A powerful repulsive force erupted, sending Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo flying out of the rest room. The three of them, still drenched in the slug's mucus and exuding an odd smell, were promptly expelled by Shinki, who had no intention of letting them soil the resting area—especially with Orochimaru eyeing him with thinly veiled irritation.
What just happened?
Before they could process their sudden return to the camp, they found themselves airborne, helpless against the force.
"Ahhh!" Jiraiya screamed as Orochimaru's shoe zoomed towards him mid-air.
"Thud!"
Jiraiya's shout was cut short when Orochimaru's foot planted squarely on his face, slamming him into the ground.
Hatake Sakumo, who had managed a graceful landing, watched as Orochimaru pummeled Jiraiya, who was still trying to wriggle free beneath him. Sakumo raised his hand, intending to intervene, but stopped when he saw Orochimaru wasn't using weapons or any lethal force. Instead, he chose to step aside and wash the mucus off himself in the pouring rain.
"You stinking snake, you dare hit me!" Jiraiya shouted, struggling under Orochimaru's relentless blows. "You're gonna regret this! I'm the great Toad Sage, Jiraiya! Ow, not the face!"
"I give up! I'm sorry! I won't laugh at you again!" he yelled as Orochimaru's punches came harder.
Shinki, having cleaned up the mucus and tossed his stained shoes into the trash, leaned out the door to check on them. He saw Orochimaru's foot planted on Jiraiya, fists still pounding away, and smirked. He knew Orochimaru was venting, not truly trying to harm Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's cries drew the attention of nearby ninjas, who paused in surprise but quickly moved along when they saw it was Orochimaru dishing out the beating. Nobody wanted to get involved when he was in a mood.
After washing off the sludge and changing into fresh clothes, Sakumo shook his wet white hair and asked, "Do you think Jiraiya is alright?"
"He'll be fine," Shinki chuckled. "Tsunade once broke half his ribs with a single punch, and he was up and about soon after. Orochimaru's punches won't do more than bruise him."
Sakumo sighed, half-amused, half-resigned. "These two are something else."
Once he'd sufficiently vented his frustration, Orochimaru turned and stalked off to the morgue where he'd been spending most of his time. Despite the temporary suspension of his collaboration with Shinki, he was convinced they'd resume soon, so he continued preparing a batch of puppets from enemy corpses.
"Why put yourself through that?" Sakumo muttered as Orochimaru disappeared.
He hurried over and helped Jiraiya to his feet. Jiraiya's face was a swollen mess. Orochimaru hadn't struck with full force, but the outcome was certainly eye-catching.
"Hah... Damn Orochimaru," Jiraiya groaned, grimacing. "I'll get him back for this. It hurts. Sakumo, could you help me wash this slime off?"
"..."
Sakumo instinctively raised his foot as if to kick him but stopped, seeing Jiraiya's sorry state. With a sigh, he relented and helped him wash off the mucus. Changing clothes, though, was a task Jiraiya had to handle himself. Sakumo wasn't about to assist with that.
Jiraiya's antics drew laughs from others in the camp. Most people would have been mortified to endure what he did, but Jiraiya's thick skin and resilience made him immune to embarrassment. After changing into clean clothes, he sat with his bruised face and started scribbling in his notebook.
He'd just decided the male protagonist in his next book would be inspired by Orochimaru.
---
Back in Konoha, Tsunade sat at her desk, reading a stack of reports when a ninja from the Anbu entered.
"Minister, the caravan you instructed us to follow has returned to the village. They brought back a large quantity of ninja tools and supplies."
"Excellent," Tsunade said, eyes narrowing. "Take a team and seize all supplies. Tell the caravan members that the village is in a state of emergency, and it's their duty to make sacrifices. For the village's sake, they must contribute everything."
"Understood."
The Anbu operative bowed and departed swiftly.
As Tsunade issued her orders, she mused, *Why does that sound so familiar? Ah, yes—the Hokage's line. Everything is for the village.*
---
At the village entrance, Sarutobi, overseeing the caravan's safety and transport, finally exhaled in relief as they arrived. The clan had invested heavily in purchasing ninja tools and supplies from the Land of Craftsmen. They planned to sell them at a significant profit to support their clan's coffers.
"Keep moving! We need to get this unloaded quickly," he instructed the clansmen.
Before they could advance further, several Anbu teams appeared, blocking their way.
"???"
Sarutobi frowned. What was the Anbu doing?
"This caravan's supplies are now under Anbu jurisdiction. Step aside to prevent any unnecessary conflicts," the Anbu captain announced coldly.
Sarutobi's eyes widened. "There must be some mistake! These supplies were legally purchased by the Sarutobi clan with permits issued by the Hokage himself."
The Anbu captain's expression remained unchanged. "We are aware. But Lady Tsunade has decreed that in these critical times, the village must come first. As members of Konoha, sacrifices are expected. Now, step aside."
With a wave of his hand, the Anbu operatives moved in, sealing the supplies into scrolls and evacuating with practiced precision, leaving the bewildered Sarutobi clan staring after them.
Was this a seizure or a robbery?
Their hard-earned supplies, snatched in an instant.
*Sacrifice and dedication?*
Sarutobi's heart sank at the thought of how much this loss would cost. Around them, villagers whispered among themselves, puzzled by the Anbu's actions.
"Out of the way!" Sarutobi shouted as he pushed through the crowd, his mind racing as he headed towards the Hokage's office.
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 220 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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