Chapter 170:
The war continued, but with Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru on the front lines, the offensive from Suna and Iwa was significantly weakened. Konoha's forces finally had a moment to breathe.
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Ten days later, on the border of the Land of Earth.
At the junction of Earth, Rain, and Grass Countries, a few bottomless ravines sliced through the ground like scars, marking the division between the three territories. Here, representatives from multiple factions were meeting to discuss an uneasy alliance.
One figure wore an Iwa forehead protector, another bore the Sand symbol, and a third came from a smaller, lesser-known country.
The ninja from this small nation was holding a strange grenade, crafted by Orochimaru, and turning it over in his hands as he examined it closely.
"This thing looks like our own weaponry," he muttered, "but the craftsmanship is entirely different. This one's far more refined."
"So you're saying this wasn't provided by your country?" the Iwa envoy asked.
There had been previous suspicions that Konoha's advanced weaponry was supplied by this smaller nation. But apparently, that wasn't the case.