Li's question made Orochimaru laugh. "Actually, I can't go over there. If Konoha were in danger and we went out to fight, the higher-ups would consider it a good thing. But if Konoha already held a massive advantage and we went now, we'd be competing with them for the spoils after the war. How could those politicians possibly agree? So I didn't call you here because I wanted to go to Amegakure."
"Oh?" Li paused, a faintly mocking smile on his face. "Orochimaru-sensei, you seem to have forgotten. I'm now the Director of Konoha's Defense Headquarters. Those Konoha politicians won't want me going to the battlefield either. After all, what reward could they possibly give me? Are they going to give me the position of Anbu Commander?"
Orochimaru smiled. "That's not a problem. I have a way to get you onto the battlefield."
Li froze for a moment. Of course, he understood that if someone put their full effort into arranging things for him, getting onto the battlefield would be easy. But why would Orochimaru do that? What benefit was there in sending him to war? Li asked softly, "Orochimaru-sensei, just tell me what you want. There's no need to beat around the bush."
Orochimaru nodded gently, then placed a photograph before Li. "I need this person."
The photograph looked very old, but Li recognized the person in it at a glance. Jugo.
So Orochimaru had already begun researching sage energy? Li put the photograph away directly. "Deal. Tell me the details, and I'll go back and make preparations. I trust Orochimaru-sensei won't disappoint me."
With that, Li stood and walked out. In truth, he understood that even if he refused Orochimaru, Orochimaru would still find a way to get Jugo for himself. Jugo was simply too tempting—sage energy. To