Arriving at the Konoha Military Police Force Headquarters, and with nothing pressing to do, Tatsuya began to quietly review the results of his experiments from this past month.
At noon, an ANBU ninja arrived at the headquarters, bringing shocking news. Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, had defected!
"What? How is that possible?"
Upon hearing this news, Tatsuya, who had somewhat anticipated it, remained calm. Sakawa and Teru Yuhi, on the other hand, were utterly shocked and disbelieving.
In Konoha, the Legendary Sannin had always been synonymous with heroes. They were the disciples of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi! They had achieved glorious feats for Konoha during the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars!
But now, one was missing, and one had defected! For Sakawa and Teru Yuhi, who had grown up hearing stories of the Sannin, this was akin to their beliefs crumbling.
In the office, Shisui, who was gathered with Tatsuya and the others, was equally shocked and worried. For Konoha, Orochimaru's defection was undoubtedly a huge loss. It was a heavy blow, both in terms of strength and prestige. However, for some of the radical Uchiha who were eager for a coup, this was undoubtedly great news!
"Tatsuya, the Hokage has ordered us to immediately form an elite team to assist the ANBU in pursuing him. Do you want to go?" After a brief moment of shock and silence, Shisui asked Tatsuya.
After thinking for a moment, Tatsuya nodded in agreement. "I'll go with you."
Orochimaru's defection was clearly premeditated. Given his abilities, a successful pursuit was impossible. The Third Hokage was likely well aware of this! The so-called pursuit was merely for show.
Shisui and Tatsuya, along with several Uchiha clan members, formed an elite squad and quickly departed. Sakawa and Teru Yuhi were both left behind at the headquarters.
At the Konoha Military Police Force Headquarters building, Fugaku Uchiha, Yashiro Uchiha, and several other high-ranking Uchiha stood behind the glass curtain wall, watching Tatsuya and the others lead the team away. The radical Uchiha, led by Yashiro Uchiha, subtly revealed smiles.
However, Tatsuya, who was eager to contribute and show his abilities, was directly refused.
At the Konoha village gate, Tatsuya's face darkened slightly as he saw the two ANBU squads blocking his path.
"What did you say? The village has ordered restrictions on Tatsuya leaving the village?" Shisui frowned and questioned the leading ANBU ninja.
"Yes! The Hokage has ordered that all ninjas in the village who have had contact with Orochimaru are temporarily prohibited from leaving the village," the ANBU ninja replied, neither servile nor overbearing.
Hearing his answer, Shisui's face flashed with anger, and he was about to argue, but Tatsuya stopped him.
"Forget it, Shisui! You guys go on this mission. I won't be joining you." A faint, almost imperceptible hint of mockery appeared at the corner of Tatsuya's mouth as he spoke calmly.
Without waiting for Shisui's reply, he turned and left. Behind him, Shisui watched Tatsuya's retreating figure, concern etched on his face. He sensed a suppressed anger in Tatsuya.
Walking slowly along the streets of Konoha, Tatsuya's expression was calm, but his mind recalled Orochimaru's words from the previous night. Perhaps I really should start making plans early! The current Konoha is not what I desire.
Reaching a street corner, Tatsuya suddenly stopped. On one side of the street, two ANBU ninjas appeared in front of an izakaya.
Inside the izakaya, several Konoha ninjas wearing headbands were gathered around a table, drinking. Among them was Orochimaru's student, Mitarashi Anko.
The two ANBU ninjas lifted the curtain and entered, approaching the table. One of them leaned close to Mitarashi Anko and whispered something in her ear.
"What? Impossible!" Anko's expression changed drastically. She abruptly stood up, shouting loudly, her voice echoing throughout the izakaya.
"Anko, what's wrong?" "What happened?"
The others at the table, including Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, were startled and quickly asked with concern. The other customers in the izakaya also turned their attention to them.
"Special Jonin Mitarashi Anko, this is absolutely true. Please don't make this difficult for us!" The two ANBU ninjas ignored the reactions of the other people in the izakaya. Seeing Anko's reaction, the ANBU ninja who had spoken earlier raised his voice slightly.
As he spoke, the two ANBU ninjas took a step closer from either side, subtly surrounding Mitarashi Anko.
Mitarashi Anko showed no reaction to her companions' concerned inquiries or the two ANBU members' encirclement. She simply stood there in a daze, muttering softly.
Her respected teacher, Orochimaru, had defected from Konoha! Without taking her! A sharp pain of abandonment and betrayal surged through Mitarashi Anko's heart!
Seeing Mitarashi Anko's dazed state, the two ANBU ninjas exchanged a look. Then, in tacit agreement, they stepped forward and took hold of her, one on each side, and began to lead her out. Mitarashi Anko offered no resistance.
