Chapter 254: Everything is Under Control
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Four figures traveled through the forest. One of them carried a large barrel on his back.
"Heh, for someone Lord Orochimaru is so wary of, he didn't notice us at all. It seems Lord Orochimaru was overthinking things," Kidomaru mocked.
Swish! Swish!
"Stop talking."
"How boring."
Konoha Village.
Sakura was discovered by the village guards in a timely manner. Because Konoha was still in a weakened state, the security measures implemented by Tonbo Tobitake during his proxy period and later refined by Tsunade allowed her to be found quickly.
"Sakura!"
"Sakura!"
A security ninja woke her up. The moon in the sky had already descended considerably.
"What happened... Sasuke!" Sakura suddenly snapped to her senses and cried out.
Bam!
Awakened in the dead of night, Tsunade slammed her palm onto the desk in front of her.
"Sou, organize the available Jonin immediately. Start the operation to bring Uchiha Sasuke back!"
Upon hearing the news, Tsunade took action instantly. As the last survivor of the Uchiha, they couldn't allow him to fall into Orochimaru's hands. Otherwise, it would only bolster Orochimaru's power, putting Konoha in peril once again.
"Tsunade, you can't. Konoha's strength cannot be allowed to diminish any further right now."
The door opened, and Koharu Utatane walked in, followed by Homura Mitokado.
"Are you saying we should just hand Uchiha Sasuke over to Orochimaru? Do you have any idea how dangerous he is?" Tsunade faced the two advisors, her face flushing with anger. To be restricted by them at a time like this infuriated her.
Homura Mitokado stated calmly, "Most of Konoha's Jonin are currently out on missions to restore the village's power. The Jonin strength currently in the village is at the absolute minimum required for defense. Sending more out on a pursuit mission would leave Konoha dangerously vulnerable."
"But Uchiha Sasuke—" Tsunade began urgently.
Koharu Utatane interrupted, "He is just one person. Even if Orochimaru obtains the Uchiha power, his revenge would be a future problem. Emptying Konoha's defenses now poses a much more immediate and greater danger."
"Exactly. The safety of the village comes first," Homura added.
Tsunade's expression turned grim. "What about sending Tonbo Tobitake?"
She thought of the one man who, according to her analysis, definitely had the ability to bring Sasuke back alone.
"Tsunade, don't be impulsive. Sasuke is a minor issue. Tonbo Tobitake is a vital defensive asset of this village. While our forces are spread thin, he cannot leave. You've read the files during your time as Hokage—whether it's Uchiha Itachi, the masked man, or the leader of the Hidden Rain, they are all individuals capable of dealing catastrophic damage. If Konoha's strength is depleted and they attack, who will take responsibility?" Koharu said sternly.
To them, only the village itself was worth protecting; Sasuke was ultimately expendable. As for Orochimaru, they believed they would find a way to deal with him in the coming years.
"Sou, go find Nara Shikamaru and bring him here. Move as fast as you can!"
Tsunade shot a venomous look at the two advisors. She knew they were right about the village's current state; a core pillar like Tonbo indeed couldn't be sent out. Being reckless when facing so many powerful enemies was wrong. However, it didn't make her any less frustrated.
"Understood."
The Anbu named Sou disappeared in a Body Flicker. This time, the advisors did not stop her. Chunin-level forces were not considered decisive power in the village, so as long as she didn't send too many, they would give the Hokage some face.
Night.
Shikamaru, who was sound asleep, suddenly snapped his eyes open under the covers.
Knock-knock-knock! Knock!
"An emergency mission in the middle of the night?"
His expression changed instantly upon hearing the signal at his window. It was the code for a Hokage emergency mission.
Swish!
He tore off his pajamas and threw on his flak jacket. After checking his equipment, he climbed out the window, glancing at the moon sinking toward the horizon and the Anbu ninja waiting for him. He gave a hand signal indicating he was ready.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Hokage's Office.
Shikamaru hurried in and saw a very displeased Tsunade.
"Lord Hokage."
"Emergency mission. Gather the capable ninjas you see fit and bring Uchiha Sasuke back to me. Move fast. This is your first mission as a squad leader since becoming a Chunin." Tsunade quickly summarized the situation and issued the final command.
"Understood, Lord Hokage."
Aware of the urgency, Shikamaru suppressed his sleepiness and quickly exited the office. Once he was gone, Tsunade muttered in annoyance, "Being Hokage isn't fun at all."
She walked to the window, watching the moon about to dip behind the forest. "The strength of a few Genin and Chunin probably won't be enough."
For such an urgent mission, the team couldn't be too large.
"Notify the Cryptanalysis Division. Send a message to the Sand Village..."
During Tonbo's time as Acting Hokage, the issues with the Hidden Sand had been settled. The Land of Wind had agreed to the controlled exchange of resources. Because Tonbo had been quite assertive, the Land of Wind didn't dare complain—they hadn't suffered too great a loss, though they were now positioned beneath Konoha in negotiations. Tsunade was now taking advantage of that.
Suddenly, she thought of someone else. He had just made it back in time.
Konoha Main Gate.
"Let's go."
After checking everyone's equipment and briefing them on the battle plan, Shikamaru signaled the start.
"New enemies, huh? If I get the chance, I'll let them taste my ultimate move." Kiba Inuzuka had a confident smirk. Being taken down by Naruto's "thousand farts" previously had robbed him of the chance to fight Sasuke, which had annoyed him. Now he had to bring Sasuke back—fate certainly worked in strange ways. He just hoped these enemies were strong enough to make him use that move. In this team, he considered himself the strongest, so he had to take on more responsibility.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The group sped away from the gate. After they left, four other figures followed them out. If anyone could see them, they would realize they were all Tonbo Tobitake.
"Well then, it looks like I'm wasting four clones tonight. No research for me!"
Tonbo ultimately couldn't rest easy and decided to play "nanny" for a while. In the original story, they started the pursuit at dawn, but here they were starting in the middle of the night. The difference was significant.
Beyond ensuring the survival of these kids, he also had to ensure Sasuke reached Orochimaru. As for Sasuke... he naturally had a backup plan. Even if things went beyond his expectations, he would ensure Sasuke wouldn't be used as a vessel by Orochimaru immediately. Back when Sasuke was in the hospital, Tonbo had already tampered with him.
It would be impossible for Orochimaru to take over Sasuke's body within the next three years. Even if Orochimaru discovered the tampering, it would take him a considerable amount of time to remove it. This was Tonbo's confidence.
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