In Konoha, I collected corpses on the battlefield for ten years

After a long while, he finally put down the scroll, picked up his pipe, and began to puff away, completely ignoring Danzo's darkening face beside him.

Perhaps sensing Danzo's "resentful" gaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi snapped back to reality.

He took a deep breath. "Orochimaru said... on the battlefield, the Iwagakure commander, Dokawa, had already fled, but was killed by an unknown, mysterious ninja. We don't know the ninja's allegiance for now, but after his assessment, he may not have much hostility towards Konoha."

"Mysterious ninja?" Danzo asked, somewhat surprised.

As a Konoha elder and leader of Root, Danzo knew Dokawa's strength very well. He was only one step away from the Kage level, although he might never take that step in his life, his quasi-Kage strength was undeniable.

Orochimaru couldn't kill him, yet a mysterious ninja did...

Thinking of this, Danzo's expression became extremely serious.

He wasn't clear on some of the details of the battlefield, and Orochimaru didn't elaborate. Given his status, he wouldn't emphasize that Dokawa was already seriously injured before being killed by this mysterious ninja.

Therefore, in the eyes of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, it became that Dokawa in his prime was killed by the mysterious ninja.

The difference between the two scenarios was significant.

"Orochimaru said that the other party doesn't have much hostility towards our Konoha?" Danzo confirmed.

"Yes," Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, with the pipe clenched in his teeth.

"Then is it possible that..." Danzo hesitated.

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly revealed a look of realization. Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's composed appearance, as a friend of several decades, he understood his meaning.

At this time, having one more friend is far greater than having one more enemy!

Then, the task of trying to find that mysterious ninja would naturally be given to Danzo.

The reason Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado was because these two were too old-fashioned and might not accept this kind of thinking in special times.

Moreover, some things only needed to be known by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo.

After all, he was a ninja from another village.

However, this matter could only be attempted. It was impossible to truly make them believe in a ninja from another village, especially a powerful and mysterious one.

But if the other party had goodwill towards Konoha, it might be worth trying to use him as a sharp blade for Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't say some things explicitly, but Danzo understood his hints very well.

After all, Root's brainwashing ability was obvious to all.

He believed Danzo could handle it well.

......

The next day.

Fire Country Border.

Command Tent.

Orochimaru and Kaze were inside the tent.

"Orochimaru-sama." No matter how unwilling Kaze was to become Orochimaru's subordinate, he had no choice but to accept it now.

Orochimaru simply nodded without saying a word.

After a moment, a small snake swam out of Orochimaru's sleeve.

Gulp!

The small snake opened its mouth and spat out a scroll.

"It's here."

Orochimaru picked up the scroll and unfolded it. Inside was a letter from Hiruzen Sarutobi of Konoha. He glanced at it and understood the meaning of the Konoha higher-ups.

The content was roughly that Konoha had already dispatched a medical unit and subsequent support units, asking Orochimaru to stabilize the situation and wait for the arrival of reinforcements.

At the same time, he was asked to prepare manpower to escort the wounded who could no longer fight, as well as the ninjas who had already died in battle, back to Konoha. The rest would guard the border of the Land of Fire and try to investigate the situation in the Land of Waterfall, preparing to pull the battle line out of the Land of Fire, preferably within the Land of Waterfall.

Finally, it was about Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrangement regarding the mysterious ninja, hoping that Orochimaru could provide more detailed intelligence information.

Putting away the scroll, Orochimaru sat in his seat and waited for a moment, looking at Kaze who was standing respectfully.

He suddenly smiled and said, "Kaze-kun, the village is sending people to escort the wounded back. Would you like to go?"

Kaze raised his head slightly in surprise, looked at the somewhat eerie Orochimaru, and swallowed lightly, "Is it possible?"

Return to the village?

Away from the battlefield?

Couldn't be better!

The battlefield is too dangerous, I want to go back to Konoha!

Orochimaru nodded, "Of course."

To be honest, now every time Orochimaru said something, Kaze had to consider whether his words contained some other deeper meaning, and what his intentions were in doing so.

It was too tiring to be with such a person.

"Then I'll listen to Orochimaru-sama's arrangements," Kaze replied very obediently.

"Then you'll stay here."

Kaze: "......"

Who knew Orochimaru would chuckle, "Prepare yourself, you'll go back with the team tomorrow."

"Yes!" Kaze quickly responded, afraid he would go back on his word.

After thinking about it, as a subordinate, shouldn't he do something?

He tried to open his mouth again tentatively, "Orochimaru-sama, is there anything you need me to do?"

Orochimaru slowly stretched his body and licked his lips, "Help me keep an eye on the Uchiha."

Hearing this, Kaze's heart shuddered.

Watching Kaze walk out of the tent, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.

The reason he let Kaze go back, of course, was with his own intentions.