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Since you, Iwagakure, could take advantage of Konoha's weakness during the Tird Great Shinobi War to launch a dishonorable sneak attack without following the rules, then don't blame us for doing the same to you.
After all, following the Third Great Shinobi War, Iwagakure never admitted defeat nor offered Konoha any form of compensation.
To save face, Konoha officially publicized that they had waived the compensation.
But the reality was that Iwagakure simply ignored Konoha.
Konoha could spin the story however they wanted; Iwagakure, having paid nothing, couldn't be bothered to respond and just let Konoha have its PR victory.
In the end, Iwagakure hadn't lost a single hair.
"If you want revenge, then wait patiently. Have a proper New Year's celebration, then prepare to plunge the knife. Oh, and send a batch of supplies to the troops on the front lines. It's almost the New Year, the most difficult time of the year. Giving everyone a bit of encouragement and comfort can also boost morale and unity."
During the New Year period, the ninja stationed on the border lines were always the ones with the heaviest hearts. Anyone would want to return home to reunite with family and celebrate the New Year warmly, but duty often made that impossible.
"Sending a batch of supplies isn't a problem in itself. I'm just worried that once we make an exception, it'll be hard to stop in the future. Where there's a first time, there's often a second, and it could become a habit. We'd have to prepare for it every year from then on."
"Then we'll send them every year." Kazuki replied without a hint of concern.
"It's not like the village is lacking these supplies. Why be so stingy? Letting the ninja on the border feel cared for, letting them know the village hasn't forgotten them—this is a great opportunity to win their loyalty. A small amount of supplies is nothing in comparison."
That... made some sense.
If there was no such precedent before, we'll just establish one. It's not like Konoha couldn't afford these supplies.
Ensuring the ninja stationed on the borders could celebrate the festival properly was definitely achievable.
"Then I'll make the arrangements."
Matters of winning hearts and minds should be handled by Tsunade. He, Uchiha Kazuki, was only the Hokage's Advisor, not the Hokage himself.
If he took charge of this, it would look like he was trying to steal credit.
Therefore, Kazuki couldn't be the one to do it.
"If possible, you should personally escort the supplies to the border lines and offer some encouragement to those ninja. That would be the best New Year's gift."
Before leaving, Kazuki didn't forget to remind Tsunade.
Whether she went or not was up to her.
Stepping out of the Hokage's administrative building, Kazuki looked up at the gloomy, overcast sky. He knew snow was coming soon.
He had spent another year in this shinobi world, growing another year older.
After a moment's thought, Kazuki gestured toward the Anbu operative covertly following him.
"Sir."
The Anbu ninja assigned to protect Kazuki swiftly approached, saluted, and stood at attention.
"Give me your spare mask."
"???"
The Anbu operative looked utterly bewildered, but still handed over one of the spare masks he carried.
Kazuki checked that it was new and unused.
Putting on the mask, he took off his long coat bearing the Uchiha clan emblem and tossed it to the Anbu operative. He then signaled for the man not to follow him and walked alone onto the bustling streets.
With the New Year approaching, Konoha was growing livelier.
While the war had some impact on the village's development, fortunately, it wasn't significant. Merchant caravans that had initially feared being caught up in the conflict, seeing how peaceful and secure Konoha and the Land of Fire were, shifted their focus here.
This made Konoha's atmosphere even more vibrant.
There were also quite a few tourists.
Kazuki walked the streets alone, occasionally stopping to buy something. With his mask on and lacking the traditional Uchiha attire, few people could recognize his identity.
At this moment, Kazuki was like any ordinary person strolling through Konoha's streets.
As he walked, Kazuki noticed a figure with a particularly alluring figure, also wearing a mask, moving toward him. Paired with that person's long, straight black hair and the earrings swinging by their cheeks, anyone unaware might mistake them for a stunning, long-haired beauty.
"....."
Kazuki felt a metaphorical black line forming on his forehead as he turned to scrutinize Orochimaru, unable to hold back.
"Do you have to dress like that?"
The previous bizarre, butterfly-bow aristocratic attire was one thing—it only made his back look somewhat feminine from a distance.
But now? If Orochimaru didn't speak, almost no one would know he was a man.
Moreover, Orochimaru's voice was somewhat high-pitched, leaning toward the feminine side.
This guy had definitely done something to himself after leaving the village.
Kazuki was certain of this because he couldn't even see a hint of an Adam's apple on Orochimaru's neck.
For goodness' sake....
Noticing several burly men on the street casting appreciative, even heated glances at Orochimaru, Kazuki felt goosebumps rise all over his body.
"Kazuki-kun, is this outfit of mine strange?"
Orochimaru seemed unconcerned. Instead, he raised a hand and did a little twirl, making Kazuki's eyelid twitch violently. He really wanted to kick him away.
What do you think?
Kazuki couldn't be bothered to engage.
Or rather, her!
"Haven't you given up on those messy jutsu of yours yet? They have a significant impact on the soul. Be careful you don't ruin yourself playing with them."
Orochimaru didn't seem too concerned by Kazuki's warning.
"I feel quite alright. It's just... a bit inconvenient in daily life."
"....."
A former cross-dressing enthusiast had now become a genuine cross-dresser. This was absolutely unbelievable.
"If you have something to say, say it. If not, get lost. Don't get too close to me; I'm afraid I might give you a genjutsu on impulse."
"....."
Receiving such a stern warning and seeing that Kazuki wasn't joking, Orochimaru finally settled down.
"After the New Year, when the village goes to war with Iwagakure, I also wish to participate. I need some corpses for my research—the corpses of relatively powerful ninja."
"Fine. But you must follow orders. Don't go causing trouble. You can pick from the enemy corpses as you please."
Trading corpses for a powerful asset like Orochimaru was a very cost-effective deal.
Moreover, besides his formidable personal strength, Orochimaru possessed excellent tactical command abilities. Several of Konoha's major victories in past wars were achieved under his command.
If he hadn't possessed genuine talent, the Third Hokage wouldn't have favored him so much.
This guy could certainly stir up trouble, even to the point of making himself neither clearly male nor female. But he truly had skills.
As long as this snake had value, as long as he could obediently follow instructions, Kazuki didn't mind fulfilling some of his less excessive conditions.
As for excessive ones... better keep them to yourself. Don't force my hand.
In the following time, Orochimaru behaved more appropriately, walking quietly by Kazuki's side.
Kazuki didn't pay it much mind either. As long as he didn't cause mischief, other things were negotiable.
After observing for a while, Orochimaru discerned Kazuki's purpose for wandering around.
"Compared to other countries and villages, Konoha's economy is very stable. The prices of various goods and commodities haven't experienced significant fluctuations."
"Mhm."
Kazuki responded indifferently. This was the situation he and Tsunade had aimed for.