In the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen and Orochimaru looked very solemn. Because the situation in Konoha was looking quite bad.
Once the war started, the four major ninja villages were likely to attack Konoha simultaneously, leaving Konoha vulnerable from all sides.
Hiruzen began to discuss with Orochimaru how to break the current situation.
Yasu didn't interrupt. He was able to stay here because he was Orochimaru's disciple. As a Genin, he wasn't qualified to interrupt. Being able to listen in was already good enough.
Hiruzen said in a cold voice: "According to intelligence, the Third Mizukage of the Hidden Mist has initiated a new policy called the Bloody Mist, allowing ninjas to fight each other with bloodshed. It seems they are training soldiers for the upcoming war."
"No wonder they have been unwilling to establish contact with us. It turns out they have long colluded with the Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Rock Village."
"Now enemy village ninjas have infiltrated Konoha. Perhaps there are even more ninjas lurking in the shadows of Konoha. War seems to be imminent. Orochimaru, with the current situation, do you think Konoha has the ability to engage in war?"
Orochimaru shook his head and said mercilessly: "If the war breaks out in full, Konoha will undoubtedly be defeated. If it's just the Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Rock Village, Konoha can barely resist, but if the Hidden Mist Village also joins the fray, we will need to divide our forces to defend. Moreover, there is also the Hidden Sand Village eyeing us covetously."
"We only have a limited amount of troops in total. With the battlefield expanding on multiple fronts, dividing our forces too much will make it difficult for us to launch effective counterattacks, and we will only be dragged down."
Hiruzen fell into deep thought.
What Orochimaru said was exactly what he was considering.
No matter how strong Konoha is, it cannot withstand the simultaneous attacks of four ninja villages.
Now he was thinking about how to find a way out of this seemingly deadlocked situation.
Hiruzen then asked: "Orochimaru, what do you think Konoha should do to break the deadlock?"
Orochimaru was also thinking about it just now.
So, he replied: "The only way I can think of now is to delay. The later the war starts, the more beneficial it will be for Konoha."
Hiruzen frowned and said: "But the initiative of the war is not in our hands at all. As long as they want, they can start the war at any time."
Orochimaru took a pen and circled the Land of Grass, the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Waves.
After putting down the pen, he began to explain and analyze: "The four major ninja villages are currently still probing. The spies hidden in Konoha must be eliminated immediately so that those ninja villages can no longer learn about the internal situation of Konoha."
"At the same time, Konoha should start dividing its forces, sending ninjas to be stationed in these four countries I circled to fight against the ninjas of the four major ninja villages, and try to keep the battles within these four countries."
"Although the four major ninja villages have cooperated, they are not 100% sure. As long as Konoha doesn't show weakness and acts like it will fight them to the end, they will be afraid to act rashly."
"Because they all understand that if Konoha chooses to go all out, it has the ability to invade any one of their countries and villages, and they cannot bear the consequences."
"Plus, If Konoha loses, then the target of the other ninja villages will be the ninja village that we went all out in the war. As long as it's not a full-scale war, but a local war, Konoha, with its rich resources, can afford to hold out. Over time, if the war doesn't make progress for a long time, they themselves are likely to fall apart from within."
Orochimaru said in one breath, then looked at Yasu and continued.
"I once asked Yasu, asking him what he thought Konoha should do to break the deadlock if the four major ninja villages attacked Konoha at the same time. He said to use benefits to turn two villages against each other."
"This method is very applicable now. As long as we delay the start of a full-scale war and let problems arise within them, then we can use benefits to instigate one of the ninja villages, and maybe even achieve a counterattack, making up for all the previous losses."
Hiruzen tapped the table rhythmically with his fingers, considering the feasibility of Orochimaru's method.
Yasu glanced at Orochimaru in surprise, not expecting his teacher to mention him.
However, in his opinion, Orochimaru's method seemed very feasible.
The four major ninja villages united because of interests to prepare to launch a war against Konoha, but if they only pay out without much gains, they will definitely weigh the pros and cons and rethink whether launching a war against Konoha is really profitable.
And when the time comes, if Konoha offers clear benefits, it is very likely to instigate one of the ninja villages.
At the same time, Yasu was also very clear.
If Orochimaru's plan is carried out, he is very likely to go to the battlefield.
Because Orochimaru's plan is to fight the four major ninja villages of Cloud, Rock, Sand, and Mist in the Land of Grass, the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Waves to prevent the four major ninja villages from entering the Land of Fire. Dividing the forces is certain.
Konoha only has a limited number of ninjas who can fight, so almost all of them will definitely be sent out.
After thinking for a while, Hiruzen also felt that Orochimaru's plan was feasible.
After all, Konoha, which is in a passive position, doesn't have many options.
So, he said in a deep voice: "Then proceed according to your plan. Tomorrow, I will send the Anbu ninjas to join Danzo's Root to clear out the enemy ninjas in Konoha. At the same time, Orochimaru, you also have to go to the battlefield. Currently, the Hidden Sand is not to be feared. The ninja forces currently stationed are enough to stop them in the Land of Rivers."
"As for the Hidden Mist, I plan to send a small team of ninjas to the Land of Waves to see how many Hidden Mist ninjas are stationed there, and then decide to allocate ninja forces to go there. After all, every bit of Konoha's combat power is precious now."
"As for the Hidden Rock, Onoki, that guy is very shrewd. Before the official war starts, he won't choose to confront our Konoha ninjas too much. It's enough to have Sakumo leading the battle there."
"The biggest threat is the Hidden Cloud. In the Land of Hot Water, Jiraiya and his ninja forces have fought with the Cloud ninjas countless times. The battle there is the fiercest, and the Cloud ninjas are also constantly supporting the battle in the Land of Rivers."
"Since your plan is not to show weakness in front of these ninja villages, then you must resist the Cloud ninjas in the Land of Hot Water, so I'm sending you to there. What do you think?"
Orochimaru nodded in agreement and said: "I understand. I will set off for the Land of Hot Water tomorrow to meet up with Jiraiya. At the same time, I also want to take Yasu with me."
Hiruzen put on a straight face and revealed a smile: "Okay, I was planning to do so even if you didn't say it. I heard that Jiraiya's disciple Minato is shining brightly on the battlefield in the Land of Hot Water. If Yasu is also tempered in the battlefield, I think he will soon be able to shine brightly and become a ninja who can stand alone."
After hearing this, Yasu felt a surge of excitement and a hint of killing intent in his heart. He didn't expect to face the Cloud ninjas so soon. Since he was originally planning to settle the score for kidnapping Kushina with the lives of the Cloud ninjas!
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