As time passed, the remaining four great shinobi villages continued to watch and test each other cautiously.
The top headline in the shinobi world remained unchanged: the vast territories left behind by Iwagakure remained unclaimed by any military force.
Sunagakure had swept through like a swarm of locusts, taking everything from the Daimyo's palace, important warehouses, and even skilled craftsmen.
With the remaining Iwa-nin leaderless, they couldn't find a single leader with both prestige and capability. Many, hunted in secret by various nations, were forced to abandon hope and become rogue ninja.
Among them was a free-spirited artistic genius. Perhaps the conservative Iwagakure had stifled him for too long, but instead of feeling sorrow at becoming a rogue ninja, he felt a deep, soul-stirring joy of freedom.
Gradually, as it became clear that both Minato Namikaze and Sōmi had disappeared, the distant Land of Lightning began to stir, preparing to cross the sea and send troops to seize the land across the waters.
However, just as the Raikage and his advisors were crafting their battle plans, news came from the Land of Earth.
The Daimyo of the Land of Earth announced that the old Iwagakure was history. To reestablish control, they would fund the creation of a new shinobi village: Otogakure.
The Daimyo also sent this document to the other villages (excluding Sunagakure), declaring that the newly established Otogakure would inherit all the rights previously held by Iwagakure, including the title of Tsuchikage.
This news swept through the shinobi world like a storm once again.
An unwilling Raikage dispatched a small elite force to the Land of Earth to test whether this was just a bluff by the Daimyo.
But when this force was completely annihilated, the Raikage temporarily abandoned plans for a full-scale invasion.
After all, with the great distance between the Lands of Earth and Lightning, a strong enemy and long supply lines could lead to a costly stalemate.
For a time, the new Otogakure became the talk of the shinobi world.
After expending many spies, leaders of various countries finally confirmed that the leader of Otogakure was none other than Orochimaru, the rogue ninja from Konohagakure's legendary "Three Sannin."
When this news spread, people were once again abuzz with speculation.
One could only imagine what it would be like if a Five Kage Summit were held, with Hiruzen Sarutobi shaking hands "amicably" with the "new Tsuchikage" Orochimaru.
Gossip-loving onlookers imagined a "legendary tale."
Orochimaru, who had made great contributions to Konoha and was a personal disciple of the Third Hokage, had been thwarted and sabotaged by a faction led by Jiraiya during the Hokage election, leading to his failure.
Filled with resentment, he turned to the study of Forbidden Techniques, but after being discovered by Konoha's leadership, he was expelled from the village.
Proud yet unappreciated, Orochimaru had secretly lurked in the shadows of the shinobi world, allegedly joining the Akatsuki and collaborating with Sunagakure, even infiltrating Iwagakure to plant numerous bombs.
After years of waiting, Orochimaru finally used his schemes to destroy Iwagakure and eliminate Konoha's strongest forces, avenging his failed Hokage bid.
He proved that even after being ostracized from Konoha, he could establish a new great shinobi village on his own strength!
This story quickly captivated the entire shinobi world.
The tale of a genius falling from grace, only to claw back to the pinnacle through sheer will and talent, became a popular topic over meals and tea.
The spread of this rumor led many rogue ninja and even shinobi from smaller countries to defect to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru welcomed these "experimental subjects" with open arms, sending them all to the white beds in his laboratory with a sinister smile.
After all, with such a vast territory in the Land of Earth, the Cursed Seal was the best choice for quickly training a loyal and capable force.
Each successful implantation of a Cursed Seal was another chance for Orochimaru to cheat death.
Eternal life was Orochimaru's most fervent pursuit!
However, this peculiar "peace" in the shinobi world did not last long.
Four years later, when Naruto was thirteen, Kumogakure, having completed its arms race and confirmed the fall of Konohagakure and Sunagakure's top forces, was the first to break the peace.
The first to be engulfed in flames were the Lands of Frost and Fields.
Situated at the border between the Lands of Fire and Lightning, these countries always suffered the most in conflicts.
With Kumogakure's might, it took only a few days to swallow up the entirety of these two nations.
However, this led to the mass exodus of the original shinobi from the Lands of Frost and Fields. After all, under occupation by a powerful nation, the treatment of foreign shinobi was quite poor.
Interestingly, due to the widespread rumors about Orochimaru, these fleeing shinobi all aimed for Otogakure.
Konohagakure, Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, his hair and beard white, sat behind his desk, a pipe in his mouth. Purple smoke curled upward, filling the office and mirroring the tangled thoughts in the minds of those present.
"What do you all think about the aggressive Kumogakure? Should we send an envoy to seek peace?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face bore many wrinkles and age spots. The once-vigorous "Ninja Hero" had gradually become weary under the passage of time.
"Have you forgotten the war from a few years ago?"
"Even at our peak, Kumogakure dared to bite us!"
"Peace talks?"
"What will you offer? A large sum of money? Forbidden Techniques? Or even our territory?!"
Danzo, with half his face wrapped in bandages, was quick to mock.
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane merely squinted, offering no opinion, seemingly in agreement with Danzo.
"But war also consumes manpower and resources."
"Once it starts, the losses could be incalculable..."
"And if the young ones in the village are sent to the battlefield, who knows how many will return alive..."
Hiruzen hesitated, the embers in his pipe flickering like his anxious heart.
"Hiruzen..."
"You've truly grown senile."
"How old were we when we went to war?"
"Kakashi was on the battlefield at six, and now he's the head of the Anbu."
"Only saplings that have weathered the trials of war can grow into the towering trees that support Konohagakure's prosperity!"
Danzo declared firmly.
"Hiruzen!"
"Your educational philosophy is too conservative..."
"Look at your remaining two disciples: one is too afraid to return to the village."
"The other has become the 'Tsuchikage'!"
"With your grandstudent Minato Namikaze, that's three Kage in one line. Truly, you are the professor of the shinobi world..."
Danzo sneered sarcastically.
Cough! Cough!
Hiruzen seemed to choke suddenly, as if the smoke had caught in his throat.
"Danzo!"
"Minato, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and... Orochimaru, they were once the most loyal shinobi of Konohagakure!"
"Jiraiya and Minato sacrificed themselves for the village!"
"I don't see anything wrong with my educational philosophy."
"Should we turn all shinobi into emotionless tools, like you?"
"Can such 'tools' lead Konohagakure well in the future?!"
Hiruzen's tone grew harsh.
"Alright, alright..."
"Let's not get off topic. The main issue for our village now is how to deal with Kumogakure."
"I agree with Elder Danzo's suggestion."
"The last war clearly demonstrated Kumogakure's insatiable ambition. Constant retreat will only make us more passive."
"If that's the case, we should seize the initiative!"
Homura Mitokado interrupted their argument, speaking in a deep voice.
Koharu Utatane, sitting nearby, remained silent, her eyes closed as if resting.
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, the embers glowing brightly before he exhaled a large cloud of pale purple smoke, murmuring, "Alright..."
"Let's prepare for full-scale war..."
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