Orochimaru Was a Ruthless Figure Even the Anbu Dared Not Touch

Hinata had her own ulterior motives in suggesting that the investigation be limited to three days.

Everyone's become incredibly arrogant these days, turning a simple travel mission into an S-level super difficult task.

However, if Hinata were to take it easy, the S-rank mission could be easily reverted to a simple travel mission.

Hinata is not a cowardly person, but there was absolutely no need to bring Sasuke!

If Sasuke is taken back to Konoha, then he truly has no future.

Before anyone else could speak, Naruto shouted, "Absolutely not! I will not go back until I bring Sasuke back to the village!"

Hinata sighed, patted Naruto on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, even if I beat you to a pulp, I'll still have Choji carry you back!"

Shikamaru nodded and said softly, "Alright! It's settled then!"

Nothing was said that night.

Early the next morning, Hinata, along with Naruto and Rock Lee, set off into the Land of Rice to continue their investigation into the Otogakure.

Shikamaru and Choji stayed in the town to join Kiba in investigating the local yakuza forces.

In a hospital ward in Konoha, Tsunade healed the injuries of Genma Shiranui and Namiashi Raidō.

Seeing that the two looked better, Tsunade asked, "What kind of enemy did you encounter? How did you get so badly injured?"

Namiashi Raidō he slowly said, "They are Orochimaru's subordinates. They appeared in Konoha during the Chunin Ninja Exams."

"Orochimaru's subordinates?"

Tsunade asked, somewhat puzzled, "Are those people really that strong?"

Genma Shiranui breathed a weak sigh of relief and explained, "They're not using ninja techniques anymore; it's probably some kind of forbidden technique developed by Orochimaru."

Tsunade pressed on, "Have you seen Sasuke?"

"Sasuke?"

Genma Shiranui thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No!"

"But those men were carrying a large wooden barrel on their backs the whole time. I wonder what's inside it?"

"It could very well be Sasuke!"

Tsunade's expression was solemn.

If the person who just took Sasuke away was already this powerful, then Orochimaru's Otogakure must be hiding even more powerful ninjas.

At the same time, Tsunade was also somewhat relieved.

Konoha has now sent out a large number of ninjas on missions, leaving only a small number to protect the village.

These people cannot be transferred.

If she had received the information about Sasuke's defection earlier, Hinata, Shikamaru, and the others might have already met with misfortune.

Judging by the time, they should be back by tomorrow morning at the latest!

In Tsunade's mind, Shikamaru and Hinata would at most track them to the border of the Land of Fire, and then turn back to Konoha.

With a round trip and a perfunctory investigation, it would take at most three days.

As of this morning, Hinata and the others had been away from Konoha for one day and two nights.

'Bang!'

The door to the ward was pushed open forcefully, and Shizune stood in the doorway, slightly out of breath and covered in sweat, saying, "Lady Tsunade, there's been intelligence coming back from the border; it's about Hinata and the others."

"Give it to me!"

Tsunade took the scroll and opened it to take a look.

Hinata six companions leaving the Land of Fire and entering the Land of Rice did not escape the notice of the Konoha Ninja monitoring the border.

Konoha established many outposts on the border of the Land of Fire, and each outpost was guarded by one or two teams of ninja.

It is common practice in every ninja village to place sensory ninjas within border surveillance teams.

"That's outrageous!"

After reading the scroll's contents, Tsunade angrily rebuked, "Hinata and the others actually dared to enter the Land of Rice to investigate the Otogakure! Don't they have a death wish?"

Genma Shiranui, who was lying on the hospital bed, suddenly sat up and exclaimed, "Investigate the Otogakure?"

"Orochimaru is a ruthless character that even the Anbu dare not lay a hand on, while they are just a few low-ranking Genin..."

Namiashi Raidō was equally worried and said anxiously, "Lady Tsunade, please send someone to bring them back immediately. Otherwise, if they encounter Orochimaru, the consequences could be unimaginable!"

Tsunade calmed down slightly and then shouted, "Shizune, immediately call Jiraiya, Kakashi, Might Guy, Asuma and the others here."

"Yes!"

In the Hokage's Office, Tsunade grim, rested her fingers on the table and said gravely, "That's roughly the situation... My original intention was only to have them track him to the border of the Land of Fire, but I didn't expect these few Genin audacious as to dare to go to the Land of Rice to investigate Orochimaru..."

"Jiraiya, please make sure to bring them all back to me intact."

Although Hinata and her six companions were just a few Chunin and Genin, they were either heirs to powerful clans or Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

The only commoner ninja, and also an ace ninja who inherited the Eight Inner Gates.

If something were to happen to such a squad, it would be an unbearable loss for Konoha.

Asuma said in disbelief, "I know Shikamaru's personality. Could he have been bewitched by Hinata?"

Kakashi rolled his dead fish eyes and remarked, "Hinata is even lazier than Shikamaru; she would never do something like that."

Might Guy grinned, gave a thumbs-up, and said, "This is youth! Kakashi, Asuma! With my student Rock Lee here, I definitely won't let your student get hurt!"

Jiraiya nodded slightly and said to Tsunade, "Leave the rest to us! Don't worry too much, with Hinata with you, there shouldn't be any major problems."

If we're talking about who in Konoha understands Hinata's strength best, then that person is definitely Jiraiya.

Although Jiraiya never wanted to admit it...

But he did personally guide Hinata to Sage Mode.

But if Hinata Sage Mode and borrows the Nine-Tails Chakra from Naruto...

Orochimaru might have been killed by her, right?

So, was this an operation ostensibly to save Hinata six companions, but actually to save Orochimaru?

When Tsunade first arrived in Konoha, she didn't know much about everyone's strength, and even about Hinata's strength. At most, she only knew from Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Naruto that Hinata's strength was roughly at Kakashi's level.

But the gap between Kakashi and Orochimaru is enormous.

Even with Orochimaru sealed, Kakashi might not be his match.

Tsunade said in a deep voice, "Jiraiya, don't be too optimistic. Orochimaru is a powerful figure that even the Anbu dare not touch. Hinata and the others..."

"Enough with the nonsense, you're on your way!"

Within the territory of the Land of Rice.

Hinata felt like she had the worst luck ever lately!

Looking at the ninja tied to a tree with Otogakure Forehead Protector on his head, Hinata could only sigh to the heavens: Heaven is not on my side!

Dosu!

That ninja I met once during the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Two of Dosu's teammates were used as sacrifices by Orochimaru, who used the Impure World Reincarnation technique to summon Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju...

So, while Orochimaru was away from Otogakure, Dosu defected from the village and became a glorious missing-nin.

The scratch on his Forehead Protector is proof of that!