Konoha Village.
A lot has happened in Konoha recently.
The aftermath of the Konoha turmoil had just barely settled, and the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, hastily took office. She hadn't even stabilized her position before being caught off guard by a rogue Anbu with the codename "Orphan," something that only started to calm down as time passed.
However, shortly thereafter, news of the Hidden Grass Village's destruction came through again, and Tsunade had to urgently dispatch Anbu to the Land of Grass to investigate, deploy another batch of ninjas to confront the Rock Ninja there, and find a way to reach an agreement with the Hidden Rock Village to divide the territories.
Due to the Land of Grass's terrain being somewhat elevated over the Land of Fire, negotiations between Konoha and the Hidden Rock Village regarding strategic points, bridges, and control areas remained unresolved, like an impending sign of a Ninja World war.
Tsunade has been overwhelming busy lately, even pulling in her new disciple, Haruno Sakura, to lend a hand.
Compared to these matters, the news of Uchiha Sasuke's defection was like a wave in the ocean, stirring up a foam before quickly dissipating.
Aside from the Konoha young twelve focusing on Sasuke's news, others in the village were already indifferent to a rogue ninja.
However, due to Uzumaki Naruto's persistence, the Fifth Hokage Tsunade did not issue a wanted notice for Sasuke. She also agreed with Uzumaki Naruto's belief that they should bring Sasuke back to Konoha after dealing with Orochimaru.
Unexpectedly, when Konoha eventually received news of Sasuke again, they discovered that Sasuke had joined the Akatsuki organization and was with Uchiha Itachi.
This was somewhat surreal.
Fortunately, Uzumaki Naruto, who had been taken out of Konoha by Jiraiya for training, probably wasn't aware of this news yet.
Konoha Barbecue Shop.
Yamanaka Ino, somewhat confused, gripped her chopsticks: "Why would Sasuke be with his brother? They should be the biggest enemies!"
"Who knows!"
Nara Shikamaru sighed and shook his head.
There had been too many changes in Konoha recently, and Nara Shikamaru could only analyze them from the clues he knew. Perhaps the Uchiha's downfall harbored some secrets.
But such darkness couldn't be told to Ino.
The conversation within Team 10 wasn't particularly secretive, and at a nearby table, two people overheard it as well.
They were none other than Orochimaru and Uehara Naraku, who had infiltrated Konoha.
As a former high-ranking member of Konoha and having placed spies within Konoha, Orochimaru was naturally familiar with Konoha's barriers, allowing them to slip in silently.
Once inside, they changed their appearances.
After hearing the conversation between Nara Shikamaru and Yamanaka Ino, Orochimaru's expression turned unpleasant, and he abruptly paused his chopsticks, looking fiercely at Uehara Naraku.
However, with many people around in the Konoha Barbecue Shop, Orochimaru lowered his voice: "Naraku-kun! Sasuke's matter has nothing to do with you, right?"
"Hehe, how could it possibly be related to me?"
Uehara Naraku chuckled and shook his head, even lifting his chopsticks to eagerly serve Orochimaru a slice of grilled meat: "Mr. Itachi insisted strongly on having Uchiha Sasuke join Akatsuki, though others disdained Sasuke's abilities, so Mr. Itachi kept Sasuke by his side, saying it was to hone his Genjutsu..."
Uehara Naraku was speaking the truth.
Even Uchiha Itachi couldn't find fault with it.
Of course, if Uchiha Sasuke didn't join Akatsuki, Uehara Naraku or Hoshigaki Kisame would have twisted Sasuke's head off to play kickball with it.
That stuff was classified within Akatsuki, no need to share with Orochimaru.
What if it made Orochimaru ill from anger?
After finishing their meal, they headed straight to the Konoha Kinjutsu Room, and Orochimaru was somewhat surprised: "Naraku-kun, you already have the White Snake Sage as a powerful Summoning Beast, do you still need the Rashomon Summoning Contract?"
"Hehe, things like these, the more, the merrier."
Uehara Naraku replied with a light laugh: "Mr. Orochimaru, you too have mastered many Jutsu, and yet you are still learning new Jutsu!"
"That's my ideal."
Orochimaru's expression was very earnest.
Uehara Naraku smiled nonchalantly, showing a slightly frivolous expression: "Same here, my dream is to collect all sorts of strange summoning beasts..."
Due to the vacancies among Konoha Ninjas.
There were not many Anbu Ninjas around the Kinjutsu room, only a few ordinary ninjas guarding the place, allowing Uehara Naraku and Orochimaru to sneak in effortlessly.
However, as Orochimaru opened the door to the Konoha Kinjutsu Room, a waft of alcohol mixed with a woman's scent unexpectedly greeted them.
This was the Kinjutsu Room!
How could there be a smell of alcohol and fragrance?
Could it be that Tsunade had drunk too much last night and slept in the Kinjutsu Room?
Orochimaru's expression changed, and just as he was about to close the door again, a slender, fair hand suddenly slipped into the door crack and pulled the room door open!
A strong scent of alcohol hit them in the face!
