Konoha Orphanage, Director's Office
"Yakushi Nono, known as the 'The Wandering Miko' beyond our borders, no one among Konoha's shinobi surpasses you in the art of undercover work."
"The Root would like to commission you to infiltrate Iwagakure and gather intelligence."
Orochimaru rested his chin on one hand, his tone calm and composed.
Yakushi Nono bit her lip, her expression grave. "I must decline. I retired long ago. Now, I am merely the director of this orphanage."
"Don't be so quick to refuse. As I understand it, the orphanage is already overcrowded."
"The reward for this mission? Konoha will fund the construction of three new orphanages."
Suddenly, Orochimaru's tone shifted, his voice sharp and menacing. "But if you refuse... losing a few children in such a large orphanage wouldn't be considered unusual."
"Would it?"
"I... I accept."
Lowering her head, Yakushi Nono clenched her fists tightly. Once again, she would have to leave her home behind.
"Then I'll take my leave."
Orochimaru stood up, departing under the escort of three ANBU members wearing animal masks.
---
After Danzo's Death
Danzo's murderer had vanished without a trace, but the Root could not be disbanded.
As Danzo once said: "Hiruzen, you are the tree basking in sunlight, and I am the roots buried deep underground."
Some tasks could only be carried out by the shadowy roots.
In recent months, Hiruzen Sarutobi had begun reorganizing the Root, with plans to recommend Orochimaru as its leader.
Unfortunately, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were opposed...
---
Orochimaru had just returned to his residence when a shadow darted through the window, kneeling before him.
"Orochimaru-sama, the Third Hokage has summoned you urgently."
"I understand. You may leave."
"Yes, sir."
"That old man truly doesn't let anyone rest," Orochimaru murmured, a hint of complaint in his voice.
When he arrived at the Hokage's office, Orochimaru's pale golden, slit pupils flickered with a subtle emotion.
She saw some old acquaintances she hadn't been with for a long time.
Jiraiya and Tsunade...
Who would have thought the Legendary Sannin would reunite in such a way?
Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, his face marked by tension. It seemed that chain-smoking had become his subconscious habit in times of stress.
"I've called the three of you here today for one reason: the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails and the Uchiha clan's Kekkei Genkai have been abducted by rogues from Kumogakure."
At these words, the three Sannin were momentarily stunned. For the village, a Jinchuriki was akin to a nuclear weapon.
If Kumogakure obtained one, the consequences would be catastrophic.
As for the Uchiha's Kekkei Genkai falling into foreign hands... even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't predict what madness might follow.
Hiruzen spoke with urgency. "Recover the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the Uchiha Kekkei Genkai at all costs!"
"By the way, sensei, who is the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails?" Tsunade asked curiously.
To rescue a Jinchuriki, they at least needed to know who it was.
Kushina Uzumaki was the current Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, a fact known only to Konoha's upper echelon and the Hokage himself.
Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke, pausing briefly before answering in a low voice, "It's Kushina Uzumaki, a student of Orochimaru's Seventh Team."
"What!"
---
The three Sannin leaped swiftly through the trees, the wind whistling past their ears.
The forest was dim at night, but Jiraiya's sharp sense of smell guided them.
"With Jiraiya around, finding the trail is easy," Tsunade said with a slight smile, her lips pressed together.
"Not everyone is born with such a dog's nose," she teased.
Orochimaru's lips curved faintly, his eerie face showing a rare smile.
"Fool! My nose is that of a sage, not a dog's!" Jiraiya retorted, his eyes wide and his grin playful.
It had been a long time since they had joked like this.
---
Suddenly, the temperature plummeted. The three halted abruptly, landing on the ground.
They didn't need to look closely—thick layers of ice covered the border of the Land of Fire.
A crow, its wings outstretched, was frozen mid-flight on a branch.
"Could this be the Ice Release of the Yuki clan? I thought they were wiped out," Tsunade said, holding her chin thoughtfully.
"This is natural energy... Sage Art!?" Jiraiya muttered, running his hand over the ice as a sense of familiarity washed over him.
"Hey, Jiraiya, Tsunade, come take a look."
Orochimaru stood silently in front of an ice sculpture.
At his call, Jiraiya and Tsunade joined him.
"This is..."
Jiraiya's eyes widened in surprise.
"A guard of the Raikage from Kumogakure," Orochimaru said flatly. "You saw him a few years ago at the Five Kage Summit."
Even Orochimaru fell into deep thought. Who could wield Ice Release on such a scale?
Tsunade looked startled. This guard, renowned throughout Kumogakure, was dead.
Suddenly, her lips moved as her gaze sharpened. She whispered coldly, "Someone's coming."
Jiraiya and Orochimaru immediately went on alert.
Through the mist, a blond-haired boy emerged, walking barefoot across the ice, purple energy radiating faintly from his soles.
The boy carried a red-haired girl in his arms and a black-haired girl on his back.
"Naruto, what happened?" Orochimaru asked softly as Naruto approached.
Naruto tilted his head slightly, his gaze meeting Orochimaru's.
"Nothing happened."
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