If a real fight broke out, the outcome would be hard to predict, but Onoki would certainly not venture deep into enemy territory alone. He had not even found a successor; what would Iwagakure do if something happened to him now? Kawasaki's question to Dodai was merely a probe.
"You can rest assured, Lord Dodai. Iwagakure will not be sending a large army in the initial stages," Kawasaki guaranteed. "If there are any large-scale troop movements from the Stone, we Uchiha will intercept them."
"As for Sunagakure, you need not worry. They will absolutely not make any rash moves," Kawasaki added with a slight smile. Dodai nodded in agreement.
The Hidden Sand was weak at present. Their Jinchuriki was still growing, and the Fourth Kazekage would not send aid to the Hidden Mist. If not for the Sand's poor geographical location and poverty, they likely would have been conquered long ago.
Of course, the situation on a battlefield was ever-changing and impossible to fully predict. But as long as Kumogakure could establish a firm foothold in the early phase, this was a war they were determined to fight.
…
In the Uchiha compound, late at night, in the reception hall.
"How many people does the Uchiha clan plan to dispatch?" Dodai inquired.
Kawasaki considered which members were suitable for gaining experience abroad. Itachi and Shisui were essential picks. "Itachi and Shisui will lead one or two elite members. I will remain in the village to keep Konoha's forces in check."
Dodai nodded. Itachi was a powerful wielder of the Mangekyo Sharingan, and Shisui was a long-renowned master who was also suspected of possessing it.
Kawasaki confirmed his thoughts. "Shisui, like Itachi, has the Mangekyo Sharingan." The Uchiha no longer needed to hide this information, especially since they would inevitably need Shisui's Susanoo soon.
Dodai's expression remained placid, but he acknowledged the confirmation. The rumors circulating outside and Kawasaki's direct statement were two different things entirely. With two Mangekyo Sharingan users, the Uchiha were demonstrating immense sincerity. Kawasaki remaining in the clan to hold down Konoha was more valuable than him being on the battlefield.
As for Fugaku, he had not been seen in public since the last attack, most likely due to severe injuries. Kawasaki did not mention him, and Dodai did not ask.
"What about the distribution of spoils?" Dodai asked, still uncertain of the true extent of Kawasaki's ambition.
Kawasaki walked around his desk and picked up a map from the side. He drew a circle around four islands to the west of the Land of Water. "We Uchiha want these islands."
Dodai looked closely. They were a chain of islands in the western part of the Hidden Mist, near the former Land of Whirlpools. They appeared small on the map, but their total land area was comparable to the Land of Rice Paddies. It was more than enough territory to relocate not just the Uchiha clan, but the entirety of Konoha. Furthermore, these four islands hosted major trade ports for the Land of Water, making them ideal for commercial development.
Dodai pondered for a moment before readily agreeing. After all, the war had not yet begun; they could only agree on a general outline for now. If they won, everything was negotiable. If they lost, all bets were off. What if they conquered the Land of Water, only for the Uchiha to lose both of their Mangekyo users? The final distribution of gains would depend on the strength each side had left.
However, such a possibility was slim. With Kawasaki and the entire clan backing them, Kumogakure would not alienate a family with limitless potential over a few islands. That would be far from a wise move. "Alright, it's settled then."
Kawasaki sealed the deal. "How long will you need to prepare for war? Can it be done without being detected?" he asked, betraying his inexperience in such matters.
Now that they were allies, Dodai was direct. "We must first conduct reconnaissance to plan our battle strategy. We also have to consider if we have enough transport ships and factor in the seasonal monsoons at sea. The fastest we can prepare is three months."
"The sea voyage itself will take nearly a month. An operation of this scale will be difficult to hide from the Land of Water."
Almost half a year? Kawasaki had never imagined it would take so long. The Fourth Great Ninja War had only lasted three days, hadn't it? "Does it really take that long for us shinobi to assemble? Isn't that usually a matter of days? And will it truly take a month to sail on your ships?" Kawasaki remembered the Land of Lightning's naval technology being quite advanced.
Dodai had to educate him. The five great nations lacked formal armies, only possessing the private guards of the Daimyo and other administrators, who would be of little help initially. A large-scale occupation of the Land of Water would require a massive number of personnel, involving the registration of administrators and subsequent management staff. The battle plan itself would have to be adjusted based on the specific conditions within the Land of Water. The time needed to gather intelligence would be far longer than the time to assemble their forces. And while the Cloud's ships were fast, not everyone could endure that speed.
Kawasaki finally understood. Although the shinobi of this world were individually powerful, their numbers were far too small to occupy such a vast territory. A protracted war was a test of logistics, requiring the assistance of ordinary people.
"In that case, you can handle the reconnaissance yourselves. I guarantee that Yagura Karatachi and Isobu, the Three-Tails, will not be revived anytime soon. Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, has also gone rogue, so the chances of the Mist capturing him are slim." The more Kawasaki heard, the more complicated it all sounded. He was glad he did not have to worry about such things.
Besides, he knew Kumogakure would not succeed. After all, he was the biggest mole in their operation.
