In Naruto, build the strongest Hidden Mist Village.

Chapter 154 Recruiting Over a Year
"Orochimaru, since none of this can convince you, and you're unwilling to listen to my nonsense any longer!"

"So."

Jiraiya abruptly raised his arms, without forming hand seals like a butterfly flapping its wings, and instead unleashed a rapidly spinning Rasengan.

He leaped up from the ground and charged towards Orochimaru with all his might.

"Don't even think about leaving. I will definitely bring you back, no matter the cost!"

"What? Even you, the ninja who loves to shout about dreams, prophecies, and the village, the ninja who loves to use your words to persuade others, have given up?"

"Shut up!"

Jiraiya, his white hair flying wildly, charged forward like an angry lion, and a huge shadow quickly enveloped Orochimaru's figure.

Faced with the rustling wind and the terrifyingly powerful fist.

Orochimaru didn't move, remaining standing in place with a cold smile on his lips.

Quite calm.

Looking at everything before him, Jiraiya couldn't help but let out a low growl of anger.

Damn guy.

The Rasengan landed.

They bombarded it.

Instead of hitting Orochimaru, the attack struck the ancient, verdant tree beside him, sending countless flying wood chips and the flowing hair exploding abruptly in front of Orochimaru.

Despite the violent and turbulent scene, Orochimaru remained calm, as if he had already anticipated this situation.

"Jiraiya."

Just then, Jiraiya interrupted, his face full of questioning.

"Why not hide?"

Jiraiya looked at him with a questioning expression.

That's a Rasengan!

If the attack had followed the original route and hit Orochimaru's face, it might have actually killed him.

"Perhaps, I still want to know some of your innermost thoughts one last time."

Orochimaru remained as calm as ever.

Jiraiya, enraged, punched Orochimaru in the stomach without warning.

boom!
This blow landed squarely.

Orochimaru curled up like a lobster.

However, he kept muttering about it.

"Now I know."

"You probably still care about your past companions and friends."

"Nonsense, how could I not care about those things!"

Jiraiya threw another punch, but this time, Orochimaru gripped it tightly.

"If you care, why do you keep shirking the responsibilities that should be yours?"

Jiraiya stiffened, but still resolutely threw out his fist.

"So, come find me when you stop running away."

Orochimaru chuckled coldly, and his entire body moved like a gliding snake, traversing the forest as if on flat ground, quickly disappearing from Jiraiya's sight.

"Asshole."

Jiraiya gritted his teeth, let out a final angry shout, but ultimately did not chase after them.

It's not that they can't, but that they're unwilling.

Orochimaru's words echoed in my ears once more.

The echoes continued.

Jiraiya closed his eyes in pain.

Of course he knew what Orochimaru was talking about.

He certainly knew what Orochimaru meant when he said he hadn't shouldered his responsibilities.

Is it just about making me the Hokage who shouldn't have been mine in the first place?
But why?

Jiraiya stared blankly at the sky, a helpless, bitter smile creeping onto his face.

Why do they all want me to become Hokage?

Sarutobi-sensei, the village ninjas, Uchiha, Minato, Kushina.

And then there's the most unexpected choice.

Orochimaru.

Is becoming Hokage really that important?
He closed his eyes in pain.

Over the past period of time, scenes flashed before his eyes.

He saw a lot.

The Uchiha clan, filled with resentment; Sarutobi, no longer calm; Kushina, furious and flamboyant; and Minato, who showed disappointment for the first time.

And then there were those eyes—Orochimaru's—that held no lingering affection for the village, only hatred.

Jiraiya felt he understood everything.

Perhaps, it wasn't them who wanted me to become Hokage.

But say.

The position of Hokage cannot be held by that man, Danzo.

Jiraiya quickly came up with an excellent candidate.

Tsunade.

Only Tsunade can save the village.

Make Tsunade the Hokage.

She is the princess of the Senju clan, a disciple of her teacher, and one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha. If she could become Hokage, everything would be alright.

Thinking of this, Jiraiya felt slightly invigorated.

He decided.

Let's set aside the search for the prophesied child for now and focus on resolving the affairs of Konoha.

From any perspective, Konoha has entered a state of turmoil.

We can't let him continue to act recklessly.

Unfortunately, this time they were unable to lift the warrant for Nagato and his group's arrest, leaving them with no choice but to remain in a place like the Land of Water to complete their bone treatment.

As for whether Kaguya Naoki will lead him down another crooked path.

He no longer had the energy to care.

Jiraiya couldn't help but sigh, and could only try to console himself.

