"Hokage-sama," Anko's voice echoed in the quiet room of the tower where Hokage is present, strained but resolute. "Orochimaru is after Sasuke Uchiha."
Hiruzen's brow furrowed. "Explain."
"He placed a seal on Sasuke," Anko continued, her eyes dark with a mix of anger and concern. "But he said it was suppressed by something… an anomaly, he called it. He was desperate to know what it was. He was also very interested in Sasuke's condition. He killed my team, and the jonin."
She paused, her gaze intense. "But during the fight, I noticed something. Orochimaru was asking very specific questions, almost as if he was getting real-time updates. He was asking about chakra signatures, and the details of whatever destroyed his seal. It was as if someone within the exams was observing Team 7, specifically Sasuke, and reporting back to him. Someone with the ability to analyze chakra signatures and understand medical details."
The weight of Anko's words settled in the room, a chilling premonition of treachery. Hiruzen Sarutobi, his brow furrowed, stared out at the bustling village below, his mind dissecting every detail of her encounter with Orochimaru.
'Orochimaru's obsession with Sasuke… the anomaly… the real-time reports', he thought, his gaze hardening. 'Someone within the exams is feeding him information. Someone with the ability to analyze chakra signatures and understand medical details.'
His gaze fell upon the scroll containing the list of passing teams. 'Kabuto's name stood out. Kabuto Yakushi… Medical expertise… analytical mind… a detached demeanor… and a past intertwined with Orochimaru.'
He then recalled Kabuto's time as a Konoha shinobi, his skills as a medic, and his eventual departure with Orochimaru. "He left Konoha years ago, " Hiruzen thought, his brow furrowing. "Why would he return now? And why during the Chunin Exams, when Orochimaru's presence is so… palpable?"
He remembered Kabuto's observations during the Forest of Death, his focus on Team 7, and his subtle movements. "He's been watching them, " Hiruzen realized. "Watching Sasuke. Analyzing the anomaly."
"He's Orochimaru's eyes and ears, " Hiruzen concluded, his voice a silent whisper. "He's here to gather information, to relay it back to his master."
He then thought about how Kabuto was not fighting, and was only observing, Sasuke and how he was trying to see the energy that destroyed Orochimaru's seal.
"But why now?" Hiruzen wondered, a sense of unease creeping into his thoughts. "Why risk exposing himself? Unless… Orochimaru's interest in Sasuke is far greater than I initially suspected."
He remembered Kabuto's skill in information gathering, and how he was always good at relaying information.
"I need to be careful, " he thought, his gaze hardening. "I need to watch Kabuto. And I need to protect Sasuke."
He rose from his desk, his movements deliberate, his expression grim. He summoned a team of elite ANBU, their forms appearing silently in the shadows.
"Maintain constant, discreet surveillance on Kabuto Yakushi," he commanded, his voice low and firm. "Monitor his movements, communications, and interactions. Intercept any information he attempts to send. And report back to me immediately."
The ANBU vanished, their presence fading into the shadows. Hiruzen returned to his desk, his gaze fixed on the scroll containing the list of genin.
Second test is about to over & preliminary matches were about to begin, and he had a feeling this chunin exams would be far more dangerous than anyone anticipated.