Chapter 164 Coping Strategies

"Forehead..."

Nara Shika was stunned for a moment. Could he say that Lu Lin didn't participate in the battle at all?

"Of course, I haven't reached the power of the first generation yet."

If he really had that kind of power, who in the current ninja world could stop him? But it would not be good if he had the strength of Uchiha Madara. In the current ninja world, there is no second ninja god.

"So, this means that every ninja village didn't show their true strength this time, right?"

He looked at Shikaku with a dim gaze. He felt that he might have been too nice to Konoha in the past few years, which made them dare to treat him perfunctorily.

"Of course not. Konoha follows the Daimyo's wishes completely."

Shikaku, who was already somewhat in the wrong, couldn't straighten his back in front of the daimyo:

"Konoha sent Orochimaru, the Hokage's most outstanding disciple, and the most talented ninja in the entire village, Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash."

He wanted to say that Konoha really valued the Daimyo's words.

"Orochimaru?"

The daimyo thought about it for a long time. He did know the name, but... Among the three ninjas of Konoha, Orochimaru didn't seem to be very famous.

Think about the Konoha Princess Tsunade Senju and Jiraiya, which one is not more famous than Orochimaru?

"That's not what I meant, of course."

Shikaku quickly waved his hands and explained:

"Although Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama are relatively well-known in the ninja world, their strength and decision-making are definitely not as good as Orochimaru-sama. Moreover, Orochimaru-sama is still the most favorable competitor for the next Hokage."

At this point, he no longer cares whether Orochimaru defected or not. If he doesn't speak highly of Orochimaru, the daimyo will really think that Konoha is just trying to get by with him, and when the time comes, Konoha's funding will be cut, and won't his own people be the ones who suffer?

"That's it."

Daimyo nodded and said:

"So the other ninja villages are just slacking off, right?"

"That's natural."

Seeing that the daimyo's eyes gradually became clear, Shikaku was no longer nervous:

"Especially the Hidden Mist Village. They didn't even send a Kage-level warrior."

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were indeed very powerful. When they united, they were fully capable of fighting against Kage-level warriors. It was a pity that they were killed separately.

"okay, I get it."

There was a strange light in the eyes of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. What was wrong with the Daimyo of the Land of Water and the Daimyo of several other countries? Couldn't they even control the ninja villages under their own jurisdiction?

After waving his hand to send Lu Jiu away, he began to think about how to get something from the daimyos of other countries, otherwise he would be unwilling to give in.

And the land of tea...

In Konoha Village, in the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked expressionlessly at some experimental reports on Orochimaru and some instruments taken out from the Root laboratory.

The atmosphere in the entire office was so low that it was hard to describe. Even Danzo, who dared to contradict the Hokage, had a gloomy look at this moment, because although Orochimaru was the Hokage's disciple, he had always worked under him.

"Tell me every bit of the news about my good disciple's defection."

Across from the desk stood Minato Namikaze who had just returned:

“At the time, I was entangled by two Uchiha men, and while we were fighting, suddenly Lord Orochimaru joined in.

I thought that with the help of Lord Orochimaru, we could defeat the opponent as quickly as possible, but who knew that he suddenly attacked me.

After that, the Tea Kingdom gained the upper hand, and I had no choice but to lead the village's ninjas and temporarily escape from the battlefield."

There is still a wound on his chest, which was caused by his haste to escape from the battlefield.

"Phew~ You've worked hard, Minato, go down and have a rest."

Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke and spoke slowly. Namikaze Minato nodded and left the office.

"Tell me, Danzo, how much do you know about Orochimaru?"

"He is obviously your disciple, Hiruzen, it's all because of you who failed to teach him properly!"

When he heard that the matter involved him, Danzo quickly tried to distance himself from it.

"But he has always been at your root, and it is difficult for even me to see him."

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't want to say these useless words anymore:

"Okay, you just need to tell me what my disciples are doing in your roots?"

"Just... just some ordinary experiments, what else can I do?"

Danzo hesitated, and Sarutobi Hiruzen could tell at a glance that his old friend was lying:

"I have already issued an order to stop all human experiments in the village. Danzo, why did you continue to carry it out? And you took my disciples with you!"

There was a hint of anger in his tone.

"Orochimaru did it himself, and I didn't even know it."

Danzo said with his eyes wide open, as if this was the only way to clear himself of the injustice.

"alright."

Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned weakly on the back of the chair:

"What do you think about the Tea Country and Uchiha Lulin?"

When mentioning Uchiha, Danzo also became angry. He did not expect that Uchiha would be so powerful now. It was all because of those eyes. Those eyes could have been his. Thinking of this, he could not stop the pain in his heart:

"We must take this seriously, Hiruzen. The Tea Country is developing too fast. I suggest that you tell the Daimyo once again that we must wage war against the Tea Country!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, not very satisfied with Danzo's reckless remarks:

"The number of high-end combat forces in the Tea Country has far exceeded that of our Konoha."

Among those high-end combat forces, most of them are ninjas from Konoha. Sarutobi Hiruzen was also very sad. If those people were still in Konoha, then Konoha would definitely be the most powerful village in the ninja world.

By then, that village would still dare to challenge Konoha? No, by then, I should stop eating beef.

"Then call on the other ninja villages. I don't believe that after this failure, they won't understand the threat from the Tea Country. Or do they not care about the emergence of another one of the Five Great Ninja Villages in the ninja world?"

The only difference between the current Tea Kingdom and the five major ninja villages is the number of middle and lower-level ninjas and national strength.

When these things are completed, the ninja world will be divided into six major ninja villages and other small ninja villages.

Moreover, Konoha might have to separate those places that are in contact with the Tea Country. There is no other way. Without a small buffer zone between the two countries, it would be too dangerous for Konoha.

The Land of Fire is too large, and it is impossible to place all of its main forces to guard the places that come into contact with the Land of Tea. There are simply too many places that need Konoha ninjas.

"What about the Rain Country? That fish seems to be planning to flip over as well."

Hanzo's statement was placed on Sarutobi Hiruzen's desk that day.