Chapter 216: Changing Identities to Watch the Match as a Staff Member
Anko Mitarashi was not, in fact, the first to report Orochimaru's tracks.
Konoha had a wide variety of reconnaissance methods, from the Byakugan and ninken olfactory senses to insect surveillance... and some Anbu members even had their own unique little tricks. No matter how Orochimaru hid, he would always expose some clues, because he was simply too powerful. The number of people in the ninja world with his level of strength could be counted on one hand.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi's official stance on Orochimaru was one of zero tolerance, in reality, his operation was one of "letting him be."
As for the reason, on one hand, Hiruzen had been aware when Orochimaru was conducting his Wood Style human experiments back in the day. (Of course, he had later called a halt to the experiments due to the high death rate. He was genuinely unaware that Danzō had later instructed Orochimaru to continue.)
On the other hand, Hiruzen didn't think he could stop Orochimaru now, even if he mobilized the Anbu and Jōnin. The most likely outcome was that Orochimaru would just escape again. Since that was the case, it was better to do nothing.
Moreover, this was a critical period for the Konoha Chūnin Exams. The Sand Village ninja, including the Kazekage Rasa and the Jinchūriki Gaara, were all present. He could not risk making any large-scale moves at a time like this.
If he failed to catch Orochimaru and, in the process, caused a misunderstanding and conflict with the Sand, Konoha's glamorous facade would be completely torn apart.
Therefore, Hiruzen ordered everything to proceed as normal, hoping this Chūnin Exam could be concluded smoothly. Even if Orochimaru targeted Sasuke and gave him the Cursed Seal of Heaven, he could only let Sasuke suffer for now. He, Hiruzen, would bear the infamy.
He believed this to be a mature and prudent way of handling things, but he had failed to realize that this kind of operation was just the habitual compromise and concession of a man in his twilight years.
And Hiruzen was even more unwilling to think about what had led him and Konoha into such an isolated and helpless situation.
Pinning his hopes for peace on the "goodwill" of others... where was the "God of Shinobi" in the Hiruzen of today?
"Sarutobi, it's time to act."
Danzō appeared before him. "I heard from my subordinates that Orochimaru has come. We should hunt down and kill a guy like that. Letting him go back then was the biggest mistake of your life."
"I suspect he's here for you. If he causes trouble during the Chūnin Exams and makes us fall out with the Sand Village, the situation will become uncontrollable."
"Give me your Anbu members. I will lead them, along with Root, to kill Orochimaru."
Hiruzen frowned at Danzō, but this time, he did not habitually tell him to shut up. Instead, he considered the feasibility of Danzō's plan.
It seemed that Danzō was much younger and stronger than him, but in reality, Danzō was four years his senior. He didn't know that Danzō's arm had been replaced with Hashirama cells. He only felt that Danzō's body was stronger, and his current combat power might really be greater than his own.
But this, in turn, made him wary.
Danzō had a prior record of trying to assassinate him. Now he wanted to take his personal Anbu and leave. If Danzō tried to do the same thing again, his current self would not be able to hold out.
At this thought, Hiruzen's habitual expression returned. "Danzō, I am the Hokage. I don't need you to teach me how to handle things."
Danzō looked at him coldly and squeezed out a few words from between his teeth. "Sarutobi, you will regret this."
He then left the Hokage's Office without looking back. This would probably be the last time the two of them ever met, right?
A cold smile curved Danzō's lips. Since Sarutobi wouldn't obediently go and die, then he could only let the Anbu be buried with him. It was just a pity that in this Konoha Crush plot, many people would have to die. But it didn't matter. Everything was for Konoha!
While the winds and clouds were shifting outside the arena, the battles inside were still ongoing.
Sasuke was unconscious after being implanted with the Cursed Seal. The responsibility of protecting him fell to Sakura and Naruto.
The Sound Village ninja tried to attack them to steal their scroll, but were instead taken down by Sakura's genjutsu. Unfortunately, when Naruto tried to defeat them in close combat, he was repelled by their strange sound-based ninjutsu. After assessing each other's strength, both sides retreated. The Sound-nin went to find new prey, while Naruto and Sakura continued to wait for Sasuke to wake up.
