Kushina's house. Today was the day for the three mothers and their kids to meet.
Mikoto, Kushina, and Kōme usually gathered at Kushina's place.
They would sometimes meet at Kōme's home, but because of Kushina's special status, ANBU had relayed that they couldn't go to Mikoto's.
After eating, the three little ones were left to play in a room while the three women knitted and chatted, and before long the talk turned to Kageyama Kogetsu.
"Kōme, I heard Kogetsu-kun has a girlfriend, and she's from your hospital?" Mikoto asked curiously.
"Yes. Her name is Yakushi Nonō." Kōme didn't want to gossip about her benefactor, but since her close friends asked, she couldn't not answer.
"That guy finally figured it out. How does she look?" Kushina's eyes sparkled, her face full of gossip.
"She's very pretty. Her looks and bearing are somewhat like Mikoto's, but she's more serene and approachable. I hear her temperament is very good too."
"I also heard she's older, about our age?" Mikoto asked, curious.
"Mm. Same generation as Kushina, but only seven or eight years older."
"Strange. You'd think Kogetsu-kun would prefer girls closer to his age," Kushina said, puzzled.
"Big sisters know how to take care of people."
"They know everything. Even if they don't, the theory is solid. Men like that," Mikoto said with a smile.
"Oh, come on. What nonsense are you spouting?" Kushina's cheeks flushed as she scolded.
"I didn't say anything. You're the one whose thoughts went astray," Mikoto teased, blinking.
"Hmph. Mikoto's too bad. How was it you described it?"
"Outwardly demure, inwardly foxy."
Mikoto's heart skipped. "Nonsense," she scolded.
She admitted she sometimes imagined wild and daring things, but only imagined them.
"I think maybe it's because Kogetsu-sama lost his parents early, so he likes women a bit older," Kōme mused.
Kushina and Mikoto thought for a moment, then nodded together.
Among men and women who lost parents in the war, a preference for more mature partners did seem common.
"Since she's Kogetsu's girlfriend, she isn't an outsider. Let's find a chance to meet her," Kushina suggested.
Mikoto and Kōme nodded.
With that, the topic shifted and the three of them went back to their most common subject—childrearing.
Mainly, Kushina asked how to make kids behave better. Compared to Sasuke and Karin, Naruto was more mischievous and often incorrigible.
If Kushina didn't truly get angry and only postured like she was going to smack someone, it didn't scare Naruto at all.
...
As time passed, the fuss over Kageyama Kogetsu's girlfriend quickly cooled, and Konoha returned to its usual rhythm.
A month later, it was still a peaceful day for most of Konoha, though beneath that calm something was stirring.
Night, Hokage Building, Hokage's office.
An ANBU squad captain, masked and in ANBU uniform, stood before the Hokage's desk reporting the results of a secret investigation.
Wearing the Hokage hat and robes, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face turned dark by the end, his eyes full of disappointed pain.
After a long moment, Hiruzen said, "Elephant, summon the on-duty ANBU. You're coming with me to arrest Orochimaru."
"Yes, Lord Hokage. I..."
Hiruzen removed the hat and took off the ceremonial robe, revealing the light armor and fighting gear beneath.
"Spit it out," he said. "Say what you want to say."
"Yes. Should we call Kogetsu-kun?"
"Kogetsu-kun is on night duty with ANBU tonight."
With the Hokage's power, they would succeed—but with Kogetsu as well, it would be foolproof.
Hiruzen was silent a moment, then said, "No need to notify him. We're enough."
"Orochimaru learned ninjutsu from me. He won't be my match."
At this stage, Orochimaru hadn't yet shed his skin or found his own path.
The little bit of snake-style ninjutsu he knew didn't amount to much in Hiruzen's eyes—just a lesser Hiruzen.
If Hiruzen hadn't hesitated, it would have been hard for Orochimaru to escape.
In the original incident, when ordering the pursuit, Hiruzen specifically stressed that Orochimaru's knowledge, ninjutsu, and technology were important to Konoha and that they should capture him alive if possible.
Though it wasn't a strict order, it shackled the ANBU; they couldn't fight with full force.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Ten minutes later, Hiruzen led a raid on Orochimaru's lab in the forests behind Konoha and caught him red-handed.
After a brief exchange, Orochimaru struck first. A sonic genjutsu dropped everyone but Hiruzen and Enma.
Hiruzen was affected as well, and more importantly, he couldn't harden his heart against his former favorite student, so he let Orochimaru escape.
After Orochimaru fled, Hiruzen went to the ANBU base to muster the shinobi in the village, and Danzō invited himself along.
Of course Danzō wasn't truly intent on catching Orochimaru; he was afraid that if Orochimaru were captured he'd implicate him, so he came to help him slip away.
Upon receiving the news, Kageyama Kogetsu led his people to assemble on the plaza at the ANBU base gates.
Orochimaru's defection didn't surprise Kogetsu in the least.
He had only delayed it. Orochimaru was always going to defect.
Staying in Konoha, with the assignments, the rules, and the bonds tying him to Hiruzen, Tsunade, and Jiraiya, had already hindered his pursuit of his dream. Defection was only a matter of time.
When Hiruzen finished speaking, the squads set out in pursuit.
For the others, it wasn't pure luck, but it would take time to find Orochimaru.
Kogetsu, who knew the story beats, was different. He went straight toward the Iburi clan's area.
The Iburi were a shinobi clan in the Land of Fire.
They could turn their bodies into smoke and, in smoke form, enter another's body to control them.
But if wind hit them while smoke, they would dissipate and die, so they lived long-term in underground burrows.
Because they couldn't stably control the smoke state, many Iburi died.
Later, with Orochimaru's help, their ability stabilized and their lifespans lengthened, so they felt gratitude toward him.
In the original account, the clan leader Gota died fighting Kakashi, and the rest were drained of blood by Orochimaru and died.
Yukimi became the sole survivor. She had a little brother named Tenzō, with deep ties to Root's Kohda and others.
Barring surprises, after being tricked with exploding tags in the serpent's mouth by Hiruzen, Orochimaru would again use the Iburi's lives to treat his wounds.
...
The next morning, with blood soaking his flank, Orochimaru slowly approached the Iburi burrow entrance, a giant tree more than ten meters across.
"Tsk tsk... Orochimaru-senpai, first time I've seen you so battered."
Leaning against a root, Kageyama Kogetsu let his form slip out, arms folded, a half-smile on his face with a clear hint of schadenfreude.
Orochimaru startled, instinctively taking a guarded stance. Hearing the familiar voice, he relaxed.
Though he had defected, he still had value. Knowing the man before him, Orochimaru judged that Kogetsu wouldn't strike. He might even be here to help.
"Heh... making Kogetsu-kun laugh at my expense. My teacher hit quite hard," Orochimaru said lightly.
"Hard? I think Lord Hokage already held back."
"Enough chatter. The pursuers could arrive any time."
"Do you want me to treat your injuries, or send you straight out of the country?"
Orochimaru smiled. "No need to trouble Kogetsu-kun. Just send me out."
"Once I shake pursuit, this wound will be easy to handle."
"Fine. You're in a very sensitive spot. I won't press."
Kogetsu brought his hands together, then pressed his right hand into the air. Black sealing lines spread, and a magnificent golden eagle burst from the smoke.
"Tell it where you want to land."
"Many thanks, Kogetsu-kun."
"Take less money and show results sooner. That's the greatest payback to me."
"Heh. I'll do my best. Go."
Smiling through the pain, Orochimaru vaulted onto the eagle's back. With a beat of wings it shot into the sky and soon vanished on the horizon.
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