Chapter 196 : Raid Mission!

"Orochimaru, I will personally lead this mission. Bring Jiraiya and Tsunade, assemble a team to support the troops at frontline. Be cautious!"

Another day marred by war unfolded. In the command post of Konoha, Hiruzen sat down, his gaze somber as he briefed the assembled.

"This time, the second-generation Raikage Ai seems intent on breaking through our defense line. He's launched a significant assault and personally entered the fray. As the leader, how can I overlook this?"

Hiruzen's countenance remained impassive, but his words were weighty.

"Sarutobi-sensei, this is inappropriate! Ai is a village Kage and you are the esteemed disciple of Tobirama-sama. You shouldn't expose yourself to such risks!" objected a ninja, contemplating countermeasures upon hearing Hiruzen's words.

"Yes, Raikage Ai is rumored to have reached the pinnacle in both taijutsu and ninjutsu. Perhaps a temporary defense or even a strategic withdrawal to buy time might be prudent. Tobirama-sama possesses the Flying Thunder God technique, allowing a swift return," suggested another ninja.

All eyes turned to Hiruzen, who maintained a resolute demeanor. Today, he had received unexpected information. Whatever had spurred Ai to deploy thousands of troops, seemingly forcing a confrontation, lacked apparent strategic value.

"Hokage-sama is currently contending with the Golden Horn and Silver Horn troops. Word is they've been compelled to retreat. We shouldn't distract them, and perhaps this is Ai's plan," Hiruzen declared, standing up and surveying the room like a resolute and defiant leader.

"Even if it's Raikage, how can he compare to Tobirama-sama!" Hiruzen said with a smirk. "I made an agreement with Danzo to fight with a Kage. Now that Ai is here, I can't shrink from a fight."

His eyes swept the room, his confidence palpable. A ninja in a black outfit, agile and not particularly tall, exuded an unyielding fighting spirit beneath an outwardly indifferent facade.

Hiruzen's intent to belittle Kumogakure, even going so far as to express confidence in Hokage's disciple's rapport with Raikage, resonated throughout the room. Despite the apparent arrogance, the staff and ninjas could sense Hiruzen's genuine self-assuredness.

"Do you plan to face Ai, Hiruzen-sensei? Don't meet your end in this corner," Orochimaru remarked, his expression indifferent. Hiruzen's strength was apparent to Orochimaru, and he might not necessarily lose to Ai, but history had taken a different course.

"Sensei..."

Tsunade and Jiraiya felt a tense atmosphere. The power of a Kage was once distant to them.

"Boom!"

Water splashed as Jiraiya inadvertently burst the water ballon he held.

"Ah, sorry!"

Jiraiya apologized as he touched his wet clothes. The rubber water ballon, a practice prop from the medical class, was meant for Jiraiya's training. Nervousness led to a mishap.

As for what was being cultivated, it was self-evident.

"Jiraiya, align with the main force. Don't get too overconfident!"

Hiruzen regarded the rugged Jiraiya with a paternal kindness, casting a warm smile akin to a father's love, causing Orochimaru to tremble momentarily.

Hiruzen had always cherished this child who once clung to the tail of a crane but rose through his own efforts. It was as if he could see his own ignorant self reflected in him.

While he couldn't fathom why Jiraiya had been grappling with inner turmoil recently, it seemed that he was excelling in his endeavors.

"Orochimaru, too, exercise caution. Keep an eye on the two of them, and do not stray from the unit!"

Hiruzen reiterated his instructions to Orochimaru.

Since Orochimaru led the charge against Kumogakure's Bailie team in the previous mission, Hiruzen had a sense of their capabilities. 

However, regardless of the disciple, especially Tsunade, none could afford to meet their demise here. Even he was apprehensive about that mission, so he deliberately curtailed their actions, ensuring their safety by aligning them with larger military tasks.

This severely hindered Orochimaru's ambitious endeavors in "collecting materials," leaving him discontented and powerless.

However, the long-distance raid mission did pique his interest. It wasn't overly perilous, and it presented an opportunity to eliminate Sand Shinobi.

As Hiruzen couldn't contend with Ai and his group alone, Uchiha Kagami and the elite of the Uchiha clan would join the fray. Orochimaru, along with Konoha's forces, would handle the formidable strength of Cloud Shinobi. Their primary focus was defense and clearance, with the option to retreat if signs of danger emerged.

"I'll ensure their safety."

Orochimaru grinned maliciously, disregarding the conspicuous "well" hovering above Tsunade and Jiraiya's heads.

.....

"Our mission is a long-distance assault on Cloud's Mountain. Along the way, we may encounter small groups of Kumogakure's forces. Dispose of them swiftly. We must not be entangled by these cannon fodders."

Outside the tent, hundreds of Konoha ninjas were prepared, while an elite Jōnin was strategizing.

"The enemy is aggressively infiltrating. While our side isn't under significant pressure at the moment, once Mountain is surrounded, complications will arise, potentially affecting the entire war effort. This is a crucial passage for us, so we must reach it before Kumogakure becomes aware. With coordinated efforts from within and without, we'll clear out the scattered Kumogakure teams."

Orochimaru listened to the Jōnin's address impassively, exuding confidence in his own abilities. Perhaps this was the audacity of a master of the arts. Sannin might not be his match, and half of the surrounding Konoha ninjas were lower-ranked cannon fodder. Orochimaru might be the hidden boss among them.

"Move out!"

With a sweeping gesture from the Jōnin, hundreds of individuals began their Naruto World version of a clumsy run. Dust billowed, creating a spectacular scene.

"Orochimaru, is your ninjutsu really that powerful?"

Jiraiya juggled a water ballon while running, looking comical but remaining steadfast.

Orochimaru showed a trace of admiration. Perhaps, if he continued this progress, he could master Naruto's signature move—Rasengan—before the end of the first ninja war. 

"He might be foolish, but only clever people are willing to work foolishly."

The Hokage's most formidable technique was Rasengan. There was no adversary it couldn't overcome. If one failed, make a larger one. If that still didn't suffice, make a few more...

"Be cautious!"

Just three hours into their hurried march, the sounds of battle echoed ahead. A team of Kumogakure crossed paths with the Konoha forces, and they were swiftly annihilated, resembling a man's arm acting as a chariot.

These were mere harassment squads, and the team leaders were elite chunin at best. Konoha sacrificed some ninja lives to overwhelm them.

"Press on!"

The Jōnin led the group without hesitation, conducting a brief check of the corpses before resuming the journey.

"Watch out!"

Another hour passed, and a group of sand ninjas emerged from the bushes. Seeing the unfavorable situation, they attempted to flee but were eliminated.

"Something's amiss..."

Orochimaru examined the fallen bodies, noting a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl with fear and disbelief etched on her face. She had been fatally stabbed.

Orochimaru frowned, sensing that something was wrong.

"Hey, Orochimaru, don't you think... have some intriguing thoughts?"

Jiraiya glanced at the pensive Orochimaru, sporting a mischievous smile.

"Quick, keep moving!"

Tsunade shouted ahead, revealing that they were merely an hour away from Cloud Mountain.

...

Orochimaru remained silent, leaving a few small snakes on the ground to trail the troops.

Half an hour later, Konoha ninja encountered two more teams of sand ninjas. The Konoha forces pursued and eliminated them all.

********

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