Nara Shikaku: "We've Been Had!"

Jiraiya had fallen, and in the end, Minato still had to step up.

Oddly enough, many of the people who had originally supported Jiraiya chose Orochimaru when it came to deciding which of him or Minato should become Hokage.

Their relationship with Minato was one thing.

But when debating the best candidate for Hokage, they still favored Orochimaru.

No matter how Konoha fought among itself, none of that was Madara's concern.

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

The Hidden Mist Village had attacked again, and Konoha was discussing countermeasures, mainly who to send to fight the Hidden Mist Village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally wanted to send Minato. He knew he would have to contend with Orochimaru again before they could decide who would ultimately go.

But today, he was very surprised.

"Sensei, the Hidden Mist Village has attacked. Let Minato deal with it."

Orochimaru had actually taken the initiative to propose sending Minato to the Hidden Mist Village front.

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

Could Orochimaru have colluded with the Hidden Mist Village, intending to sell Minato out and have him killed?

He had heard that Pakura of the neighboring Sand Village had been betrayed by Rasa and handed over to the Hidden Mist Village because her personal prestige had grown too great. She had walked into a Hidden Mist ambush and died.

No...

Minato had Flying Raijin. He could escape.

But for some reason, Hiruzen still felt uneasy.

Orochimaru had been far too strange today.

This was military merit! Instead of fighting for it, Orochimaru had actually handed it to Minato.

After considering it again and again, Hiruzen Sarutobi still decided to send Minato into battle. Orochimaru definitely had some scheme in mind. Though he did not know what it was, all he had to do was give Minato the most extravagant lineup possible!

Originally, Jiraiya was supposed to continue overseeing the Hidden Rock Village front until the Third Shinobi War ended.

Hiruzen Sarutobi made some adjustments, sending Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane to take Jiraiya's place.

Jiraiya, meanwhile, would accompany Minato to the Hidden Mist Village and swiftly put down the conflict.

Not only that, but the lineup Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned to Minato could only be called an all-star team!

Nara Shikaku, Inoichi Yamanaka, Choza Akimichi, Shibi Aburame, Hiashi Hyuga, Hizashi Hyuga, Fugaku Uchiha, Inuzuka Tsume... Even his own son, Shinnosuke Sarutobi, the ANBU Commander, was sent to protect Minato.

This showed just how much he cherished Minato.

He had sent all of Konoha's pillars to Minato. Whatever scheme Orochimaru and the Hidden Mist Village had cooked up, they would be able to crush it completely.

With this lineup, they could fight even if the First and Second Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village came back to life.

If this lineup still lost, then Madara Uchiha would have to come back from the dead to take revenge on Konoha.

"Sensei, you really do play favorites." Orochimaru's sudden weakness left Hiruzen Sarutobi somewhat dazed.

So that was it...

Another test?

Sigh...

If only you had listened to your teacher, why would things have come to this?

Even though Orochimaru had shown weakness, Hiruzen Sarutobi still remained wary. He ordered Minato to be careful, careful, and more careful as he led this lineup into battle.

He was also afraid that after these people left, Orochimaru would launch a coup at home. So he kept his daughter-in-law and half of the ANBU behind to guard against Orochimaru's movements.

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought carefully and calculated thoroughly. Then he smiled. Orochimaru had no chance to make any scheme succeed.

Three days passed, and an utterly unexpected person came to Konoha.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

The Land of Fire Daimyo's procession arrived at Konoha's gates around noon.

The black-lacquered carriage, drawn by six pure white steeds, gleamed with a tranquil luster beneath the sunlight.

On the carriage door, the flaming fan crest of the Land of Fire had been embroidered with exquisite detail.

Orochimaru and Masaichi had already been waiting at the gates for quite some time. They were the ones who had invited the Daimyo.

Two people of the new era, one a scientist and the other a liberal, both greatly disliked this overbearing Daimyo. But the Daimyo would be very useful to them next.

"Orochimaru, why are you the one receiving me? Where is the Third?"

Servants assisted the Daimyo down from his carriage. The Twelve Guardian Ninja followed behind him, making for an imposing sight.

That was right. Orochimaru had invited the Daimyo in Hiruzen Sarutobi's name.

"The Third asked me to first welcome you and cleanse the dust of your journey. Matters concerning the Hokage will be discussed tomorrow."

"Fine."

In Konoha, even Orochimaru had to stand and raise a toast. He disliked alcohol, but entertaining the Daimyo was precisely the sort of occasion that could not do without it.

At the banquet, he and Masaichi took turns toasting the Daimyo.

Cups clinked back and forth. The atmosphere was not good, but neither was it bad.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had learned of the Daimyo's arrival the moment he came. He sat in the Hokage's office, smoking.

Orochimaru was planning to win over the Daimyo?

Considering Masaichi's actions in the northeast, secretly going after the nobles, could he really win the Daimyo over?

After thinking it over, Hiruzen Sarutobi still went to take a look. What if Orochimaru really succeeded in winning him over? He needed to pay attention.

When he saw that the Daimyo merely took occasional sips from the wine Orochimaru and Masaichi offered him, Hiruzen's heart finally settled.

Minato Namikaze had already engaged the enemy at the Hidden Mist Village.

Having listened to Hiruzen Sarutobi's warning to beware of Orochimaru's schemes, he fought with extreme caution.

Even their war meetings did not allow observers.

Only Minato's trusted supporters were allowed inside.

That put Madara in quite a passive position.

He wanted to capture Rin, but that bastard Minato was being far too cautious.

It was as if Minato were guarding against someone ambushing the medical ninja.

He had placed dozens of guard posts around the Konoha Village medical ninja encampment, with at least one Jonin at each post. There were no gaps at all.

Only after asking around did Madara learn that Konoha was in complete chaos.

Minato was guarding against Orochimaru selling the Hidden Mist Village the rotation schedule for Konoha's medical ninja encampment.

Madara then thought that he could only mobilize the Hidden Mist Village's firepower and launch an all-out attack on Konoha's encampment! That would force Minato to pull the Jonin from the guard posts to face the Hidden Mist ninja.

This was awkward.

He had also discovered the all-star team Konoha had sent.

Madara was dumbfounded.

What?!

You mobilized half of the village's strength just to fight the Hidden Mist Village?

Was the Hidden Mist Village really that powerful?!

All of Minato's supporters were here! They carried out Minato's orders without question, leaving Madara with no opportunity at all.

He was deeply troubled...

And today! Looking at the faces that supported Minato, Nara Shikaku suddenly realized that Minato had gained so many supporters without anyone noticing.

Hold on!

He thought of something!!

"Not good! Minato! Return to the village, now! We've been had!!"