Konohagakure.
The Hokage Building.
After Danzō hurried back to the village overnight, Hiruzen immediately convened an emergency meeting.
Koharu, Homura, Sakumo, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tsunade…
"Report the situation, Advisor," Hiruzen said with a grave expression from the central seat of the round table.
Danzō nodded and began recounting the situation to everyone present: "Based on dozens of days of infiltration, the intelligence gathered by the squad from multiple channels allows us to confirm that Kumogakure's Eight-Tails jinchūriki, Blue B, is in an extremely unstable state—exactly as the Hokage predicted."
"Kumogakure villagers have repeatedly mentioned incidents involving the rampage of the Eight-Tails. In taverns, informed individuals have covertly brought it up. This is already the third replacement of the jinchūriki within a short period of time."
"Blue B is the nephew of the Third Raikage. Both his father and his uncle were previous jinchūriki who died after losing control."
"Our agents have also personally witnessed Blue B unconsciously leaking tailed-beast chakra, causing localized panic within Kumogakure."
Koharu asked, "How can we be sure that these so-called informed individuals were providing accurate intelligence? Could it have been drunken talk—an outburst from someone harboring resentment toward Kumogakure?"
"We have already executed this person and extracted the information from his brain," Danzō snorted coldly. "He was a member of Kumogakure's sealing division."
"That individual's memories also indicate that Kumogakure's sealing techniques are not particularly strong. The sealing technique used on the jinchūriki is called the 'Iron Armor Seal,' which the Third Raikage has repeatedly mentioned wanting to improve."
"Blue B was also taking medication during routine seal inspections to steady his mind and prevent a rampage."
That cold snort showed that he was very dissatisfied with Koharu's doubts.
In infiltration and assassination, he was a professional! How could he not verify the source of the intelligence?
But Koharu did not care. She only nodded, indicating her approval.
That was her duty.
A so-called advisor was meant to help the Hokage confirm and finalize every uncertain possibility, even if the questions raised might sound like nitpicking.
"In summary, the chances of successfully leading the squad in a surprise raid on Blue B are very high. Under the Hokage's orders, we first returned to the village to make a further report."
Danzō added that line and looked toward Hiruzen.
His feelings were complicated.
First, he felt that Hiruzen's reaction was very agile—starting from analyzing the pretext for abducting Uzumaki Kushina, and using the friction between Kumogakure and Iwagakure as data, he had inferred the state of the Eight-Tails jinchūriki.
That was something Danzō had not expected at the time.
Second, he felt that Hiruzen still was not decisive enough. Clearly, he could have taken all the credit for himself…
Yet he still had to return to the village to report, affecting the timeliness.
All kinds of mindsets interwove, and Danzō still could not help making a small jab with a bit of sarcasm.
Hiruzen, however, looked as usual, and inwardly smiled.
If Danzō became a tame donkey just because he had been prodded a few times, Hiruzen would instead find it suspicious…
So many years of stumbling along were not something one or two matters could make him truly accept.
"The intelligence basically matches the village's analysis, and the additional confirmation by Danzō is sufficiently detailed," Hiruzen said, not rushing to respond to Danzō and first offering him a word of praise.
"Koharu, you said that Kushina and Minato—those two kids—have an unusual level of attainment in sealing techniques?"
Koharu replied, "Yes. Ordinary jōnin find it difficult to reach their depth. It may be related to the Uzumaki family's inherited expertise."
After inspecting the mission, Koharu returned home and spent some time reflecting on the techniques Minato and Kushina had been researching, only to realize that she still had no clear understanding.
Therefore, when reporting to Hiruzen, she placed particular emphasis on this aspect.
"ANBU, have them come here."
"Hiruzen, those are just two kids!" Danzō questioned.
Hiruzen signaled him to be quiet with a look and summarized, "Regarding this retaliatory plan against Kumogakure, we must grasp three major principles."