Nagato is the child of prophecy, possessing his own thoughts, his own growth trajectory, and his own future life.

but.

There's Naoki Kaguya in Kirigakure, that guy who always manages to brainwash everyone and turn them into his fans.

Perhaps Nagato will eventually fall.

can.

Konoha has truly reached its final moment.

Jiraiya straightened up, having already made his decision.

A letter was given to Nagato, advising him to stay away from Kaguya Naoki.

This is the limit of what he can do.
-
In the deep, dark forest, Orochimaru continued to glide along, the last trace of nostalgia in his eyes completely extinguished.

He looked in the direction of the mist, his cold, serpentine pupils now all he could see.

"Naoki Kaguya, this is the first gift I'm giving you."

"A Konoha in utter chaos."

Orochimaru curled the corners of his mouth.

At this moment, he no longer had any attachment to Konoha; all he felt was a deep-seated urge to destroy it.

Only Danzo's Konoha was already teetering on the brink of collapse.

But this is not enough.

My teacher will soon lose face again because of my defection.

They might fall into a complete disadvantage in the future.

and so.

It's time to bring Jiraiya or Tsunade back to compete.

Only in this way can we ensure that this conflict continues and intensifies.

The best Konoha is the one in chaos.

He knew better than anyone else what kind of foundation Konoha truly possessed.

If Konoha can recover, it's very likely that it will be Konoha's era again.

Orochimaru has developed a new obsession besides immortality.

That is to destroy Konoha!
and so.

He will do his best.

Of course, it can also serve as a gift to Naoki Kaguya.

Otherwise, as a collaborator, one would be at a significant disadvantage.

Everything was ready, and Orochimaru excitedly licked his lips.

Kirigakure.

I hope you can help me fulfill this dream.

"The rats are here again."

Orochimaru looked at the rustling forest behind him and could sense that the ninjas who had scattered earlier because of Jiraiya's pursuit had gathered again.

With the Root and Anbu joining forces, it will be difficult for Orochimaru to hide within the Land of Fire.

However, I don't want to hide it either.

Orochimaru looked at Kirigakure and licked his dry lips.

Although he preferred living in the shadows and disliked revealing information about himself, he...

He was genuinely curious whether Kirigakure took his arrival seriously.

If Kaguya Naoki doesn't value him.

Therefore, Orochimaru would only be able to settle in some small countries.

Orochimaru silently quickened his pace.
-
"Orochimaru is fleeing towards Kirigakure?"

Upon receiving the letter from the Anbu ninja, Juzo Biwa, stationed on the eastern side of the Ninja World Continent, near a port ceded by the Land of Fire, immediately stood up straight.

"Yes, Lord Juzo."

The Hidden Mist ninja bowed respectfully and immediately asked a question.

"What are we going to do?"

How to do it.

Pipa Juzo hesitated.

Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha, possesses terrifying fighting power.

If Orochimaru could join their Kirigakure, it would be a major boon.

can.

He inevitably had to consider a problem.

Orochimaru doesn't seem like the kind of ninja who would defect. He's one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha and a disciple of the Hokage. Why would he choose to defect?
It's really quite suspicious.

Soon, Juzo Biwa figured out all the details of the matter.

So what if it's suspicious?

Just hand Orochimaru over to Lord Naoki to determine the truth.

What I, as the leader, need to do is seize every opportunity that comes my way!
"Issue the order: mobilize the ninjas and come with me to help Orochimaru wipe them out."

As Pipa Juzo revealed his bloodlust, he also sent a letter requesting help to the Land of Water.

He is very clear.

If war were to break out, such a small force would be far from being a match for Konoha.

But it was worth it.

If Kirigakure could truly possess a powerful ninja on par with the legendary Sannin of Konoha, their future would be much brighter.

Moreover, whether the Konoha ninjas would dare to make a move is another matter entirely.
-
"arrive."

"Looks like you haven't disappointed me, Kirigakure, Kibijuu Juzo."

Orochimaru licked his parched lips, maintaining a remarkably calm expression and demeanor, and spoke in a gentle voice as he looked at the Kirigakure ninja who had come to provide support.

"I know you won't believe me, but that's okay. As long as I meet Kaguya Naoki, you'll know my sincerity."

"I believe you."

Juzo Biwa gripped the guillotine in his hand, cracked his neck, and made a series of snapping sounds.

"However, no matter how much I trust you, I should still be prepared to face the Leaf Village ninja raising their blades."

"hehe."

Orochimaru chuckled coldly, then slapped his hand, causing a giant snake to suddenly rise up.

The Hidden Mist ninja were about to attack; they didn't believe Orochimaru would side with the Hidden Mist.

