Orochimaru nodded slightly, his expression calm as ever.
"Tsunade, we need to relay this intelligence back to the village as soon as possible."
"Shadow Clone Technique."
He formed a series of hand seals. The seal on his wrist glowed faintly as chakra surged forth, and a shadow clone appeared beside him.
"I'll leave the task of delivering the intelligence to you."
"Leave it to me."
The shadow clone vanished in a flash, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to instantly depart, then repeatedly jumping through space toward Konoha.
---
On the Kumogakure front, after learning of Kirigakure and Sunagakure's movements, the Third Raikage, A, made a decisive judgment.
He chose not to cooperate with them in attacking Konoha.
Instead, his attention turned toward Iwagakure.
Iwagakure was already locked in a multi-front war with Konoha. If Kumogakure launched an attack now, they could reap considerable benefits. Even if they failed to inflict decisive damage, they could always withdraw and redirect their forces toward Konoha afterward.
With this calculation in mind, the Third Raikage acted decisively. He personally led Kumogakure's troops, embarking on a grueling forced march across the Land of Frost, the Land of Hot Water, and the Land of Rice Fields, advancing straight toward Iwagakure.
Ōnoki had no choice but to prepare for yet another battlefield.
---
Konoha, Hokage Building.
Inside the command center, the four people present froze when Orochimaru suddenly appeared.
"Orochimaru? Why are you back already?"
"I'm only a shadow clone," Orochimaru replied flatly. "I'm here to relay intelligence. My main body and Tsunade are currently meeting the Konoha forces dispatched to intercept Sunagakure."
With no time to waste, he went straight to the key point.
"The monk embedded within Sunagakure's forces is the One-Tailed Jinchuriki."
The room erupted in hushed whispers.
Without waiting for further questions, Orochimaru activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and vanished once again. His experiment could not be interrupted, and he had no intention of dispersing this clone just yet.
"The One-Tailed Jinchuriki…"
Danzo Shimura frowned deeply. He had never imagined that the so-called elderly monk mentioned in the intelligence report was actually Shukaku's host. More importantly, Root's intelligence network had completely failed to uncover this critical detail.
Was Sunagakure's concealment truly that flawless?
Danzo did not blame his subordinates. Instead, he concluded that Sunagakure's counterintelligence capabilities were formidable.
"This is going too far," Utatane Koharu said angrily, clenching her fists. "Sending a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki directly onto the battlefield…"
"The sealing team's children aren't ready for that kind of threat," she continued. "If the One-Tail unleashes its power…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer remain seated. His students were already en route to intercept Sunagakure.
Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses and spoke calmly.
"Then shouldn't we eliminate the Tailed Beast before it has the chance to transform?"
---
Sunagakure's forces advanced steadily from the Land of Rivers toward the Land of Fire.
Among the ranks, Bunbuku stood out conspicuously in his monk's robes.
"Hahaha! No matter how unwilling you are, you still have to go to war, Monk!"
Inside Bunbuku's mental world, Shukaku sensed his host's emotions and let out a shrill laugh.
"I'm sorry, Shukaku," Bunbuku said softly after a long silence.
Although he did not wish to fight, the thought of his duty to Sunagakure left him no choice. As a citizen of the village, he had to obey, even if it meant unleashing disaster upon the battlefield.
"What's the point of saying that now?" Shukaku sneered. "Aren't we still being dragged out as weapons of war? To everyone except you, we Tailed Beasts are nothing but tools. That's the truth!"
Shukaku acknowledged that Bunbuku was different from other humans. But even so, they were still marching toward the battlefield as instruments of slaughter.
"I think… someone will stop us," Bunbuku murmured.
He recalled the man who had once visited the prison, investigating whether a Tailed Beast could be separated from its Jinchuriki without killing the host.
As a member of Sunagakure, Bunbuku would fulfill his duty. But in his heart, he hoped someone would stop him—and Shukaku.
