Chapter 164: Weighing Pros and Cons
Silent, oppressive atmosphere permeated the Hokage's office. Jiraiya's expression remained dazed, lips moving, yet after long moments passed without uttering even a single word. His eyes filled with dejection.
Minato likewise stood silently beside him.
He didn't dare claim complete understanding of Jiraiya-sensei's current painful emotions. But he still remembered his grief when learning of student Uchiha Obito's death. Though Jiraiya-sensei's situation differed, he felt death notification might actually prove more acceptable.
In any case, under these circumstances, Minato didn't dare rashly speak—only patiently waiting for Jiraiya-sensei to gradually control his emotions.
After approximately ten-plus minutes passed, Jiraiya finally spoke. He directly asked, "Minato, is this matter already ironclad evidence?"
Minato nodded gently. "Root organization possesses massive evidence proving Orochimaru and Danzo together conducted multiple illegal human experiments. Critically—they repeatedly kidnapped people from the village for experimentation."
If merely researching forbidden techniques and conducting human experimentation—though likewise violating village rules—if the starting point served village interests, it fundamentally wasn't problematic. What truly couldn't be forgiven was Danzo and Orochimaru using their own people for human experimentation. Moreover, many children among them suffered cruel fates. Minato's moral standards prevented him from forgiving such evil deeds.
As Minato's teacher, Jiraiya's moral standards naturally also ran high.
But precisely because of this, Jiraiya felt even more pain. His most treasured friend had committed unforgivable grave crimes. He was caught between friendship and conscience, experiencing unprecedented tearing agony.
"Minato, what do you plan to do?"
"I'm still considering."
Minato showed difficulty, speaking softly. "Orochimaru possesses tremendous strength. His supporters in the village are also numerous. One careless move might escalate matters. Then the village will again face inevitable strife and upheaval. I don't wish for this outcome. Therefore, I'm still pondering whether more comprehensive methods exist to resolve problems."
This was natural. Orochimaru had recently competed with Minato for Fourth Hokage position. His prestige in the village ran high. Setting aside major clans—among civilian ninja, his supporters proved extremely numerous. If handling Orochimaru, caution upon caution was absolutely necessary. Otherwise, truly enormous turmoil would arise.
Jiraiya nodded. He naturally understood these principles.
He sighed heavily. "Minato, in that case, let me talk with Orochimaru! I'll try seeing whether I can persuade Orochimaru to surrender."
"Sensei, doing so is very dangerous! Moreover, I don't believe it will prove effective."
Minato spoke bluntly.
With his covert evil deeds exposed, Orochimaru might not necessarily choose capture without resistance. Fundamentally, Minato still couldn't see through what Orochimaru was thinking, what schemes he harbored. But the only certainty—Orochimaru being persuaded by Jiraiya-sensei to surrender was nearly impossible.
Jiraiya's expression remained unchanged. "I know."
"Then..."
"These recent years, Orochimaru has changed tremendously—indeed possessing vast differences from the Orochimaru in my memory. I also understand I can almost impossibly persuade Orochimaru to turn back. But if I don't try, I absolutely won't feel reconciled."
Minato fell silent.
Jiraiya continued. "Moreover, Minato—you're truly inconvenienced from personally handling this matter. After all, Orochimaru competed with you for Fourth Hokage position. If you confront Orochimaru, many people might misinterpret this as deliberate persecution. But if I'm the one exposing this festering sore, no problems exist. Orochimaru and I are old friends of decades. Having me handle this is most appropriate."
"Sensei, you..."
"Minato, it's settled then."
Jiraiya interrupted Minato's voice. His expression became exceptionally firm—clearly having made up his mind.
Minato fell into silence. He rotated his brain, rapidly considering what changes and consequences Jiraiya-sensei's actions would bring. Beyond Jiraiya-sensei needing to directly face Orochimaru—possibly encountering danger, possibly suffering greater heartbreak—truly no greater harm or problems existed.
