Chapter 46: Orochimaru's Suggestion
"What, the plan failed?"
Inside the heavily fortified central command tent of the Kirigakure front-line camp, the youthful-faced Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, abruptly rose to his feet and slammed his palm down on the war table. With a resounding bang, the wooden surface cracked and splintered under the force.
"Yes, Mizukage-sama. As much as I would prefer otherwise, it is unfortunately true."
"The squad assigned to provide cover discovered that the advance ANBU unit failed to report in at the scheduled time. Suspecting a disruption, they dispatched reconnaissance to investigate."
"Two full ANBU teams were later discovered lifeless near a rocky cliff bordering the forest terrain."
"And… and"
"And what?"
Yagura's gaze narrowed sharply, his expression hardening as he stared down the ANBU Commander standing before him, voice low and seething.
"And... most of the casualties exhibited signs of being killed by Mokuton—Wood Release techniques."
"What? Wood Release?"
As the Fourth Mizukage, a Jinchūriki himself, Yagura was no stranger to the infamous kekkei genkai once wielded by Senju Hashirama, the legendary First Hokage. Though Mokuton had long since become a lost art, Kirigakure intelligence maintained classified files referencing its existence and formidable nature.
Yagura slowly returned to his seat, brows furrowed in contemplation. "Has Konoha produced another ninja with the Wood Release? That technique should have died with Hashirama, aside from their failed experiments with Yamato, the test subject of their Orochimaru-derived cloning program."
"For one Mokuton-user to neutralize two elite ANBU squads… Even if such a ninja isn't recorded in our archives, the threat can't be understated."
The documented power of Mokuton its ability to subdue tailed beasts, reshape battlefields, and suppress chakra was enough to cause even someone of Yagura's strength to feel a chill run through his spine. The idea that another such user had emerged filled him with a growing dread.
"How is the status of the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki?"
Reining in his unease, Yagura forced his tone into something closer to calm, though tension still lingered. The survival or capture of the Three-Tails was no trivial matter especially considering its current host, who had defected from Kirigakure.
If the Jinchūriki had made it back to Konoha's main camp, received reinforcement, and had the beast resealed then all their effort would be meaningless. Worse, Konoha would gain another Tailed Beast under their control.
"The battlefield was in chaos. There were few concrete leads to follow. Knowing the strategic value of the Three-Tails, I activated a dormant high-level spy embedded within Konoha's front lines."
"However, due to the abruptness of the operation, pressing the agent too aggressively risked blowing their cover. I beg your understanding, Mizukage-sama."
High-ranking intelligence operatives especially those stationed within enemy infrastructure were invaluable. Not only did they gain access to critical information, but their exposure would mean certain death and a massive intelligence loss.
The ANBU Commander, though technically within his rights to mobilize the agent, had done so without prior clearance an act that verged on insubordination.
Yagura exhaled sharply, then leaned forward. "That depends on whether your gamble pays off."
"If you've delivered me bad news, and the mission is truly a failure then you're finished as ANBU Commander."
The ANBU officer clenched his fists internally, silently cursing. As if this entire mission wasn't built on your own plans. I'm not the strategist here I just carried out orders. But when it fails, suddenly it's the executor's fault?
Still, he held back his protest. This time, fortune was on his side.
"According to the intelligence received, the kunoichi who performed the sealing of the Three-Tails has died."
At those words, Yagura exhaled deeply, the weight on his shoulders momentarily lifted. Good. Dead is good.
The death of the Jinchūriki meant the Three-Tails, Isobu, had perished as well. But Bijū, unlike ordinary beings, were chakra manifestations. In time, Isobu would reform in the wild. And when that happened, Kirigakure would have a second chance an opportunity to reclaim what once belonged to them.
Yagura had no way of knowing that, due to the consequences of this very plan, he himself would eventually be reduced to a mere puppet manipulated by Genjutsu cast by Uchiha Obito via the Sharingan, deprived of autonomy, and unknowingly complicit in intensifying Kirigakure's infamous Bloody Mist policy. This era of cruelty would lead the Hidden Mist to decline drastically, leaving it floundering at the bottom of the Five Great Shinobi Nations.
Kirigakure and Sunagakure would soon become competing candidates for last place among the Five Great Villages.
