Chapter 96: Clouds of War

After listening to Uchiha Obito's explanation, Shin nodded thoughtfully.

"In this case, if Konoha backs down again, its weakness will be fully exposed. Even if the other ninja villages haven't recovered their strength, they'd likely take advantage of this opportunity to strike. If things go wrong, Konoha could end up besieged by multiple villages, as it once was."

So, even if the Third Hokage doesn't want war, he has no choice but to confront the Hidden Cloud Village. However, what's going through the minds of the Kumo ninjas?

It stands to reason that the Third Ninja World War ended not long ago, and Hidden Cloud Village's current situation isn't great. It's unlikely they'd engage in a full-scale war with Konoha. This conflict ended without much consequence in the original timeline, partly due to Hyuga Hizashi's sacrifice. However, Hidden Cloud Village's own challenges were also a factor.

However, things may be different now. Shin's repeated infiltrations into Konoha have likely caused some butterfly effects. Other ninja villages may already be sensing Konoha's vulnerabilities. With this in mind, Kumo might genuinely be ready to clash with Konoha.

Turning his gaze to Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, Shin couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy for Obito's allies. 

Kumo and Konoha are on the brink of war, yet Orochimaru's Sound Village hasn't received the news yet. Though this delay is likely due to Orochimaru being in the Hidden Star Village, it also highlights the impressive reach of White Zetsu's intelligence network.

"So, what are your thoughts, Leader?" Shin looked toward the projection of the Deva Path Pain. Although 'Nagato' was Shin's wood clone in disguise, the clone and the main body didn't share a continuous mental connection, so Shin wasn't entirely sure how the clone interacted with Obito.

"For now, we'll wait and watch the battle between Konoha and Kumo, but everyone should be ready to intervene at any time," Deva Path Pain announced.

"Intervene? Are we looking to collect tailed beasts? Konoha has the Nine-Tails, and Kumo has the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails..." Kakuzu rumbled.

"No, our primary task is still raising funds," Deva Path Pain replied calmly. "The matter of the tailed beasts can be addressed later. For now, we will approach this as a mercenary for hire."

"Ah, that makes sense," Kakuzu's eyes gleamed, and Sasori looked up while even Uchiha Obito seemed to approve slightly.

Each of them had their reasons to support the plan. Kakuzu's love of money was notorious; Sasori needed rare materials for his puppets, and Obito wanted to replenish his stock of Sharingan.

"So, who should we take contracts from?" Shin asked with a smirk. He hadn't expected such a practical reason behind the plan—it indeed was a reminder of the real world.

"We work for whoever pays the most," Deva Path Pain said coldly.

'Well, that's honest,' Shin thought. Even terrorist groups need funds. Without resources, they can't sustain themselves.

Withdrawing his focus from the projection, Shin sighed. Another war was brewing.

By the following day, even without Shin passing on the news, Orochimaru and the others had already been informed.

"Fascinating," Orochimaru murmured, licking the corner of his mouth as his eyes took on a calculating gleam.

Although war had previously led to many of Orochimaru's painful losses—family, comrades, students—it was also during wartime that his pursuit of immortality had taken root. Now, however, Orochimaru saw war differently.

His newfound enthusiasm stemmed from confidence that his base, Hidden Sound Village, would remain safe. The chaos of war would allow him to move freely, collecting bloodlines and recruiting talent to his side.

Revitalized by Shin's transformation into a sage body, Orochimaru's strength had soared. He felt like he'd regained his youth, and his old body had been reborn.

This transformation had completely removed his initial desire to resort to use 'Living Corpse Reincarnation' for survival. Besides the obvious advantages in power, his new body's lifespan far surpassed that of ordinary humans. Even if he couldn't live for millennia like the Sages of the Sage Regions, Orochimaru felt he could now live for several hundred years.

And, even if he were to switch bodies, where could he find one as powerful or enduring as this?

He shot a glance at Shin. 'There may be one, but it's beyond my reach.'

Orochimaru still couldn't grasp the extent of Shin's strength, but precisely because of his newly enhanced senses, he had a sharper sense of Shin's power—which was daunting.

'What a shame. If only I had that bloodline for my own research, I'd already surpass the Sage of Six Paths himself.'

Still, gathering bloodlines from the conflict would allow him to make substantial advancements in his own strength. With war looming, every ninja with a valuable bloodline would become harder for the major villages to protect, creating openings Orochimaru could exploit.

With this mindset, Orochimaru eagerly anticipated the impending war. Yet Tsunade, ever more attached to her roots, held a different view.

Despite her mixed feelings toward Konoha, Tsunade still saw herself as a part of the village. Her departure from Konoha wasn't entirely due to disappointment or disillusionment with the village; her hemophobia played a significant role.

As a doctor, Tsunade constantly encountered blood, even during peacetime. If she stayed in Konoha, she couldn't keep her phobia hidden from the village's spies. Her role in the village only made this more challenging.

Thus, Tsunade's attachment to Konoha had never truly wavered, and after hearing the news, she found herself seeking out Shin, contemplating the situation. 

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