Naruto: System of Zoro

Chapter 26 - Prelude to the Third Ninja War

Every day, the masked ANBU assigned to monitor Orochimaru meticulously recorded his observations and reported them back to Hiruzen Sarutobi. It was a routine task, one he had carried out countless times before, but recently, his focus had begun to shift.

The subject of his concern was no longer just Orochimaru.

It was Kazane.

A growing unease crept into the ANBU's mind with each passing day. The rate at which Kazane was improving was nothing short of monstrous. If he was already this powerful now, still in his early years, then what heights would he reach once he fully matured?

This concern was not his alone.

Even Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had begun to reflect on his decision. Entrusting Kazane to Orochimaru had once seemed like a calculated move, but now, doubts plagued him.

Was it a mistake?

Sarutobi had initially assumed that, genius or not, Kazane would still require time to develop—perhaps a few years to reach Chunin level, and even longer to attain the rank of Jonin. At worst, he had expected Kazane to be as strong as a particularly skilled Chunin.

But reality had shattered his expectations.

In just three months, from the reports of the ANBU and his own observations using the Crystal Ball Technique, he discovered that Kazane had already reached the level of a Jonin.

That wasn't just rare—it was unprecedented.

And it was troubling.

Orochimaru was already becoming increasingly difficult to control. His ambitions, once quietly simmering beneath the surface, now loomed like a storm on the horizon. If Kazane continued to grow at this terrifying pace, what means would he have left to restrain Orochimaru's influence?

Sarutobi's concerns weren't unfounded.

He favored Minato Namikaze as the next Hokage, and his skill, intelligence, and leadership qualities made him an ideal candidate. But Orochimaru had seniority, an undeniable list of contributions to Konoha, and the respect of many Jonin. Even if Sarutobi wished to push Minato forward, he couldn't openly defy the entire village's expectations.

Kazane's existence only complicated things further.

And yet, what Sarutobi failed to realize was that everything was unfolding exactly as Orochimaru had planned.

The legendary Sannin had deliberately arranged his sparring sessions with Kazane to take place within Konoha rather than in isolated training grounds. Every clash, every overwhelming display of power, was a calculated spectacle.

A declaration that Kazane was not just talented.

He was already strong enough to be recognized as a force of nature.

In smaller villages, shinobi of his caliber would already be regarded as a Kage.

And he was still growing.

---

The air was thick with the scent of scorched earth.

The battlefield—if it could even be called that—was a scene of devastation. Smoke curled from the cracked ground, the remnants of lightning-charged slashes still buzzing faintly in the air.

Kazane exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. His muscles ached, his body tingled from the aftereffects of high-speed combat, but his mind was sharper than ever.

Across from him, Orochimaru observed with an unreadable expression, his golden eyes gleaming with interest.

"That's enough for today, Kazane."

His voice carried its usual amusement, but beneath it lay something else—satisfaction.

Just as the tension in the air began to dissipate, a flicker of movement appeared at the edge of Kazane's vision.

A masked ANBU with a distinctive dog-patterned mask materialized beside Orochimaru, his posture rigid as he interrupted whatever the Sannin was about to say.

"Lord Orochimaru, the Hokage has summoned you for an urgent matter."

The Anbu's voice was carefully measured, but even through the mask, it was impossible to hide the tension in his stance. Orochimaru's presence was unsettling to most, and the closer one stood to him, the more suffocating that feeling became.

Orochimaru's tongue flicked across his lips, clearly displeased by the interruption. Still, he said nothing of it.

"Kazane, continue your training on your own. I will return to finish our discussion later."

Without sparing a glance at the waiting ANBU, he vanished, slipping into the shadows like a serpent retreating into its den.

The ANBU agent, who had long since grown accustomed to Orochimaru's disregard, merely exhaled in quiet relief before following suit.

Kazane remained where he stood.

For a moment, he simply stared at the empty space where Orochimaru had been, irritation flickering in his eyes.

This wasn't the first time the Hokage had summoned his mentor away mid-training, and while he understood that politics and village affairs came first, it was still frustrating.

He had been improving at a speed that defied reason. If his current self were to face the version of himself from three months ago, it wouldn't even be a fight—his past self would be cut down in mere seconds.

The rush of progress was intoxicating.

He never wanted to stop.

"System, open my status panel."

A familiar interface appeared before his eyes.

