.

Two people of the new era—one a scientist, one a liberal—neither liked this imperious Feudal Lord, but the Feudal Lord would be very useful to them in the near future.

"Orochimaru, why are you the one here to welcome me? Where is the Third?"

The Feudal Lord stepped down from the carriage, served by his attendants, with the Twelve Guardian Ninja behind him, looking quite imposing.

Indeed, Orochimaru had invited the Feudal Lord in the name of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"The Third asked me to welcome you and help you settle in first; matters concerning the Hokage will be discussed tomorrow."

"Very well."

In Konoha, even Orochimaru would have to stand up to offer a toast; he despised alcohol, yet socializing with the Feudal Lord was inseparable from it.

At the banquet, he and Zhengyi toasted each other cup after cup.

Glasses clinked and the atmosphere was neither good nor bad.

The moment the Feudal Lord arrived, Hiruzen Sarutobi heard the news, sitting in the Hokage Office and puffing on his pipe.

Was Orochimaru preparing to win over the Feudal Lord?

Given Zhengyi's actions in the northeast—secretly launching strikes against the nobility—could the Feudal Lord really be swayed by him?

After some thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to go and take a look; what if Orochimaru actually succeeded? He had to be careful.

Seeing the Feudal Lord only drinking sporadically while Orochimaru and Zhengyi toasted, he finally set his mind at ease.

Minato Namikaze had already engaged the enemy in Kirigakure.

He had listened to Hiruzen Sarutobi's instructions to be wary of Orochimaru's schemes, so he fought with extreme caution.

Their war council meetings were also closed to any outsiders.

Only the trusted confidants who supported Minato were allowed inside.

This left Madara in a very passive position.

He wanted to capture Rin, but this damn Minato was far too cautious.

It was as if he were guarding against someone sneaking up on the Medical Ninja.

He had set up dozens of sentry posts around the Konoha Medical Ninja encampment, with at least one Jonin stationed at each post, making it airtight.

It was only after making inquiries that Madara realized Konoha was in a state of total chaos.

Minato was guarding against the possibility that Orochimaru might sell the shift rotation schedule of the Konoha Medical Ninja to Kirigakure.

Then Madara thought, in that case, he would just have to mobilize the full firepower of Kirigakure to attack the Konoha encampment! He would force Minato to pull the Jonin from their posts to face the Mist Ninja.

It was quite awkward.

He had also discovered the luxurious lineup of elites sent by Konoha.

Madara was dumbfounded.

Are you kidding me?!

You're fighting Kirigakure, and you've deployed half the village's assets?

Is Kirigakure really that powerful?!

All of Minato's supporters were here! They executed Minato's orders unconditionally, which resulted in Madara being unable to find a single opening.

He was melancholy...

And today! Shikaku Nara looked at the faces of those supporting Minato, realizing that, before he knew it, Minato's supporters had grown to such a number.

Wait a minute!

He suddenly thought of something!!

"Oh no! Minato! Return to the village quickly, we've been played!!"