Some matters truly proved difficult for Minato as a junior. Once done, they'd inevitably attract criticism, becoming indelible stains. But if Jiraiya handled these matters, no major problems would arise. Because as fellow Sannin, Jiraiya and Orochimaru's strength, status, and qualifications matched evenly.
But Minato said in a deep voice, "Sensei, actually we needn't necessarily pursue optimal solutions. As long as we can cut the Gordian knot and resolve problems, we needn't fear village upheaval."
He still didn't wish Jiraiya-sensei taking risks.
Rather than gambling that Orochimaru wouldn't reactively attack Jiraiya-sensei, better to steel his heart and directly handle Orochimaru with lightning speed.
"Minato, don't worry about me. Both being Sannin, I won't lose to Orochimaru. Moreover, since earlier times, Orochimaru's greatest specialty has actually been self-preservation. Regarding frontal combat strength, your sensei is the Sannin's strongest. Orochimaru can't do anything to me."
Jiraiya's face squeezed out an extremely forced smile—vividly demonstrating to Minato what "forced laughter" meant.
Beneath this forced smile lay rock-solid, unshakeable determination.
Minato sighed again. "Then Sensei, first examine those compiled case files! Clarify exactly what Orochimaru and Danzo have done these years. Then go talk with Orochimaru."
He paused, catching his breath. "Danzo has already fallen. Orochimaru lacks collaboration partners. Moreover, most importantly—the village has been quite peaceful recently. No more disappearances occurred. We needn't worry about Orochimaru continuing evil deeds in such short time. Therefore, Sensei, you needn't rush momentarily. Going now, you'd probably directly fight Orochimaru."
Hearing Minato's advice, Jiraiya didn't object this time.
Though he currently very much wanted rushing before Orochimaru, grabbing this bastard's collar to demand why he'd collaborated with Danzo in evildoing—Minato's words still made sense. He couldn't act impulsively. Couldn't let rage affect reason.
After several deep breaths, Jiraiya asked, "Where are the case files?"
Frost Country border, Cloud ninja camp.
Front-line Supreme Commander C personally greeted returning Dodai's group, coming with him to the mountain fortress's highest keep. He ordered tea and refreshments delivered, then dispersed idle people before speaking in a deep voice. "Dodai, negotiations with Konoha went poorly?"
C couldn't discern any clues from Dodai's expressionless face.
But Xi and the other two following Dodai—though instructed by him—still couldn't conceal all emotions as skillfully as Dodai. Fortunately, most Cloud ninja also lacked C's keen eyesight to easily see through Xi and others' angry emotions.
Dodai lifted hot tea, lightly sipping mouthful after mouthful, moistening dry lips and throat. Then he grabbed refreshments, eating mouthful after mouthful. After finishing a plate of snacks, just as C prepared ordering more food brought up, he finally spoke.
"C, this food suffices."
Speaking thus, he lifted his teacup again, slurping tea.
C watched Dodai eating and drinking, couldn't help asking. "Was it that arduous?"
Dodai didn't raise his eyelids even once, merely saying, "Next time C, you can try."
"Forget that! I lack such formidable capabilities. I'm merely a brute who only knows killing." C self-deprecatingly laughed.
Dodai set down his teacup, speaking seriously. "C, idle chat aside—have someone prepare paper and brush for me. I need reporting negotiation results to Raikage-sama."
Hearing this, C's expression changed. "I have paper and brush here."
He yielded his position, letting Dodai sit in his seat. Watching Dodai's brush race swiftly, he asked, "Should I avoid this?" Speaking thus, he'd already turned around, not watching what Dodai wrote.
Dodai didn't raise his head. "Unnecessary. You're the front-line supreme commander. Negotiation results naturally cannot be concealed from you. Though actually not results—these negotiations strictly speaking produced no results. Konoha appears unwilling to war with us. But their attitude proves extraordinarily hardline—appearing unafraid of warring with us."