"We will notify you once our investigation is complete."
Kawasaki thought for a moment. "I will send Itachi and Shisui to Otogakure first. It's closer to you in the Cloud."
Dodai nodded. "That would be for the best."
"I must return to report. I'll take my leave now," Dodai said, preparing to depart.
Kawasaki did not try to keep him, watching as the fully equipped shinobi vanished into the night. It was worth noting that Dodai traveled alone, his secrecy impeccable. Within the Uchiha clan, only Kawasaki knew his true identity. The negotiations had gone smoothly; the other party had not questioned Kawasaki's claims about the Mist potentially finding outside help. His demands were accepted without protest, and they were not fussy about the final division of spoils. For now, the Uchiha were needed to keep Konoha stable, making Itachi and Shisui's presence on the battlefield more of a bonus.
Dodai just had no idea how powerful the Mist's "reinforcements" would truly be.
…
Konoha Village.
The Third Hokage received the news.
Orochimaru had returned to the village. And he had done so openly, walking right through the front gate. The Third Hokage, accompanied by Kakashi and numerous ANBU, personally went to the gate to welcome him.
Many curious villagers from Konoha gathered to watch, eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru. He was accompanied by Kimimaro, Haku, Jugo, Karin, and another individual dressed in ANBU attire. Following them were over a dozen ninja without forehead protectors, all of whom emanated the chakra of Jonin-level shinobi or higher. Among them was a teenager who coughed incessantly, his identity a mystery. This was Orochimaru's entire retinue.
"Sensei, I have returned," Orochimaru said, his unique, raspy voice addressing the Third Hokage.
Unlike his last appearance in disguise, Orochimaru was in his original body. Due to a recent soul fusion, he looked unusually young. Years of not fighting personally had left him looking somewhat lean, but he exuded a scholarly aura. The Third Hokage looked at Orochimaru's current appearance and felt as if he had been transported back to the days when he was teaching him ninjutsu.
Today, Orochimaru had suppressed his sinister nature, appearing quite polite. His appearance certainly helped his case.
The Third Hokage was taken aback for a moment before saying half-jokingly, "You have suffered all these years. Now that your name is cleared, welcome home." As he spoke, he stepped forward and patted the shoulder of Orochimaru, who stood a head taller than him. "Come, let's talk back home."
The Third led Orochimaru into the village. It was a grand procession, with many witnessing the return of one of the legendary Sannin. Minato, though he had seen the village before, was still filled with emotion seeing the familiar streets and faces in the daylight. A deeper excitement stirred within him; Orochimaru had told him that his illness was not a problem and that his younger brother was still alive. They would be able to meet soon.
As they approached the Hokage's office, the Third noticed a hesitant figure at a street corner. "Anko, what are you doing there? Why don't you come and greet your teacher?" he called out.
Anko walked over, her head lowered, silent and avoiding Orochimaru's gaze.
A hint of gentleness flickered in Orochimaru's eyes. "Little Anko, you've grown up."
Anko touched her neck where the Curse Mark had once been, then looked up at Orochimaru, who appeared just as she remembered. She stammered out, "Sensei."
Sensing the awkwardness, the Third stepped in. "Anko, why don't you arrange lodging for your teacher's people? It's the same old place. I need to speak with your teacher for a while."
Orochimaru smiled at Anko before following the Third Hokage toward his office. Once away from Orochimaru, Anko let out a sigh of relief and approached Haku. "Hello, I'm Anko Mitarashi. I'll be showing you to your quarters. Lord Orochimaru used to live…"
…
Anko led Orochimaru's subordinates back to his former residence. The place had remained untouched for years. Due to Orochimaru's sensitive status, many things could not be made public, so even after he defected, the property was left vacant. It was only after the Third recently communicated with Orochimaru via a messenger toad that the place was repaired and cleaned. Renovations had even begun, and most of the daily necessities were new. However, with Orochimaru's sudden return, some rooms were still under construction.
Anko arranged rooms for Orochimaru's subordinates one by one, memorizing their names along the way. She learned that they were all his apprentices, making them her junior disciples. Although she had just called Orochimaru "Sensei," she did not act like a senior. She offered no explanation, and they did not ask.
The awkward moment came when she was assigning a room to Haku. "Haku, you and Karin can share a room. Some of the rooms are still being renovated. Once they're finished, everyone can have their own."
Karin couldn't help but snicker but said nothing.
Haku's face turned red. "That's not necessary, Miss Anko. I can share a room with Kimimaro."
Anko looked at Haku, with his ink-black hair, slender frame, and kimono, and then at the perpetually silent and cold-faced Kimimaro. Realization dawned. "Oh! My apologies." She understood the implication. "I get it." So they were a couple living together.
"Hahaha…" Karin burst out laughing. "Miss Anko, you've got it all wrong. Haku is a boy."
Anko froze. A boy?! Wasn't Haku wearing female attire? A boy this cute?
As Anko recovered from her shock, a wave of immense embarrassment made her wish the ground would swallow her whole. She had been completely mistaken; they were not a cohabiting couple. "Oh, dear, my mistake. Jugo, you and Number One can share a room for now. We'll sort it out once the rooms are ready. I have something else to attend to, so I'll be leaving now." Anko practically fled the scene.