Pipa Juzo raised his hand, signaling them not to move, and the group quickly stopped, watching everything before them warily.

The colorful snake did not sweep towards the Hidden Mist ninja.

They opened their mouths, revealing fangs and a sticky liquid.

There were also the corpses of Konoha ninja.

"how?"

Orochimaru sneered.

"can."

Pipa Juzo glanced briefly at the corpses and nodded.

"In that case, come to my Hidden Mist Village's territory."

The territory of the Hidden Mist?
Orochimaru quickly understood and looked behind Juzo Biwa, where Konoha lay in disgrace.

For the first time in fifty years, they suffered a defeat, ceded territory, and for the first time allowed the land of the Land of Fire to be almost permanently adorned with the banner of Kirigakure.

"Let's go then."

Orochimaru really liked this feeling.

Before a main course, you always need to eat some side dishes to whet your appetite.

Sprinkle salt on the wounds inflicted by Konoha, then stomp on them a few times to completely humiliate them.

Orochimaru entered the town under the control of Kirigakure.

To his surprise, the land, which should have been bloody, dark, and filthy, was instead bustling with people, cars, and people.

It seems that while I was engrossed in my research, the world had also undergone many changes.
The village, which was originally only kept afloat by Kaguya Naoki, is showing signs of revival.

You came to the right place.

The stronger Kirigakure becomes, the more resources it will have to support my research.

"Orochimaru, let's wait here for a while. I estimate that the Konoha ninjas will arrive soon."

Juzo Biwa clearly underestimated the speed of the Konoha ninja.

The dense forest in front of the town soon began to sway, as Konoha ninjas had caught up.

This density.

Pipa Shizang secretly clicked his tongue in amazement.

They underestimated not only the speed, but also the quantity.

"Orochimaru, you seem to be quite important, to warrant so many Konoha ninja coming to pursue you."

"Oh?"

Orochimaru couldn't help but show a look of disdain.

"My noble and upright teacher felt that I, his disciple, would become a stain on his reputation and affect his election for Hokage, so he desperately wanted to bring me back."

"And one of my partners, Danzo Shimura, was humiliated because I severely humiliated him."

"It's normal."

Pipa Juzo recalled the Kirigakure of the past, which looked just like this.

However, things have changed today.

A new era belonging to the Hidden Mist has arrived.

Meanwhile, Konoha entered the old era that belonged to Kirigakure.

"Hand over Orochimaru, or we'll attack immediately!"

"Hand over Orochimaru, or we'll attack immediately!"

The Konoha ninjas are ruthless and merciless, showing no trace of their past forbearance; they are resolute.

Pipa Juzo raised the guillotine sword in his hand.

No words.

It speaks louder than a thousand words.

If you want war, then come!
The Konoha ninjas exchanged glances, still somewhat hesitant.

They are not afraid of fighting, but they must consider the chain reaction that will follow.

Who dares to move?
Unless Hiruzen Sarutobi or Danzo Shimura gave the order here.

"They're utterly useless."

The loquat was quite indifferent.

Only Orochimaru's eyes grew increasingly excited.

This is the gap.

Those Konoha ninjas never dared to make decisions on their own without receiving definite orders.

otherwise.

The fate of Konoha's White Fang will be the same for all of them.

But the fog is different.

He was certain that his sudden arrival had left Mist Shadow no time to react.

However, Kirigakure's Juzo Biwa dared to take the initiative at this time.

The contrast is evident from the contrast between the two.

Whoosh!
A figure appeared beside Pipa Juzo.

Those were blue and white divine robes, and those were the Flying Thunder Gods that could move in an instant.

The identity of the visitor is already known.

Fourth Mizukage, Kaguya Naoki.

It's all too late.

The Konoha ninjas exchanged glances, then left with a sigh of relief.

With Naoki Kaguya's arrival, the reasons for giving up became quite compelling.

"Orochimaru, you certainly haven't disappointed me."

Naoki Kaguya watched the Konoha ninja retreat without any intention of pursuing them. He simply turned around and looked at Orochimaru with interest.

"When I received the news that you were going to defect, I had a feeling that you were going to come to Kirigakure."

"Unexpectedly, it's perfect."

"Then thank you very much for your high regard, Naoki-kun."

As Orochimaru spoke, his expression became unusually serious.

"Naoki-kun."

Does your offer to recruit me from a long, long time ago still stand?

"of course."

Naoki Kaguya rubbed his eyes.

"These Byakugan eyes, Orochimaru, were the ones you helped me get them."

(End of this chapter)