After careful consideration, the Third Tsuchikage decided to adopt a cautious strategy, dispatching only a single elite team to scout the situation. He calculated that if the rumors were true, the Village Hidden in the Rock would join forces with the Village Hidden in the Sand to take advantage of the chaos, attack the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and divide the spoils. If the reports proved false, the team would immediately withdraw, avoiding any unnecessary risks.
Furthermore, to ensure there were no slip-ups, the Third Tsuchikage leaked this intelligence to the Akatsuki, the shadow mercenary organization. He intended to exploit the Akatsuki’s powerful, mysterious, and cost-effective forces to join the fray and annihilate the Village Hidden in the Leaves, all while he remained safely in the background to reap the rewards as the ultimate beneficiary. It was precisely because of this series of maneuvers that Nagato and Tobi had advance notice of Orochimaru’s plan to attack the village. These intricate conspiracies spread like a tangled web in the shadows, waiting for the Village Hidden in the Leaves to become ensnared.
As the ninjas and villagers were busy with the reconstruction of the village, a somber figure slowly approached a crudely constructed, temporary Hokage's Office. It was Danzo Shimura, his gloomy face appearing even colder under the glare of the sunlight. He walked with a steady gait into the office. Inside, the two advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatan…
Chapter 238