"Shisui, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Konoha, on the rooftop of the Hokage Building.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood with his back to the Hokage Monument, overlooking the entire village, while Uchiha Shisui knelt on one knee behind him.
After completing his mission, Uchiha Shisui rushed back to Konoha and reported the details of this operation.
To be honest, Sarutobi Hiruzen himself was somewhat surprised after hearing it.
"That kid Makoto is actually that strong?"
Ao was an elite ninja of Kirigakure, and he possessed the Byakugan. Who knew how much damage he had caused to Konoha!
Who would have thought that by agreeing to let Kakashi take Hyuga Makoto out to avoid the heat from the Main House, they would just happen to run into him?
Furthermore, Hyuga Makoto actually killed him!
"Hizashi, you really raised a good seedling..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but sigh emotionally in his heart; he already knew about the abilities Hyuga Makoto used.
In his view, these were all taught by Hyuga Hizashi!
Moreover, he was also very happy right now. Hyuga Makoto might actually be able to achieve what Hyuga Hizashi wanted to achieve...
"Lord Hokage, I am deeply pained by the distrust between the Uchiha and the village."
Just as he was feeling pleased, Uchiha Shisui spoke up, which instantly dampened his mood.
"So am I..."
"I want to rebuild the relationship of trust between the Uchiha and the village."
Shisui had no idea what Sarutobi Hiruzen was thinking. He kept his head down and said softly.
"Lord Hokage, can you assign this mission to me?"
"Do you want to stop taking regular missions?"
Although feeling a bit frustrated, Sarutobi Hiruzen still asked patiently.
The Uchiha was indeed a major problem for Konoha at present!
"Yes."
Shisui nodded, looking earnestly at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Also, could you grant me a certain level of authority, so that..."
"I understand. I will announce to the public that you have been dispatched by me to execute a classified investigation mission."
Sarutobi Hiruzen understood Shisui's intention and agreed directly without any hesitation.
"If anything unexpected happens, just use my name. I will bear all the responsibility."
"Thank you very much, Lord Hokage!"
Shisui froze for a moment before speaking excitedly. He hadn't expected it to go so smoothly, but Sarutobi Hiruzen just smiled nonchalantly.
"Looking at you, I am reminded of an old friend, Uchiha Kagami."
"You flatter me..."
Shisui lowered his head, his gaze becoming resolute.
"Lord Hokage, I will absolutely never again make the mistake of being irresponsible to the village and my comrades!"
"Hmm?"
This time it was Sarutobi Hiruzen's turn to be stunned; he was somewhat baffled.
"What do you mean by that?"
"It was the reprimand from that Hyuga Anbu..."
Shisui didn't hide anything. He earnestly recounted the entire incident before keeping his head down and continuing.
"I have been reflecting on this these past few days. It was indeed my mistake. I didn't mention it from the start because I was worried I wouldn't be given this mission. Please forgive me, Lord Hokage!"
"You..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He hadn't expected this twist.
However, he didn't mind Uchiha Shisui's little scheme. What he found interesting was Hyuga Makoto!
"To think so deeply about the village and the comrades within it..."
He was now completely certain that Hyuga Makoto was a child who possessed the Will of Fire!
"Moreover, this child might be able to do even more..."
...
"Achoo!"
Inside the Land of Whirlpools, within an underground laboratory.
Hyuga Makoto couldn't help but sneeze, prompting Tenzo, who was beside him, to look over curiously.
"What's wrong? Can't stand this kind of place?"
"A little bit."
Hyuga Makoto nodded. He had to admit that Orochimaru's laboratory was truly sinister.
Even though only piles of containers and various discarded experimental equipment remained, it still gave him the creeps just looking at it.
He didn't even dare to imagine what this laboratory looked like before it was abandoned!
"But why do I keep feeling like someone is cursing me behind my back?"
Hyuga Makoto grumbled inwardly, but Tenzo suddenly leaned his head over, his voice turning eerie.
"Actually, it's not that bad here."
"?"
"Because I've seen places much scarier than this..."
"..."
Hyuga Makoto looked at Tenzo in silence, already wondering what kind of expression he should make in a moment.
As a result, seeing that Hyuga Makoto had no reaction, Tenzo couldn't help but scratch his head.
"Sigh, why aren't you scared?"
"..."
Hyuga Makoto instantly didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He thought Tenzo was going to talk about his own tragic past!
In the end, he was just trying to prank him like he would do to Naruto?
And trying to scare people in a place like this... do you feel some sort of relaxed sensation of coming home...
"Senior, you should hold a flashlight and shine it from the bottom up. That would be much scarier."
Hyuga Makoto said weakly, but these words made Tenzo's eyes light up.
"Is that so? I think I can give that a try!"
"..."
Looking at the eager Tenzo, Hyuga Makoto felt his eyelids twitching.
"Stop chatting for now."
Fortunately, at this moment, Kakashi walked in holding a stack of documents.
"Let's finish the mission early so we can head back early."
"Yes."
Hyuga Makoto and Tenzo immediately behaved, but glancing at the documents sorted and stacked to the side, Hyuga Makoto couldn't help but ask.
"Captain, these files should be enough to figure out what Orochimaru was doing, right?"
"Indeed they are, but Orochimaru is too dangerous."
Kakashi nodded, but his expression turned serious.
"Aside from figuring out what he was doing here, it's best to see if we can find any other information, so it will be easier for us to track him."
"I understand..."
Hyuga Makoto pursed his lips. He actually really wanted to say that if they wanted to find Orochimaru, they could try looking for Danzo!
Even though Orochimaru had defected for so long, the connection between them had never been broken.
"Maybe the research funds supporting Orochimaru are all provided by Danzo..."
It was just that he couldn't utter such foolish words out loud, and getting the Third Hokage to investigate Danzo was still somewhat difficult.
After all, Danzo's intelligence capabilities were top-tier, and his spies were scattered all over the Ninja World.
Otherwise, the Third Hokage wouldn't have chosen to let him off the hook even after being assassinated by him.
Moreover, his relationship with the Third Hokage was already unusual to begin with. Perhaps this was friendship...
"Alright, we're almost done."
Kakashi patted Hyuga Makoto's shoulder and spoke softly.
"Use the Byakugan to check again and see if there are any omissions."
"No problem."
Although Hyuga Makoto had already checked several times, he didn't object.
He wanted to finish early, mainly because he wanted to see what this mission would reward him with.
"I hope I can get what I want..."
As he thought about it, his Byakugan suddenly opened, and everything around him was fully revealed to his eyes!
Inside this underground laboratory, there were only a few rats scurrying around, and there was nothing bizarre or monstrous in those experimental containers.
The entire laboratory only had some scattered files left behind.
"Hmm?"
However, a moment later, Hyuga Makoto suddenly frowned and asked in a deep voice.
"Captain, are there any other ninja squads near us?"
"What's wrong?"
Kakashi and Tenzo were both a bit confused, but they immediately realized the problem.
"Is someone coming?"
"Yes."
Hyuga Makoto nodded, sighed, and looked at Kakashi.
"And, it's not some simple guys either!"
"Could it be..."
Kakashi's mouth twitched slightly, while Hyuga Makoto spoke honestly.
"It's Orochimaru."
"..."
"Not just him, there are other people who came with him."
"..."
He even has helpers?
At this moment, Kakashi was truly rendered speechless.
All sorts of past misfortunes seemed to resurface before his eyes...
...