"Huh? Are you looking down on my power, Monk?" Shukaku roared. "This time, I won't be sealed so easily! I'll tear everything apart! Hahahahaha!"
His laughter abruptly ceased.
"You're really boring," Shukaku muttered irritably.
---
Orochimaru and Tsunade soon rendezvoused with the Konoha forces tasked with intercepting Sunagakure. From them, they received a clear order from the village's high command.
Do everything possible to kill the old monk.
Orochimaru was not surprised. It was wartime, and Sunagakure had sent Bunbuku—the One-Tailed Jinchuriki—precisely so Shukaku could slaughter Konoha ninja.
If Orochimaru were in their position, he would have made the same decision: eliminate the Jinchuriki before the Tailed Beast could be fully unleashed.
According to intelligence, the most likely route for Sunagakure's advance was from the Land of Rivers into the Land of Fire.
Orochimaru pressed his palm against the ground.
Earth Release activated, chakra manipulating the terrain to form a detailed map. The surrounding nations appeared clearly, with miniature ninja figures marking the battlefields between Konoha and Iwagakure, as well as Konoha and Kirigakure.
"This is Sunagakure's only viable path if they want to infiltrate quietly and unleash a Tailed Beast," Orochimaru said, pointing at the Land of Rivers.
A Konoha ninja spoke up thoughtfully. "Lord Orochimaru, if Sunagakure forms alliances with Iwagakure or Kirigakure, entering from here would allow them to support both battlefields at any time, wouldn't it?"
"Yes," Orochimaru replied. "Which is why this is where we set the ambush."
He continued, "The Iburi Clan's Smoke Transformation is ideal for assassination. Once Sunagakure reaches this point, they'll have a chance to infiltrate the Jinchuriki's body and force him to commit suicide."
"If that fails," Orochimaru added calmly, "I'll kill him myself."
Although he had once considered capturing Shukaku to study Magnet Release, the battlefield was far too dangerous for sealing experiments. Eliminating Bunbuku took priority.
"Tsunade," Orochimaru said, "if we fail to kill the Jinchuriki immediately, you'll be our backup."
Tsunade cracked her knuckles. "Leave killing that old monk to me. You're better suited to preparing antidotes."
Orochimaru nodded. "Very well. Any objections?"
A ninja stepped forward. "I can lie in wait underground and conceal my presence completely."
"Do it," Orochimaru said. "As long as the Jinchuriki dies, use whatever method you deem appropriate."
---
Led by Chiyo, Sunagakure's forces crossed from the Land of Rivers into the Land of Fire.
At a certain point, Chiyo paused, then decisively ordered a detachment to escort Bunbuku toward the battlefield between Konoha and Kirigakure.
At that moment, thin smoke drifted through the air.
Chiyo's eyes narrowed. "Wind Release! Disperse that smoke!"
Orochimaru frowned slightly. The Iburi Clan ninja had been discovered too quickly.
A powerful gale swept through the area, but the smoke did not scatter. Instead, it clung together and surged straight toward Bunbuku.
"Stronger Wind Release!" Chiyo shouted.
The smoke condensed into a humanoid form—an Iburi Clan assassin attempting to invade Bunbuku's body.
Kunai and shuriken passed straight through him.
Before he could retreat, a web-like Wind Release technique struck, forcing his body to solidify. He screamed as a white-robed figure appeared and whisked him away.
Chiyo gritted her teeth.
The Flying Thunder God Technique.
Konoha already knew.
At that instant, a figure burst from the ground. A kunai stabbed into Bunbuku's back.
Hato.
Steel wire snapped tight around Hato's neck. With a sharp pull, Chiyo severed his head.
Bunbuku closed his eyes, pressing his palms together.
Rather than become a butcher, he would rather die.
Lightning flashed.
Tsunade appeared before him, her fist smashing into his chest like a falling mountain.
Blood sprayed.
Bunbuku was sent flying.
Before Tsunade could finish him, crimson chakra erupted.
Shukaku's power surged forth, partially transforming the body.
The One-Tail had awakened.
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