Intricate Schemes

"Aren't ninja supposed to carry heavy burdens? I'll take the missions no one else wants. My strength is just enough to handle them."

"Tch! You're overestimating yourself..."

Orochimaru's gaze returned to the page.

"By the way, Teacher Orochimaru, how is the situation on the front lines now?"

"It's getting worse. Hidden Rain's harassment is becoming more frequent.

They tried attacking Konoha's territory, but after succeeding once or twice, we drove them back.

Hidden Rain's experts have also shown themselves. To break their advantage, we took the initiative and pushed into Hidden Rain's territory as well.

But now, it's difficult for us to expand our offensive any further. Hidden Rain Village is like an impregnable fortress..."

As he said this, Orochimaru unconsciously touched his wound.

"Perhaps Hidden Rain wants to wear us down? Their ninja are more accustomed to their own environment.

The year-round torrential rain aids them in battle. Blurred vision and muddy ground will both hinder Konoha's ninja."

"A war of attrition? Hidden Rain is small, while Konoha and Hidden Sand are powerful. They can't afford to drag things out."

Xuanhui shook his head. He truly had a different view of this war.

"Hanzo the Salamander is an ambitious and powerful young man, but he is also a shrewd politician.

The reason he became famous throughout the ninja world was his immense strength.

I think he wants to use Hidden Rain's home-field advantage and his own overwhelming power to wipe out enemy armies, even their experts, thereby weakening the strength of neighboring countries on a massive scale.

Where is he now? Is he still fighting Hidden Sand?"

Orochimaru thought for a moment before speaking.

"He retreated. Hanzo withdrew from the Hidden Sand front, and Hidden Sand is pursuing him."

"Then that confirms it!"

Xuanhui slapped his fist into his palm with a crisp smack.

"Hidden Rain's goal is indeed a war of attrition, but not merely to exhaust their enemies—it's to stall for time!

Hanzo pretended to attack Hidden Sand first while harassing Konoha at the same time.

Hidden Rain is a tiny place. How could they possibly have enough troops to wage war against two nations at once?

There's only one Hanzo the Salamander. Where would Hidden Rain find a second superhuman expert?

As long as Konoha is harassed into entering Hidden Rain Village's territory, Hanzo will gain an enormous advantage.

Then he'll withdraw from the Hidden Sand front and immediately turn around to annihilate Konoha's forces that have invaded."

Orochimaru was somewhat stunned as his mind raced.

"This may even be a layered scheme. From Hidden Sand's perspective, Hanzo lost in his clash with them and fled in panic.

Besides, Hidden Sand has been looking forward to war. They have coveted Konoha for a long time and have always wanted a bite of Konoha's fat.

With their morale soaring, Hidden Sand will definitely dispatch troops on two fronts—one to pursue Hidden Rain, the other to attack Konoha!

But the rains of Hidden Rain Village will bog down Hidden Sand's offensive. Hanzo will arrive at Konoha's ninja first and launch an annihilation battle!

Then he'll turn back and use the same method to eliminate Hidden Sand's pursuing forces!

Meanwhile, because of Hidden Sand, part of Konoha's firepower will be diverted to deal with them!

That way, Hanzo can wipe out two armies on his own territory!"

The cloudiness in Orochimaru's eyes gradually cleared. Trapped within the situation himself, his view had indeed been too narrow.

"The premise for all this... is whether Hanzo the Salamander truly possesses the strength to annihilate an entire army?"

Orochimaru still could not believe it. Did Hanzo really possess such terrifying power?

"He does. Hanzo is simply too suited for large-scale warfare. His massive summoned salamander, vast clouds of poison mist, and Hidden Rain Village's geographical advantage.

That kind of weapon of war might not necessarily defeat every expert, but against armies, his chances of victory are very high."

Orochimaru stared fixedly at the floor, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"I need to return and discuss this with Jiraiya and Tsunade. If Hanzo is truly following such a strategy, we need to prepare early."

But the agreed time had not yet arrived. Jiraiya would not reverse-summon the wooden door for another ten-odd minutes.

Taking advantage of the time, Xuanhui told Orochimaru about the difficulties he had encountered with his Bloodline Limit, hoping he could offer some advice.

Orochimaru truly deserved to be called the ninja world's foremost scientist. He genuinely had his own insights into Bloodline Limits.

"Bloodline Limits generally fuse chakra in special proportions to create chakra with entirely new natures. In the process, they retain a certain property of the base chakra.

The key should be amplification and reduction—amplify the traits you need, and reduce the traits that should disappear."

Amplification and reduction?

Xuanhui thought of Yin–Yang Release.

As he recalled, the Yin–Yang Release created by the Sage of Six Paths could nullify any ninjutsu.

"What if, instead of amplification and reduction, it became creation and annihilation?"

Orochimaru frowned.

It was not that he had never considered such an idea, but he had never heard of any method capable of making a chakra nature disappear.

"This... would be extremely difficult! What method do you intend to use to achieve it?"

"By harmonizing Yin Release and Yang Release chakra. Do you think it's feasible?"

"You want to fuse four types of chakra?"

Shock appeared in Orochimaru's eyes. Even he had nearly failed to keep up with such a tremendous leap in thinking.

"As far as I know, there has never been a precedent of incorporating Yin Release and Yang Release into a Bloodline Limit..."

Halfway through, a name suddenly flashed through Orochimaru's mind.

A man who was already dead.

The Second Tsuchikage—Mu.

"Hidden Stone's Dust Release is a Kekkei Tota, an unprecedented fusion of three types of chakra..."

Today, Xuanhui wanted to attempt fusing four types of chakra, including Yin Release and Yang Release, which lay beyond the five major natures!

What he was attempting was no less difficult than what the Second Tsuchikage had achieved!

"I think it can work, Xuanhui. Once you come to the battlefield, we can discuss this matter properly."

"Alright."

Xuanhui nodded, left the library, and returned to his pitch-black bedroom.

Only Orochimaru remained seated blankly at the desk, staring at the same page for ten minutes.

Jiraiya pushed open the door and saw the "focused" Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru, it's time to come back!"

"Jiraiya...

Where is Tsunade? I have something to discuss with you two..."

"Xuanhui? What is it that you need from me so late?"

"Teacher Sarutobi, do you still remember our agreement from last year?"

"Oh! That..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked somewhat troubled, but that also indirectly showed that Xuanhui becoming a Chunin was practically certain.

"It's possible, but you must ensure your safety!

You're still too young. No matter when, young sprouts will always be what Konoha protects..."

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi about to launch into a lengthy lecture, Xuanhui hurriedly waved his hand, indicating that he still had important matters to attend to.

Then he turned and left the Hokage Building.