The Third Hokage and Tsunade both had extremely complicated expressions at this moment.
Even those with strong minds could not accept the defection of their most proud disciple and former comrade-in-arms.
But that was the fact—Orochimaru had attacked Jiraiya, and he was connected to the broken forehead protector and scroll.
"Let all the ninjas who are still searching in the village stop."
Minato looked at Uchiha Yoruki behind him, his golden brows furrowed. Although he didn't know the purpose of Orochimaru kidnapping the Chunin and Genin in the village, he feared that those people had already been killed.
What he knew clearly was that Orochimaru's second act of kidnapping the village's ninjas was probably intentional. His purpose was to disperse the power of the ANBU and buy time for today's escape.
"ANBU ninjas are searching the places where Orochimaru has been active in batches. They should be able to find something."
Although he already knew that there was not much hope, Minato was still unwilling to give up his last hope.
The most important thing was that since Jiraiya-sensei was able to get these items, it meant that there should be Orochimaru's secret base somewhere in the village.
"But I think all of this will become clear once Jiraiya-sensei wakes up."
Minato sighed and looked at Hiruzen and Tsunade beside him.
"Yes!"
Uchiha Yoruki responded and then disappeared from in front of the three people.
"I also have things to deal with, so I'll take my leave now."
Minato said that the crisis caused by the attack on the village had not yet subsided, and now Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, had rebelled against Konoha.
If this news was not suppressed as soon as possible, it would be very disadvantageous for Konoha.
The rest of the ninja villages and major countries were all waiting for this moment.
However, this matter probably could not be concealed for too long, because the one who blocked Uchiha Yoruki's way was the masked man who had attacked Konoha.
The latter would probably spread the news quickly.
Thinking of this, the murderous intent in Minato's azure eyes could not be suppressed.
Hiruzen nodded, and Minato moved to his office again.
"Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sama has awakened."
Two hours later, an ANBU ninja came to report.
Upon hearing this, Minato moved to the Konoha Hospital again.
In the ward, Tsunade was sitting next to Jiraiya, who looked gloomy and had his head lowered.
"Sensei."
At this moment, Minato's figure appeared at the window, in front of Jiraiya's bed.
Jiraiya raised his eyes and looked at Minato, then looked away for a moment, his eyes flickering.
"I'm sorry, Minato," Jiraiya said suddenly.
Minato had ordered him to observe Orochimaru, and he did find something abnormal about the latter.
According to common sense, he should have reported this to the village as soon as possible.
"It's not your fault."
Minato said that he had learned some time ago that after Jiraiya followed Orochimaru out of the village, he didn't even bring the Flying Thunder God kunai that Minato had given him.
Minato knew the reason in his teacher's heart. In fact, Jiraiya probably knew how serious what Orochimaru had done this time was.
He was unwilling to see his best friend executed and was even willing to sacrifice his own life for it.
Minato asked himself, if it were him, he might make the same decision as his teacher.
"You don't need to comfort me. No matter what, I have disobeyed the orders of the Hokage, and I am willing to accept any punishment for it!" Jiraiya said.
"Alright, sensei, but you have to tell me first, what was Orochimaru doing?" Minato said in a deep voice.
Jiraiya's eyes changed, a look of extreme disappointment flashed across his face, and then he whispered, "The missing ninjas in the village were captured by Orochimaru. He used these living people. It seems that he was conducting human experiments."
"Human experiments?"
Minato's pupils suddenly shrank.
"Does this mean there are no survivors?"
"...Yes."
Jiraiya struggled to respond, saying that if it was entirely from the perspective of the Konoha ninja, Orochimaru deserved to be executed ten times for what he had done.
Using living people for experiments is against moral ethics in itself, let alone the Konoha ninjas from the same village.
This was a sin that could never be forgiven, even more serious than killing a companion.
"Have you told this to Lord Third?" Minato asked.
"Sarutobi-sensei has already gone to Orochimaru's laboratory," Jiraiya whispered.
"I see."
Minato said, and Tsunade, who was standing beside him, was almost unable to suppress the anger in her heart.
"I'm going to find that guy. I'm going to kill him myself!" Tsunade clenched her fist slightly, and the sound of bones rubbing against each other was heard.
She had established a medical ninja system and spent all her efforts to improve it, all in order to reduce the death rate of Konoha ninjas when performing missions.
And now, Orochimaru had actually hurt his companions. With Tsunade's fiery temper, she could not tolerate this kind of thing.
"Tsunade-sama, please wait a moment." After Tsunade said this, she was about to go out, but was stopped by Minato.
"Minato, I don't think you can accept this kind of thing, right?" Tsunade said angrily. In this village, Minato cared about his companions' feelings as much as anyone else.
"Yes."
Minato nodded, then he changed the subject and said: "But now the village is in a special period. It has just suffered an attack. Ninjas of your level have extraordinary significance to the village."
"What do you mean?" Tsunade naturally knew what Minato meant.
"I know that Lord Third is just as unwilling as you are at this moment."
Minato said: "After you leave the village, I'm afraid he will be even more worried. This will greatly weaken the power of Konoha."
He knew that after Orochimaru's defection, it would be impossible for Lord Third to stay in the village peacefully.
If Tsunade still wanted to leave at this time, then Konoha would be equivalent to losing the power of all three Sannin at the same time.
After hearing the reason, Tsunade's face changed, and then she looked at Jiraiya.
Minato now turned his gaze towards Jiraiya.
"Sensei, since you feel that you have made a mistake, then I will leave the investigation of Orochimaru's affairs to you as a way to make up for your mistakes!"
The Third Hokage and several ANBU who accompanied him found Orochimaru's underground laboratory.
Under the dim light, the bloody scenes in the laboratory and on the experimental bench made the expressions of everyone present flicker with horror.
At this moment, the Third Hokage seemed to look much older.
His already slightly hunched body was trembling slightly.
A muffled groan was heard, and blood flowed out from the corner of Hiruzen's mouth.
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