"First, it is to answer tooth for tooth and demonstrate the village's cohesion."
"Second, we must pay attention to secrecy. Leaving evidence for the enemy would place us at a disadvantage in public opinion, which could then trigger a chain of events and lead to war."
"Third, when circumstances are favorable, we must find ways to expand the gains."
Hiruzen said slowly, "As for this Blue B, because of his status as a blood relative of the Third Raikage, we cannot think only in terms of assassination. We must find a way to bring his corpse back for study."
"The intelligence extracted from his brain will be valuable."
"Since we are going to make a move, we must obtain as many composite gains as possible from a single operation. This is not a short-range strike of close combat during wartime."
Danzō fell silent.
He had not been mentioned even once, yet every sentence was responding to him…
Orochimaru shook his head and chuckled. What was Danzō thinking?
Arguing verbally with his current sensei? He did not seriously think he could win that kind of exchange, did he…
"Sensei, if we are to bring his corpse back, then when the Eight-Tails is released, the jinchūriki's state must be one that is fully under our control."
"First, it requires a comprehensive dismantling of the Iron Armor Seal. It cannot be forcibly torn apart, or the Eight-Tails will immediately go berserk."
"Second, it would be best to place the jinchūriki under genjutsu or in a poisoned state. That would be extremely helpful for concealment."
Orochimaru analyzed: "If he is taking medication, then I can assassinate and replace the physician who prescribes it. However, I do not currently have suitable drugs on hand, so I cannot be sure about the development time…"
"What about salamander poison?" Tsunade spoke up. "Back during the Second Shinobi World War, the village collected some in order to develop antidotes."
"Using that as a base and strengthening its paralytic effect, I can have it ready within a day."
Hiruzen nodded. "Very good!"
Orochimaru also agreed. "If it's salamander poison combined with your modifications, there will be no problem."
"As for genjutsu—if the jinchūriki is in that kind of state, my genjutsu will be able to take effect…" Orochimaru pondered. "Sensei, what do you think?"
"When dealing with tailed beasts, the best genjutsu naturally comes from the Uchiha, but their Sharingan is far too conspicuous…" Hiruzen said slowly. "Invite Kurama Genshin over."
The Kurama clan was an important shinobi clan during the early founding period of Konohagakure.
Their unique kekkei genkai could strengthen genjutsu abilities, and they were once said to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Uchiha in the field of genjutsu.
Deprivation of the five senses, neural domination—there were even rumors that they once possessed a terrifying ability known as "reality manifestation"…
Genshin was the current head of the Kurama clan.
Jiraiya raised his hand and said, "Sensei, I can help with infiltration and withdrawal! The Toad Concealment Technique can evacuate multiple people!"
"Let me go too! I want to do something for Kushina…"
Hiruzen smiled slightly. "Alright…"
"Orochimaru, how are things on the pill side going? I've added more to your workload—are you tired?" Hiruzen asked, picking up his smoking pipe.
"As for the pills, only packaging and fine adjustments remain. I don't need to manage it too closely at the moment," Orochimaru smiled. "Working for the village—how could I be tired?"
"After all, not only Sensei, but even the Hokage's advisor is charging at the front…"
Danzō's eyes narrowed.
The situation now was different…
He and Orochimaru were competitors for the position of Fourth Hokage, rather than partners as before.
In the past, Danzō had thought of letting Orochimaru become the Fourth first, and then having the position pass back to himself in the next generation…
But now, when he himself had the qualifications to directly become the Fourth, who would still want to choose such an uncertain method?
No wonder that brat was being so proactive!
Developing pills and wanting to take part in assassinations as well…
Compete, then—compete! I, Shimura Danzō, have toiled my entire life. Could I really lose to a junior like you?
At this moment, the ANBU also brought Kurama Genshin, Namikaze Minato, and Uzumaki Kushina over.
"Hokage-sama!" the three greeted in unison.
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