Just as Shan Juhua anxiously sought to make up for her mistakes, Uchiha Yuu had already begun gathering some ninjas into elite scouting squads.
This was an entirely different style of warfare. Although Uchiha Yuu had not treated them as weapons, years of training and slaughter had long turned these ninjas into cold, unfeeling weapons. They would carry out any order from Lord Uchiha Yuu without hesitation.
"Our grasp of Xue Ying Territory is almost nonexistent. They are located east of us, and their territory is roughly the same size as ours. Further east lies the Suzerain State..."
Kakuzu, who stood beside Uchiha Yuu, analyzed the intelligence before them. Xue Ying was merely an appetizer; the real trouble was the behemoth behind him. It definitely had a Six Paths Level expert stationed there. If the war spread to the border of its territory, the Suzerain State would likely not tolerate Uchiha Yuu's actions.
Only a relatively peaceful environment would allow them to develop rapidly. Orochimaru had not been the first to propose using devoured energy to enhance one's strength. The creatures living in the Netherworld had the Dark Release Bloodline Limit engraved into their bloodlines, allowing them to absorb energy through Dark Release.
However, no one carried out slaughter on a massive scale, because absorbing the energy of one's subjects would contaminate one's own body with impurities.
This had no effect on Orochimaru. First, ninja bodies were not made of energy. Second, while gathering energy, Orochimaru removed all impurities that affected it. Even if that meant cutting the total energy in half, he would still choose the safest method of extraction.
He understood that impure energy could help ninjas grow stronger, but it could never push them into the Six Paths Level and bring about a complete transformation.
"Don't worry