"Lord Kazekage, I don't believe now is the best time to go to war with Konoha! Hanzo, the leader of the Land of Rain, and Aokawa, the president of White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company, were both witnesses to that alliance!"
Chiyo was not only considering Akagitsune, Eryu, and Sasori in Konoha, but also Sunagakure's strength. Even the current Sunagakure would find it difficult to eliminate Konoha. Once the alliance was betrayed, Sunagakure would surely face Konoha's furious retaliation.
More importantly, the alliance was formed under the witness of Hanzo, the leader of the Land of Rain, and Aokawa, the president of White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company. If Sunagakure tore up the alliance agreement, the Land of Rain and White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company might take measures against Sunagakure.
"No! Now is the best time to launch a surprise attack on Konoha! Konoha is weaker than ever, and this is Sunagakure's last chance. Once the war ends, Sunagakure will have no opportunity to act!"
The Third Kazekage reached out, stopping Chiyo, who was about to say something.
The war wouldn't last forever, and he believed it would end soon. Once the war concluded, the Konoha Ninja fighting Kumogakure and Iwagakure would return to the Village.
It would be difficult to attack Konoha then.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity lay before him, how could he give it up?
With Konoha eliminated, the Land of Wind would gain the fertile lands of the Land of Fire, and then it would no longer have to worry about material shortages or import food from other countries.
By then, the Daimyo of the Wind Country would have no excuse to cut Sunagakure's budget. To defend the fertile land, he would have to increase the funds provided to Sunagakure!
As for Amegakure and White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company, he was even less concerned. Being neutral, what right did they have to interfere with Sunagakure?
Could their neutrality be fake?
Did they want to get involved in the war?
"Lord Kazekage!"
Chiyo tried persistently to persuade the Third Kazekage to abandon the surprise attack on Konoha.
"Enough, Chiyo! I am the Kazekage! Don't forget that you are a Ninja of Sunagakure! Their sacrifice will lead to Sunagakure's rise!"
The Third Kazekage's mind was made up. Chiyo's words of dissuasion made him think that she was worried about her family's lives.
"Sacrifice..."
Chiyo's pupils suddenly contracted. She couldn't believe these words came from the Third Kazekage. Clenching her fists, she wasn't unable to accept Akagitsune and Eryu's sacrifice, but she couldn't accept them being treated as pawns by the Village, sacrificing themselves in such a manner!
"Lord Kazekage, you will regret this!"
Chiyo suppressed the urge to rush up and punch the Third Kazekage, left a remark, and turned to walk out.
Bang—!
The door to the Kazekage's office slammed shut.
"Imprison Chiyo. No one is to release her without my order!"
The Third Kazekage immediately issued the order. He didn't want Chiyo to ruin the good opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Konoha.
"Yes!"
The ANBU Ninja received the Third Kazekage's order and immediately went to intercept Chiyo.
They would not doubt Lord Kazekage's orders.
Chiyo was arrested by ANBU Ninja on her way home and taken to prison. Learning it was the Third Kazekage's order, she felt both angry and betrayed.
Her husband died on the battlefield for Sunagakure, and her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson had to live in Konoha as Sunagakure's envoys, and also as spies to collect intelligence on Konoha!
And she had been constantly working on battlefields for Sunagakure for many years, a thorn in the side of Hidden Mist, to be removed as quickly as possible.
But now, she had become a prisoner!
Everything happening in Sunagakure did not escape the eyes and ears of White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company. The intelligence quickly reached Orochimaru's hands.
That old woman Chiyo was actually imprisoned... The scroll in Orochimaru's hand turned to ash. Looking at the culture tanks in front, she frequently had to go to the battlefield in the past two years, but her research never stopped.
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's cells have been successfully cultivated, and experiments with Chakra Poison were conducted using flesh cultivated from her cells. Although it is unknown if it would be effective on other Ōtsutsuki, it can be used as a reference.
The Hashirama cells have been almost refined and will soon be applied to Uchiha Madara to extend his life. To prevent this old man from causing trouble, Orochimaru does not intend to make him younger, at least not for now.
Regarding cloning, Orochimaru plans to use Hashirama cells to improve the culture medium to overcome the genetic defects of clones.
Research on the Gedo Statue has also never been abandoned.
However, if the cells of the Gedo Statue were used to modify the void, it is very likely that it would become a new God Tree.
After researching Hashirama cells, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's cells, and White Zetsu Cells.
Orochimaru's Regeneration Technique has been completed. Severe injuries or severed limbs can be quickly regenerated without consuming life force.
If it weren't for the war, her research progress would be even faster.
"Orochimaru, what was written on the scroll?"
Hyuga Mio looked at Orochimaru, who was deep in thought, walked to her side, and put her arms around her.
"Sunagakure's Chiyo has been imprisoned by the Third Kazekage."
"Huh? Isn't she a hero of Sunagakure? Why would she, who has contributed so much to Sunagakure, be imprisoned?"
Hyuga Mio felt it was incredibly unbelievable. Chiyo was undoubtedly the one who contributed the most to Sunagakure. Her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson all had to live in Konoha for Sunagakure.
"Could it be..."
Hyuga Mio thought of something.
"Mio, you guessed right. Sunagakure wants to tear up the alliance agreement with Konoha."
Orochimaru smiled slightly when she saw Hyuga Mio had guessed what happened.
"Then, as a reward for guessing correctly..."
Hyuga Mio kissed Orochimaru's lips, pinning her against the culture tank.
