In Naruto, you can become a god through gacha pulls.

"Hmph." Orochimaru smiled wickedly. Was this kid named "Kenshin" stupid or too smart to actually ask for his help?

However, it now seems more likely to be the latter. Arranging for him to guard the gates of Konoha is probably to avoid getting involved in the conflict. And judging from his preparations recently, maybe he really is strong enough to overwhelm Konoha?

Orochimaru was pondering when suddenly a familiar aura surged into his senses, causing his face to darken as he looked towards the other end.

Just then, a figure wearing straw sandals appeared running in front of him.

"Jiraiya, he's here too?"

Chapter 15: Hyuga's Pre-Battle Declaration! The Reborn Konoha's Counterattack

Orochimaru's eyes flashed with malice, then he chuckled softly.

The people of Sound Village gradually noticed the figure approaching from the outskirts of Konoha. They originally wanted to step forward to stop Jiraiya, but Orochimaru immediately stopped them and blocked their way.

Even Kimimaro, who was the most active among them, showed a look of confusion and looked at Orochimaru with a puzzled expression.

"Lord Orochimaru, shouldn't we go and stop him?"

Orochimaru slowly shook his head and said with a smile:

"This is Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, who is on par with me. Let him go."

"Huh? Lord Orochimaru, you!" The young Kimimaro naturally didn't understand the meaning and just silently looked at Orochimaru.

“This is called… the ‘using one tiger to devour another’ tactic.” Orochimaru smiled, a ruthless glint appearing on his face.

......

"Hyuga Hiashi-sama, make your decision."

"Yes, Chieftain, only you can give us the answer now!"

Hiashi Hyuga was overwhelmed by the disturbances caused by his clan members, and the Hyuga clan was currently in a standoff with Kaze Yamanaka's forces.

Judging from Yamanaka Fu's testimony, the Root organization to which he belongs has most likely betrayed Konoha and is going to rebel. Perhaps tonight, the situation in Konoha will undergo a major change.

As the current clan leader, he faces two choices: either help Konoha and resist the Root organization, or remain inactive to avoid conflict with any faction.

Regardless of which side wins, most will give the Hyuga clan face, since the Hyuga clan is one of Konoha's long-standing foundations.

If a conflict were to actually arise with Yamanaka Fu, and Root were to achieve final victory, a ruthless and unscrupulous politician like Shimura Danzo would inevitably harm the Hyuga clan, just like the Uchiha clan was recently wiped out.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Hiashi's forehead. Although Konoha claimed that the rogue ninja Uchiha Itachi had personally slaughtered the entire clan, who didn't understand that the Root organization must have been involved and had some influence?

"Clan Chief." Hyuga Hizashi stood to the side, gently reminding his brother, his eyes filled with anxiety.

"Our future is in your hands." Hizashi's eyes were filled with trust in Hiashi.

"If this judgment is wrong, I will take my brother's place and be the scapegoat."

"So, it's decided." Hyuga Hizashi smiled at Hiashi.

"Hizashi..." Hyuga Hiashi looked at his younger brother, his eyes filled with tears of emotion.

“I understand. As the clan leader, I should find the most suitable path for the clan, and at the same time…” Hyuga Hiashi glanced at Hizashi and said softly:

"And no one needs to take responsibility for our mistakes."

About eight years ago, when the Cloud Village delegation came to the Hyuga clan in Konoha and kidnapped Hinata, the eldest daughter of the main branch of the Hyuga clan, he killed the kidnappers but was asked to exchange his life for Hinata's, thus starting a war. At that time, his younger brother repeatedly volunteered to die in his place.

Fortunately, a powerful figure traveling through Konoha intervened and resolved the conflict between the Hyuga clan and Kumogakure. Otherwise, given the tense situation at the time, Hizashi might have actually died then, leaving him with a lifetime of regret.

But things are different now. Hiashi Hyuga's eyes hardened. He didn't want to feel that way again, and he wouldn't let anyone die in his place!

Hiashi Hyuga's Byakugan flashed, and he looked around at the Hyuga clan members gathered around him. Hesitation in his eyes was replaced by determination. He raised his right hand and charged into the crowd, shouting sharply:

"Since the founding of Konoha, the Hyuga clan has been the pillar protecting the village. The village has treated us well, and the Hyuga and the village have long been one!"

"Today, the Hyuga clan will not allow 'Root' to overthrow Konoha! Such an act is no different from treason!"

"Prove to the village that the Hyuga clan will not stand idly by! We will not be complacent and seek shortcuts, but will once again become... the engine of a reborn Konoha!"

The young Hyuga Hiashi, as the new leader of the Hyuga clan, displayed the spirited demeanor expected of a clan head.

Below the stage, an elder from the Hyuga clan slowly raised his arm, his wrinkled face filled with displeasure, and said urgently:

"Your choice could very easily put the Hyuga clan in danger! You know the Root organization's ways, right? Do you really want to get into a conflict with them?"

Hiashi Hyuga chuckled softly and retorted:

"It is precisely because we know the Root organization's methods that we must resist!"

"What?" Elder Hyuga frowned. "Are you crazy? Have you forgotten what happened with the Uchiha clan?"

"With the Root organization in power, the Hyuga clan will be in a prolonged passive position. Today they dare to block our gates, tomorrow they will dare to do even more radical things!"

"Constant concessions will not yield good results."

"Great!" The speech instantly garnered support from the core members of the Hyuga faction, with cheers resounding throughout the room.

"We cannot let the Roots ride roughshod over us!"

"Lead us into battle, Chieftain!"

Seeing the lively atmosphere, Elder Hyuga could only sigh silently, feeling resentful.

