Chapter 158: To Repel External Aggression, One Must First Ensure Internal Stability

Yamanaka Chujiu once said that Lady Tsunade is the jade of Konohagakure, the most legitimate successor to the position of Hokage.

The most critical factor in Sarutobi Hiruzen being able to become the Third Hokage was that he had Tsunade as a student, which allowed him to be recognized by the Senju clansmen and the Daimyo, while also being able to mobilize both Orochimaru and Jiraiya, those two rising stars.

Then, why would Tsunade, the strongest successor to the Fourth Hokage, spend years wandering abroad, indulging in alcoholism and gambling, and deliberately avoiding her responsibilities?

Because she was heartbroken.

The death of her younger brother Nawaki and the death of her boyfriend Kato Dan were both filled with inexplicable coincidences and fatal damage that could not be explained at all.

The attacker was very clear about their relationship with Tsunade, and the method of attack was full of targeting, specifically to prevent the strongest medical ninja from being able to save these two people.

Any ninja with normal intelligence could see the trickery in this.

Tsunade could naturally see it too, but she had no way to make up her mind to deal with the biggest suspect. Because of this, she developed hemophobia and could no longer live in the same village as her enemy with peace of mind.

Thus, Tsunade gave up everything, abandoned her identity as a Konoha ninja, spent years wandering abroad, and anesthetized herself with alcohol and gambling.

Jiraiya deliberately avoided his responsibilities, wandering outside for many years without returning to the village, knowing almost nothing about the massive changes in the village, and relying entirely on rumors to understand the surface.

The Daimyo's messenger only needed to deliberately guide him, without needing to distort or smear at all, to make Jiraiya conclude that Orochimaru and Yamanaka Chujiu's subversion of the Third's rule, their control of Konoha, their warmongering, their oppression of nobles and the Daimyo, and their exploitation of neighboring countries were all perverse acts done for selfish desires.

Because of this master and student, Konohagakure had deviated from the righteous path created by the First Hokage and had fallen into an evil force of dictatorship and tyranny.

However, Tsunade could not be deceived by this set of rhetoric.

Her status was simply too special; even though she had not returned to the village for five or six consecutive years, she was still well aware of the changes within the village.

Even if the messenger promised that they would support Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage afterward, restore the old system of Konoha, revive the glory of their ancestors, and completely end the chaotic situation, it would still be impossible to persuade Tsunade.

Therefore, this matter could only be left to Jiraiya to handle.

When some words came out of the mouth of the Daimyo's messenger, Tsunade could treat them as farting.

But when Jiraiya said these words, relying on the bond of twenty years as classmates and companions, he could make Tsunade believe them.

It is unknown how Jiraiya did it, but in short, he successfully persuaded Tsunade, who formally agreed to join the Anti-Snake Alliance, preparing to return to Konoha to set things right.

In the 54th year of Konoha, the Fire Daimyo quietly integrated four powerful forces: the great army of Iron Country Samurai, Jiraiya and the Myoboku Mountain behind him, Tsunade and the Konoha Ninja behind her, and the secret war organization—Akatsuki.

Because the Konoha Ninja represented by Tsunade numbered as many as ten thousand, the Anti-Konoha Alliance was renamed the Anti-Snake Alliance.

The four forces had no shortcomings in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Sealing Technique, medical care, siege, and reconnaissance, but their combat power was not particularly strong.

It was precisely because Tsunade tore away a portion of the Konoha Ninja that they possessed the power to confront Konohagakure head-on.

At the very least, the Fire Daimyo, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Nagato, and the General of Iron Country all thought so.

But Yamanaka Chujiu did not think so.

As the one in charge of Konohagakure, relying on the Mind Severing Realm to control the entire village, how could he possibly fail to discover the imprisoned Daimyo making trouble?

In fact, the Fire Daimyo's heart was moved by his secret instigation, and even the inspiration for planning and forming the alliance was something he had personally inserted into the Daimyo's brain.

After everything was ready, Yamanaka Chujiu visited his teacher Orochimaru and informed him of everything regarding the Anti-Snake Alliance.

Orochimaru continued to conduct his own experiments while listening to Chujiu's report.

Finally, he sneered and commented: "Jiraiya is still as stupid as ever, being led around by the nose with just a few words from others."

"Tsunade is also something; even though the village and she have nothing to do with each other anymore, she insists on being dragged into the chaotic situation by Jiraiya's friendship and the Daimyo's family ties."

"And those Konoha Ninja, you treated them so well for these three years, yet they are still unsatisfied, being fooled into a daze by a few words from others, insisting on going against their own interests."

"The General of Iron Country is purely greedy; he was actually blinded by the land and mineral resources of the Land of Fire, thinking that he could swallow such a large benefit."

"He doesn't even stop to think, even if a meteorite fell from the sky right now and killed me, Orochimaru, you, Chujiu, and eight or nine out of ten villagers and ninja in Konohagakure, even if they luckily achieved success..."

"Would it then be time to carve up the meat?"

"What a delusion; Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure would absolutely mobilize at the first moment and kill their way into the Land of Fire within three days, directly partitioning all the land and the cake."

"By then, the Fire Daimyo would definitely be the first to die, the General of Iron Country would be the second, and only Jiraiya and Tsunade might luckily survive."

"If their skin is thick enough not to commit suicide because of this..."

Orochimaru's mood became somewhat low when he said this.

He put down the things in his hands, closed his experimental logbook, took Yamanaka Chujiu and left the laboratory, and returned to the Hokage Office, which he had not visited for many years.

Sitting in the Hokage's seat, Orochimaru's temperament had undergone a drastic change, from a calm and meticulous scientist to a serious and cold leader.

He looked at his student Yamanaka Chujiu: "Tell me everything, what exactly are you thinking?"

"You can achieve perfect control over such a huge battlefield, so you must be able to do the same for Konohagakure; an imprisoned Daimyo couldn't possibly cause so many things without you knowing."

"What is it that you want to do, kid?"

Yamanaka Chujiu smiled: "There is a saying: to repel external aggression, one must first ensure internal stability."

"Teacher Orochimaru, my work is progressing very smoothly, and in a few years, I will be ready to launch a war against the entire Ninja World."

"But there are still cracks and hidden dangers within Konohagakure."

Orochimaru asked: "Jiraiya and Tsunade?"

Yamanaka Chujiu nodded: "Yes, those two are the representatives."

Orochimaru asked again: "Are you going to kill them?"

Chujiu shook his head: "No, Lord Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade are good people, good ninja; I don't intend to kill them."

"I only want to eliminate those Konoha Ninja who oppose Konohagakure and oppose the war of unification."

Orochimaru took a deep breath: "You kid, you look like you're smiling all day, but your heart is far darker and more ruthless than mine."

Yamanaka Chujiu curled his lips: "How am I ruthless? I just know how to distinguish between friend and foe; I believe one should be as gentle as spring to one's own people and as cold as winter to enemies."

"The most detestable things in the world are the enemies hidden within; if you don't get rid of them, they can make your own people pay a hundred times the tragic price."

Orochimaru nodded: "You kid is as reasonable as ever."

"Tell me, what do you need me to do by calling me out?"

Yamanaka Chujiu said: "I need Teacher Orochimaru to deal with the other two of the Legendary Sannin."