Chapter 114:
Orochimaru's proposal left the Daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields both excited and cautious.
Without a proper ninja village, the country had been constantly invaded and exploited, often left defenseless against even wandering rogue ninjas. It was one thing to be bullied by the great nations, whose strength was undeniable, but to be terrorized by random mercenaries and rogue shinobi was a humiliation the daimyo could hardly endure.
So, when Orochimaru suggested building a ninja village in his country, the daimyo weighed the pros and cons carefully.
The benefits were obvious. Even though Orochimaru mentioned that his village wouldn't be taking typical commissions, he promised a steady stream of funds to the country and, more importantly, stability something the daimyo desperately craved.
But there was a risk too. Establishing a new ninja village would undoubtedly attract attention from the larger nations. Even if they weren't outright hostile, they would definitely keep a close eye on any new military power that emerged, especially in such a strategically weak country.
Then again, the daimyo thought, if the location of this new village remained secret enough, it could be hidden from the prying eyes of other nations.
With this in mind, the daimyo nodded slightly, deep in thought. "It's not a bad plan… but if you're going to build a village, won't you be on your own? Without other ninjas to support you, it could be challenging."
"Who said I'd be alone?" Orochimaru smiled faintly.
As if on cue, three figures materialized seemingly out of nowhere. They were identical black clothes, black hair, identical height, and identical faces.