"Kakashi, what do you mean by this mission?"
"Terrain survey? But this place is inside the Land of Fire's borders, isn't it?"
Uchiha Obito stared at the location marked on the mission scroll, puzzled. To him, even if it were a survey it should be done outside the Land of Fire.
Why would they conduct a survey inside their own country?
Kakashi looked at Obito's bewildered face and, inwardly frustrated, nearly wanted to kick him.
Is this kind of mission a terrain survey? What is this guy thinking!
"You idiot, do you think this is a terrain survey?"
"Now is a time of war. The Hokage ordered us to search inside our own country — it's obvious an enemy has infiltrated."
"A survey? My foot!"
Little did Obito know, their mission had nothing to do with a terrain survey — it was a search for enemies.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, his gaze fixed on the distance; no one could tell what he was thinking.
Then several ANBU appeared behind him. At their head was his son and the current ANBU captain, Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
"Hokage-sama has investigated. Danzo's words were not false."
"Orochimaru has conducted many illicit experiments, including human experiments, though how many we cannot say for certain."
"What can be confirmed is that he has indeed gone down a dark path."
"From the traces we've found, it even appears he may be developing forbidden ninjutsu..."
When Sarutobi Shinnosuke spoke, his tone was especially grave.
He knew Orochimaru fairly well; he could not imagine that the boy who had once been full of energy would fall so far.
Human experiments...
Forbidden ninjutsu...
This is a road of no return. Orochimaru, what do you want...
"I understand. You may go."
"Hokage-sama, this is serious. I think you should make a decision sooner rather than later."
"Go. I know what to do. But since this is wartime, even if we hold someone accountable, we must wait until the fighting calms."
He wanted to say more, but held back, then disappeared from the office with the rest of the ANBU.
Only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained, brooding alone.
"Orochimaru...."
"Ah...."
This was a ninja he had raised since childhood — one might even call them father and son. To reach this point... fate is strange indeed.
...
North of Konoha, Konan led the lower-ranked shinobi from the Takigakure as they left Konoha, preparing to return to Takigakure.
"Hm? What's that?"
"You, Yugito, come with me. Everyone else, rest here."
Soon Konan led Yugito to a small riverbank where Gekko Chizan had been waiting for some time.
"You came quickly."
"I came as soon as I saw you. What's going on during the exams?"
"Well... it's pretty much what you think — the war has begun; things escalated fast."
Gekko Chizan's face turned unusually serious, which in turn made Konan serious as well. They had known each other a long time, and this was the first time Konan had seen Gekko Chizan wear such an expression.
"Is it that serious, Chizan? Even you find it troublesome?"
"It's not that it's troublesome, it's something else. I need you to return and talk with Yahiko — secure Takigakure quickly."
Hearing this, Yugito actually showed a hint of excitement.
"Finally it's action time! I've waited so long for this day!"
"Wow wow! Konan-nee, let's hurry back to the village! I'm gonna become a jōnin!"
Gekko Chizan and Konan looked at Yugito at the same time; Chizan's fist landed on her head.
"Ah!"
Yugito screamed, then fell silent and quietly retreated to the side, glaring fiercely at Gekko Chizan.
(You're gonna see! When I grow up I'll beat you up! Matatabi, right?)
Matatabi: ".....Is there a chance you can't beat him? When you grow up he won't be young either, you know."
Yugito: ".....Can't I just wait until he turns into an old man?!"
"What exactly happened, Chizan?"
Konan smiled softly and continued asking Gekko Chizan.
"Ah...."
"My teacher might defect from the village. He's a research scientist, his research isn't approved by the village."
"I and he have already planned a countermeasure. Afterward he'll leave Konoha for Takigakure to continue his work, and I'll contact the daimyo. I'll be the one to negotiate with the daimyo."
"Later he'll continue his research in Takigakure and possibly farther north."
Gekko Chizan's teacher? One of the Three Legendary Sannin — Orochimaru?
Konan couldn't help but recall that rainy day and those three figures, one of whom emanated a chilling aura...
Those snake-like eyes were terrifying.
It was unimaginable that such a person could be Gekko Chizan's teacher. How could such a serpent have a disciple like Chizan?
"Will he affect Takigakure?"
"How could he be a problem? He only pursues his research. I can even help by bringing some of his scientific results to your village — for example..."
Gekko Chizan reached to his pocket, but quickly froze and showed an embarrassed look.
"Konan, this is my clone; I don't have the medicine on me. Just know that I will consider what research results to bring to Takigakure to equip you."
"For Takigakure, that's only a good thing, not a bad one."
Gekko Chizan was confident in this. After all, his teacher — tsk, tsk — had already changed a lot.
You could tell from his opposition to Danzo that he had already taken a path completely different from the original story.
Well, there was one path remaining identical: no longer human — becoming something like software, and researching human bodies.
"Alright. I'll tell Yahiko. With your assurance, I believe nothing will go wrong."
"Do you need our help in this war?"
Gekko Chizan shook his head. Though war had flared up again, in Konoha's current state, even if faced with attacks from both Iwagakure and Kirigakure, they wouldn't suffer catastrophic problems.
"Takigakure needs rebuilding. You and Yahiko should organize the village and strengthen it."
"Once we move against Amegakure, you understand what's needed."
At the mention of Amegakure, Konan's eyes flashed with resolve. No matter what, they would return to Amegakure.
They would overthrow Amagakure's Hanzo's rule and restore peace to the village.
"Alright, I just came to notify you."
"I have to head to the battlefield in the Land of Grass. You should return to Takigakure quickly. Although Iwagakure likely won't attack Takigakure, it's better to be cautious."