Chapter 92: Kakashi Awakens, A Shaken Leaf
Hokage's Office.
"Thank you for your help during this time, Iruka. Don't worry about the matter with Sasuke."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Iruka, a gentle smile on his face.
Although Iruka still wore a worried expression, he nodded. He gave a slight bow to Sarutobi Hiruzen, turned, and walked out of the Hokage's Office.
"Since you're already here, you might as well come out."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took two puffs from his pipe, his voice tinged with a hint of helplessness.
"Old man, long time no see."
With a clear voice, Jiraiya jumped in through the Hokage's office window, speaking casually.
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Jiraiya, his face showing no surprise. Instead, he pursed his lips and said:
"You should have been in the village for almost half a month now. I thought you had forgotten about this old man."
Jiraiya chuckled, scratching his messy hair as a serious expression appeared on his face.
"I've temporarily resolved the issue with Sasuke. It was likely Orochimaru's doing."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, looking at Jiraiya thoughtfully. "You must have returned to the village for some important reason this time, right?"
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression, Jiraiya thought of the Great Toad Sage's prophecy. He paused for a moment before beginning casually:
"It's nothing. I just had to come back and check in after being away for so long. Besides, I'm sure you already know that Orochimaru has infiltrated the Leaf."
At this point, Jiraiya glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression.
Sure enough, upon hearing the name "Orochimaru," Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned somewhat grim.
Jiraiya sighed inwardly, but a rare, fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
Orochimaru, I hope you're not the one trying to plunge the Leaf into the flames of war. If you are, don't blame me for being merciless!
"Orochimaru is likely hiding among the participants of the Chunin Exams. However, with so many people, if we investigate them one by one, a cautious person like Orochimaru has probably already slipped away."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head lightly, a grave look in his eyes. He had already dispatched Anbu personnel to search, but unfortunately, there had been no results so far.
"Old man, the Leaf Village is likely to face some trouble during this period. You had best make some preparations."
After a moment of silence, Jiraiya reminded Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was slightly taken aback, a calm light flashing in his eyes.
Bang! Bang!
Just then, a knock came from outside the office.
"Come in," Sarutobi Hiruzen said softly.
As the door to the Hokage's Office opened, Kakashi walked in slowly from outside.
"Kakashi?!"
Seeing Kakashi, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked surprised. Kakashi had been in a coma this entire time.
"Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sama. I just woke up and have something to report."
Looking at Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen in the room, Kakashi held his forehead and spoke with a serious tone.
As Kakashi began to speak, the atmosphere in the entire office suddenly grew heavy.
"Are you saying that the Mist Ninja Village is highly suspicious?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, his tone carrying an indiscernible emotion.
Kakashi nodded, his expression grave. "Although I still haven't figured out why the Mist Ninja Village would do this, they are definitely plotting something."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes flickered. He took the pipe from his mouth and placed it on the table. "I am aware of this matter."
Kakashi nodded, gave a slight bow to Jiraiya who was standing nearby, and turned to leave.
"Jiraiya, for the duration of the Chunin Exams, I am temporarily placing the Leaf's defense in your hands."
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his head to look at Jiraiya, who was deep in thought.
Jiraiya was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and turned to walk out of the Hokage's Office.
"Wait a moment. There is something I need you to safeguard for now."
Looking at the departing Jiraiya, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to have made a certain decision and suddenly spoke.
Before long, the news of Gekko Hayate's assassination instantly spread throughout the entire Leaf Village.
The entire Leaf Village's high command was shaken. Large numbers of Anbu began to patrol the village, and even ordinary civilians would occasionally spot one or two Anbu figures.
The originally peaceful Leaf Village began to seethe with undercurrents.
As for Danzo of the Leaf's Root, not long after Kakashi awoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen reinstated the restrictions on the Root.
However, this held little meaning for Danzo, as the Root was already completely under his control.
But when Danzo learned that Jiraiya, who had only recently returned to the Leaf, had taken command of the village's defense.
After smashing who knows how many items, Danzo fell silent once more, seemingly content to watch the events unfold.
The death of Gekko Hayate was a signal from the Sand Ninja to both Yuto and Orochimaru.
While everyone else was proceeding with caution, Yuto and Ranmaru were leisurely strolling through the Leaf Village.
Of course, it wasn't as if they were doing nothing. It took several days for Yuto to get a general grasp of the Leaf's situation and to locate the points of the barrier that enveloped the entire village.
Border of the Land of Fire.
"Aah!!"
A shrill scream suddenly rang out.
A bone blade was withdrawn from the heart of a Leaf ninja. Kimimaro, his expressionless, tossed the bloodstained bone blade to the ground and strode forward.
Whoosh!
The sound of something breaking the air came from behind him. A Leaf ninja suddenly leaped out from a large tree, holding a kunai and stabbing toward Kimimaro's neck.
Kimimaro's expression did not change. He did not even turn his head, continuing to walk forward as if he was completely unconcerned with the attack from the Leaf ninja behind him.
Just as the Leaf ninja was about to stab Kimimaro, a figure suddenly leaped out from a nearby, overlooked pond.
Bang!
Hozuki Suigetsu, wielding the executioner's blade Kubikiribocho, slammed it down onto the ninja. With a heavy, muffled thud and blood spraying everywhere, the Leaf ninja's chest was caved in, leaving him utterly dead.
"Tsk, tsk. I didn't expect there to be so many Leaf ninjas here. I wonder if they've discovered something."
Hozuki Suigetsu shook his head lightly, an interested look on his face.
Kimimaro did not speak, his expression remaining placid as he walked forward. Seeing this, Suigetsu shook his head helplessly and said in a low voice, "So cold."
As the two walked forward, it was not long before several figures appeared before them.
Momochi Zabuza, Ringo Ameyuri, Haku, Chojuro, and Ao, who was sitting leisurely on a tree branch.
"You two are late!"
Momochi Zabuza looked at them, speaking in a dissatisfied tone.
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