A New Snake In The Shinobi World-Chapter 314 -

Obito was successfully manipulated by Madara and began to seek out Nagato for recruitment.

However, recruiting Nagato was not a simple task.

Currently, Nagato was living comfortably in Orochimaru's Sound Ninja Village and had already mastered most of the powers of the Rinnegan.

Whether in terms of strength or personality, convincing Nagato was a significant challenge for Obito.

But Obito had his own methods...

Meanwhile—

The Land of Fire, Konoha Village.

Tsunade had ascended to the position of Hokage, and her assistant was none other than Uchiha Mikoto.

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A strange combination: a Senju and an Uchiha working together.

However, this decision left some of the Konoha elders dissatisfied.

They had never trusted the Uchiha clan and were even less inclined to allow one of them into Konoha's core leadership.

Even so, with Orochimaru's influence in the shadows, Danzo refrained from objecting. Similarly, Hiruzen, who had supported Tsunade's rise to power, remained silent.

With the two most influential figures saying nothing, Koharu and Homura, who often voiced their opinions, found themselves unable to argue.

They realized that interfering in something like this would overstep their bounds.

Besides, Tsunade had reassured them that all her decisions were for the good of the village.

Left with no valid objections, they reluctantly chose not to interfere.

---

Hokage's Office.

Even as Hokage, Tsunade preferred her usual casual attire.

At this moment, she rested her hands on her desk, lost in thought about the reforms she wanted to implement.

In Konoha, civilian ninjas required little concern. As long as they were provided with stable lives and sufficient commissions from missions, they were content.

The true challenges lay with the ninja clans, whose vested interests often required careful management.

"Mikoto, has your clan had any particular reactions to me appointing you as my assistant?" Tsunade asked.

"Not yet, Tsunade-sama," Mikoto replied calmly.

"Good," Tsunade nodded. "Keep an eye out, and report any developments to me immediately."

"Yes, understood."

After saying this, Tsunade suddenly paused, then smiled. "By the way, Mikoto, do you know why I chose you to be my assistant?"

Mikoto blinked, momentarily stunned by the question. After a brief pause, she hesitantly responded, "Um... is it because of Lord Orochimaru?"

Tsunade chuckled. "Yes, but that's only part of the reason."

"Only part of it?" Mikoto asked, slightly confused.

Before Tsunade could elaborate further, there was a knock at the door.

Knock, knock.

"Come in," Tsunade called out.

An ANBU ninja stepped into the office, bowing slightly before delivering his report. "Tsunade-sama, Might Guy's team has returned."

"Might Guy?" Tsunade frowned slightly, then gave a faint, bitter smile. "Might Duy's son... His team has already reached Chūnin rank and can go on missions. Yet here I am, Hokage, still sitting behind a desk."

She sighed briefly before continuing, "Weren't they on a mission to escort supplies? Why are they back so early?"

"That... I'm not sure," the ANBU ninja replied.

"Never mind. Let them in," Tsunade instructed.

"Yes, ma'am," the ANBU ninja replied before leaving.

Moments later, Might Guy and his team entered the Hokage's office.

"Hm? What's this?" Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she noticed the unusual items they were carrying.

Clang!

The three team members dropped several large, distinctive weapons onto the floor of the office.

"Lady Hokage! We picked these up on the way!" Might Guy reported, his tone brimming with youthful energy as he described what had occurred.

The story they told was staggering: a large-scale battlefield, corpses strewn everywhere, and the remnants of an intense battle.

Uchiha Mikoto's expression turned serious as she processed the information. "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen... Five of them dead? And you brought back their weapons?"

"That's about the size of it!" Guy replied, nodding energetically.

Tsunade frowned as her gaze shifted to the weapons on the floor—the twinsword: Hiramekarei, the longsword Nuibari, the blastsword Shibuki, the bluntsword Kabutowari, and the thunder swords Kiba.

"All of these... belong to Konoha now?" Mikoto asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

The sheer significance of what lay before them made her momentarily speechless. These weapons were legendary tools of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen. And now, they were in Konoha's possession?

---

On the other side, in Kirigakure Village:

The Third Mizukage was trembling with rage as he listened to the report delivered by the escaped Fuguki.

"What did you say?! Five of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were killed, and their weapons were lost?!"

Fuguki nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Mizukage-sama. The opponent's technique... it was simply overwhelming."

The Third Mizukage's fury was barely contained. "Do you realize the importance of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to our village?! They're our elite force, second only to the Mizukage! And now, five of them are gone, along with their weapons?!"

Fuguki winced but continued, "The enemy was simply too strong... His technique, it... it was unbelievable."

Although Fuguki had managed to escape unscathed thanks to Samehada and his quick retreat, his shame was evident.

What surprised him most was how quickly one of his comrades, Zabuza's predecessor, had abandoned the fight. After taking a severe blow from the Raikage, the man had retreated into the woods and fled, leaving the others to their fates.

While it was a wise decision in hindsight, the outcome remained devastating.

The Third Mizukage gritted his teeth. "This technique... it matches the reports of the one that defeated the Kumo forces. Not only can it summon the kages of deceased ninjas from other villages, but it also allows them to retain their strength from life? What kind of forbidden jutsu is this?!"

His anger gave way to bitter frustration. Despite his better judgment, he couldn't help but curse the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's recklessness. Engaging Orochimaru in combat was tantamount to suicide.

But then a new thought struck him.

Wait... Orochimaru defected from Konoha, didn't he? So why is he helping them in this war? Could his defection have been a ruse all along?

"Mizukage-sama?" Fuguki asked, sensing his leader's change in expression.

The Third Mizukage waved a hand dismissively. "Enough. Send the order—full retreat."

"Full... retreat?" The messenger hesitated for a moment, shocked by the abrupt decision.

"Yes! Now go!" the Mizukage barked.

Though confused, the messenger dared not question the command and swiftly departed to relay the order.

---

With that command, the Third Ninja World War essentially came to an end.

Although minor skirmishes persisted along the borders, the era of large-scale battles was over.

The Kumogakure forces had been repelled by Orochimaru. Suna's forces had been persuaded to withdraw through diplomacy led by the two Hokages. Iwagakure had been driven back by Konoha's might.

And Kirigakure?

For reasons both known and unknown, they too had retreated from the battlefield.

What was certain was this: Orochimaru's actions had been pivotal in shaping the outcome of this war.

---

Back in the Sound Ninja Village.

"Lord Orochimaru, who... who are these people?"

"They're the daimyos of small nations."

"Daimyos... of small nations?"

***

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