Orochimaru wrapped her arms around Hyuga Mio's waist.
Why is it always like this... The invisible Ichikishimahime strolled around the Laboratory, and when she returned, she just happened to see them kissing, and it was a very, very intense and lingering French kiss.
"Orochimaru, I want to..."
Hyuga Mio's white eyes held a hint of burning desire. After finally waiting for Orochimaru to return from the battlefield, she really wanted to spend a few days and nights in bed with Orochimaru.
"No, you don't. This is a Laboratory, and I have things to do later. Besides, weren't you satisfied last night?"
Orochimaru recalled last night, her pale white cheeks flushing slightly.
"Last night was last night, today is today..."
Hyuga Mio kissed Orochimaru's lips and whispered in her ear, "Orochimaru, when you were on the battlefield, I was always holding back..."
So you want to save it all up... Orochimaru looked at Hyuga Mio's increasingly red face, picked her up, and walked towards the bathroom.
Hyuga Mio gasped, covering her mouth, her wide white eyes shyly looking at Orochimaru.
"There's still some time..."
Orochimaru, blushing, turned her head to the side.
Bright sunlight filtered through the trees, dappling the ground in spots.
In a house near the center of Konoha, in a bright living room, warm sunlight shone on young Sasori.
He sat on the carpet, playing with the 20-centimeter-tall humanoid puppet his parents made for him, unable to understand why he couldn't make this wooden figure move. His mom and dad could make it strike various poses, even dance, and even make a small flower appear.
After fiddling for a long time, Sasori, unable to make the puppet move, pouted his baby-fat cheeks slightly, picked up the puppet, and threw it away to vent his dissatisfaction with the puppet's unwillingness to move.
"You haven't learned how to control puppets yet?"
A voice with a hint of a smile sounded. Sasori looked around alertly and saw a figure in a white robe appear by the table, sitting on a chair, reaching out to the puppet he had thrown. The puppet moved flexibly, its mouth rapidly opening and closing as if laughing.
"Ah..."
Sasori widened his eyes, sparkling, looking at the moving puppet.
"You're still too young. When you grow up, your parents will teach you how to make it move."
Orochimaru would not overstep her bounds. Akagitsune and Eryu were more suitable for teaching Sasori puppet jutsu, and her visit here was also for their safety.
Ichikishimahime poked her head out from Orochimaru's collar, observing the rather cute child.
When Akagitsune and Eryu returned home, they saw a person in a white robe sitting on a chair, single-handedly controlling the small puppet they made for Sasori, playing with him.
"You are... Orochimaru?"
Eryu recognized Orochimaru's identity.
"Orochimaru?"
Akagitsune was stunned, then quickly recovered, asking, "Excuse me, what brings Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, to our home?"
"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go somewhere else."
Orochimaru stood up and glanced at Sasori.
Eryu understood Orochimaru's meaning.
"I received intelligence that the Third Kazekage has decided to tear up the alliance agreement with Konoha. You should know what that means."
Orochimaru leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"How could this be..."
Akagitsune and Eryu certainly understood the seriousness of the situation. The Third Kazekage tearing up the alliance agreement with Konoha meant that Sunagakure was going to attack Konoha. At that time, their identities would become very awkward, and they might even be attacked by Konoha Ninja, or even killed in retaliation.
The couple thought of their young child and couldn't help but become nervous. While they themselves were fine and didn't fear death, they didn't want their young child to die with them!
"My mother, how is she?"
Akagitsune thought of his mother and hurriedly asked.
"She's been imprisoned."
"How could that be!"
Akagitsune and Eryu widened their eyes in disbelief.
"Because she opposed Sunagakure tearing up the alliance agreement, the Third Kazekage, not wanting her to obstruct Sunagakure's actions, ordered her imprisonment."
"Then, Lord Orochimaru, why are you telling us this?"
Eryu changed her address for Orochimaru. Regardless of why she came, her actions were helping her and Akagitsune.
"Konoha Higher-Ups are aware of the intelligence you've been sending back to Sunagakure these past few years. They chose to turn a blind eye. Once Sunagakure attacks Konoha, your situation will become very awkward."
"Currently, you still have a chance to change your situation, which is why I'm here."
Orochimaru looked at the expressions on Akagitsune and Eryu's faces, then continued, "It's not just about you, but also Sasori."
Akagitsune and Eryu wavered. They originally didn't want to betray Sunagakure, but Sunagakure treated them this way, completely seeing them as expendable pawns.
Orochimaru thought it wasn't enough and proceeded to give them a heavy blow.
"I have the ability to send you back to Sunagakure... but will everything be fine once you return to Sunagakure? Chiyo is imprisoned. If you go back at such a time, will your Lord Kazekage trust you? He will send you to the front lines, drain your last value, and let you die on the battlefield."
"After you die, what will happen to Sasori? Will he receive proper care from Sunagakure? Or will he be thrown into an Orphanage to fend for himself? You could give him a better life, living in Konoha with its beautiful environment and abundant resources. You could let him have a different life, instead of living in an Orphanage where he is hungry and cold, and bullied by others!"
Orochimaru emphasized the pronunciation of "bullied by others."
These words were like a heavy hammer striking Akagitsune and Eryu's hearts, completely changing their minds. Their love for Sasori far surpassed their love for the Village.
Moreover, Sunagakure had already treated them as pawns and imprisoned the only person who cared about them.
"Lord Orochimaru, please help us!"
Akagitsune and Eryu quickly made their choice. At this point, they could only leave Sunagakure.
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