---

Host: Hatake Kazane

Gender: Male

Class: Swordsman

Strength Level: Jonin

Sword Techniques:

No-Sword Style: True Sword—Barehanded Blade Catch

One-Sword Style: Iai—"Death: Lion Song"

One-Sword Style: 36-Pound Phoenix (Locked)

Two-Sword Style: Iai—"Rashomon"

Two-Sword Style: Hawk Wave

Two-Sword Style: Tower Climb

Two-Sword Style: Advanced Tower Climb

Two-Sword Style: 72-Pound Phoenix (Locked)

Three-Sword Style: Demon Slash

Three-Sword Style: Bull Needle

Three-Sword Style: Tornado Slash

Three-Sword Style: Tiger Hunt

Three-Sword Style: Bull Demon Brave Claw

Three-Sword Style: Dual Power Slash

Three-Sword Style: 108-Pound Phoenix

Three-Sword Style Ultimate Move: "Three Thousand Worlds"

Haki:

Armament Haki: Coating (Coating → Hardening → Flowing Sakura)

Observation Haki: Enhanced Five Senses (Enhanced Five Senses → Life Energy Perception → Future Sight)

Taijutsu:

Eight Gates: Fifth Gate Open

Lightning Release Chakra Mode

Equipment:

Wado Ichimonji

Yubashiri

Kusanagi Sword

Zoro's Green Bandana

Zoro's Training Manual

---

Even in a world filled with powerful shinobi, he had reached a level where he could no longer be ignored.

Kazane's gaze swept across the interface, taking in the culmination of his efforts. He had started this journey with a singular purpose—to gain enough strength to carve his own path, to stand on his own without needing anyone's protection.

Now, he finally had the power to protect himself.

And this was only the beginning.

---

Konoha Village, Hokage's Office

"Orochimaru, you called for me?"

The voice echoed through the dimly lit room as Orochimaru stepped inside, his golden eyes narrowing at the figure standing by the window. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, remained silent, a long pipe resting between his fingers as thin trails of smoke curled toward the ceiling.

The office was still, the weight of an unspoken tension settling over them like a heavy fog. Outside, drifting clouds moved lazily across the sky, indifferent to the growing storm that loomed over the shinobi world.

Minutes passed before Sarutobi finally spoke, his voice slow and measured. "The Third Kazekage has gone missing."

Orochimaru's expression barely shifted, but his mind raced. The Kazekage, gone? This was no minor incident.

Hiruzen exhaled another plume of smoke, his bloodshot eyes betraying the pressure bearing down on him. "The Land of Lightning has taken this opportunity to strike. Kumogakure has invaded the Land of Wind and declared war on both the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire. Iwagakure has followed suit, formally declaring war against Konoha. Meanwhile, Kirigakure is watching, waiting for an opening."

The corners of Orochimaru's lips curled slightly. "It seems we no longer have the luxury of diplomacy."

The Hokage nodded grimly. "I called you here because I want you to lead Konoha's forces at the border against Iwagakure."

Orochimaru's smirk faded as he considered the implications. Konoha had always been prepared for war, but fighting on three fronts against some of the most powerful shinobi villages was a daunting task.

"Danzo will handle Kirigakure," Hiruzen continued. "Jiraiya and Shikaku, along with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, will lead the effort against the Cloud Ninja. The Land of Earth will be your battlefield."

Turning away from the window, the Hokage faced Orochimaru directly. His gaze was sharp, unwavering, and filled with the burden of leadership.

Orochimaru held his stare for a long moment before nodding. "Understood. I will take care of Iwagakure."

There was no hesitation in his voice. Only quiet confidence.

Hiruzen, however, knew better than to mistake that confidence for blind arrogance. Orochimaru was intelligent—ruthlessly so—and he would already be calculating the risks.

"How many Jonin can you allocate to me?" Orochimaru asked, getting straight to the point.

Konoha had the largest number of Jonin among the Five Great Nations, but even that advantage was now being stretched thin. Fighting simultaneous battles meant that manpower had to be divided carefully.

Jiraiya had been sent against Kumogakure, a strategic decision given the Cloud Ninja's aggressive tendencies. With the Ino-Shika-Cho trio assisting him, they had a solid chance at holding the line. Kirigakure had yet to make its move, but Danzo would keep them at bay—for now.

Iwagakure, however, was a different story.

Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, was no fool. The man was a veteran of countless battles, a wielder of Dust Release, and one of the few shinobi alive capable of flight. Worse still, he wasn't alone. His elite forces, including Kitsuchi, Magire, Hikari, Oishi, Suma, and Azuma, were all formidable in their own right. Even with Orochimaru's prowess, he would be hard-pressed to handle them alone.

"The village's resources are stretched thin," Hiruzen admitted. "I can assign you ten Jonin. However, I will also place the Uchiha clan under your command."

Orochimaru's eyebrows lifted slightly. That was unexpected. The Uchiha were powerful, but Sarutobi had always been cautious about giving them too much control over military matters.

"If Onoki himself enters the battlefield," the Hokage added, "I will intervene personally."

Hiruzen's voice was firm, but his eyes held a deeper scheme. He had to be careful—if he gave Orochimaru too many resources and he won too decisively, what then?

His real plan was to wait until Orochimaru struggled against Iwagakure—then he would send Minato to seize victory and solidify his future as Hokage.