Surveillance
"That's right," Aizen responded with a wicked smile.
For a long moment, Orochimaru stood frozen, utterly speechless.
War…
For those who have lived in peaceful times, the true impact of war might be hard to grasp. But for someone like Orochimaru, who had survived the first two Great Ninja Wars, it was all too real.
War was a time when order collapsed, nations were shattered, and human life held as much value as a speck of dust. It was a force far more terrifying than anything else, even hell itself.
Even someone as cold-hearted as Orochimaru couldn't help but feel a deep aversion to war. It spoke volumes about just how cruel war truly was.
And now, Aizen, with his intelligence and power, was plotting to ignite the flames of the Third Ninja War.
"But… Aizen, do you realize the devastation a ninja war would bring?" Orochimaru finally managed to ask, his voice tinged with unease.
"The devastation of the war is of no concern to me," Aizen said, his gaze sharp and uncaring. "All I care about are the benefits I can reap from it. That's all."
The coldness in Aizen's tone was unshakable. He didn't care about the countless lives that would be lost, or the chaos that would engulf the nations. As long as he could achieve his goals, the suffering of others was nothing more than background noise to him.
Even Orochimaru, known for his experiments on live subjects and his disregard for human life, felt a shiver run down his spine.
Aizen's ruthlessness wasn't born out of bloodlust or malice. It was more frightening than that. He simply viewed human life as inconsequential, much like livestock being slaughtered for sustenance.
This cold detachment set Aizen apart from people like Orochimaru. Orochimaru, for all his dark deeds, understood that what he did was twisted and evil. He knew that his experiments were acts of cruelty.
But Aizen? For him, death and destruction were merely tools—no more significant than a person eating or drinking to survive.
This realization made Orochimaru fear Aizen even more.
"But Aizen… what does all of this have to do with the Third Ninja War? Are you planning to use this situation to provoke a conflict between Konoha and Cloud Village, hoping it will lead to war?" Orochimaru questioned, his mind racing.
Aizen's eyes gleamed as he shook his head. "Of course not. I'm not planning to expose anything to Cloud Village. I'll simply kill the Third Raikage and pin the blame on Zashi. Now, tell me, do you think Cloud Village would dare start a war with Konoha under those circumstances?"
Orochimaru, already lost in thought, answered instinctively, "No, of course not. Cloud wouldn't dare because…"
His voice trailed off as his eyes widened in shock. He now fully understood Aizen's plan.
"Hehe, it seems you've caught on," Aizen said with a sly smile.
"Konoha, as it stands, is far too powerful. Not just because of the strength of the three major factions, but also the Hokage's lineage, which includes you. With the combined might of the village's clans and the leadership of figures like Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, Hatake Sakumo, and Zashi, Cloud wouldn't dare declare war on us."
Aizen continued with an air of calm certainty, "Konoha's strength right now is unparalleled. The Hokage faction boasts powerful individuals like myself, you, and Namikaze Minato. Then there's the Hyuga and Uchiha clans. With a full mobilization, Konoha could field nearly ten Kage-level shinobi."
Orochimaru, still stunned, realized that Aizen's plan made perfect sense. Konoha was stronger than ever, with Hatake Sakumo at the forefront of its defense, not to mention a new generation of rising stars like Aizen and Minato. There was no way Cloud Village would dare challenge such a force.
"So, in order to successfully start the Third Ninja War, Konoha's power must be weakened..." Orochimaru said in a dry, low voice, a hint of unease creeping into his tone.
"Yes, exactly," Aizen replied coldly, the light reflecting off his glasses. "Especially Zashi and Hatake Sakumo. They must die, along with the elite Anbu under their command. Konoha must be left vulnerable."
The atmosphere grew heavy as Orochimaru processed Aizen's words. The gravity of the situation was clear, but a part of him couldn't help but be intrigued by the scale of the plan.
"Then... what exactly are you planning to do?" Orochimaru asked hesitantly, his curiosity overpowering his caution.
He didn't dare ask why Aizen wanted to start a Ninja War. That was too dangerous—it would likely lead him to secrets Aizen would never allow to be known. Orochimaru knew better than to pry into matters that could get him killed. But now that Aizen had revealed part of his scheme, Orochimaru had a sinking feeling that he was already involved, whether he liked it or not.
Aizen's gaze softened, his smile revealing both amusement and something darker. He looked at Orochimaru with a certain appreciation.
"Orochimaru, you're a smart man," Aizen thought to himself. "It's a shame you can't be fully trusted. Your ambition and intellect are both assets, but you're not the kind of person who can be easily controlled."
Unlike those such as Hiruko or Hyuga Gin, who were either easier to manipulate or had simpler ambitions, Orochimaru was a genius. He had his own plans, his own pride. Aizen knew that forcing Orochimaru to cooperate would be fruitless; it would only breed resentment and, in the long run, could lead to an undesirable outcome—Orochimaru might become a dangerous liability.
Aizen wasn't foolish. He knew that even a cornered genius like Orochimaru would rather die than be made a mere tool. And although Aizen was confident he would ultimately prevail, it would still be a waste to let Orochimaru perish unnecessarily.
The world needs more cunning minds like his, Aizen thought, as he weighed the risks.
Truthfully, Aizen could perfect the Reanimation Jutsu himself if he wanted to. But his hands were full. Between his scientific research, honing his countless skills, and executing his plans, there simply wasn't enough time to focus on everything. It was only after awakening the Sage Body and mastering the Shadow Clone technique—allowing him to train multiple aspects of himself simultaneously—that Aizen had finally found a small amount of time to breathe.
That's why someone like Orochimaru, with his vast scientific knowledge, was useful to Aizen. Delegating certain tasks, especially important ones like the improvement of Reanimation Jutsu, was crucial.
And Aizen had no interest in using the jutsu to create an army of mindless zombies. No, he had something far more intricate in mind—a plan that would require Reanimation Jutsu as a key component.
Shaking off his musings, Aizen looked directly at Orochimaru. "I already have a preliminary plan in place, and I'll need your help, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, intrigued but wary. "Oh? And what do you have in mind, Aizen?"
"I need you to suggest to Sarutobi Hiruzen that we begin surveillance on Zashi starting tomorrow," Aizen said, his voice smooth, but with an undertone of malice.