Chapter 209 : Subtly!

"Hey, which team do you belong to? You really stand out."

Three Cloud Ninjas confronted each other. The one in the lead had a thousand scrolls in his mouth, gazing at the three legendary ninjas.

"Hello, sir."

The Sannin disguised as Cloud Ninjas appeared calm on the surface. Orochimaru scanned the surroundings. In the distance, other Cloud Ninjas were seemingly setting up camp, displaying a highly organized unit. There was minimal noise.

"There are probably only three people paying attention here, so it's not a big issue."

Orochimaru quietly observed a few seemingly idle individuals in the distance and whispered, "...Something has happened!"

After Orochimaru spoke, he glanced vigilantly at the other two Cloud Ninjas, signaling them discreetly.

"What? I said you—"

The three Cloud Ninjas stared suspiciously at Orochimaru, becoming increasingly vigilant.

"Ordinary!"

Just as the leader of the Cloud Ninjas was about to speak, Jiraiya suddenly fell to the ground, convulsing and foaming at the mouth with a hideous expression.

"Hey hey hey! What's happening—"

Most fearful of unexpected acting, the three Cloud Ninjas immediately turned their attention to the fallen Jiraiya. At that moment, Orochimaru's eyes turned scarlet, locking eyes with the leading ninja.

"Well-"

A powerful illusion suddenly overwhelmed the Chunin's mental defenses, confusing him quickly. At this moment, his two subordinates remained oblivious.

"Hey, wake up, kid!"

The other two ninjas tried to revive the unconscious Jiraiya, but Tsunade seemed a bit overwhelmed. Someone in the distance appeared to have noticed and was approaching to investigate.

"What?!"

The captain suddenly exclaimed, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely."

The two Cloud Ninjas were bewildered, turning back to the suddenly excited captain. What had they overlooked?

"Okay, Muchuan, Daye, you two go on patrol. I'll take them for treatment first!"

Without a word, the Cloud Ninja took Orochimaru and left. Orochimaru carried Jiraiya on his back, Tsunade hastily following, and the group moved swiftly.

"...What's going on, Captain?"

The two ninjas were perplexed and couldn't discern what was amiss.

"It couldn't be the captain's wife who dyed him green..."

"..."

A few individuals in the distance saw that nothing major had occurred, returning to their tasks. The camp was bustling. The sensory ninjas and patrol teams dutifully carried out their tasks, completely unaware of the three uninvited guests slipping in. Orochimaru's specially chosen Chunin successfully led them behind a secluded tent.

"Orochimaru, what a potent illusion!"

Tsunade gazed at the Cloud Ninja controlled by Orochimaru, displaying obedience. Admiration gleamed in her eyes, yet the thought of facing such a formidable illusion ability instilled fear in her as a ninja.

"Tsunade, you're too rigid. You didn't even assist Jiraiya when he fell. Change of teams might expose such fake acting skills."

Orochimaru placed a hand on Cloud Ninja's head, delving into his memories, and spoke calmly.

"Well, I apologize... I might not be very skilled at acting," Tsunade admitted with a hint of shame, realizing she had been overly rude.

"This is a battlefield. Forgetting your identity as Senju Princess and being nervous is futile. As a ninja, you must discard useless emotions!" Orochimaru was straightforward, not mincing his words. "Look at how convincing Jiraiya's performance is; you're not on par with him!"

"I... I'm not as good as him," Tsunade lowered her hands even further.

"Bah! Orochimaru, how dare you give me medicine!"

Jiraiya, who seemed near death initially, suddenly sprang up, glaring at Orochimaru with a fierce determination that finally shattered the somewhat tense atmosphere.

"Orochimaru, do you truly believe ninjas should forsake their feelings?" Jiraiya stared at Orochimaru with a sudden seriousness. "I acknowledge your strength and excellence, but your actions, handling situations with apparent ruthlessness at times... I can't outright say you're wrong!"

Jiraiya also fixed his gaze on Orochimaru. Despite the former Orochimaru's seemingly indifferent exterior, he had perceived a change since the tragedy with his family. Sometimes, Orochimaru appeared carefree and even cheerful, while at other times, he emanated a cold and dark aura, making Jiraiya uneasy.

Tsunade raised her head, silently staring at Orochimaru. She, too, had sensed these shifts, but she hadn't expected Jiraiya to voice them aloud. What had happened to Orochimaru? Had the loss of his parents altered him?

"..." Orochimaru released his hold on the unconscious Cloud Ninja and sighed leisurely. Perhaps no one in this world could truly grasp his thoughts. Considering the two closest companions before him, he opened his mouth but struggled to find the right words.

"My ideal is to become the ultimate individual and then explore all the mysteries of the world, the cycle of life and death," Orochimaru began, influenced by his early lofty aspirations and the impact of Takeshi. Sometimes, he found it challenging to relate to ordinary people.

After pondering, he continued, "Benevolence is the privilege of the strong, and weakness is the original sin. As a ninja, only by maintaining rationality at all times can we better achieve our goals."

Orochimaru spoke earnestly, addressing Jiraiya and Tsunade, "This also applies to realizing your inner ideals."

He refrained from delving into deeper, philosophical thoughts. "Is that so?" Orochimaru's profound gaze and subtle smile were contagious. The two, swayed by his words, exchanged glances. Although not entirely comprehending, they began forming their own thoughts. In the end, the three companions fell into contemplative silence.

"Hey, is this their warehouse?"

Under the cover of night, the Sannin observed from behind a stack of crates, looking at a tent in the distance. Numerous ninjas with torches patrolled, and a perceptive Jōnin sat in the town.

Using a puppet as a disguise, the three seamlessly blended with the army of Cloud Ninja, consisting of thousands. The real challenge lay in getting closer to infiltrate.

Cloud Ninja, under the influence of an illusion, revealed the information that they were troops led by Lord C, the future third-generation Raikage Ai and the right-hand man of the second generation. They were the commanders of Kumogakure's army.

After months of tentative battles, the second-generation Raikage had roughly assessed the strength and positions of Sarutobi Hiizan and Uchiha Kagami. However, they were surprised by Kumogakure's formidable abilities, making Cloud the second most powerful country at present.

The second-generation Raikage, confident in his ability to defeat Sarutobi and Kagami, planned a surprise attack. Taking advantage of Tobirama dealing with the Golden Horn and Silver Horn brothers, he aimed to strike Konoha and make significant gains.

However, Lord C received some information, leading a small team of Kumogakure and delaying the army's progress.

Orochimaru and the others were aware of C's actions. They had seen him return with an air of aggression. It seemed that significant developments were on the horizon, and the Kumogakure army was likely to act the following day.

Kumogakure's strategic timing had Konoha's forces in the dark, leaving them unsure of how to respond!

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