Tsunade's worry was justified; she considered the problem from the perspective of Orochimaru's friend.
Yet even so, Orochimaru was not wrong.
As the supreme commander of this transport mission, he bore the responsibility to prioritize the overall safety and interests of Konoha's ninjas.
Different positions naturally led to different perspectives.
From any angle, Tsunade did not want her friend to take a fatal step—such an action would risk both her own life and the safety of Konoha.
Yet, if she were in his place, she would likely have made the same choice.
A strong sense of duty and mission often pushed a person to decisions that seemed incomprehensible to others.
Even after Orochimaru left, Tsunade remained seated, letting out a quiet sigh.
"What an idiot," she murmured.
---
When Hayashi reached a deserted stretch of the Gobi, Orochimaru finally came to a stop.
"Teacher, I suspect that the earthquake just now was caused by Shukaku," Hayashi said cautiously.
Orochimaru nodded.
"Confirmed. That is precisely why I brought you along."
"Do you need me to do something?" Hayashi asked, uncertainty in his tone.
He wasn't sure how he could contribute.
"I am about to undertake a mission, and I need you with me."
"Oh," Hayashi replied, nodding.
"Is this related to the Suna ambush unit?"
"No. This concerns an old acquaintance of yours—the One-Tailed Shukaku."
Hayashi froze.
What? Facing a Tailed Beast? This isn't part of my usual duties as a commander…
"Teacher, what is the rank of this mission?" he asked.
"At least A-rank. But given the presence of the Third Kazekage, difficulty could rise to S-rank at any moment."
Hayashi hesitated.
"Teacher, usually we don't hold grudges… and is anyone else coming?"
"Just the two of us," Orochimaru said calmly, his gaze unreadable.
"You don't mind if I refuse? After all, this is your mission—you don't have to endanger me."
Orochimaru's voice was steady.
"If I fail, it's on me. You joining doesn't change that. At worst, I die at the hands of the Kazekage, and that is my responsibility alone."
Hayashi's resolve hardened.
"You've made your point. How can I refuse?"
"So, you agree?"
"I agree, Teacher," Hayashi replied firmly.
"But in this weather, Kirin will be impossible, so it might not be effective."
"That's acceptable," Orochimaru said with a faint smile.
"And the timing?" Hayashi asked.
"This mission is urgent. If there is nothing pressing, we leave immediately."
"Understood. There's nothing to prepare," Hayashi confirmed.
"Then let's go."
---
Nearby, at a campfire, a young girl shifted her gaze.
"The captain has left," she whispered.
"Thank you, Himeji. I was curious about his haste, but honestly, your Byakugan is invaluable for… reconnaissance," Toru said with a teasing smile.
It would have been too embarrassing to admit she was helping her friend spy.
"Do you think the captain and Lord Orochimaru are on a mission?"
"Probably," Himeji said vaguely.
She had glimpsed the mission scroll but remained silent.
A Tailed Beast was involved.
The thought alone drew a heavy sigh; her heart felt uneasily restrained.
---
Orochimaru guided Hayashi silently westward, away from the Konoha transport team.
Shukaku had been located over sixty miles away, a twenty-minute sprint at full speed.
Normally, Orochimaru would have remained silent during such missions, yet tonight he was unusually talkative, asking about the Jonin meeting that day.
Hayashi recounted the events in detail, wanting to ensure Orochimaru had the full picture.
When he mentioned Danzo and the Aburame clan, Orochimaru's golden eyes sharpened, words cutting straight to the core of the situation.
"Do you think this is simply Danzo asserting his authority?" he asked, voice hoarse but deliberate.
Others might only see the conflict between Danzo and the Aburame clan, he continued, but few noticed that both the Uchiha clan and even the Third Hokage were quietly fanning the flames.
Hayashi was startled.
The Third Hokage involved with this?
The Uchiha too?
Orochimaru elaborated, "Root answers only to Danzo, and most of its members are war orphans. Few major families send their own, leaving Root weaker than Anbu."
"So Danzo seized this opportunity to assert control. The Aburame aren't the only clan needing forest territory—the Inuzuka with their dogs, the Nara with their deer… Danzo made a fuss about the Aburame to force all families to acknowledge his authority and to hand over their promising children."
Hayashi's eyebrows rose, recalling Danzo later surrounding himself with Aburame and Yamanaka shinobi.
A disturbing pattern was evident.
"Even the Third Hokage allowed Danzo to release captives but handed over forest patrolling rights. He uses Danzo to suppress families and simultaneously provoke conflicts between them," Orochimaru concluded.
"A Danzo without ninja support is a true Danzo," Hayashi muttered quietly.
Orochimaru's analysis was precise, revealing layers of conflict between the Hokage, Danzo, and Konoha's high-level clans, including the Uchiha.
"So, at its core, this is still about the struggle for the Hokage seat," Hayashi realized.
Orochimaru, however, focused elsewhere—he pondered the methods Danzo used to impress Uchiha Yama and temporarily claim the rights of the Konoha Military Police Force.
Danzo had even sent corpses with limited bloodline abilities, a twisted display of goodwill.
Orochimaru licked his lips, thoughts darkly amused.
Whatever Danzo offered Uchiha Yama, it must have been remarkable…
---