Sunagakure's people arrived quickly.
Chiyo, who had retired many years ago but resumed handling affairs over the past two years, was leading them.
Orochimaru set off with Kakashi, Sai, and several dozen elite Anbu.
Although some people talked about Orochimaru leaving the village, it was not a major issue.
Ordinary villagers all believed that the Fourth Hokage was still in Konoha.
Only a few elders knew that the Fourth Hokage had been away from the village for some time.
Shikaku had been handling all governmental affairs during this period.
Besides, with the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God, he could return to Konoha at any time, so no one was worried.
The Sarutobi Clan members who had recently been wandering around everywhere were nowhere to be seen today.
The Sarutobi Clan compound.
The Sarutobi Clan had not claimed land in the past. Only after its members gradually returned to Konoha did they enclose the area where they lived.
Today, the Sarutobi Clan had gathered here for a clan meeting.
The Sarutobi Clan had never had a tradition of holding clan meetings.
But given the Sarutobi Clan's recent disgraceful state, everyone knew this was merely an excuse by the Third Elder, Sarutobi Takamasa.
Still, some elite Sarutobi Clan members had sealed off every entrance and exit to the compound.
This stirred up some murmurs among the clan members.
Inside the council hall were the three elders, Sarutobi Ko, Sarutobi Daigo, and Sarutobi Takamasa, as well as Asuma.
Below them sat several dozen minor leaders of the Sarutobi Clan.
These people had mostly returned to Konoha from elsewhere. They had no foundations in Konoha and basically no family members.
Many of them belonged to the Sarutobi Anbu. They were essentially the strongest force of the Sarutobi Clan.
Since Sarutobi Takamasa had proposed this