Chapter 261: The Experiment is Exposed
Konoha Year 47, Hokage's Office.
Minato Namikaze, the newly appointed Hokage, stared at the classified document before him, a deep frown on his face. It was a report on a recent string of disappearances. For several months, people had been vanishing from all over the Land of Fire.
While kidnappings and abductions were not unheard of, the scale of this was unprecedented. It wasn't just civilians; shinobi were also disappearing, and in recent days, the phenomenon had even reached Konoha itself. The families of the missing had pleaded with the village leadership to find their loved ones.
Minato had ordered the Anbu to drop everything and launch a full-scale investigation. A crime of this magnitude could not have been the work of a single person. He was confident they would find the culprit soon.
And they had. The report in his hands detailed a web of clues and evidence that all pointed to one man.
Orochimaru, the "Cold-Blooded Sannin," one of Hiruzen Sarutobi's most prized students, a man whose name was known throughout the shinobi world.
As Jiraiya's student, Minato knew Orochimaru well. He found it hard to believe that the hero who had led Konoha to victory against countless enemies could be responsible for such heinous acts.
But the evidence was undeniable. The hero had fallen. He was now a monster, a demon who used living people, even his own comrades, for his twisted human experiments.
Minato knew that Orochimaru had been working for Danzo. Hiruzen had known as well, but for various reasons, they had turned a blind eye. But this... this was beyond the pale. Not even Hiruzen could continue to condone his actions.
"Sigh." Minato rubbed his temples, a headache forming behind his eyes. "Does Lord Third know about this?" he asked the Anbu kneeling before him.
"...Lord Third has already gone to apprehend him personally," the Anbu replied, his voice hesitant.
Minato's eyes flickered, but he said nothing, simply nodding to show he understood. The Anbu bowed and prepared to leave.
"Wait," Minato said, his fingers drumming on the arm of his chair. "Since this involves Orochimaru, his student, Uchiha Kyosuke, has a right to know. Please, inform him."
"Understood."
After the Anbu had left, Minato stood and stretched, looking out at the bright sunlight. He let out another long sigh. Whether it was for Orochimaru, or for something else, only he knew.
On a bustling street in Konoha, the newly returned Team Kyosuke was enjoying a barbecue feast. The five hundred million ryo he had "acquired" from Kakuzu had made Kyosuke a very wealthy man. He no longer had to steal Anko's snacks. In fact, he now took every opportunity to treat his students to lavish meals, embracing his newfound "nouveau riche" status.
They had just returned from a mission, and before they had even had a chance to submit their report, Anko had insisted on a celebration. Her excuse this time was the "one-year anniversary of the team's formation."
Just as they were digging in, an Anbu appeared and handed Kyosuke a document before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Kyosuke's expression changed as he read.
His three students stopped eating, their eyes fixed on him, wondering what could have caused such a reaction.
Without a word, he stood, paid the bill, gave them a few brief instructions, and then left.
"Well, he didn't finish his dinner. I guess I'll have to eat it for him," Anko said, after a moment of stunned silence, and went back to stuffing her face.
Yamato hesitated for a moment, then joined her. Only Shisui sat in silence, his appetite gone.
He's not heading toward the Hokage's office, or the clan compound... where is he going?
"Thwack!"
Anko, seeing his worried expression, had hit him on the head with a pair of chopsticks. "Stop worrying," she said. "If Sensei didn't tell us, it means we're not supposed to know. Besides, with his strength, what could possibly happen? Now eat, before Yamato finishes everything."
Shisui sighed and joined the feeding frenzy, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease.
It's precisely because he's so strong that this is so worrying. What could have happened to make him lose his composure like that?
A blurred shadow shot across the rooftops, unseen by the villagers below. It was Kyosuke, moving at top speed.
He had known this day would come, but he hadn't expected it to be so soon.
After their last conversation outside the Root headquarters, he had made it clear that he had no intention of joining Orochimaru. He couldn't rule out the possibility that his former teacher, in a fit of pique, might reveal some of his secrets to the Third Hokage.
He had to stop him. Otherwise... the consequences were unforeseeable.
❃❃❃
⤑ Show your support with Power Stones!
⤑ Unlock a Bonus Chapter every time we hit 100 Power Stones!
❃❃❃
♕ Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
🔗 https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to open the link!)
💬 Enjoying the story? Drop a review!
Your support really helps the series grow—thank you!