"You actually know about the First Hokage's distribution of the Tailed Beasts?"
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's surprised expression, Orochimaru nodded calmly.
"There are nine Tailed Beasts in total."
"Apart from the Nine-Tails that remained in Konoha, the other eight Tailed Beasts were sold to various ninja villages by the First Hokage at a low price."
"According to the known information, the Six-Tails, which was in the middle tier of strength, only had a bounty of sixty million ryo on the black market back then."
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly withdrew the shock from his eyes and nodded gently.
"Indeed!"
"While it's true that you can find this information in the Senju clan's scrolls, which surprises me greatly, what does that represent?"
"Other villages possess Tailed Beasts, but Konoha also has the strongest Nine-Tails."
Orochimaru chuckled and casually uttered,
"But the First Hokage did not provide those villages with a sealing jutsu to completely control the Tailed Beasts!"
"If that wasn't the case, how could the Land of Whirlpools have been destroyed?"
Tsunade's eyes widened instantly.
"Orochimaru, what do you mean by that?"
"Are you saying the Uzumaki clan was annihilated for this reason?"
"Then my grandfather..."
Orochimaru shook his head and sighed softly.
"It's not the First Hokage's fault!"
"His power was too great, so great that he never imagined anyone would dare to plot against the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu."
"And he passed away too early!"
"Without the protection of a powerful individual, possessing a sealing jutsu that could suppress Tailed Beasts undoubtedly brought immense disaster upon the Uzumaki clan."
"The destruction of the Land of Whirlpools became a foregone conclusion!"
Tsunade suddenly recalled her father, who, shortly after Nawaki was born, had left the village with a group of clan members on a support mission and never returned. She slowly sat back down in silence.
"Economy, Tailed Beasts, sealing jutsu..."
"Orochimaru, you've already pointed out these three potential causes for war."
"Anything else?"
"While these all have a certain probability of plunging Konoha into a siege, it's not enough!"
"War requires extensive preparation; it's not decided by a mere one or two guesses!"
Orochimaru naturally understood his concerns: resources, requesting large-scale military deployment from the Daimyo, recalling ninjas on missions, medical support, and so on.
As Hokage, he had to consider all these aspects. He certainly wouldn't let the entire village fall into the panic of war based on his words alone.
"Tsunade, do you know how old Mito-sama is this year?"
Orochimaru did not immediately answer Sarutobi Hiruzen's question, turning to ask Tsunade a seemingly irrelevant question.
Tsunade was startled. After thinking for a moment, she said hesitantly,
"Although Grandma looks like she's in her forties or fifties now, she should only be a little younger than my grandfather."
"Perhaps..."
"Well... in her seventies? Eighties?"
"Anyway, I don't dare to ask. Next time you see Grandma, could you ask her for me?"
Tsunade said with a sly smile, but she didn't see Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression change.
"Orochimaru, you've guessed it?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's entire demeanor instantly became serious, radiating powerful chakra fluctuations.
Orochimaru nodded indifferently.
"From the day that child Kushina arrived in Konoha, I had already guessed it!"
"Teacher Sarutobi, if I'm not mistaken..."
"It's about time for the Nine-Tails to change its vessel, isn't it?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with a grave expression and slowly retracted his chakra.
"Is this the final reason?"
Orochimaru did not deny it.
"The ninja world is not short of wise individuals!"
"After the Nine-Tails' battle at the Valley of the End, it never appeared in the ninja world again."
"It's quite obvious that it was sealed within someone by an extremely skilled sealing jutsu user with absolute power."
Orochimaru stated with certainty,
"And looking at all of Konoha, besides Mito-sama, who else could it be?"
"Since the birth of ninjas, no normal person has been able to live forever."
"Not even the Uzumaki clan, known for their vitality and sealing jutsu, can do so!"
"And Mito-sama is already nearing eighty, her physical condition and chakra reserves have long been declining."
"During the transition between the old and new Jinchuriki, true combat power clearly cannot be formed."
"In other words, Konoha currently lacks a powerful individual capable of suppressing the entire ninja world with sheer strength."
"Teacher, if you were the Kage of the Wind or Earth countries, would you seize this opportunity to attempt a war against the Land of Fire?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent.
He had to admit that, combining the various reasons Orochimaru had described, the Second Great Ninja War seemed to be indeed imminent.
After a long while, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up at Orochimaru with a complex expression and slowly spoke,
"Regarding the potential arrival of war, I will convene the two advisors for discussion."
"You've just returned from the war and haven't had time to rest. If there's nothing else, you should return early!"
"I wish to be alone..."
"Also..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked sternly at Orochimaru, his voice serious,
"About the Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki, Orochimaru, I hope you will keep this information strictly confidential."
"Once it gets out, the consequences would be unimaginable. Do you understand?"
Orochimaru readily agreed, nodding slightly, but showed no intention of leaving immediately.
"Teacher, let's put the war and the Tailed Beasts aside for now."
"I would like to borrow some ANBU from you to help me capture someone."
"If possible, could it be considered an S-rank mission?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback, looking at Orochimaru with some confusion.
"Who is worth such a substantial reward for an S-rank mission? With your current strength, why would ordinary ninjas warrant such a large operation?"
"And you need me to deploy ANBU for you?"
Orochimaru chuckled and casually replied,
"A ninja from another country, posing as a healer and hiding in Konoha!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was shocked.
"Who?"
"A remnant of the Sky Ninja, currently residing in Konoha's civilian district, calling himself Shin'no."
"Where did you get this information? All ninjas entering and exiting Konoha are scanned by the Sensory Division. Why have I never heard ANBU report anything?"
"Where is the evidence?"
Orochimaru shrugged, his expression however was very certain.
"There is no evidence!"
"That's why I need to use Konoha's and your name to apprehend that individual!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared intently into Orochimaru's eyes, and after a moment, he asked softly,
"Does that person have something you need?"
Orochimaru showed no surprise. He had always intended to present his desires and intentions to Sarutobi Hiruzen, and would continue to do so in the future.
As for those visions of the future where he acted like a ghost in the darkness?
Heh, now that he knew almost everything, did he still need them?
"Indeed!"
Orochimaru's candor truly stunned Sarutobi Hiruzen. He stared at his disciple for a long moment before nodding with a complex expression.
"Since it's about capturing a spy, an S-rank mission isn't necessary!"
"However, Orochimaru..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his mouth, his eyes filled with anticipation and confusion, and with some hesitation, he instructed,
"You..."
"Don't disappoint me!"