Minato Namikaze desperately wanted to return to Konoha's side right now.
He wanted to check on his students.
To see how badly Kakashi was injured.
To see Uchiha Obito's body.
To comfort Nohara Rin.
As a teacher, he should be there when his students needed him.
But Minato understood something equally clearly.
If he left now, the Kirigakure army would inevitably collapse.
And once Kirigakure collapsed, Konoha would be forced to face both Sunagakure and Iwagakure at the same time.
Information from both battlefronts arrived simultaneously in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hands.
Hiruzen's brows sank heavily.
"Bring Homura and Koharu here."
"And... Danzo."
The ANBU shinobi below him nodded quickly.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Very soon, Konoha's four veteran shinobi gathered in the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen pushed the battlefield reports in front of them.
After reading them, all three changed expression.
"The situation has become this bad?"
"Could it be that Sunagakure and Iwagakure formed a secret alliance?"
Mitokado Homura let out a cold snort.
"In the end, it's because Kirigakure is useless. Against Iwagakure, Konoha is not at a disadvantage. Driving them back is only a matter of time. The real problem lies with Kirigakure."
"They actually let enemies infiltrate near the great lake and blow up the dam."
"Useless!"
"They knew perfectly well how important that thing was to them, yet they still failed to guard it."
"And the flood from the lake collapse even drowned a good number of their own shinobi."
Turning to Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu frowned.
"Hiruzen, now you can tell us. Why exactly did you form an alliance with Kirigakure? I can't see a single benefit Konoha has gained from such an alliance."
Homura agreed at once.
"That's right, Hiruzen. Why did you form an alliance with Kirigakure?"
"Don't tell me you intended to use it to recover the Byakugan Kirigakure has?"
Rasa had spread the rumor that Konoha's higher-ups sold out the Hyuga clan to Kirigakure and gave them the Byakugan.
But Homura and the others all knew that was impossible.
The alliance had happened long after Kirigakure already possessed the Byakugan.
The only explanation Homura could think of was that Hiruzen had used the alliance as a condition to get the Byakugan back.
But that would still be far too poor a bargain.
The Byakugan was certainly valuable, but what Konoha had already paid to support Kirigakure vastly exceeded the value of a single Byakugan.
Hiruzen shook his head.
"It was not for the Byakugan. It was for a piece of information."
"What information?"
"A set of research data regarding jinchuriki."
Hiruzen said, "According to the contents of that material, if trained properly, a jinchuriki's control over their tailed beast can approach perfection. At that point, the jinchuriki will no longer be a risk to the village. No longer a threat."
"Instead, they can become the village's weapon. Its strength."
"You all know the power of the Nine-Tails."
"If Kushina can perfectly master the Nine-Tails' power, then whether we face Iwagakure, Sunagakure, or even both at once, Konoha will have nothing to fear."
"That material is currently in Kushina's hands."
Koharu's eyes lit up.
"Hiruzen, has Kushina begun training? When will it be completed?"
An awkward expression appeared on Hiruzen's face.
"She has not started yet."
"Hasn't started? Why not?"
Hiruzen was silent for a moment.
"Because Kushina is pregnant. She will have to wait until after the child is born before training can begin. This news must remain secret. Matters concerning a jinchuriki are not something we can afford to be careless with."
Hiruzen's expression grew solemn.
"You are Konoha's elders. That is why I am willing to tell you this."
"Other than us, no one else can know. Not even the people you trust most."
"Do you understand?"
Homura, Koharu, and Danzo's expressions also turned serious.
The three exchanged glances.
"Hiruzen, rest easy. We absolutely will not tell anyone else."
Only then did Hiruzen's expression soften, though his gaze lingered on Danzo a moment longer.
Danzo looked slightly displeased.
"Hiruzen, I know you've had your doubts about me lately. But I am Konoha's man. I place Konoha above everything else. More than you, I care about Konoha."
"I would never do anything harmful to Konoha."
"On that point, you can rest completely assured."
Hiruzen showed no embarrassment at having his thoughts exposed.
After a pause, he said,
"Danzo, I know you act for Konoha's sake. But your previous operation against Sunagakure not only failed to bring Konoha any benefit, it also earned us Sunagakure's hatred."
"I need you to make up for that."
"Over on Kirigakure's side, Minato cannot leave. And as for Rasa... aside from Minato, no one else can restrain him effectively."
"So on Iwagakure's front, I need you to go."
Danzo was momentarily stunned. Then he pointed at the shoulder where one of his arms was missing.
"Me? Hiruzen, are you serious?"
"Fighting for Konoha is my duty without question. But Hiruzen... in my current condition, I do not have that ability. Why not let Orochimaru go? He has contributed very little in this war so far."
"He has rested long enough."
Ordinarily, Danzo would never miss a chance to earn merit.
But under the current circumstances, he felt certain Hiruzen was trying to push him into a pit.
"Orochimaru..."
Homura and Koharu also spoke up.
"That's right, Hiruzen. We still have Orochimaru. Let Orochimaru go to the front lines—he can definitely hold back Iwagakure's advance. He's still in his prime. This is precisely when he should be fighting."
"As for us old bones, let's forget it."
Hiruzen nodded.
"Very well. Then let Orochimaru go. Homura, go inform him for me."
"No problem, Hiruzen. Leave it to me."
Watching the three depart, Hiruzen only withdrew his gaze after a long while.
In truth, Hiruzen did not particularly want Orochimaru to go.
With Orochimaru's qualifications, if he were to render great merit in this war and his reputation soared, then his competitiveness for the Hokage's position would become extremely strong.
But Hiruzen did not want Orochimaru to inherit the seat of Hokage.
Long ago, Hiruzen had already begun to sense that something about Orochimaru had changed.
He was no longer the genius disciple Hiruzen knew.
He had become a stranger.
Hiruzen did not believe Orochimaru was a suitable candidate for Hokage. If he inherited the position, he might very well lead Konoha down the wrong path and ruin the village.
If only Jiraiya were in the village...
Not long after, Homura found Orochimaru and passed along Hiruzen's order.
A look of surprise immediately appeared on Orochimaru's face.