"Didn't I say yesterday, don't disturb me today?"
A woman with a charming face and voluptuous figure appeared behind the door, her voice carrying a hint of dissatisfaction, mixed with a bit of drowsiness. Evidently, she wanted to sound firm, but the sleepiness made her voice sound somewhat soft.
At first listen, it sounded a bit like an order.
Upon closer listen, it seemed a bit like a whine.
Uehara Naraku and Orochimaru locked eyes, then simultaneously looked towards the woman inside the door. This woman was someone both of them were indeed familiar with.
Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage of Konoha.
Why would Tsunade be in the Konoha Kinjutsu Room!
According to Orochimaru's understanding of her, this woman should never appear here, given that Tsunade usually has no interest in the messy stuff in Konoha's Kinjutsu Room. She only likes researching medical ninjutsu.
But, in fact, this whole affair was actually Orochimaru's fault.
If Orochimaru hadn't mastered the Reanimation and resurrected the First and Second Hokage, Tsunade wouldn't have spent her time in the Kinjutsu Room looking for a way to nullify the Reanimation.
Moreover, a jutsu other than the Dead Demon Consuming Seal must be found because Tsunade just became the Fifth Hokage. If she sacrificed herself to capture Orochimaru, Konoha might just collapse.
So every night or during her free time, Tsunade would appear in the Konoha Kinjutsu Room with a bottle of sake, searching for whether Senju Tobirama left a way to undo the Reanimation.
Suddenly seeing two unfamiliar ninja, Tsunade frowned slightly, her drunkenness subsiding somewhat, and coldly asked, "Which squad are you from!"
"Lady Tsunade."
Orochimaru, being a master of role-playing, instantly composed himself and, with a fake face, responded in a deep voice, "The consultant asked you to attend a meeting, we are here to inform you!"
Currently, both Orochimaru and Uehara Naraku's appearances were no different from the ordinary Genin of Konoha, giving them the look of Konoha ninja subordinates at first glance.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, scrutinized the two of them skeptically, then suddenly smirked and said, "I got it, you two tidy up here."
"Yes!"
Orochimaru bowed his head in agreement.
Uehara Naraku, seeing Tsunade's playful expression, sighed quietly, "Orochimaru-sama, Lady Tsunade has already noticed our flaw."
The next moment, Uehara Naraku leaped backward, his face gradually transforming into Yakushi Kabuto's, making it clear he was just a subordinate of Orochimaru.
One was Orochimaru.
One was a little subordinate.
Which one would Tsunade choose to attack first?
Even Might Guy would know, Tsunade would surely prefer to entertain old friends!
Sure enough, the moment Orochimaru lowered his head, Tsunade's knee suddenly crashed into Orochimaru's face, sending him flying backward and shattering the mask on his face!
Upon seeing Orochimaru's face, Tsunade's expression instantly turned ferocious, "Orochimaru, you bastard, how dare you come to Konoha!"
"Why wouldn't I dare?"
Orochimaru slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looked at Tsunade with a slight smile, "You're still as hot-tempered as ever, Tsunade..."
Orochimaru slowly spread his hands, watching his old friend's unpleasant expression, and continued with a smile, "Tsunade, we just didn't want to cause trouble by sneaking into Konoha. Do you think I lack the power to destroy Konoha a second time?"
Orochimaru's expression instantly turned sinister and cruel, full of confidence, "Since you've discovered us, I'll just kill you and take the items from the Kinjutsu Room... It's a pity, Konoha's prestige will once again be tarnished!"
"Arrogant beyond measure!"
Tsunade fiercely clenched her fist.
"Unfortunately, your opponent isn't me."
Orochimaru shook his head with a smile and turned to Uehara Naraku, "I'll leave this woman to you, I'm going to find..."
Orochimaru's voice suddenly stuck, and his entire body froze!
Wait, where's the person?
In just a few exchanges, Uehara Naraku was gone?
Why did this Uehara Naraku run? Although they were in Konoha, given their strength, they surely had a high possibility of forcefully seizing the scrolls!
Orochimaru's heart gradually sank.
On their way to Konoha, that little brat was still committed to sincere cooperation, and Orochimaru even wondered if he should trust Uehara Naraku a bit.
After all, Uehara's strength was strong, he could secretly help with many things, and even allow him to escape from being hunted by the Akatsuki.
Before stealing the Rashomon Summoning Contract, Orochimaru had even thought of recruiting Uehara Naraku to secretly ambush Uchiha Itachi!
As it turns out, Orochimaru himself thought too much and too far.
Orochimaru trusted the wrong person once again; that little brat Uehara Naraku tricked him again.
But Tsunade couldn't care less, she rushed towards Orochimaru, shouting for reinforcements, "Pass on my order, have the elite squad arrive quickly, to encircle Orochimaru, he must not be allowed to escape!"
Tsunade's voice was loud, and soon the Konoha ninja on the outskirts came to support.
Seeing reinforcements, Tsunade added another sentence, "Arrange for other squads to search for Yakushi Kabuto's whereabouts, that spy must not be allowed to escape from Konoha!"