Chapter 61: Some Cheer While Others Worry

In the days that followed, everyone waited anxiously for news from the other side.

Iwagakure awaited updates from Sunagakure.

Sunagakure waited for reports from Konoha.

Meanwhile, Konoha closely observed the situations in both Iwagakure and Sunagakure.

At Konoha's base camp in the Hot Water Country,

Jiraiya had been promoted—not a full promotion, per se. As deputy commander, he now took over command duties from Orochimaru in his absence.

Orochimaru had left to carry out a covert operation based on newly received intelligence.

Orochimaru received intelligence indicating that Killer B—the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and Cloud Ninja commander stationed in the Hot Water Country—had lost control and injured many Cloud Ninjas.

Although the situation involving Killer B had been brought under control, he remained mentally unstable and was no longer fit to lead operations. Killer B was already being escorted back to Kumogakure by a team of Cloud Ninjas led by A.

Upon learning this information, Orochimaru initially wanted to immediately dispatch ninjas to attack the Cloud Ninja station. However, he came up with a better plan—

A plan that would keep Kumogakure too preoccupied to continue confronting them in the Hot Water Country.

Truthfully, Orochimaru disliked war quite a bit because it occupied so much of his time, leaving him unable to conduct research.

Orochimaru planned to infiltrate Kumogakure secretly, break the seal on Killer B—the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki—and release the Eight-Tails.

This way, Kumogakure would certainly suffer a serious blow, giving Konoha a temporary respite from conflict.

During this research hiatus, countless ideas surged through Orochimaru's mind—ideas he'd been unable to test because of this damned war.

Therefore, to secure this brief reprieve, Orochimaru resolved to act personally—sneaking into Kumogakure, breaking Killer B's seal, and unleashing the Eight-Tails.

Not even Jiraiya and Tsunade knew of this plan.

They only knew that Orochimaru needed to leave for several days to carry out a secret mission; they didn't know exactly what he intended to do.

Because if Jiraiya and Tsunade found out, they definitely wouldn't have allowed him to go—this mission carried too much risk. If Orochimaru got discovered, full-scale war would erupt immediately.

Therefore, according to proper protocol, this major operation should first be reported to Konoha's upper echelons like Hiruzen Sarutobi, needing their approval before Orochimaru could proceed.

But by the time all that process completed, it would be far too late.

Orochimaru wasn't someone who followed rules strictly, so he acted immediately—he left the camp directly and headed toward Kumogakure.

...

During these few peaceful days, Shindai also enjoyed a flood of inspiration while reading undisturbed.

With the foundational ninja tech materials Jiraiya had provided, Shindai continued to receive waves of inspiration as he studied.

Shindai used the leftover materials from Jiraiya's Puppet to try out the ideas swirling in his head. You could say he was living each day to the fullest.

Time flew by in an instant.

Seven days passed in a row.

Konoha's base camp in the Hot Water Country remained peaceful.

Since Kumogakure had not yet sent a new commander, and Orochimaru had only instructed Jiraiya to maintain the status quo, there hadn't been any battles these days, and everyone just went about their usual routine—eating, drinking, sleeping.

Meanwhile, in Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that a representative from Sunagakure—the Third Kazekage—had arrived bearing a message. He immediately dispatched ninja to escort this Sand shinobi to the Hokage Building.

"Hokage-sama, this letter must be personally delivered into your hands by order of our Kazekage," said the Sand ninja.

Hiruzen accepted the letter from the Sand ninja. "You've worked hard. Kaito, please show our Sunagakure guests to a place to rest."

"Yes, please follow me."

The ninja addressed as 'Kaito' by Hiruzen led the other five Sand ninja away to rest.

Hiruzen returned to his office and opened the letter to read it.

After reading the content, a smile appeared on Hiruzen's face. "Looks like Jiraiya and Minato were successful after all. However, we have no choice but to provide this batch of military supplies to Sunagakure. In effect, we're exchanging these supplies for Shindai while preventing Sand from cooperating with Stone.

"And this time they directly sent five Sand ninja to Konoha, meaning they expect immediate delivery of the supplies. They really are in a hurry."

Hiruzen quickly wrote a reply letter, stating that Konoha was willing to compensate Sunagakure by providing them with a batch of supplies as gratitude for Sand maintaining their alliance and continuing cooperation with Konoha without betraying it.

After finishing the letter, Hiruzen arranged for several ninja to transport the military supplies destined for Sunagakure.

After obtaining the supplies and the letter, the Sand ninja didn't linger in Konoha and soon left to return to Sunagakure.

Some cheer while others worry. Konoha was happy, so naturally Iwagakure was not.

The Rock ninja sent by Onoki to deliver supplies to Sunagakure also returned.

Learning that Sunagakure had accepted the military supplies he provided, yet simply replied with, "Thank you for Tsuchikage's generous gift," Onoki understood that Sand refused to cooperate with them and had even secretly taken their supplies.

Fuming with rage, Onoki shouted, "What the hell has Konoha offered him that he'd refuse to join me in attacking them? If we allied together with Sunagakure to strike Konoha, along with Kumogakure as well, Konoha wouldn't stand a chance—we could divide up enormous spoils among ourselves! Even Sunagakure, which is so poor it rattles when it walks, would live a little better off! That narrow-minded little punk Kaito has thrown everything away! I could explode!"

"Old man, just calm down," Kitsuchi said, trying to soothe him as he saw Onoki getting so angry. "Your back hasn't been great lately—you don't wanna pull it again. The doc said, at your age, once you strain your back, it'll keep happening."

"Shut up! Ow!"

With a loud *crack*, Onoki grabbed his lower back and winced in pain.

Kitsuchi quickly started rubbing his father's back with a helpless expression. "See? I told you to calm down and you wouldn't listen. Now look what happened—you're gonna keep pulling your back like this."

...

A few more days passed.

Within the walls of Sunagakure,

The Third Kazekage stood before the crates of supplies from Konoha, his eyes gleaming with deep satisfaction.

With these supplies, and those 'gifted' by Iwagakure, the ninja of Sunagakure could finally upgrade their gear.

As the old saying goes: A craftsman is only as good as his tools.

To get the most out of your ninja, their weapons and gear must be top-notch—nothing less than the finest available.

Meanwhile, in the basement of Sasori's lair,

Hiruko was nearing completion.

The entire form of Hiruko had taken shape, radiating a fierce and ominous presence.

Sasori whispered under his breath, "Just a little more... Kaito, you'll soon answer for everything you've done."

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