After she left, everyone turned their gazes to Number One, also known as Minato Namikaze. Dressed in ANBU guard attire, it was normal for him to have a codename. Orochimaru had given it to him arbitrarily, so that the others would follow his orders when Orochimaru was not around. Minato couldn't help but smile at the situation.
Noticing everyone's eyes on him, he quickly assigned tasks. Now that they were settled, it was time to get to work. Karin, who had previously assisted Orochimaru with experiments, would head to the laboratory first to take inventory of the supplies the Third Hokage had prepared. Haku would continue his ninjutsu training, while Kimimaro would be responsible for familiarizing himself with the surroundings.
Jugo, without the equipment to absorb natural energy, required Minato's supervision. Although Minato had trained in Sage Mode, he was not a master. With Jugo by his side, he could try to absorb Jugo's natural energy and purify it as a source for Sage Mode, a process he had already made some initial progress with.
Additionally, Minato needed to prepare some weapons, specifically his custom "Swords of Shinobi Love." No one had used them since his death, and ordering them from an outside source would risk exposing his identity. He remembered that the Uchiha clan had close ties with the ninja cats of the Cat Fortress, so he had asked Kawasaki to help him prepare a batch of the special shuriken.
After his resurrection, Minato found there was too much to do. He wanted to walk around the village, see how Konoha had changed over the years, and find out which of his old friends were still around after the Nine-Tails attack. How was Kakashi doing? He heard Tobi had taken his eye back. That must have been a huge blow; he wondered if Kakashi had recovered.
He also wanted to visit the academy to see Naruto, to hold him in this real world. But the time was not right, so he had to endure. He did not know what price Kawasaki had paid, but a jutsu that could revive the dead was surely not powered by chakra alone. To be given a new life and a chance to protect Naruto, Minato was filled with gratitude for Kawasaki. Coupled with everything Kawasaki had done for Naruto over the years, Minato would support any decision he made.
…
Inside the Hokage Building, in the Hokage's office.
The Third led Orochimaru inside and closed the door. Orochimaru stretched his neck, his expression returning to normal.
"Why did you return so suddenly? I wasn't prepared," the Third said, puzzled.
Orochimaru chuckled. "Kawasaki Uchiha sent me here to be his mole and monitor Konoha's movements."
The Third's brow furrowed. "What is Kawasaki planning?"
Orochimaru nodded. "A few days ago, Dodai from Kumogakure had a secret meeting with Kawasaki that lasted over half an hour."
Dodai! A key advisor to successive Raikage, serving since the Third Raikage's era. His presence alone was significant.
Orochimaru continued, "Kawasaki's stratagem is to use my name to pressure Kabuto Yakushi, recall the Uchiha clansmen, and use the threat of Tobi to send Itachi and Shisui to Otogakure."
"And their true intention?" The Third already had an answer.
Orochimaru licked his lips. "It's unclear. They might be heading to the Land of Water to join the war, or they could be going into hiding."
The Third took a drag from his pipe. His earlier attempts at reconciliation had clearly failed. No wonder Fugaku had not attended the high-level meetings. Kumogakure and Kirigakure might go to war, and the Uchiha's move was either to claim a share of the spoils or to strike back when the Mist sought Konoha's aid. Whether the Uchiha were seeking independence or a revolution, Konoha was now in extreme danger.
Fortunately, Kawasaki did not know his information had been leaked. Without Orochimaru's intelligence, he himself might have been deceived.
"I understand. Thank you for your hard work," the Third said, slowly exhaling smoke.
Seeing this, Orochimaru smirked. "Old man, are you only planning to play defense?"
The Third looked at him. "What do you have in mind?"
Orochimaru smiled. "Don't worry, old man. I still haven't settled the score with Kawasaki for controlling me with genjutsu."
The Third frowned. "Are you confident?"
Orochimaru licked his lips again. "One must create one's own opportunities."
Seeing Orochimaru's confidence, the Third felt a sense of relief. "What is your plan? I will provide my full cooperation when the time comes."
Orochimaru shook his head slightly. "The time is not yet right. We have to wait for Kumogakure to make its move."
"Very well." The Third took another puff. "The experimental equipment confiscated from Root has all been sent to your old laboratory."
"I know," Orochimaru said, waving a hand as he walked out the door. It closed with a soft thud.
The Third stood by the window, watching Orochimaru's retreating figure. He thought of Jiraiya, who had been out partying all night and was now sleeping it off at home, and his grip on the railing tightened.
…
Some days later, outside the Uchiha clan's territory.
The members of the Uchiha clan were fully assembled, ready to depart. They were a restless bunch, thrilled at the prospect of going back out on missions. Everyone was leaving, except for those studying medical ninjutsu at the hospital and a handful who remained behind.
The group was once again led by Itachi and Shisui, but this departure was different from the last. The one most reluctant to see Itachi leave was Sasuke.
After a period of demonic training, Sasuke had made rapid progress.