What decision would need to be made when the time came? Should Orochimaru be executed on the spot, or imprisoned?
This choice should have fallen to Minato, and if it were his decision, he wouldn't hesitate. After confirming the truth, he would opt for execution on the spot. However, Orochimaru wasn't just an ordinary ninja. He was one of the Legendary Sannin, the disciple of the Third Hokage, and Jiraiya's comrade.
Thus, Minato entrusted this weighty decision to the Third Hokage and Jiraiya.
Hiruzen accepted the responsibility. As Orochimaru's teacher, it was his duty to resolve the situation, though he was unaware of the doubts stirring within him.
Meanwhile, a plan to deal with Orochimaru was quietly set into motion, targeting the snake-like ninja who had no idea what was coming.
Danzo's protection wasn't flawless, and Orochimaru's increasingly erratic behavior—directly abducting villagers for his experiments—was impossible to conceal.
To minimize his vulnerability, Orochimaru had already begun moving his research facilities outside the village, which would prevent him from being trapped in the event of discovery. Even so, when the truth came to light, he would face formidable pursuit.
Though many of Konoha's ninjas were away on missions, the Third Hokage, Jiraiya, and Tsunade were all in the village, more than capable of dealing with Orochimaru.
Matters like this required swift and decisive action.
Once the decision was made, the first phase of the plan began immediately—the web was spreading, slowly closing in.
.....
Land of Fire, Giant Mushroom Forest – Night
In the forest bordering the edge of the Land of Fire, a campfire flickered, its light dancing in the darkness. Two figures sat beside the fire—Ye Zi and Sasori.
Suspended over the fire were two enormous wild boar legs, each the size of a full-grown adult. These had been hunted miles away, and only the hind legs had been taken, leaving the rest of the carcass behind.
The fire's warmth seeped into the boar legs, turning their surface golden-brown as the fat dripped down into the flames, sizzling and causing the fire to flare up. The smell of roasting meat filled the air.
Sasori, however, was indifferent to the savory aroma and the meat. His puppet body no longer required food. Instead, he was focused on improving his puppet's arm mechanisms, engraving storage seals for poison-tipped weapons.
In short, the two massive boar legs were meant solely for Ye Zi's meal. Ye Zi occasionally flipped the boar legs, waiting for them to fully cook.
The Mushroom Forest at night was eerily quiet, with only the crackling of burning wood breaking the silence.
Suddenly, Ye Zi's brow furrowed slightly, sensing something. His expression quickly returned to calm.
Looking toward Sasori, Ye Zi said, "I need to step away for a bit. Keep an eye on the boar legs for me; don't let them burn."
Without looking up, Sasori coldly replied, "If they burn, it's not my problem."
Seeing Sasori's refusal, Ye Zi said nothing further. He turned and walked deeper into the darkness, leaving the warmth of the fire behind.
As the firelight faded from his sight, Ye Zi came to a stop, sensing the presence of someone hidden nearby. From the trunk of a tree, a figure with pale white skin emerged—it was one of White Zetsu's clones.
"Jiraiya has returned to Konoha, and with him, some vague intelligence. There's movement now—several elite forces, including the Third Hokage, have set out from the village. Their target remains unclear," the clone reported, expressionless.
Ye Zi's eyes narrowed slightly at the news. "Who's in this group?" he asked.
"Among them are the Third Hokage, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and several members of the ANBU, along with a few high-level Jonin," the clone answered.
"No Chunin?" Ye Zi quickly picked up on the detail.
The clone shook its head. "No."
Ye Zi furrowed his brow. Even the retired Third Hokage was participating, and no Chunin were included—what could their goal be? Was this related to Jiraiya's return to Konoha? Was this mission aimed at Akatsuki?
"Which direction are they headed?" Ye Zi asked.
"Two o'clock from the main gate. Word has it that Kotoe is discreetly following the group, trying to gather more information."
At the mention of Kotoe taking a risk by tracking the Konoha forces, Ye Zi's expression changed. He quickly assessed the situation regarding Konoha's large-scale movement.
After a moment of contemplation, he made his decision. "Follow me," he ordered the White Zetsu clone.
With that, he glanced back briefly toward the distant firelight before activating his Lightning Release, turning into a streak of lightning as he dashed toward Konoha.
The White Zetsu clone merged into the trees, following closely behind.
Back at the campsite, Sasori remained unaware of Ye Zi's departure. The boar legs continued to roast over the fire, their once-aromatic scent gradually turning into the acrid smell of burning meat. Despite the increasingly strong odor, Sasori didn't glance at the meat, though inwardly, he took some petty satisfaction.
Time passed, and the fire eventually died out, leaving behind the charred remains of the boar legs. Only then did Sasori glance toward Ye Zi's departure point.
"So much for 'just a moment,'" Sasori muttered, his puppet eyes narrowing in irritation.
...
Over 100 kilometers northeast of Konoha – Dense Forest
Hiruzen, clad in black battle gear, led a team of Konoha's finest through the forest, leaping from branch to branch.
Based on the intelligence they had gathered, Orochimaru's secret lab was hidden somewhere within this forest.
"Orochimaru..." Hiruzen muttered, his gaze fixed ahead, his eyes filled with conflicting emotions.
The group behind him consisted of skilled Jonin and ANBU members, forming an elite strike force.
Had Kotoe been present, she might have recognized some familiar faces—Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kushina, and even the youngest member of the group, Kakashi.
The Konoha team was a formidable one, assembled with the specific goal of apprehending or eliminating Orochimaru.
Jiraiya and Tsunade were positioned close to each other. The sheer size of the force deployed signaled how seriously Konoha was taking the matter, ensuring they had the power to deal with Orochimaru or kill him if necessary.
"Jiraiya, do we really have to kill Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked, her voice heavy with reluctance.
Jiraiya's face was solemn. He remained silent for a moment, staring ahead before replying in a low voice, "I don't know."
Tsunade frowned but said nothing more.
A web was closing in on Orochimaru.
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Currently on Chapter 282 - A Successful Escape?