"Foolish! How could Tsunade be so foolish?" Sarutobi Hiruzen roared, his voice hoarse with fury. He was beyond enraged, pacing anxiously behind his desk, his agitation evident in every movement.
He was scolding Tsunade because he cared about her. She was his most beloved and personally trained disciple. If anything happened to her, his pain would surpass anyone else's.
Danzo removed his mask and placed it casually on the desk. He raised a hand to massage his temple.
Danzo only did this when a truly monumental problem arose.
"Sensei, what exactly is the issue?" Orochimaru hesitated before asking.
"What was the situation at the time?" Sarutobi snapped his head toward Orochimaru, speaking at a rapid pace. "How did Tsunade and Jiraiya come to agree to Haruto Saito's request? Tell me everything in detail!"
"At the time, we had just left the Land of Rain and had been traveling through the night… At dawn, we entered a valley where we encountered Haruto Saito… He told us that he had been ambushed the previous night… We even went to investigate the site of the battle," Orochimaru explained quickly, his brows deeply furrowed. His expression rarely changed, but since this involved Tsunade and Jiraiya, he could not remain indifferent.
"Tsunade owed Haruto Saito two favors from a previous bet she lost. He used one of them to ask Tsunade to accompany him on a mission. Jiraiya, worried about Tsunade's safety, decided to go along as well. I have already made arrangements—if they do not return to Konoha within seven days, I will personally go to the Land of Rain to find them."
"Tsunade, that idiot! That pigheaded fool!" Sarutobi Hiruzen was practically beside himself with rage, shouting yet again. "How could she agree to such a thing?! Damned reckless girl!"
"Sensei, what exactly is the problem?" Orochimaru was growing anxious as well—Sarutobi Hiruzen had never reacted like this before.
"Haruto Saito!" Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was hoarse, heavy with emphasis. "Haruto Saito is from Amegakure! He is suspicious! We are still investigating him. His mission to the Land of Rain was specifically assigned to him as a test! He is not fully trustworthy! His request for Tsunade to accompany him could very well be a trap. Once she enters the Land of Rain, Amegakure could immediately target her! Do you understand?! Amegakure will hunt her down! Hanzo himself might even take action!"
"But this…" Orochimaru frowned. "Isn't this just your personal speculation? Tsunade has an exceptional ability to judge people. Among the three of us, she is the most intelligent. She has always been the one to formulate our battle plans in previous missions. If she didn't trust Haruto Saito, she would never have agreed to his request."
Orochimaru wasn't particularly trusting of Haruto Saito—he simply had faith in Tsunade.
"And what if you're wrong? Haruto Saito is still under investigation, so we cannot reach a definitive conclusion! But his act of leading Tsunade to the Land of Rain only reinforces our previous suspicions. Is this really just a coincidence?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was grim.
The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became.
If Haruto Saito was truly a spy from Amegakure, then this was an elaborate and terrifyingly well-executed plan. It meant that he had meticulously schemed for this very moment—to bring Tsunade to the Land of Rain!
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Something was off.
If this were purely speculation, Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't be reacting so severely. His level of anxiety suggested he knew more than he was saying. He had ruled over Konoha for nearly twenty years and had experienced countless crises. The older he became, the more composed he was—so why was he losing his composure now?
"Sensei, is there something else you're not telling us?" Orochimaru asked coldly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not answer. He took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and pressed them against the desk, his gaze sharp and icy.
"It's like this," Danzo, who had been massaging his temple, finally spoke, his face emotionless. "We have long suspected that Haruto Saito might be a spy. However, given his extraordinary talent, executing him outright would be a waste. Moreover, if we could confirm his status as a spy, we could turn him into a double agent to manipulate Amegakure. That is why we did not kill him immediately."
Orochimaru listened intently.
"…So we devised a test. His assignment to the Land of Rain was orchestrated by me alone. Even the Uchiha clan is unaware of the details. The Hyuga clan dispatched assassins to eliminate him, and I allowed it. Additionally, I deliberately leaked intelligence about his mission to Amegakure through special channels."
Orochimaru's expression changed drastically. His eyes widened in shock, horror flashing through them.
"Yes, Amegakure knows that he has entered the Land of Rain. They also know who his target is. They have undoubtedly prepared for his arrival. Our original plan was simple—if Amegakure sent assassins to kill him as a rogue ninja, then he was innocent. However, if they sent people to protect him and assist in fending off the Hyuga clan's assassins, then he was undeniably a spy. But now… Tsunade and Jiraiya have gone with him. Amegakure will discover them as well!"
This was why Sarutobi Hiruzen was losing control, why he was teetering on the edge of hysteria!
Amegakure had been forewarned of Haruto Saito's arrival. They knew his target and had already set up countermeasures. Whether to protect or eliminate him, they would inevitably notice Tsunade and Jiraiya. The consequences… could be catastrophic!
The unavoidable danger.
Regardless of whether Haruto Saito was a spy, Tsunade and Jiraiya were now in grave peril!
If they were killed in the Land of Rain, it would be the greatest loss Konoha had suffered since the First Shinobi World War over a decade ago!
"How could this happen…" Orochimaru muttered, casting a sharp look at Sarutobi Hiruzen before swiftly forming a hand seal.
Whoosh!
In a flash, Sarutobi Hiruzen moved like a ghost, appearing right beside Orochimaru. He pressed a firm hand onto Orochimaru's shoulder, stopping him from teleporting away.
"Wait. Don't go alone. You won't be able to resolve this by yourself," Sarutobi Hiruzen said gravely.
Orochimaru lowered his arm, but his face was colder than ever, a layer of frost settling over his expression.
Silence filled the office.
Danzo picked up his mask and put it back on, remaining silent.
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly returned to his desk, sitting down sluggishly, his brows furrowed as he contemplated the situation with heavy concern.
Orochimaru stood still, unmoving.
Moments later.
Whoosh!
A whirlwind appeared, followed by a burst of white smoke. The enigmatic captain of the Anbu, White Fang, materialized from thin air.
"Lord Hokage, you called for me," White Fang said respectfully. While Danzo had been the one issuing orders to the Anbu outside, he had no direct authority over White Fang. The Anbu answered only to the Hokage.
"An emergency mission. You will personally lead the operation!" Sarutobi Hiruzen commanded rapidly. "Gather all available Anbu. You are permitted to recruit standby shinobi from the Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans. I am granting you the highest operational authority. You may requisition any Konoha shinobi you encounter outside the village! Additionally, I am giving you temporary command over the Second Army Division stationed outside!"
White Fang's expression shifted. He had never been granted such sweeping authority before.
"Lord Hokage, what is the mission?" he asked.
"Assemble your team and immediately head to the Land of Rain. Orochimaru will accompany you. Your objective is to find Tsunade and Jiraiya. Bring them back alive!" Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up and reiterated firmly, "They must return alive!"