Marvel: Trading with Worlds

Nara Shikaku, newly appointed head of the Nara clan, spoke up. Though he had only recently taken over the role, his abilities, honed during the war, were widely respected.

" Hokage-sama," he said, "the coastal defense line is too extensive. If Mist Shinobi intend to invade, it will be difficult to hold them off. If war is inevitable, it would be better to collaborate with Sand Shinobi under the terms of our peace agreement to counter Mist Shinobi."

Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement. "This approach is reasonable. Sand Shinobi signed the agreement with us to address the Rock Shinobi threat. Now that Mist Shinobi is making a move, we can invoke the agreement and demand their cooperation."

Many Jōnin in the room approved of this suggestion. If Konoha had to prepare for war, dragging Sand Shinobi into it would be ideal. 

Otherwise, the peace agreement wouldn't be enough to compensate for Konoha's losses.

What the Jōnin didn't know, however, was that under the terms of the peace agreement, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the senior leadership had secretly offered Sand Shinobi certain concessions. 

These benefits were given to hasten the end of the Kawa no Kuni battlefield, creating only the appearance of peace.

"Since everyone agrees with this decision, does anyone have any good suggestions for the ninja to be sent to the coast of the Land of Fire?"

After Sarutobi Hiruzen posed the question, the room fell silent. Orochimaru's face displayed an inexplicable smile, and seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't shake the feeling that something unexpected was about to happen.

"I think Orochimaru-sama is the most suitable candidate."

Breaking the silence, Nara Shikaku sighed inwardly before speaking decisively. While he wasn't eager to take the lead in such matters, leaving the choice hanging any longer would have been unwise. 

Besides, he knew that if his suggestion led to any suspicion later, it could provoke Orochimaru's ire—a dangerous prospect given his power.

Luckily, Orochimaru wasn't like Tsunade. If he were, and the Nara clan ever suffered serious injuries in the future, they might find themselves without a capable medic. 

Orochimaru's strength, while intimidating, wasn't something that deeply concerned the Ino–Shika–Chō trio. 

Furthermore, Shikaku believed Namikaze Minato would be a better Hokage for the alliance than Orochimaru ever could be.

"Master Orochimaru's performance on the previous battlefield speaks for itself," Shikaku continued. "Even Genin under his command managed to execute joint Summoning Techniques to summon powerful creatures to aid in battle. This could help alleviate the current manpower shortage in Konoha."

Shikaku carefully listed Orochimaru's merits. His performance during the war had been undeniably impressive. 

Orochimaru had defeated the Third Kazekage—renowned as the Strongest Kazekage—and had even captured another Magnet Release shinobi from Sand Village. He had nearly defeated the One-Tail Jinchūriki as well.

These achievements had been heavily publicized in Ninja Weekly, so even the civilians in Konoha were aware of Orochimaru's exploits. 

By bringing them up again, Shikaku deepened the Jōnin's impression of Orochimaru, cementing the idea that he was the only one capable of managing the Mist Shinobi threat effectively.

Following Shikaku's statement, a few other Jōnin voiced their agreement. Among Konoha's ranks, there were only a handful of individuals with the skill and experience to lead a battlefield, and Orochimaru was undeniably the most qualified candidate.

Sarutobi Hiruzen pretended to listen carefully, then tilted his head and asked, "Orochimaru, what do you think?"

Orochimaru chuckled before replying, "Of course. If the village needs me, I can leave at any time."

This response earned the admiration of many Jōnin present. Fresh from his victory, Orochimaru's willingness to take on another critical mission showed an unwavering dedication to Konoha's cause. 

His awareness and sense of responsibility appeared unmatched among Konoha's elite.

Jiraiya nudged Orochimaru with his elbow, grinning as he said, "Orochimaru, I didn't expect you to be so eager. If that's the case, how about the Toad Sage lending you a hand?"

Orochimaru shot him a look of disdain and replied curtly, "You'd be better off resting, Jiraiya."

With Orochimaru's agreement, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a wave of relief. He cleared his throat and prepared to conclude. "If that's the case, then—"

"Wait a moment, Third Hokage-sama."

The sudden interruption caused the room to fall silent. All eyes turned to the source of the voice—Uchiha Fugaku, the patriarch of the Uchiha clan.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a pang of unease but maintained his composure as he asked, "Chief Fugaku, do you have any suggestions?"

"Yes, Lord Third," Fugaku replied. "Please allow the Uchiha clan to take on this responsibility. I assure you, we will put an end to Kirigakure's schemes."

Uchiha Fugaku spoke in a deep, resolute tone. As he stood up abruptly, his unexpected move startled Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mitokado Homura, Nara Shikaku, and others.

" Orochimaru-sama has just returned from the battlefield," Fugaku began. "As a member of Konoha and the patriarch of the Uchiha clan, I have yet to truly contribute to the village during this time of need. Please grant me the opportunity to do so, Lord Third Hokage. I promise I will not disappoint you or the village."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's grip on his pipe tightened slightly, though his expression remained composed. He smiled faintly and replied, "Clan Leader Fugaku, the Security Team is tasked with ensuring the village's safety. Your role doesn't necessarily need to be demonstrated on the battlefield."

"But the village is currently very secure," Fugaku insisted firmly. "If we, the Uchiha clan, cannot contribute to Konoha's efforts, it leaves us feeling unfulfilled. Please, Lord Third Hokage, grant us this chance."

His words carried an unyielding tone. Fugaku had made his case so strongly that if Sarutobi Hiruzen still refused, it might appear as though he was discriminating against the Uchiha clan.

At that moment, Orochimaru interjected. "Since Clan Leader Fugaku is so eager to contribute to the village, Hokage-sama, I think you should allow him. If I'm ever needed on the battlefield, I will join the front lines at any time."

Orochimaru paused before adding, "If there are concerns, Lord Hokage, let Nawaki accompany him."

This suggestion surprised everyone in the room. Orochimaru seemed to be proposing a collaboration between the Senju and Uchiha clans—a rare and unexpected partnership. 

However, what surprised them even more was that Fugaku did not object to the idea.

Some began to suspect that Orochimaru and Fugaku might have discussed this beforehand. Among those who held this suspicion were Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikaku, both silently noting the unusual dynamic.

…

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