The Coming Localized War

Inside the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru wore grave expressions.

Because Konoha's situation was extremely dire.

Once war broke out, the Four Great Ninja Villages would very likely move against Konoha at the same time, leaving Konoha attacked from both front and rear.

Hiruzen Sarutobi began discussing with Orochimaru how they could break the current deadlock.

Chiyu did not interrupt. He was only allowed to remain because he was Orochimaru's disciple. As a Genin, he had no standing to speak. Being allowed to listen in was already quite good.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said coldly, "According to intelligence, the Third Mizukage of Kirigakure has introduced a new policy called the Bloody Mist, allowing bloody battles between ninja. It seems they are training their troops for the coming war.

"No wonder they had always refused to establish contact with Konoha. They had already colluded with Kumogakure and Iwagakure.

"Enemy village ninja have already infiltrated Konoha. There may be even more ninja still lurking in the shadows. It seems war could erupt at any moment.

"Orochimaru, given the current situation, do you think Konoha has the ability to fight?"

Orochimaru shook his head and said without mercy, "If full-scale war breaks out now, Konoha will undoubtedly be defeated. If it were only Kumogakure and Iwagakure, Konoha could barely hold them off. But if Kirigakure joins in, we will need to divide our forces to defend ourselves—not to mention Sunagakure watching us like a tiger.

"We only have so many troops. If the battlefield expands across multiple fronts and we divide our forces too much, we will find it difficult to mount any effective counterattack. We will only be dragged to death."

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into thought.

What Orochimaru said was exactly what Hiruzen Sarutobi had been considering.

No matter how strong Konoha was, it could not withstand simultaneous attacks from four ninja villages.

What Hiruzen Sarutobi was considering now was how to find a way out of this seemingly hopeless situation.

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, "Orochimaru, how do you think Konoha should break this deadlock?"

Orochimaru had also been thinking just now.

Orochimaru replied, "The only solution I can think of is to stall. The later the war begins, the more favorable it will be for Konoha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. "But the initiative for war is not in our hands. As long as they wish it, they can start a war at any time."

Holding a pen, Orochimaru drew circles around the Land of Grass, the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Waves.

After setting down the pen, Orochimaru began his analysis. "The Four Great Ninja Villages are still probing each other for now. The spies hidden within Konoha must be eliminated immediately, so those villages can no longer learn about Konoha's internal situation.

"At the same time, Konoha should begin dividing its forces and send ninja to garrison the four countries I circled, fighting the ninja of the Four Great Ninja Villages there and keeping the battles within those four countries as much as possible.

"Although the Four Great Ninja Villages have joined forces, they are not truly united. As long as Konoha does not show weakness and acts as though we are prepared to fight them to the end, they will instead hesitate to act rashly.

"Because they all understand that if Konoha chooses to go all in, we have the ability to strike into any one of their countries and villages. They cannot bear the consequences.

"If Konoha falls, the other ninja villages will turn their sights on whichever village we struck with everything we had.

"As long as it does not become a full-scale war, Konoha, with its abundant resources and deep reserves, can absolutely endure a localized war.

"If enough time passes and the war makes no progress for a long period, they may very well collapse from within.

"I once asked Chiyu what he thought Konoha should do if the Four Great Ninja Villages attacked at the same time. Chiyu said we should use benefits to turn two villages against each other.

"That method is very suitable for the current situation. As long as we delay the start of full-scale war and create internal problems among them, we can use benefits to win over one of the villages. We may even be able to launch a counteroffensive and recover all our previous losses."

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his fingers rhythmically against the desk, considering the feasibility of Orochimaru's plan.

Chiyu looked at Orochimaru in surprise. He had not expected Orochimaru to bring him up.

But in Chiyu's view, Orochimaru's method did indeed seem feasible.

The Four Great Ninja Villages had united for profit and were preparing to wage war against Konoha. But if they kept giving without getting anything in return, they would surely weigh the costs and reconsider whether attacking Konoha was truly worthwhile.

And if Konoha then offered them clear benefits, it was entirely possible that one of the villages could be won over.

At the same time, Chiyu understood something very clearly.

If they followed Orochimaru's plan, he would very likely have to go to the battlefield.

Orochimaru's plan was to fight Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure in the Land of Grass, the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Waves, preventing the Four Great Ninja Villages from entering the Land of Fire. Dividing their forces was inevitable.

Konoha only had so many ninja capable of fighting, so nearly all of them would certainly have to be deployed.

After thinking it over, Hiruzen Sarutobi also found Orochimaru's plan feasible.

After all, Konoha, having fallen into a passive position, did not have many choices.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said gravely, "Then we will proceed according to your plan, Orochimaru. Tomorrow, I will send the Anbu to join forces with Danzo's Root and purge those enemy village ninja hiding in Konoha.

"At the same time, Orochimaru, you will also have to go to the battlefield. Sunagakure is not yet much of a threat. The ninja forces currently stationed there are enough to keep them within the Land of Rivers.

"As for Kirigakure, I plan to first send a small team of ninja to the Land of Waves to see how many Kirigakure ninja are stationed there, then decide how many ninja forces to deploy. Every bit of Konoha's fighting strength is precious right now.

"As for Iwagakure, that old fox Ōnoki is shrewd. Before the official start of the war, he will not choose to clash head-on with Konoha's ninja too often. With Sakumo leading the fighting over there, it will be enough.

"The greatest threat is Kumogakure. In the Land of Hot Water, Jiraiya and the ninja forces under his command have clashed with Kumogakure's ninja countless times. The fighting there is the fiercest, and Kumogakure's ninja are constantly reinforcing the battles in the Land of Rivers.

"Since your plan, Orochimaru, is not to show weakness before these ninja villages, we must hold back the Cloud Ninja in the Land of Hot Water. So I intend to send you there. What do you think?"

Orochimaru nodded in agreement. "I understand. I will depart for the Land of Hot Water tomorrow and join up with Jiraiya. At the same time, I would like to take Chiyu with me. Please grant your approval, Sensei."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's stern face broke into a smile. "Certainly. Even if you had not mentioned it, that was my intention. I heard that Jiraiya's disciple, Minato, has performed brilliantly on the battlefield in the Land of Hot Water. If Chiyu also tempers himself on the battlefield, I believe he will soon shine as well and become a ninja capable of standing on his own."

A surge of excitement and killing intent rose in Chiyu's heart when he heard that. He had not expected to face Kumogakure's ninja so soon. He had always intended to settle the score for Kushina Uzumaki's abduction with the lives of the Cloud Ninja!