Hiashi Hyuga stepped out of the gate, looked at Yamanaka Kaze before him, his gaze sharp, and said in a booming voice:

"The Hyuga clan will stand on the Hokage's side."

Yamanaka Kaze narrowed his eyes and smiled sinisterly: "Hyuga Hiashi, you'll regret this."

As the words fell, the Hyuga clan members activated their Byakugan, which, like twinkling starlight, gradually illuminated a corner of Konoha.

As Shan Zhongfeng gave a cold laugh, the Root organization members behind him stepped forward to greet him.

......

"Huff, huff..." Jiraiya ran, panting heavily. As he watched the smoke and fire rise over Konoha Village, his nerves became extremely tense.

"Just who is this person who could turn Konoha Village into what it is now?"

"Orochimaru, is that you?" Jiraiya frowned slightly as he looked at the giant snake that was roaring and destroying everything in the center of Konoha.

"Summoning Jutsu!" Jiraiya didn't dare to delay. He formed hand seals and slammed them on the ground. Immediately, Gamabunta jumped out from beneath his feet.

"Little Jiraiya, what's going on, so..." Before Gamabunta could finish speaking, his golden eyes immediately scanned the surrounding scene of hellish smoke and fire.

Destroyed houses, Konoha villagers crying out incessantly, and a giant snake rampaging through the center of Konoha.

"Huh? What... what is this...?"

"Boss Toad, you go deal with those snakes over there. I'll go protect the other areas and the villagers." Jiraiya's eyes were resolute as he ran off in the other direction.

There was no time to explain to Bunta; saving Konoha was the top priority right now, although he himself didn't fully understand the current situation.

But... saving people is all that matters!

Gamabunta nodded in approval, his powerful webbed feet propelling him forward as he flew toward the giant snake in the center of Konoha. He drew a long sword from his back and slashed fiercely at the snake!

"Crack!" The giant snake was instantly severed by this powerful strike!

"Good." Just as Gamabunta was feeling smug, several other giant snakes suddenly surged up from all around, flicking their tongues and scrutinizing the toad Gamabunta with their venomous eyes.

"Hiss!" Gamabunta gasped instantly. "We should have had Jiraiya find more backup..."

At this moment, Jiraiya rushed towards the area closest to him, which was also the area where he could sense the most chakra bursts.

He could sense that a fierce battle must have broken out in this area!

Jiraiya broke out in a cold sweat. He ran past the corner and looked at the area in front of him, only to be startled by what he saw.

A mountain of corpses piled up, blood staining the ground red. Countless ninjas, their eyes bloodshot, were dragging the other side's ninjas step by step into hell.

Here, Jiraiya saw a strangely familiar figure: short, gray-white hair and a cold, stern face that seemed to want to devour him whole.

"Shimura Danzo!"

Chapter 16: The Pig, Deer, and Butterfly Reappear!

"Shimura Danzo, what are you doing here!" Jiraiya stared in disbelief at the scene before him. Shimura Danzo's eyes were bloodshot as he plunged a kunai deep into the chest of an ANBU member before him, until the ANBU lost all will and was tossed aside like trash.

"Jiraiya, you're back!" Shimura Danzo stared intently at Jiraiya, his eyes instantly becoming wary.

"So, the one who turned Konoha into this state was Root?" Jiraiya's face erupted with anger, the toad mark appeared on his cheek, and Sage Mode gradually manifested on his body.

"Your return is certainly not good news..." Danzo's lips curled into a sneer as he looked around. There were hardly any living people left; the battlefield had long since transformed into a living hell.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he saw Shin fighting nearby. Shin casually held a sharp sword and blocked a kunai that was being slashed at Sai. Sai was right behind him, his eyes dull and lifeless, having already lost his will to fight from the sight of the mountain of corpses and the sea of ​​blood.

"Sai! Go tell Kenshin that Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, has appeared!" Danzo shouted at Sai, then his cold gaze went straight to Jiraiya.

"Then let this old man fight you."

......

In the Konoha Secret Techniques Clan area, Shiro Aburame was methodically organizing poisonous insects to break the poison array. He had been continuously outputting high-intensity chakra for 20 minutes, but the poison array in front of him still could not be broken.

"Torone, your poison is indeed superior to mine." Shiro Aburame sighed slightly, his smile towards Torone filled with self-mockery.

Seeing her father exhausted but unable to break the poison array, Aburame Torune finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He looked at the crowd and began to persuade them:

"Everyone, the Root organization will not treat you unfairly in the future, so don't struggle anymore. Once tonight is over, everything will be over."

"Bullshit!" A Konoha headband-wearing Aburame clan ninja pointed a finger at Aburame Torune, his face full of resentment towards him.

"As a member of the Aburame family, don't you feel the slightest shame for doing such a heretical thing?!"

Faced with insults from her tribesmen, Aburame Tori was criticized to the point of being unable to lift her head. She had been persuaded and refuted in this way countless times.

Qu Gen did not intend to refute his people; he chose to accept everything and understood their inner thoughts.

No one seemed to understand his predicament. Torune felt he was in a bind. He had indeed opposed betraying Konoha earlier, but he was subtly persuaded by Yoriichi and participated in the "revolution."

Even if he really opposed it, what could he do? As a member of the Root organization, he could only go with the flow.

Therefore, Qugen was willing to do his best to meet some of the needs of his people and protect their interests as much as possible. At the very least, he wanted to protect them and prevent them from getting involved in fierce external battles.

The inability to break the poison array was already the best-case scenario he had anticipated.

"As long as we maintain this state until dawn tomorrow," Qu Gen thought to himself, and once again began to persuade everyone to give up the idea of ​​breaking the poison array.