The Daimyo of the Land of Fire continued speaking.
"I understand. I will seize the opportunity to use the ninjas from the Root division to escalate the conflict there again and assist the Daimyo and the nobles of the Land of Rain in their 'battles' with the Hidden Rain Village!"
Speaking with smart people surely saves effort.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire was very satisfied with Danzo's response.
Although he preferred to support the forces of the Daimyo of the Land of Rain, he also wished for this country possessing a Ninja Village to thoroughly weaken.
Just like the Grass Hidden Village in the Land of Grass, being as fickle as a weed, having no dignity didn't matter.
On the contrary, if a country like the Land of Demons dared to leap before a great nation again, it would certainly not be a bad thing for the Land of Fire.
There is no room for others to sleep soundly beside one's bed.
The stronger the Land of Rain becomes, the more restless his sleep would be.
The weaker the Land of Rain becomes, the more peaceful his sleep would be.
As for how many die, and who dies, as the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, he didn't care.
The most valuable thing in this world is human life, and the least valuable is also human life.
A simple order can expose countless corpses to the wild.
This is the power of the Daimyo of the Five Great Nations.
"Additionally, I will also draft a letter to the Land of Demons, asking them to stop supplying weapons to the Hidden Rain Village. The other Daimyos will also issue documents at the same time, imposing certain restrictions on the arms sales of the Land of Demons."
At this point, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire's face became displeased.
Because according to intelligence reports, the militia controlled by the Hidden Rain Village were utilizing weapons mostly provided by the Land of Demons, creating significant damage to the forces controlled by the Daimyo of the Land of Rain.
Fortunately, the Land of Demons is just engaging in arms sales now, not directly intervening in the sovereignty dispute of the Land of Rain, reducing much of the pressure on his side.
However, the Land of Demons not intending to intervene in the sovereignty dispute of the Land of Rain might be because they don't want to simultaneously provoke the three major nations: Fire, Earth, and Wind.
After all, the Land of Rain is located between the three major nations. Even if the Land of Demons runs rampant, they wouldn't be so foolish.
Being able to provide weapons, increasing the chaos in the Land of Rain, has already reached the limit for the Land of Demons.
◎
Torrential downpour.
Standing in the rain, once again arriving at the heart of the battlefield, Nagato felt nothing but poignant solitude.
This time, however, the battle wasn't between ninjas but between ordinary people.
Even so, the brutality of the battle is equally severe.
Life, being slashed, screams, pierced through a vital point, will result in death.
This country has longed for peace for too long, for dignity even longer.
So long that people of the Land of Rain seem to have forgotten they ever possessed such things.
Even if it was only transient like fireworks.
But once experienced, it becomes a period greatly missed.
However, with the arrival of war, everything was destroyed.
But this war is different.
Once it ends, the Land of Rain will obtain stability.
Thus, some lives sacrificed will be worth it.
Those sacrificing themselves for the war also thought so, willingly sacrificing themselves for the lives of future generations, willing to be shattered by the ruthless machinery of war.
He was not a war enthusiast, but to achieve peace, he had no choice but to rely on war, ironically mocking his ideals.
Yet standing in the cold rain, Nagato's resolve remained unshaken.
Life will be born and will die.
He only wished that when those people reincarnate in another life, the world would already be one of peace, living in health and joy.
"Nagato."
Konan's voice came from behind.
But it wasn't just one voice; another person followed Konan.
Orochimaru.
The other person licked his tongue while looking eagerly at Nagato.
Yet when Nagato turned, he lowered the proud head of a Sannin without hesitation, the eagerness in his eyes cooled somewhat.
Facing Uchiha Itachi, the rising star of the Uchiha Clan, he had the audacity to covet the other's Mangekyo Sharingan.
But Nagato was different.
He could measure Uchiha Itachi's prowess, comprehensively not much surpassing his own.
Using some means, it wouldn't be impossible to get the other's body.
However, faced with Nagato now, he felt no ambition.
Though aware Nagato didn't care about these, cautious principles drove Orochimaru to be careful.
"Mr. Orochimaru, why are you here?"
Nagato always used honorifics addressing Orochimaru.
Even though his strength surpassed Orochimaru's, the knowledge Orochimaru carries in his head and skillful use of it earned Nagato's respect.
Interestingly, Nagato feels this is a place where he is far inferior to Orochimaru.
"Having heard about the war breaking out here, I came to have a look. The battlefield of the Land of Rain is a nostalgic scene indeed."
Orochimaru looked at the countless lives lost due to war in the valley below, feeling either sentimental or reminiscent.
Konan coldly snorted, harboring longstanding resentment towards Orochimaru.
Because during the Third Ninja Realm War, Orochimaru and Danzo betrayed Hidden Rain, leading to Hanzou's murder, and Yahiko's tragic death at the hands of Konoha Root.
In her view, Nagato's actions are akin to nurturing a hidden danger.
"Let's put this aside. How did the recruitment of the new member, that man named Oyashiro En, go?"
Nagato asked.
Orochimaru shrugged helplessly and said: "Oyashiro En refused my recruitment. He acts impulsively, has more hideouts than I do, and whenever he chooses to hide, I can't find him. He's willing to forsake wealth when necessary. I have no idea what he ultimately wants. Perhaps he is merely playing a worldly game."
They recruited Hiruko because he craved more power and needed the body of a strong Kekkeigenka Ninja.
In simple terms, all recruitment was tailored to specific desires.
Yet, Oyashiro En hid too well.
Orochimaru didn't know what the other desired or what Akatsuki could offer him, making such a person hard to recruit indeed.
Nagato didn't comment.
Many talents remain hidden in the Ninja Realm. If Orochimaru hadn't mentioned it, Nagato wouldn't know the Merchant of Death, Oyashiro En, was a ninja with powers rivaling the Sannin.
This powerful ninja indulged in commerce, yet demonstrated a blatant disinterest in wealth.
Such people's thoughts are beyond normal comprehension.
Thus, recruiting him leaves no exploration path.
Ignoring Orochimaru, Nagato turned to Konan and asked: "What brings you to me at this time?"
Konan stepped forward, taking a letter from her bosom.
"What is this?"
"It is a letter from Teacher Jiraiya to the Hidden Rain Village Leader, addressed to you, Nagato."
The current Hidden Rain Village Leader is Nagato, so Jiraiya's letter is written to him.
Even though Jiraiya is unaware of Nagato's present identity.
Orochimaru, upon hearing, also watched the letter with interest, eager to see how Nagato would handle it.
As for the content of Jiraiya's letter, Orochimaru could vaguely guess.
"Nothing more than the familiar peace philosophy encouraging harmony... Yahiko already paid the price for this; Akatsuki also paid the price; Hidden Rain and the Land of Rain likewise."
Nagato took the letter but didn't open it.
The envelope turned to ash, dispersed by him in the rain.
"Mistakes need correction; failure is where lessons for victory are found. Now, apart from war, there is no alternative!"
After all, the source of this war wasn't instigated by the Land of Rain.
Though he cherished those past years, now he bears a nation's fate.
Measured against a nation's destiny, even his mentor's weight appears insignificant.
"Let the peace of the Land of Rain begin with this war!"