"Konoha truly didn't have much energy left to fight those minor ninja villages. And at a time like this, we had to be even tougher. Only then would others continue to fear us."
"Konoha had never failed before. As long as this operation succeeded, it would be enough to resolve a considerable problem."
Minato Namikaze said, "Shibi Aburame is right. At this point, it was no longer something that could be explained away with simple notions of right and wrong, or whether we were being ruthless."
"Even the slightest display of weakness at a time like this could bring us immeasurable trouble."
"And because of that moment of hesitation, Konoha and the Land of Fire might be plunged into a truly cruel situation."
"So remember, we were doing this for Konoha, for the Land of Fire."
Choza Akimichi did not refute anything. Clearly, he understood the reasoning as well. It was simply so unlike Jiraiya's style that he had his doubts.
He had only wanted to ask.
Those who could become ninja were rarely soft-hearted people.
If Orochimaru had been the one giving this order, then without another word, Choza Akimichi would have carried it out cleanly and decisively.
Minato Namikaze said, "All right, let's keep moving!"
"We were still quite far from our target. Although other Konoha squads in the Land of Wind would cooperate with our operation..."
"We absolutely could not let our guard down."
Shibi Aburame and Choza Akimichi immediately replied, "Understood."
At this time, at the headquarters where Konoha and Sunagakure were locked in confrontation, inside a large tent—
Orochimaru, wearing a Konoha forehead protector and a tight combat uniform, his expression stern, was examining a map laid out before him with snake-like eyes.
Many points were marked on it with various symbols.
Beside him, Jiraiya,