Chapter 73 Division of Labor (Part 1)

What Hanma pointed to was more like a small country rather than an island.

Orochimaru frowned; Hanma's choice greatly surprised him.

"Hanma-kun, aiming for Kirigakure is quite challenging. Perhaps we should start with some smaller ninja villages."

In Orochimaru's plan, their target should ideally be some mid-to-small ninja villages with excellent resources in the Ninja World.

For example, the Land of Frost, the Land of Tea, or the Land of Hot Water. Although the local ninjas of these small countries are weak in combat, they possess good land and economic resources. If handled properly, they can also develop well.

Even the Land of Iron and the Land of Frost, these small countries with relatively strong military forces, could be taken if they find support from local ninja clans. 

In the original timeline, Orochimaru established Otogakure in the Land of Rice Fields with the support of the Fuma clan.

Hanma shook his head while pointing at the small ninja villages on the map.

"Orochimaru-kun, you know the reason why these small countries haven't been annexed by the large countries."

"Their true purpose is to act as buffer zones during large countries' wars, serving as walls to prevent the flames of war from reaching their own territories. Even if these small countries enjoy temporary peace, they still operate under the influence of large countries. Ultimately, they are small, weak, and nothing more than ephemeral bubbles."

"Without vast national territory and sufficient population, even if we occupy these small countries and establish our own ninja village, it would at most be a stronger Amegakure, unable to truly establish a foothold in the Ninja World."

"And in my plan, I intend to take the Uchiha clan away from Konoha. Relying on these small countries simply cannot safeguard our Uchiha clan's Kekkei Genkai."

Considering the mobility of ninjas, the map of the Ninja World is indeed too small. Hence, the geographical politics in the Ninja World are vividly evident.

The reason Konoha has frequently been attacked by the other four hidden villages, aside from the alluring forests of the Land of Fire, is mainly due to its terrible geographical location.

The saying goes, "golden corner, silver border, and grass belly." The Land of Fire is terribly positioned, bordering the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind, while the Land of Lightning ominously eyes it from the north. It's a situation of being besieged from multiple fronts.

Geographically speaking, the most advantageous location in the Ninja World is the Land of Lightning. The entire country is full of hills and is a peninsula, easy to defend and hard to attack.

During large-scale wars in the Ninja World, it can also quickly deploy troops to gain benefits.

Orochimaru nodded in agreement with Hanma's view.

[If Hanma-kun intends to take the Uchiha clan, a small country indeed cannot provide the stage to contain the Uchiha.]

"Then, Hanma-kun, do you plan to take the Uchiha to Kirigakure?"

"Frankly speaking, given the Uchiha's reputation in the Ninja World, seeking refuge in another country would also make it hard to gain fair treatment."

Hanma laughed heartily at Orochimaru's words, patting his shoulder, and said:

"Since we're going to implement a bottom-up policy, how could I take the Uchiha to seek refuge in another ninja village?"

"The village we are going to establish will be one where your and my words are law, establishing absolute authority."

Hanma then began to detail his concept to Orochimaru.

"The key reason for choosing Kirigakure is its enclosed geography, isolated overseas and not bordering any of the other large countries. Once we succeed, we can adopt a seclusion policy, thoroughly reform Kirigakure and even the Land of Water, without worrying about interference from the other four large countries."

"And Kirigakure's current policies also give us a huge opportunity. Now, the Third Mizukage and the various ninja clans in Kirigakure are at odds, and there are already signs of a split."

Orochimaru's eyes lit up, already understanding Hanma's intention.

"Indeed, among the experimental subjects Danzo previously sent me, there were many rogue ninja from Kirigakure."

Kirigakure is truly a peculiar place. 

The Land of Water, where Kirigakure is located, is an isolated large island country surrounded by resource-rich archipelagos and should have enjoyed peace the most.

Unfortunately, the Second Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu was a complete lunatic and battle maniac, squandering this good situation.

During the First Great Ninja War, he fought to the death with the Second Tsuchikage over some spoils from attacking Konoha, and both ended up dying together.

Unlike Konoha or Iwagakure, Kirigakure didn't have a clear apprentice succession system. For a time, various ninja clans in Kirigakure rose, each seeking to gain the Mizukage's power, plunging the country into chaos.

The Third Mizukage, having once served as a guard for the First Mizukage Byakuren and the Second Mizukage Gengetsu, reluctantly took power based on his qualifications but became a puppet for the various ninja clans.

However, everything changed when the Third Mizukage sealed the Three-Tails inside himself.

Though the Third Mizukage didn't become a perfect Jinchuriki, he could still wield the Tailed Beast's chakra, boosting his strength immensely.

After serving as a puppet for almost twenty years, he grew exceedingly resentful of the ninja clans restraining him and began a brutal purge.

This is the so-called principle: absolute loyalty or absolute disloyalty.

In the Third Mizukage's mind, these bloodline ninja clans, despite their superior abilities compared to ordinary civilian ninjas, merely brought greater turmoil.

While other villages prized and cherished bloodline limits, in Kirigakure, they became harbingers of disaster.

Orochimaru excitedly examined the information about Kirigakure that Hanma summarized, a thick interest arising in his snake-like vertical pupils.

To one who detests monotony like him, besides scientific research in pursuit of ultimate changes in ninjutsu, what could be more drastic than overthrowing a country?

"So, by recruiting those ninja clans antagonistic to the Third Mizukage, we can form a considerable force and further intensify Kirigakure's internal conflicts."

"Next, we just need to wait for the Third Mizukage's reaction. He certainly won't let this force grow unchecked."

"But the Tailed Beast power the Third Mizukage relies on before our Uchiha clan is just a joke. If he dares to mobilize troops, we can claim the moral high ground of defensive counterattack and execute a decapitation strike to seize Kirigakure in one go."

Hanma had a process that could make most ninjas in the Ninja World disappear silently.

With Kushina's Kagura Mind's Eye for scouting, Minato's Flying Raijin Technique for infiltration, Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan for genjutsu control, and Hanma's immense strength capable of suppressing Tailed Beasts for the finishing blow.

Additionally, with Orochimaru's exclusive Kiritome jutsu, they could even recreate a "Third Mizukage."

With a change of skin, no detection technique would see through it, achieving far better than what Tobi did in the original timeline.

Hanma took out a scroll, and a stack of thick bills appeared from the smoke.

These were the savings Hanma had painstakingly accumulated.

"So, Orochimaru-kun, your task is to go to Kirigakure, intensify its internal conflicts, and gather the persecuted bloodline ninja clans."

"With people, money, and arms, I, along with the entire Uchiha clan, will fully support you!"

(End of Chapter)