Nearby, Izumo Kamizuki, Kotetsu Hagane, and the others hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn't dare to intervene. The ANBU Black Ops directly represented the Hokage! They didn't have the strength or the courage to oppose them.
As soon as the three left, the izakaya quickly buzzed with the customers' heated discussions. In Konoha, Mitarashi Anko was not an unknown figure, and many were curious about her reaction and why the ANBU had taken her away.
On the street, Tatsuya, who had stopped walking, saw the two ANBU ninjas leading Mitarashi Anko out. Seeing Tatsuya, the two ANBU ninjas stopped. Mitarashi Anko, however, kept her head down; it seemed as though the usually proud woman had been drained of all her spirit.
"Let her go!" Tatsuya's voice was cold.
Hearing Tatsuya's voice, Mitarashi Anko's body trembled slightly. She slowly raised her head. At this moment, tears glimmered in the eyes of this proud and strong woman.
"Jonin Tatsuya Akimichi, the Hokage ordered me to bring her in. Please don't interfere with our duties!" The ANBU ninja who had spoken earlier stepped forward.
"I said, let her go!" Tatsuya took a deep breath, his aura gradually becoming difficult to suppress.
The two ANBU ninjas were momentarily unsure of how to proceed. They were confident they could subdue Mitarashi Anko. But against Tatsuya, they had no confidence at all.
Behind them, Izumo Kamizuki, Kotetsu Hagane, and several other Chunin from their cohort who had followed them out were all on edge. Tatsuya's forceful defiance while the Hokage's direct ANBU were carrying out their mission was completely beyond their imagination.
Swish!
Just as the atmosphere reached a breaking point of tension and pressure, a figure quickly flashed to Tatsuya's side.
"Tatsuya, don't be rash!" It was Kakashi. He grabbed Tatsuya, who was about to lose control and attack.
Then, Kakashi looked up at the two ANBU ninjas and said, "Leave this to me. You two go back and report to the Hokage."
Hearing this, the two ANBU ninjas secretly breathed a sigh of relief. They nodded to Kakashi and quickly disappeared.
The two were aware of the situation! It wasn't that they were too cowardly! It was just that Tatsuya's strength was too terrifying, and his status was extremely special! The several Root ninjas who had died more than a month ago were the best example.
"Let's go!" Seeing the two ANBU ninjas obediently leave, Kakashi also breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to Tatsuya and said softly.
"Where to?" Tatsuya glanced at Kakashi, his voice slightly hoarse.
"To drink!" Kakashi replied calmly. He walked over to Mitarashi Anko and softened his voice. "Come with us!"
With that, he put his hands in his pockets and turned to leave coolly. Behind him, Tatsuya and Mitarashi Anko followed silently. Outside the izakaya, a group of excited onlookers remained. Izumo Kamizuki, Kotetsu Hagane, and the others let out sighs of relief, but also shared bitter smiles! They were from the same cohort, so why was the gap so wide?
Soon after, in the Hokage's office.
The two ANBU ninjas who had gone to apprehend Mitarashi Anko were kneeling respectfully in front of the desk, reporting the situation. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat in his chair, holding his pipe, the faint white smoke drifting in front of him, obscuring the expression in his eyes.
"Kakashi took them away?" Hiruzen asked calmly after hearing their report.
"Yes," the two ANBU ninjas replied respectfully.
"Then let them be! You don't need to concern yourselves with this matter," Hiruzen said, waving his hand at the two.
"Yes!" Hearing this, the two ANBU were greatly relieved. They responded and disappeared. They didn't want to get involved in this mess any further!
After the two left, Hiruzen sat alone in the Hokage's office, his gaze distant, lost in thought.
That day, Kakashi, Tatsuya, and Mitarashi Anko found a secluded izakaya and drank themselves into a stupor. Drunk, Mitarashi Anko hugged Tatsuya and cried her heart out! Tatsuya, equally drunk, hugged her back, comforting her like a "good brother."
That night, Tatsuya and Mitarashi Anko were carried home by Kyoko and Tsubaki. Kakashi, that unrighteous fellow, had slipped away early. Other than summoning his Ninken to deliver a message, he didn't help at all.
A day later, the news of Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, defecting had completely spread throughout Konoha. It immediately caused an uproar!
Since the death of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru and Jiraiya had been the strongest forces below the Third Hokage. In Konoha, Orochimaru was not only a symbol of the highest combat power, but also a hero that countless people had once admired and worshipped. The defection of such a figure, was a huge impact for Konoha village.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, quickly organized a large ninja force to search for the defected Orochimaru in all directions. Various ninja clans and the Konoha Military Police Force were all involved.
However, all of this had nothing to do with Tatsuya. Because he was once again restricted.
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