C still faced away from Dodai. He frowned, murmuring, "Unwilling to war, yet unafraid of it?"
His brow furrowed tightly.
Unwillingness to war could indicate Konoha truly suffered considerable damage in previous consecutive wars. Fearlessness indicated Konoha's confidence remained—believing even if war erupted, they could repel Cloud ninja.
If so, their own Cloud ninja faced difficulties!
After two seconds' contemplation, C couldn't help asking. "Dodai, are you certain Konoha isn't bluffing?"
"How can such matters possess one hundred percent certainty? I can only say according to my judgment, Konoha's side doesn't fear warring with us. Oh right—Konoha's supreme commander changed. This time I went without seeing Jiraiya, one of the Sannin. Replacing him is Konoha Village's newly appointed Hokage Advisor Hiruko, plus his student—that one nicknamed 'White Yaksha,' Hyuga Ritsu."
"Changing commanders during battle?"
C's brow furrowed even more tightly, wrinkles layering at his brow's center.
Dodai hadn't finished. He continued. "Also, that Hokage Advisor claims the one who attacked our camp is a rogue ninja—saying that rogue ninja recently killed Konoha's former Hokage Advisor Shimura Danzo."
"That Shinobi of Darkness died?"
C startled.
Shinobi of Darkness Shimura Danzo—an existence like Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's shadow. Not only feared by many in Konoha, but the other four Great Shinobi Villages also greatly dreaded the Shinobi of Darkness.
"Unclear. We haven't yet received related reports. However, I believe this news should be true. They needn't use such easily verified news to deceive me."
"Then was the one who attacked our camp truly a Konoha rogue ninja?"
C asked hesitantly.
"Who knows? Perhaps true, perhaps false. The key point—our camp suffering attack is irrefutable fact. Previously too rushed—no time to ask. Now how's camp morale?"
Mentioning this, C immediately showed bitter expression, complaining. "What else? Many below keep discussing when to retaliate. I'm currently suppressing with tremendous difficulty."
This was Kumogakure's village-wide combative culture's downside.
Admittedly, combative culture made Cloud ninja extraordinarily battle-capable. But consequently, sometimes Kumogakure's upper echelon also inevitably got swept up by lower-level opinions. Once opposing views emerged, they'd be viewed as weak and incompetent. During Third Raikage's governance, Raikage Advisors changed five times consecutively—without exception all scapegoating for Third Raikage, viewed as cowards by Cloud ninja, ultimately driven from power.
C currently faced such troubles.
Because he hadn't immediately launched retaliatory actions against Konoha after the attack, camp personnel already discussed matters extensively. Each passing day increased discussion volume. Now Troy's former supporters publicly accused him—this supreme commander—of being a spineless coward. After Konoha's sneak attack killed so many comrades, he dared not retaliate. What disturbed him more—even military judges raised hands high but set down gently.
"Dodai, tell Raikage-sama—war or not must have swift results. Continuing this way, perhaps some subordinates will rebel."
C's voice filled with helplessness and bitterness.
The writing Dodai found himself momentarily speechless. His brush stopped quite a while before continuing to write. Simultaneously multitasking to speak. "C, work harder. Try controlling the situation. I'll continue attempting negotiations with Konoha. My position remains—avoid war if possible. Because if war erupts, we must win."
Though he said "my position," C clearly understood this "I" actually meant Raikage-sama.
However, Raikage-sama obviously couldn't show any war-fearing words or actions. Therefore, this could only be the position of Dodai and other high-ranking officials assisting Raikage-sama. When truly arousing public sentiment, naturally someone would step forward bearing blame and admitting error. At most, Raikage-sama would be faulted for trusting these cowards excessively, thus being deceived.
Of course, C also understood Dodai's statement "if war erupts, we must win." Because once war began, this would be Fourth Raikage's first external war after succession. Losing would inevitably leave Fourth Raikage's rule naturally lacking stability.
He sighed heavily. "I'll try my best. But I cannot guarantee results!"
****
50+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces