The whole room was quiet as they stared at Daichi.
"To experiment on Lady Tsunade. His own former teammate? Do you really think he'd go that far?" Inoichi asked in a small tone.
It was Ibiki who replied to the Yamanaka clan head. "Orochimaru is known for his cruel experiments and thirst for power. He might have taken Lady Tsunade for her incredible medical knowledge and her unique chakra control abilities… But it's also possible he intends to use her as an experiment." Ibiki remembered what happened to Anko and knew that Orochimaru was not above using his own former teammate for his own gains.
"Damn it. To think something like this could happen…" Genma knew that soon the world would know what happened and if the Leaf village lost someone like Tsunade it would make the other countries bold and they would try to take advantage of the situation.
At that moment Hiruzen sighed tiredly. He clenched his fists and looked down at them as he spoke. "This is all my fault."
Genma shook his head as he looked at the kage. "Lord Hokage. You can't blame yourself for something-"
"His eyes… They always had malice and ambition hidden behind them… Almost hidden. I had seen it… But I pretended not to notice. His strength and talent. He was the sort of student that came once in a generation."
Everyone had their attention on Hiruzen. Daichi slightly narrowed his eyes as he looked at the old leader. 'Yes. If you hadn't let him escape this wouldn't be happening. So you have a blame in this as well… But then again… this didn't happen before in canon… So I have to take responsibility as well…'
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair and let out a breath as he looked at his people present. "Even though Lord Hashirama brought peace by creating this village, it wasn't true peace. It was still a brutal time filled with war and darkness. We needed shinobi like him. I thought that if I kept training him, I could make him walk the right path. I once believed that he would be the one worthy to succeed me. I was too naive… It was my weakness that brought all this upon us now… This is all on me…"
Everyone was silent as they heard the kage's admission.
Suddenly Hiruzen's eyes sharpened. "But I can't dwell on the past. I'm going to correct that mistake when I meet Orochimaru. But before that we're going to rescue Tsunade and Shizune no matter what."
The Hokage looked at the sole Genin in the room and spoke. "If Orochimaru wanted Tsunade for her medical skills then it would be for something extremely serious. And Tsunade would no doubt know that she needs to stall for as long as she can. But on the other hand even if he's using her for some kind of experiment he won't let her live for long. I estimate at most 4 or maybe 5 days before Orochimaru takes drastic measures. Do you concur with my theory Daichi?"
Daichi was inwardly impressed at Hiruzen's deduction. "Yes. I've come to a similar conclusion as well."
"Then we better find Lady Tsunade quickly." Kakashi who entered the room suddenly spoke up. Behind him came Asuma Sarutobi, Might Guy, Shibi Aburame, Tsume Inuzuka, her ninja dog partner and Kogamu Hyuga.
"Is it true dad? Did Orochimaru really…" Asuma asked.
Hiruzen merely nodded his head.
"To think that bastard has the balls to do something so audacious… We can't let him just do what he wants, Lord Hokage." Tsume spoke up. Tsunade had healed and saved her life when she was young and a new chunin. She would never forget that day and had wowed to repay her.
"I will personally deal with Orochimaru when I find him." Hiruzen replied in a hard tone. "But right now our goal is to find Tsunade and her apprentice and rescue them safely. Your mission is to get to their last known location and see if you can track them from there. According to what Shizune wrote there were multiple enemies. So you might have to split into separate teams. If you find them your priority is to rescue Tsunade and Shizune and retreat."
"Understood sir." The Jonins nodded. Hiruzen gave Kakashi the paper Tonton brought and the silver haired Jonin noted the details to memory. He gave the note to Tsume and she had her ninken partner Kuromaru take a whiff of the scents on the paper.
"Got it." The one eyed wolfish canine spoke in a gruff voice.
Suddenly Daichi spoke up. "Lord Hokage, please let me join their team."
The Jonins glanced at the Genin. They each had different thoughts as they looked at the boy.
Hiruzen looked at the boy and shook his head. "I'm sorry Daichi. But I'm afraid I can't allow that. It's too dangerous."
"But she's my sensei. I can't just sit back and do nothing." Daichi was desperate. 'I have to find them as soon as possible… If not…'
"She also is my student " Hiruzen said in a hardened voice. But then he sighed and spoke in a softer tone. "It pains me as well to just sit here and not be out there doing everything I can to find those two but we have to make the smart decisions. No matter how hard they might be."
Daichi wanted to argue but Kakashi interrupted him. "Lord Hokage is right, Daichi. Besides we don't know if Orochimaru is after you as well. Right now you need to stay here. We'll do everything we can…"
'Damn it.' Daichi looked at his teacher and reluctantly nodded his head.
"Go." Hiruzen ordered and the group of ninja immediately left the building.
Kakashi and the team of Jonins rushed with Tsume and Kuromaru at the front. Time of departure: 6:20 am. March 21st.
Daichi stood in the Hokage office as he contemplated his next move. 'What do I do? I need to know where Orochimaru is hiding them? If he took them to the main base then I'll need to make my move soon. But what if he's not there… Wait a minute.'
Just then another thought struck Daichi and he looked at the Kage. "Lord Hokage. Mizuki must have some information. He must definitely know something. He had to have met with Orochimaru to get the cursed jutsu." 'I need to know for sure if Mizuki in this timeline knows more about Orochimaru's operations or not.'
Hiruzen nodded as he recalled what happened last night. "Yes. For him to attack Tsunade last night, Orochimaru knew Mizuki's plan. They must have been in contact."
"But Lord Hokage. If Mizuki knows something then it's a problem for us. As I mentioned earlier, it'll take me time to enter his mind and access the information we need because of the barriers." Inoichi spoke.
"Wait. Barriers? Mizuki has mind barriers?" Daichi asked and Inoichi looked at the Hokage as if asking for permission to answer the question.
Hiruzen looked at Daichi and nodded his head. 'He's the one who caught Mizuki and he's Tsunade's student. I suppose there is no trouble in him knowing this.'
"A rogue ninja placed powerful defenses in Mizuki's mind. So unfortunately it will take me time to access his memories. A day or two." Inoichi spoke looking at the boy.
Daichi was tense and looked down in disappointment. 'By then it'll be too late. I need information quickly…. Maybe I can convince him somehow…'
At that time a system message popped up. It was a new quest. The gamer ninja immediately went through the details.
[Quest created - Get Information from Mizuki]
[Orochimaru has kidnapped Tsunade Senju and Shizune Kato several hours ago for unknown purposes. Mizuki may or may not have some information regarding Orochimaru's plans. Find out whatever information you can from Mizuki through whatever means needed.] [Time Limit: 3 hours]
.
[Conditions:]
[Get information on at least one of Orochimaru's bases. ]
[Get information on the person who helped him with the mind barriers.]
[Find out more information about Orochimaru or his subordinates.]
.
[Rewards:]
[15000 Exp.]
[Reputation increases with certain Leaf village ninjas.]
[Increased chances of successfully completing the quest - 'Rescue Tsunade Senju']
.
[Failure:]
[Great chance of failure in completing quest - Rescue Tsunade Senju]
[Accept: Y/N]
Daichi immediately accepted the quest. 'An increased chance in rescuing Tsunade sensei? So that means Mizuki is the key. He knows something that will help me. I need to find whatever information he has in his head. But this quest has a time limit. I need to act quickly.'
Daichi looked at the Kage and spoke. "Lord Hokage. Even waiting for several hours would be too long. Let me talk to him. I want to try and see if I can convince Mizuki to give us any information he knows about Orochimaru and his plans."
"Daichi, I don't think that's a good idea."
"I can be persuasive Lord Hokage. Let me just talk to him."
Genma who was standing nearby heard Daichi say similar words before. 'I have a feeling Mizuki is not going to enjoy a meeting with Daichi… Should we let him do this?'
Genma recalled what happened the last time Daichi interrogated someone. 'Right now Lady Tsunade and Shizune are in danger. We have to take drastic steps.'
Genma looked at the kage and nodded his head. "Lord Hokage. I think you should give Daichi a chance. Let him speak with Mizuki."
Hiruzen looked at Genma and quickly recalled what the man said on his mission with Daichi. He read Genma's report on Daichi's interrogation style and was impressed and a little concerned. 'Now we're in a dangerous situation. Saving Tsunade and Shizune is all that matters. And… this will give me the chance to see what you would do in such a situation, Daichi.'
After a few moments of contemplation Hiruzen nodded his head giving Daichi permission. "Try to convince him if you can. If not, we'll try some other methods."
Daichi nodded and turned to Inoichi. "Sir, can you tell me what kind of mind barriers Mizuki have?"
Inoichi nodded and recalled the information. "He has a stronger than average defense barrier. Based on my examination, if someone tries to poke in the wrong place in his head, traps could be triggered that could kill both Mizuki and the person doing a Mind walk."
"Can he give me the information of his own will?" Daichi asked.
The Yamanaka clan head nodded. "Yes. I believe so. Mizuki was able to tell Zefrek and the other two about his intentions to go to Orochimaru. So I believe he should be able to tell us as well. I haven't seen any triggers in his mind that would activate should he decide to share information with us."
Inoichi stopped and looked at the boy. "But that's a big if… He hasn't said a word since we brought him into custody."
Daichi nodded his head and crossed his arms as he came up with a plan.
Ibiki looked at the Genin from the corner of his eyes and recalled what Heiji said a few months ago.
Flashback.
Heiji had returned to the Leaf village after the mission in the Capital to interrogate a suspect and he met up with Ibiki. During their conversation Heiji recalled his experience with the Genin Daichi Hekima.
"I'm telling you, Ibiki. That kid only needed a short time and he just talked and that man spilled his secrets. If I didn't know any better I'd say he was trained by you."
Ibiki's lips slightly curled upwards as he looked at the man. "Now you've got me curious. Daichi Hekima huh. I'm looking forward to meeting the boy one day."
"Why? Are you thinking of training him?" Heiji asked with a grin.
The head of the interrogation department shook his head. "No. That kid is already trained by Lady Tsunade and is currently under Kakashi. And if what you said is true I don't think he'd need my help in the interrogation department. I'm just curious is all. Genin like him are rare. Especially during these peaceful times."
Flashback End.
Ibiki turned to the Genin and asked in a neutral tone. "Do you think you can get the answers you need from him just by talking to him? He isn't like the person you last interrogated. Mizuki hates the village. He won't give up any information unless it's by force."
"I won't know unless I try." Daichi replied with a resolute tone and Ibiki turned to the Hokage. Hiruzen looked at the Jonin and nodded his head.
"Ibiki, Inoichi. Take him to the interrogation cell Mizuki is in. It won't hurt us to try." The Hokage made a decision and Ibiki, Inoichi and Daichi nodded.
The two Jonins plus Genin left the tower and quickly made their way to the interrogation department. It wasn't long before they reached the cell Mizuki was in.
Daichi stood outside the cell and looked through the one way mirror. He saw Mizuki and his heart hardened. 'Time to see if I'll get an answer to my question…'
Without wasting another second Daichi opened the door and entered the room while Ibiki and Inoichi stood outside and observed.