Immortality begins with the ninjas of Konoha.

Chapter 93 The Kikyo Castle Plan

In mid-February of Konoha Year 49, as supplies arrived at the front lines from the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain, the Konoha ninjas officially began their "cleaning" work in the new year.

For the Sand Village ninjas, the past six months have been a nightmare. Not only have their assignments been further reduced, but they also have to constantly fight off "monsters" within the village.

After advisor Chiyo and Jonin Rasa were seriously injured, the higher-ups decided to activate the Tailed Beast weapons!

Although some hot-blooded and impulsive Sand Village ninjas were still clamoring for a "do-or-die battle," Rasa and Chiyo consistently urged calm.

After news of the Konoha ninja's operation at the front lines reached the village, Ebizo, who was in charge of intelligence work at Sunagakure, had to participate in the meeting. Faced with the Jonin's questions, he calmly gave the answer: "It will be difficult for us to break through the Konoha ninja's blockade in the direction of the Land of Rain."

"I know you are all willing to give everything for Sunagakure, but in the end, a ninja's strength is what matters."

"We should wait patiently for the right opportunity. If Iwagakure can defeat Kumogakure, then we can reach an agreement with them. Only then will we have a chance to defeat the Konoha ninja."

"There's another option: bypass the defenses through the Land of Rivers and launch a surprise attack on the heart of Konoha!"

In the conference room, the Jonin who had just been clamoring to fight to the death were now silent. Only Rasa raised his head, looked at Ebizo earnestly, and asked, "If we bypass the defenses, where is our target?"

"According to our intelligence team's assessment, we can gain more benefits from Kikyo Castle here."

Ebizo continued to offer his advice leisurely, glancing around before adding with a mocking look in his eyes: "Send a force of a thousand men to bypass the defenses and destroy Kikyo Castle. This will severely damage the Konoha ninja."

"This is my advice based on all the information I have gathered. I hope everyone will make their choices carefully."

Ebizo is 53 years old. He hadn't been involved in decision-making for the past few years, but his sister Chiyo pulled him out of the fray when the village faced a major crisis.

Unfortunately, the old man was very disappointed after seeing the reactions of these elite Jonin in the conference room. They didn't even have the courage to face death. No wonder the village was suppressed like this.

Chiyo saw through her brother's thoughts, and she didn't expect that the Jonin team would fall silent after she gave them a detailed plan.

The siblings looked directly at everyone in the conference room. Some of the Jonin lowered their heads in shame. In the end, Rasa stood up and solemnly replied to the two advisors: "I am willing to lead everyone to complete this surprise attack. As long as we can severely damage the Konoha ninjas, we can regain the commission."

"Garula and the child are in the village's care!"

"Lord Rasa!"

Some Jonin were shocked when they heard the decision. Rasa's second child hadn't even been born yet. If they really carried out the plan to attack the heart of Konoha, he would most likely die on the spot.

Rasa displayed the "demeanor of a Kazekage," and Chiyo and her brother nodded in approval; they hadn't misjudged him.

Regardless of the outcome, this courage alone is enough to make him the next Kazekage.

"Rasa, your gold dust can suppress the One-Tailed Beast. Leave the attack on Kikyo Castle to this old man!"

"If I could die in the Land of Fire, it wouldn't be a bad choice. Having seen enough of the unchanging sand, dying on fertile land would be a relief."

Chiyo chuckled at the end, her disregard for life and death finally inspiring everyone, and more and more Jonin responded.

Seeing this, Rasa clenched his fists tightly. He craved power even more. If he could kill Furukawa Osamu, Sunagakure would not have launched the "suicide plan".

Sunagakure Village is shrouded in sandstorms year-round. The village's buildings are nestled in rocky canyons, and the earthen-yellow domed houses have a distinctly exotic feel.

Along the way, Furukawa Osamu, who had infiltrated the Land of Wind, discovered many Buddha statues. When he arrived at the outskirts of Sunagakure, he looked at Orochimaru and whispered, "Orochimaru-sensei, we are about to approach the sensory barrier. This is one of the five great ninja villages, and its defenses are very tight."

Orochimaru, cloaked to shield himself from the sandstorm, didn't respond immediately. He glanced up at the setting sun, a playful smile appearing on his pale face: "Shu, it seems Tsunade's teachings to you weren't enough. Even among the Five Great Nations, there are strong and weak."

"Even the Sand Village is having problems with its assigned missions. We need to be smarter when facing an opponent like this."

"Late at night, someone will lead us in. Don't underestimate my intelligence work; I have loyal subordinates in all five major powers."

Orochimaru would show off his strength from time to time along the way, and Furukawa Osamu had to admit that he had a unique charm when it came to winning over his subordinates.

"Let's rest for a while. If we encounter a Tailed Beast going berserk tonight, we might be able to achieve our goal on the outskirts."

"The sealing techniques of Sunagakure are very interesting. If I have the chance, I would like to study them."

Orochimaru made no attempt to conceal his true intentions; in addition to the tailed beast chakra, he was also very interested in the sealing techniques with their unique lineage.

Furukawa Osamu used Earth Release ninjutsu to dig a pit in the mound, and the two of them sat down on the ground after entering. "Master," he said, "it is said that Sunagakure was founded with the help of ninja temples?"

"Did the sealing techniques originate from the Sage of Six Paths?"

Orochimaru glanced at Furukawa Osamu with an admiring look. Most ninjas didn't care about this information: "I didn't expect you to like collecting these secrets as well. In my opinion, there are two schools of sealing techniques. One is the Uzumaki clan, and the other is the one passed down from the Ninja Temple in the Land of Wind."

"Sunagakure mastered the method of sealing tailed beasts a long time ago. Not only the technique, but the ninja temple also inherited a treasure."

"As for the sealing technique originating from the Sage of Six Paths, I believe that's true."

"So tonight we have two targets, Xiu. You don't want to miss this opportunity, do you?"

Furukawa Osamu responded with a fanatical expression. Ever since discovering the living roots of the Divine Tree, he had been planning to harvest the chakra of the Tailed Beasts.

Sealing techniques are good, but they're not his goal; after all, you can only believe half of what Orochimaru says.

The two chatted about the secrets of the Sage of Six Paths as they waited for nightfall. Only when starlight appeared in the sky did Orochimaru calmly rise, pull up his hood, and say, "Let's go, it's our turn to act!"

A Sand Village ninja wearing a white headscarf appeared at the entrance. Orochimaru, using the Transformation Technique, simply nodded slightly, and the ninja led the two into the sensory barrier.

Some merchants were intercepted, but Osamu Furukawa found himself unimpeded, clearly indicating that the lurking intelligence agents held considerable power.

Orochimaru and Furukawa Osamu gazed together at the tallest building in the distance, the Kazekage Building, located in the very center of the village: "Osamu, this is how ninjas infiltrate. By combining money with ninjutsu, you can accomplish a lot."

"If we could have eternal life and control a nation for our own use, then truth would only be a matter of time."

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