Konoha Notes

Chapter 388 Judgment
The businesses left behind by Yuya Shiro did not disappear with him. The massive guard, the meticulously established distribution network, and the wealth accumulated overseas all remained.

These assets continued to operate as before for some time after his death, until they were taken over by a more efficient person.

Orochimaru went there himself.

The reception process was quiet and efficient. The ninjas with special bloodlines in the escort team, along with the clueless Chino, were all taken away.

As they boarded the ship, White Zetsu emerged halfway from the shadows of the deck, his voice light and cheerful: "You two are old acquaintances, aren't you, Orochimaru? You really don't hold back when it comes to doing things like this."

Orochimaru's gaze swept over the silent or uneasy faces on the deck, especially the girl with light blonde hair.

“It was precisely because of this acquaintance that we were able to take what was important to Miyajo-kun before the real wolves came knocking.” He withdrew his gaze, his golden vertical pupils devoid of warmth. “After all, he was unlucky and ran into a natural disaster.”

Once the joint conference actually began, the smarter ninjas who were outside the ninja village system and relied on the gaps between major powers and black market commissions for survival could already guess what was going on.

The narrow spaces that once provided them with a means of survival will be squeezed out and smoothed out.

As a jackal that is unruly and refuses to be included in any framework, it now has only two paths left: death, or escape into deeper darkness.

The islands at sea are the perfect den for these jackals at this moment.

Orochimaru believed that the Mishiroya En Guard alone could neither protect the wealth nor themselves.

Bai Jue continued rambling, "It doesn't seem like the outcome of them becoming your test subjects is any better."

Black Zetsu didn't mean to morally judge Orochimaru; after all, Orochimaru didn't possess that kind of thing, and he didn't care about anything except his mother.

It only cared about the plan: "Shuji has been away from Konoha for seven days, and his activities have covered the coastal areas of the Land of Hot Springs, the Land of Forests, and the Land of Waves. What is he looking for? Has the organization's plan been exposed?"

Orochimaru walked toward the cabin: "That was just a gesture."

"It is directed at both Yunyin and Wuyin, and also at the organization."

"He is demonstrating that Konoha is ready to support villages that each have two tailed beasts at any time, increasing the cost that the organization needs to weigh when making any surprise attack decision."

"The deeper purpose is to buy time. By adopting this seemingly proactive patrol posture, they aim to create a smooth environment for the joint meeting."

Bai Jue said "Oh," and a look of realization appeared on the white side of his face: "So that's how it is! That's why he was wandering around."

“However, this kind of performance with such obvious bias,” Orochimaru stopped and smiled, “will probably make it even harder for someone else to sleep.”

"Who?" Black Zetsu asked.

Orochimaru did not answer.

Who else could it be?
The only one who confirmed the loss of his Tailed Beast, and who watched helplessly as Konoha's power seemed to tilt more towards protecting the other two villages with two Jinchūriki—

Two days of scales, Onoki.
-
The night was dark.

The old house in the western suburbs was quiet and still.

Shuji sat on the veranda of the old house in the western suburbs and slowly opened his eyes.

The wooden clones patrolling the border of the Forest Kingdom simultaneously entered a low-energy hibernation state.

The sense of distance created by the synchronization of senses vanished at this moment, and the chirping of insects in the early summer night in the courtyard became clear again.

The first day of the joint meeting has ended.

Footsteps came from behind him, and Tsunade sat down beside him.

"The first day went fairly smoothly."

This is good news. Tsunade continued, "There's new information from Iwagakure."

“Wenya formally informed Kakashi that they had relinquished control of the traditional corridor between the Land of Silence, the Land of Stone, and the Land of Birds.”

"The reason is that they are worried that the disturbance by the wandering ninjas is a deliberate trap set by the Akatsuki to divert their defenses and find a loophole in the protection of the tailed beasts."

Very cautious and conservative.

But this means that the defenses surrounding Konoha will directly bear more pressure from the western wilderness. Those wandering ninjas whose living space has been squeezed by the alliance system and who are unwilling to be incorporated by any ninja village are now like wounded wild beasts, and any gap in their defenses could attract their attacks.

Fortunately, Konoha had already reacted two days prior. Under Jiraiya's personal coordination, elite units of the Uchiha Police Department had been deployed to key defensive nodes in Amegakure and Kusagakure.

Fugaku and his headquarters members should be building the first line of defense along the border at this moment.

Iwagakure's withdrawal is unlikely to cause much of a stir in the short term.

Tsunade rested her cheek on her hand, the moonlight shining softly on her golden ponytail.

Princess Thousand Hands said, "It's really hard to criticize that old man for being able to express his dissatisfaction in such a tactful way."

Shuji said, "After all, if something really happens, it will definitely have to wait until this joint meeting ends and the next meeting to truly discuss the defense against the tailed beasts begins."

"The communication equipment from Kumogakure should have already been delivered to Iwagakure, but he hasn't rushed to initiate a direct meeting of the Five Kage."

"He is waiting for an initial consultation result, and for the bottom lines of all parties to gradually become clear through probing."

Tsunade was also a little troubled: "The fact that Onoki doesn't act up directly makes people uneasy."

"It has only been a year, yet the alliance has been pushed to this extent. We are already facing a situation that could cause division."

"It won't tear."

Shuji answered without hesitation.

"Onoki understands better than anyone what it means for Iwagakure to completely break away from the alliance framework in this era when Akatsuki is active and tailed beasts are being attacked one after another."

"His probing was merely an attempt to secure a better position within the framework—more security, greater say, or at least a promise not to be marginalized."

Tsunade rubbed her face; she was a little tired after not handling things alone for a long time.

"How should we deal with Onoki's probing now?"

Shuji said, "Let Kakashi go find Maki."

"Please request Sunagakure to mobilize its troops to participate in the extermination of the wandering ninja."

Once Sunagakure takes any action—especially against Iwagakure's traditional sphere of influence—Onoki's defensive retreat will immediately shift from cautious self-preservation to strategic abandonment.

This is the region where the struggle between Iwagakure and Sunagakure has been most intense over the past few decades.

“He won’t be able to sit still,” Tsunade said knowingly. “Once the Sunagakure ninjas step into that area, Onoki will have no choice but to come and talk to us.”

"At that time, Onoki will be more likely to accept Kirigakure's proposal."

Shuji nodded and turned his gaze back to the courtyard.

A night breeze blew by, and the wind chimes under the eaves tinkled softly. The faint croaking of frogs in the distance made the old house in the western suburbs seem even more tranquil.

(End of this chapter)