Chapter 233: C157(1)
"Orochimaru-sama, the support from the village has arrived, but…"
In the Konoha War Conference House at Kikyo Castle, a ninja responsible for coordinating frontline personnel reported to Orochimaru.
While reinforcements were always welcome, the troops sent by the village seemed of limited utility this time.
Aside from Namikaze Minato, the support consisted of only three Jōnin, twenty Chūnin, and the rest were Genin. Military supplies were also in short supply.
This level of support was barely enough to make a difference on the front lines. After seeing the reinforcements, many ninjas stationed at the camp felt a sense of resentment toward the village.
They were risking their lives for Konoha, yet the support provided felt inadequate—especially given the ferocity of the Sand Shinobi forces.
Facing enemies such as the Kazekage, the One-Tail Jinchūriki, and skilled puppeteers made this battlefield in the Land of Rivers particularly difficult.
Despite Orochimaru leading the forces to repel Sand Shinobi several times, the victories often came at great cost.
On several occasions, their survival was only secured by Orochimaru's intervention, sometimes at the risk of his own life.
"It doesn't matter. I already have a plan to deal with it. In this war, Sand Shinobi will lose," Orochimaru said in a calm tone, his face exuding confidence.
His assured demeanor seemed to inspire the Jōnin in the room. Having fought under Orochimaru for a while, they knew he was not one for empty boasts. If he claimed to have a solution, they believed he had one.
"Senior Orochimaru," Namikaze Minato said as he entered the camp after organizing his students. He bowed respectfully to Orochimaru.
"Minato-kun, it's fortunate that you're here. If it were that Jiraiya guy, I'd already have a headache," Orochimaru remarked with a sly smile.
He gestured toward a seat. "Take a seat. I'm planning our decisive battle against the Sand Shinobi, and I'll need you to lead the assassination team to strike at their rear."
Minato hesitated briefly but then pulled out a scroll from his pouch. " Orochimaru-sama, this is an order from Hokage-sama. He instructed me to deliver it to you personally."
"Hiruzen-sensei? What new orders does he have?"
Orochimaru took the scroll and read the contents. A raspy chuckle escaped him as he finished. His reaction immediately put the Jōnin on edge.
"Heh. From now on, Minato-kun will be the second-in-command of this front. In my absence, all of you are to follow his lead," Orochimaru announced with a faint smirk.
Minato quickly waved his hands in protest. "Why me? I'm here to learn from Orochimaru-sama. You're the one who should make all the decisions."
The Jōnin exchanged glances, speculating about the reasons behind the Hokage's decision. While Orochimaru's leadership was unquestionable, the idea of Minato taking on such a major role made some uneasy.
Still, they held their tongues. For now, they would follow Orochimaru's orders, as always.
But Namikaze Minato was still young, and while no one doubted his strength, his battlefield command experience was lacking.
He had mastered the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique and earned the reputation of the Yellow Flash.
However, this seemed to be his first time leading a command role in such a significant capacity.
Several Jōnin in the room had participated in two ninja wars and possessed far more battlefield experience than Minato.
Still, the Hokage's orders were absolute. They could not voice their objections directly, so they chose to remain silent as a form of passive dissent.
"Alright," Orochimaru began, breaking the silence. "Let's continue discussing our strategy against Sand Shinobi. For the upcoming decisive battle, it's likely Sand Shinobi already knows about our reinforcements. Even with thousands of ninjas, we are still at a disadvantage in terms of numbers. This is why they've grown so arrogant."
Orochimaru's deliberate tone ensured every ninja in the room paid attention to his words.
"However, with so many Sand Shinobi concentrated on the battlefield, the rear of Sand Shinobi Village must be poorly defended. Minato-kun," Orochimaru said, pulling out two summoning scrolls, "take these two Summoning scrolls along with a vial of my blood. Use the Summoning Technique in the rear of Sand Shinobi Village. Then coordinate with three assassination teams to wreak havoc there."
Minato hesitated before speaking up. "Orochimaru-sama, Sand Shinobi Village… there will likely be many civilians there."
He did not want to challenge Orochimaru's authority so soon after arriving, but he could not suppress his concerns. If the war spilled into civilian areas, the fallout would be catastrophic.
Orochimaru, however, did not withdraw his outstretched hand. "Minato-kun, this is my order," he said with finality.
"Understood, Orochimaru-Sama," Minato replied, accepting the scrolls with a sigh. Though reluctant, he reasoned that the task would be carried out with or without his involvement.
His presence would ensure some restraint.
Turning to the rest of the room, Orochimaru continued. "As for the rest of you, follow the plan we discussed earlier. Luan, hand over the Summoning Technique instructions to the reinforcements. They will provide support in the next decisive battle."
One of the Jōnin, Kagawa, raised a hand for clarification. " Orochimaru-Sama, how many ninjas will be needed for this?"
"To ensure success," Orochimaru replied, "assign six ninjas per Summoning scroll. At least 180 ninjas will be required. Use the Chūnin teams as the base and fill in the rest with Genin."
The room fell silent as the Jōnin began mentally calculating the numbers. Each summoning would require six participants.
With at least thirty Summoning Beasts expected, this would mean deploying a significant portion of their forces. The thought crossed their minds—was Orochimaru planning to summon his infamous snakes?
They all recalled Orochimaru's Summoning Beast, Manda, and the havoc it could wreak.
Ordinary Genin stood little chance against such creatures without Detonating Talismans, and even most Chūnin would struggle against them.
"I understand, Orochimaru-Sama," Luan responded, inwardly relieved. With such a powerful group of Summoning Beasts, the pressure on the main battlefield would be significantly reduced.
"As for the One-Tail Jinchūriki and the Third Kazekage," Orochimaru continued, "you needn't concern yourselves with them. Nara clan members , your team will handle the old woman, Chiyo. Just hold her off."
Orochimaru continued to issue orders, confident in Nara clan's tactical abilities. With detailed knowledge of Chiyo's puppet techniques, it wouldn't be difficult for them to hold her back.
After assigning tasks, Orochimaru dismissed everyone to begin their preparations. The Summoning Technique taught by Luan and Namikaze Minato's covert assassination team required advance arrangements.
Once the room emptied, Orochimaru's pupils morphed into three-tomoe Sharingan. Slowly, the tomoe connected into four interlinked rings.
"Not yet," Orochimaru muttered to himself. "A mere Sand Shinobi doesn't warrant the use of these eyes. Sage Mode is sufficient."
He preferred to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. While becoming Hokage someday wasn't a fear, it was wise not to invite complications too soon. His "good teacher" was a cunning individual, after all.
This war had to be executed perfectly. Sand Shinobi Village would serve as a stepping stone to elevate Orochimaru's fame and solidify his reputation.
….
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