Konoha – Hokage's Office
After returning to the village, Minato Namikaze brought Kagetsu with him to report the mission details to Hokage Orochimaru.
He also handed over the cooperation treaty jointly signed by the Raikage and the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning.
Orochimaru glanced at the treaty, then put it aside for the time being.
He had already anticipated the alliance between the two great shinobi villages, and during this time, he wasn't completely unaware of what was happening in the Hidden Cloud Village of the Land of Lightning.
Minato had been regularly sending back intelligence and related updates.
"Take a look."
Orochimaru used a jutsu to make a copy of an intelligence scroll and handed it to both Minato and Kagetsu.
The two of them accepted the scrolls, opened them, and began to read.
After a moment, they both looked up at Orochimaru at the same time.
"Kirigakure launched an attack on the Land of Rain?" Minato asked in surprise.
"Yes," Orochimaru replied, explaining calmly. "The main forces involved were the Hozuki Clan and the Kaguya Clan from the Hidden Mist."
Even Orochimaru had been surprised when he first received this intel.
No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't understand why Kirigakure would suddenly launch an attack on a small shinobi village like Amegakure.
Even though the Land of Rain had greatly improved its conditions in recent years, and the strength of its shinobi village had risen significantly, that still shouldn't have had anything to do with Kirigakure, which was separated from it by the entire Land of Fire.
Logically speaking, Kirigakure was isolated across the sea and located far from Amegakure.
With the Land of Fire and the ocean between them, there shouldn't be any direct hostility.
In terms of resources, the Land of Rain had nothing but endless rainfall and long rainy seasons.
While the Land of Water was the smallest in size, its many islands made it far richer in resources than the Land of Rain.
As for threats, even if Amegakure truly rose in power, the first ones it would have to deal with were the surrounding small nations and the three major powers that sandwiched it.
Considering that both the Hozuki and Kaguya clans were mobilized, this attack was clearly not a minor operation—it was a major, calculated move.
"Is there anything in the Land of Rain worth such a large-scale operation from the Hidden Mist Village?" Minato Namikaze asked, clearly puzzled. He couldn't understand why the Mist would go to such lengths.
Especially considering the Mist had gone around the Land of Fire entirely, crossing the sea to reach the Land of Rivers, and then used it as a springboard to infiltrate the Land of Rain.
This unit clearly understood that once they landed, their presence would likely be discovered.
So they wasted no time in the Land of Rivers and immediately launched a lightning-fast assault toward Amegakure.
"Lord Second has infiltrated the Land of Water for reconnaissance. He believes that Madara and his subordinates are likely hiding in the isolated islands off its coast.
He regularly sends back the intel he's gathered. In his own words, 'The situation in the Hidden Mist is... complicated,'" Orochimaru explained, still respectfully referring to Tobirama Senju as "Lord Second."
Orochimaru personally reviewed all the intel Tobirama had sent back.
Currently, Lord Second holds a secret identity within the Anbu, the elite task force directly under the Hokage.
"In short, this attack was most likely ordered by the Third Mizukage alone. According to Shikakichi, it's because the Mizukage is trying to shift the village's internal conflict outward by restarting a war.
At the very least, he wants to purge the strong but unstable elements within the village.
The defeat in the Third Great Ninja War severely damaged the Third Mizukage's reputation.
The Hidden Mist has always been a village of Kekkei Genkai and warring clans, so their internal power struggles are even bloodier and more intense.
Their loss in the war hit them hard. And in recent years, even the Daimyō of the Land of Water has grown dissatisfied with the Mist Village's failures."
Under immense pressure, the position of the Third Mizukage was on the verge of collapse.
According to information from the Second Hokage, although the Third was still officially in power, his personal forces had been severely weakened during the war.
In other words, the fact that he was still holding onto the Mizukage seat without being forced to abdicate was already a miracle in itself.
Orochimaru clearly had access to more intelligence than Kagetsu and the others—especially regarding the recent internal turmoil within Kirigakure.
"But this is as far as he can go. No matter what, unless he can completely eliminate all opposition, he won't be able to stay in power much longer."
"If he keeps clinging to that seat by force, the major ninja clans will unite and remove him. At least, according to the Second Hokage's intel, the Kaguya clan has already started showing clear signs of unrest."
"The Kaguya clan and the Hozuki clan are two of Kirigakure's major Kekkei Genkai clans. Their power and influence in the village are comparable to the Uchiha and Hyuga in Konoha."
"They want the Third Mizukage to step down and for one of their own to become the Fourth Mizukage. I believe the Third Mizukage understands this well—so he made a choice."
"Whoever can capture all the high-ranking members of Amegakure and return with either their bodies or as prisoners will become the Fourth Mizukage."
"A diversion of conflict?" Namikaze Minato and Kagetsu looked at each other and immediately understood what the Third Mizukage was really planning.
By sending the elite forces of the two powerful Kekkei Genkai clans on a mission, he could temporarily remove the biggest threats to his rule.
While they were away from the village, he would have time to stabilize Kirigakure's internal situation—and solidify his position.
If executed properly, this plan could actually work.
After all, Amegakure wasn't one of the Five Great Nations. Its guardian, Hanzo, had long since died.
While information about Yahiko and his companions wasn't exactly a secret in the ninja world, it wasn't widely known either.
What mattered more was that the Land of Rain had allied with Konoha and possessed the production line for Healing Tags—a strategic resource.
If the Third Mizukage had ordered the Kekkei Genkai clans to attack one of the Five Great Villages, or to assassinate their Kage or high-ranking officials, even the most battle-hardened Kaguya clan would know it was impossible.
They might be war-loving and fearless, but the Kaguya clan still had some basic common sense.
If the Mizukage truly tried to force them into such a suicidal mission to compete for the title of Fourth Mizukage, both clans would likely grit their teeth, join forces, and drag the Third Mizukage off his position first.
But if it were Amegakure of the Land of Rain?
Even if they knew that Hanzo had died at the hands of the current Amekage and his companions, they still wouldn't believe their assault would fail.
"What's the latest intel? How are Nagato and the others doing?" Minato couldn't help but feel concerned about his three fellow students.
Especially Nagato, whom he knew best. That gentle and quiet personality, along with the actions of Yahiko and the others, had left a very good impression on Minato.
He wanted to know how the three of them were doing now.
Of course, Minato didn't think things would be too bad. As long as they didn't fall into a trap or get surrounded, Nagato's strength alone should be enough to keep them safe.
Especially since the battlefield was still under their control.
Besides, considering Konoha's current close ties with the Land of Rain, if Amegakure truly couldn't hold out, Konoha would surely send reinforcements.
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