Half a month later.
The Hokage meeting room.
The Third Hokage put down his pipe, let out a puff of smoke, looked around at the village leaders and clan heads present, and said slowly,
"I just got news that the Kumogakure envoys who came to Konoha for peace talks were beheaded by bounty hunters yesterday and exchanged for a reward on the black market."
As soon as this was said, there was an uproar in the Hokage room. Everyone looked at each other, their expressions of astonishment clear.
Black markets and bounty hunters may have some strong people among them, but they mostly make a living by doing shady jobs. How dare they provoke two big ninja villages like this?
"Don't underestimate these desperate people. The ones who did it were two S-rank rogue ninja, Kakuzu and Sasori of the Red Sand."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Tsunade, who looked angry, and said in a deep voice, "It would be one thing if this happened in another country, but they died in the Land of Fire. We have to teach these guys a lesson."
Everyone naturally agreed. Rogue ninja and bounty hunters are mostly mid-level Genin, and there are only a few with strong power, even less than small ninja villages.
The danger is not high, but the benefits of destroying the black market are not small at all, not inferior to a ninja war.
"Uchiha, Hyuga, Nara, and other ninja clans, each send a certain number of elite ninja to form wartime squads and do everything they can to destroy the black market."
Sarutobi Hiruzen paused, "Danzo will be the commander, and Jiraiya will be his assistant, commanding this operation."
With the two Hokage advisors not here and himself needing to stay in the village, the only people he can use are Orochimaru and Danzo.
Orochimaru is not even worth mentioning for now. Tsunade and Jiraiya are not good at missions like encirclement and suppression or chasing. These things still need to be done by Danzo, who is used to doing dark work.
"..."
Fugaku frowned. He had a very bad impression of Danzo and did not want his clansmen to be commanded by Danzo, but Orochimaru was not here at the moment, and the other ninja clans had no objections, so he could not speak.
However, unexpectedly, Danzo objected,
"Jiraiya as the assistant commander? I'm afraid that's not appropriate. He has the responsibility of protecting the Nine Tails Jinchuriki. How can he be distracted by such a small matter?"
Danzo tapped the empty seat outside the long table, his one eye flashing with inexplicable meaning, "Orochimaru... what is he doing?"
Since leaving the secret lab that day, he had been sending people to find out about Orochimaru's whereabouts, but a whole half month had passed and he still could not find him.
Danzo strongly suspected that Orochimaru had secretly left the village again, or that he was obsessed with some kind of experiment.
The former would be fine, but the latter would be detrimental to his plan. He had to find a way to find out Orochimaru's specific whereabouts, and this was a great opportunity.
Jiraiya said, "Orochimaru is busy training and can't get away."
"What kind of training is so important? More important than the village's missions?"
A clear sneer appeared on Danzo's face. He looked at Fugaku, "Don't tell me he's doing some kind of experiment again."
Fugaku's face changed and then returned to calm. A straight tree casts a straight shadow. No matter what Orochimaru was doing, the Uchiha were definitely not involved this time.
But even so, the expressions of the ninja clan heads present became a little strange, and their eyes looking at Jiraiya were faintly inquisitive.
The changes that had happened to Uchiha Jinsuke were not only being watched by the Third Hokage and Danzo, they were also very curious and eager to know what happened.
'Better to have everyone have it than only a few' Those who can get surgery to increase their strength. So why let the Uchiha clan hold all benefits?
Noticing this, Jiraiya secretly groaned in his heart. He really did not know what Orochimaru was doing. The so-called training was just a cover-up.
A look of triumph flashed in Danzo's eyes. "Jiraiya, it seems you don't know either. But if we can't find Orochimaru, contacting his subordinate is the same, that Yakushi Kabuto..."
"No need for so much trouble."
The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen coughed lightly, interrupting Danzo's next words. He looked around at everyone and said slowly,
"Orochimaru is indeed training, and has also reported it to me. As for why he can't get away, it's because he's training Senjutsu."
"Senjutsu?"
Everyone present looked at each other, all seeing the surprise on each other's faces.
This word, even in Konoha, even in the entire ninja world, was an unfamiliar word, even to these ninja elites.
Is Konoha going to have another Senjutsu user?
Danzo was wary, but he also knew very little about Senjutsu. Although he knew that this was the Third Hokage's excuse, he still could not easily question it.
It seems that to find out Orochimaru's whereabouts, he still has to target Yakushi Kabuto.
A cold light flashed in Danzo's eyes.
Seeing that everyone no longer had any objections, the Third Hokage nodded slightly and continued to arrange the task of clearing the black market in the Land of Fire.
...
A training ground not far from the Uchiha clan area.
Yakushi Kabuto was holding his knees, gasping for breath, his body steaming with sweat, as if he had just been taken out of the water.
However, after only a moment, his breathing became even, and new strength surged from his exhausted body, allowing him to continue training without any problems.
Guy was amazed to see this scene, "Aunt Aoi is like this, and so are you. This talent for body techniques is too good."
After training for so long, Guy knew very well that neither of them had taken any extra medicine, nor were they relying on willpower. It was purely because their bodies were special.
Even Kabuto would feel a little uncomfortable being praised for his talent by a true body technique master.
But explaining it was impossible. He trusts Guy's character, that he's not someone to leak secrets easily, but he also believes in Guy's careless nature, that he would reveal it unintentionally.
Of course, the main reason is that Orochimaru-sama does not intend to let Guy use cell fusion fluid. Saying it would only be annoying.
After a few more rounds of training, Guy said, "I can only train with you here today. I have to carry out a mission starting tomorrow, so I can't let my body get too tired."
Yakushi Kabuto nodded, also stopped training, and followed Guy towards the center of the village.
"You're not going to practice for a while longer?" Guy scratched his head, puzzled.
Yakushi Kabuto naturally did not intend to continue training. He knew very well his identity as a 'traitor' of Root.
Although this was near the Uchiha clan area, he still couldn't be careless and put himself in a state where he couldn't defend himself.
You know, he was caught by the Uchiha police force last time.
But obviously he couldn't tell Guy this. Yakushi Kabuto said quietly, "This is Orochimaru-sama's order."
"Oh oh, I see, it's Orochimaru-sensei's order."
Guy asked casually, and was satisfied when he heard Yakushi Kabuto's casual reply.
Seeing Guy's careless appearance, Yakushi Kabuto was also a little speechless.
Perhaps, only someone this simple can refine body techniques to this extent. It's really worth Orochimaru-sama's attention.
Orochimaru does not want to let Guy take a usual cell fusion liquid. This will destroy Guy, who has been working for a long time.
But if he can achieve a perfect fusion at the cellular level, Orochimaru will not be stingy with this disciple.
Orochimaru's attention to Guy made even Yakushi Kabuto, who had always been indifferent to other things, feel a little jealous.
But after taking a look at Guy, who was happily looking forward to dinner, Yakushi Kabuto shook his head again.
It was really hard to hate someone so simple.
Pushing up his glasses, Yakushi Kabuto jumped lightly and followed.
However, what he did not realize was that a bug the size of a pore was attached to his clothes.
---
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