The Kage Summit lasted for a whole day and night.
After reaching a tendency toward cooperation, what remained was balancing everyone's interests and securing their own rights.
Overall, the gains from this meeting still made Ōnoki feel satisfied.
The only thing he couldn't quite understand was the role Konoha played in it.
Logically, the interests of the Hidden Sand Village and the Land of Rain shouldn't have much connection to Konoha.
But ever since the Third Great Ninja War ended and Orochimaru inherited the position of Hokage, Konoha's actions became somewhat unpredictable.
At a time when other ninja villages were declining, Konoha did not take advantage of their weakness.
Instead, they found new paths and gave others a helping hand—truly a case of lending aid in desperate times.
Even during the First Hokage's rule, such behavior was rare.
The Five Great Ninja Villages each went their own way.
Their so-called alliance and cooperation were the best options available then, but when needed, the alliance could easily be torn apart like useless paper.
Yet over the years, Konoha actually pulled the Hidden Sand Village out of its economic mire and even improved the environment and population of the Land of Wind.
As for the Land of Rain?
During Hanzo's time, they tried to break free from the Great Ninja Villages' influence and become a village with their own independent ideas.
But after being suppressed by the united Great Ninja Villages and failing in rebellion, the village was barely holding on, sustained only by Hanzo's reputation.
Now, surprisingly, it seems they have found a new path.
At least, Konoha and the Hidden Sand Village no longer oppressed the Land of Rain. Instead, they have engaged in multiple trades with them.
As for the pressure from Iwa Village, the Iwa ninja had suffered many losses at the hands of the Rain ninja from Ame Village.
The surrounding smaller countries were even less able to threaten Ame Village.
The other two major ninja villages, Kumo and Kiri, were too far away and had no interest in deliberately targeting the Land of Rain.
This time, the biggest beneficiaries of the Kage Summit were the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain.
Even Iwa Village seemed to gain much more from this than Konoha did.
Why would Konoha go through so much trouble for something that brought them no benefits?
Suppressing surrounding countries and weakening their strength, whether big or small, was something all the ninja villages had done since their founding.
The Five Great Ninja Villages had an unspoken understanding.
During the Ninja World Wars, they would drag the smaller countries into the fight, letting them take the brunt of the losses.
Then, by plundering those smaller countries, they would replenish their own losses.
Rain's Hanzo resisted this unspoken agreement the most fiercely.
Under his leadership, the Rain ninja had gained some power enough to threaten the Five Great Villages.
But in the end, although he won battles, the Rain Village was left in ruins.
From Onoki's perspective, Konoha's behavior was like raising a tiger that would one day cause trouble — they were training a powerful enemy.
Just because there were interests and alliances, did that mean allies would never betray each other?
Orochimaru was not such a naive ninja!
So why was Konoha doing this?
What did they hope to gain from these plans?
Reputation? Benefits? Or something else?
If only reputation was considered, Konoha, as the war's victor, was already far ahead.
At least for the short term, no other ninja village could surpass or suppress Konoha's prestige.
Benefits?
Konoha did gain some benefits, but judging from this plan, Konoha's gains were the smallest among all the ninja villages. It wasn't worth Konoha making such a big effort.
Were they trying to raise two powerful allies?
But still, the same old saying—alliances can't be fully trusted and can be sold out at critical moments.
Unable to understand, Ōnoki asked directly when he left the Land of Iron and parted ways with Orochimaru.
"There is simply a bigger goal ahead that needs partners to walk together," Orochimaru said softly, not surprised by Ōnoki's doubts.
"A bigger goal?" Ōnoki frowned deeply.
"Don't worry, it's not aimed at your Iwagakure, nor any other ninja village. The ninja world is vast for you, but to me, it's too small," Orochimaru said with some feeling.
His vision had been greatly expanded over the years by Ryūchi Cave and Kagetsu. He was already tired of fighting in the ninja world and wanted to achieve another goal.
"I don't understand," Ōnoki's expression turned serious. He straightforwardly asked, "Can you explain more clearly?"
"You will know when the mercenaries in the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind are done. Maybe you can search for some information yourself about the life of the Sage of the Six Paths. After all, someone like you only trusts your own judgment," Orochimaru said as he turned around, putting on the Hokage's straw hat, then left under the guard of Shisui and Fugaku, the two strongest Uchiha from Konoha.
"Sage of the Six Paths?" Ōnoki scratched his beard, clearly surprised that Orochimaru's so-called target involved the legendary Sage of the Six Paths.
The legend of the Sage of the Six Paths was well-known throughout the ninja world. After all, he was the ancestor of all shinobi and the founder of the first ninja organization, Ninshu.
But many stories about him sounded like myths. Even if they were true, after a thousand years of retelling and changes, the original facts had become distorted.
Right now, the only thing connected to the Sage of the Six Paths was the Rinnegan.
Nagato's eyes — the Rinnegan — the advisor of the Hidden Rain Village!
The Hidden Stone Village had suffered a lot under those eyes.
When it came to understanding the power of the Rinnegan, the Stone Village was unmatched in the ninja world.
Maybe now they had to add the Fourth Raikage to that list as well.
...
"Lord Hokage, if you want to influence the other side's decisions, why not let Shisui use his Kotoamatsukami?" On the way back to the village, Fugaku asked Orochimaru, confused.
From his perspective, Shisui, who possessed the Kotoamatsukami — a powerful Mangekyō genjutsu — could try to control Ōnoki.
"Any ninjutsu can be broken," Orochimaru replied. "Don't rely too much on the Mangekyō Sharingan, and don't blindly trust its power! Without lasting influence, the other side will eventually notice something is wrong. And don't underestimate the shinobi from other villages. We seek to recruit like-minded allies, not make enemies."
"Yes!" Fugaku fell silent for a moment and then nodded slowly. He was certain that Orochimaru, as Hokage, had no fear of Shisui's Kotoamatsukami.
Either it was because he trusted Shisui and the Uchiha very much, or he was confident in having countermeasures, or even immunity.
Is it that so-called Hogyoku Mode?
Fugaku breathed a sigh of relief inside.
Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan had always been a thorn in his side. Even he, as clan leader, was wary of that dojutsu.
How much more so the high-ranking officials in Konoha?
"Also, I've invited Nagato to visit your Uchiha clan," Orochimaru said softly. "Then he can see that stone monument treasured by the Uchiha."
****
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