In theory, policies from the top shape the destiny of a nation. But in practice, countermeasures from below often subvert them. Like ancient feudal lords and cunning magistrates, shinobi in subordinate positions sometimes executed policies in such a way that they were rendered ineffective or worse, intentionally "over-implemented" to sabotage them.
To "double down" might be disastrous but Kirigakure's spiral was not a mere doubling. It was super-doubling: an exaggeration of authoritarian control, censorship, and violence, masked as discipline.
And yet, despite these policies, Kirigakure managed to barely hold onto its status as a major power more out of sheer fortune and geography than merit.
"That girl used sheer willpower to briefly wrest control of her mind… and chose to throw herself onto Hatake Kakashi's Chidori, taking her own life."
Yagura was silent for a long moment. Finally, he muttered, "She was a brave kunoichi. They chose the wrong target. They should've selected someone more desperate to live... someone who feared death."
"It wasn't entirely their fault," the ANBU commander replied. "Statistically, kunoichi are generally more susceptible to coercion physically and emotionally. That's the historical pattern in psychological conditioning."
"But it's too late now," Yagura said wearily. "Call it fate, or misfortune. Konoha still retains its strength. Fate has not yet turned against them."
"Mizukage-sama, what are your orders now?"
Yagura gave a wry, bitter smile. "What can we do?"
"Withdraw the advance units and begin regrouping toward the Land of Whirlpools. There's no point in continuing the fight in the Land of Fire now that the operation has failed."
"A prolonged conflict with Konoha will only bleed both sides. Meanwhile, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure will sit back and enjoy the spectacle."
The ANBU commander bowed, but then hesitated. "Mizukage-sama, can we hold the Land of Whirlpools on our own?"
"The Uzushio region is of strategic value. Konoha will never allow us to seize it unopposed."
"What if we deploy the Six-Tails Jinchūriki?"
Yagura's expression darkened momentarily, then softened with restraint. "Yūgō is only seven. His compatibility with the Rokubi: Saiken is unstable at best."
"If he were to lose control and undergo a full Tailed Beast transformation, it could break the seal. If that happens and Yūgō dies, Saiken will vanish just like Isobu did."
"And without a Tailed Beast, our bargaining position is lost. No... that's too great a risk."
He sighed heavily. "We'll do our best to secure the area."
"If we can't hold it, then withdraw and let the Land of Whirlpools descend into neutral chaos, just like before. No structure. No ownership. That might buy us time."
"If Konoha doesn't want a prolonged war either, they'll respect the unspoken boundary."
If Kirigakure seized Uzushio, it would give them the ideal staging ground to strike into the Fire Nation. The reverse was true for Konoha. However, with the Fire Nation's prosperity and naval disadvantage, Konoha had little incentive to engage Water Country directly. But for Kirigakure, it was a matter of necessity and survival.
"Yes, Mizukage-sama. I'll relay the command."
"Go," Yagura murmured, lifting a tired hand.
If this mission had truly collapsed, he had a sinking feeling that Kirigakure would be left empty-handed like Iwagakure during the Third Great War.
"Yes."
The ANBU commander donned his animal-themed mask, turned, and disappeared into the shadows of the tent.
---
At that same moment, within the Konoha frontline command tent, Tsunade presided over an emergency strategy meeting. Gathered were four of Konoha's top military minds and Nara Shikaku, Konoha's most brilliant tactician.
Tsunade sat at the head of the table, exuding command presence. With her blonde hair partially tied back by her forehead protector, violet rhombus seal on her forehead, sharp brown eyes, and standard green Konoha flak jacket worn over a light blue kimono-style top, she was both composed and imposing.
To her left sat Orochimaru and Nara Shikaku; to her right, Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato.
Minato, usually the image of calm optimism, now wore a grim and muted expression. The death of Nohara Rin had clearly shaken him.
Minato had long since grown accustomed to the death that came with the shinobi path. But Rin's loss struck a personal chord she was not just a student, but a gentle soul, a civilian-born kunoichi who had asked for little and given her all.
ML
He would not sink into despair like Kakashi, but the pain was genuine, and heavy.
"Everyone is now aware of Nohara Rin's fate," Tsunade began calmly. "I want your assessments."
She kept her posture firm, voice unwavering, embodying the leadership of a wartime commander.
.....
30+ advanced chapter on patreon....Visit patreon now to read my exclusive content... posting 5 chapters per day, Our collection is now available on PATREON
visit patreon.com/Elbertovic to view 30+ advanced chapters
Please subscribe guys