At this time, Team Tenten and Team Ino also arrived, only to run into Sasuke, who had just awakened Cursed Seal Level 1.
Sasuke, in this state, felt he was the only one in the world. He crooked his fingers at Lee and Neji, whom he had faced before, and was then met with a group beating.
In the end, Shikamaru used his Shadow Imitation Technique to control him, and Sakura knocked him out with a single punch, forcing him out of his Cursed Seal state.
The group then seriously discussed whether to make Sasuke withdraw. Finally, Naruto woke him up with a punch and confirmed that he was back to normal before they dispersed to continue looking for their own targets.
By this time, Anko had also returned to the central tower to begin her work. She was surprised to find that Gaara's team had already passed.
Subsequently, more and more teams passed. Even the heavily injured Team 7, after Sakura's treatment, slowly recovered their combat strength. With their current strength, it was naturally no problem for them to pass, it just took them until they were one of the last teams.
It was worth mentioning that, although 7 teams had passed in the end, only 20 people had made it. This meant that Kabuto, who was supposed to have withdrawn, had no choice but to continue participating. But from a results perspective, it made no difference. He would most likely find an opportunity to feign defeat and withdraw.
Akiyama Makoto had also arrived at the competition venue. This wasn't strange, because he still held the position of "data administrator," which allowed him to reasonably and legally gather materials for his novels.
Yesterday, he had submitted an application to the Hokage's Office, hoping for an opportunity to observe the detailed process of the Chūnin Exams to use in his future writing. He hadn't seen the Hokage, but he had received his approval. He could watch this now-destined-to-be-different exam as a spectator.
The moment he appeared, almost everyone's eyes turned to him. He was clearly not a ninja, and he was wearing a white kimono.
Tenten and the other girls, upon seeing him, immediately greeted him enthusiastically. It was only when they were stared at by everyone else that they realized it was inappropriate, and one by one, they looked away, feigning embarrassment.
But this just made those who didn't know him even more curious about his identity.
After some inquiry, his identity as an author was spread, and only then did everyone show a look of realization. Ah, so he's here to gather material.
Only Orochimaru, disguised as a Sound-nin, looked at him from the stands with a puzzled expression. He felt that the aura on him was somewhat familiar. Orochimaru was not a sensory-type, so he couldn't determine his identity. He then turned his attention back to Sasuke.
Makoto, for his part, took out his notebook and began to take notes. Although his position was just in name, since he was here under the pretext of work, he had to at least put on a show.
Seeing him enter "work mode," no one paid him any more mind. Everyone was waiting for Hiruzen to begin his pre-match speech.
"Therefore, the true purpose of the Chūnin Exams is a microcosm of war between allied nations!"
"In order to prevent the various countries from wasting needless military power and to avoid a mutually destructive result, this place was chosen as the battleground."
"Therefore, you are not just fighting for yourselves. You are carrying the prestige of your nation and your village. This is also the test for you to become Chūnin."
"So, for your country, for your village, and for yourselves, you must fight with your lives on the line."
Hiruzen gave a long-winded speech, explaining the stakes of the exam, and also revealing his hope that the results could quell the Sand Village's unusual movements.
Makoto looked at the Rookie 12 below. No wonder the exams, which had been suspended for five years, had suddenly started again. This was the mass graduation of Konoha's new generation. It was time for Konoha to flex its muscles.
It was just a pity that his calculations were destined to be wrong.
Seeing that the atmosphere in the venue was tense, Hiruzen cleared his throat. "Although I've said that, for now—"
His tone changed. Those who were familiar with him almost all knew what he was about to say. His explanation of the meaning of the exams was already long-winded. Was he now, not yet satisfied, going to give another hour-long speech on the Will of Fire?
At this critical moment, Gekkō Hayate jumped out.
"Lord Hokage, please forgive my rudeness."
"From here on, please allow me, the proctor, to explain the rules."
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