Hiruko

The group rested for a while.

Before long, Shibi and Minato returned one after the other.

"Sorry, sorry. It took us some time to deal with the enemy's main force..."

Minato scratched his head apologetically.

Shibi adjusted his sunglasses. "But the enemy's main force has already been dealt with by the two of us. In this battle, nearly fifty ninja were killed by our two squads. It was a resounding victory."

"It's no big deal. We're used to it..."

Genitsu waved a hand.

There was no need to mention Minato. His fighting style was perfectly suited to operating alone—he could scatter kunai everywhere, then zip back and forth in flashes. Calling him a one-man army was no exaggeration.

As for Shibi, he had received direct authorization from the Hokage two years ago, granting him the right to conduct independent operations. He also preferred working alone and killing enemies himself.

With these two jonin leading them, the six Konoha genin and chunin often had no choice but to rely on themselves.

The only advantage was that Minato and Shibi always struck first, forcibly killing the powerful enemies and leaving the rest to them, creating a battlefield difficult enough to challenge the six-man squad but not beyond what they could endure.

"Anyway, it's wonderful to see everyone so lively. You've all grown so much," Minato said with a smile.

"Minato-sensei, you promised that once I become a chunin, you'll teach me the Flying Thunder God Technique! I'm going to beat that smug Kakashi to death!"

Obito pointed at Kakashi, indignant.

"Heh. Do you really think you can learn the Flying Thunder God Technique? With your intelligence..."

"What?! I'm going to beat you to death!!"

The two began shoving and pulling at each other again.

"Sigh, they still have so much energy after such a bloody battle. But their relationship is as close as ever..."

Minato gave a wry smile.

The group of eight set off for the western front's main camp.

Orochimaru had now formally replaced Minato as the western front's commander-in-chief. This freed up Minato, that killing machine. Across the entire western battlefield, the Stone Ninja and Sand Ninja had nearly been driven mad by him.

The Stone Ninja had even humiliatingly issued a direct order: if they encountered the Yellow Flash, they could abandon their mission and turn around to flee for their lives.

But even more awkwardly, they could not escape even if they tried...

"Whoa, they're back! Lord Minato's and Lord Shibi's squads!"

"Judging by the look of them, they must have won another great victory."

"Of course they did, idiot. They're Konoha's strongest squads!"

As they entered the camp, many ninja cheered loudly.

Over the past year, the achievements of these two squads had been built upon countless enemy corpses.

Minato and Shibi were already the two strongest ninja aside from the Hokage, the Sannin, and the Nine-Tails jinchuriki. Among the new generation they led were several powerful geniuses.

The eight of them headed toward the central command tent to report their mission to Orochimaru.

But as they reached the entrance, a white-haired man happened to emerge from the tent, his face dark and gloomy.

"Huh? Hiruko-senpai, what are you doing here? Weren't you following Lord Danzo to the eastern front?"

Minato looked at the man before him in surprise.

"Minato, I have no need to explain anything to you."

Hiruko stopped, glanced at Minato with slight wariness, and lowered his head deeply.

"Ah, my apologies. Please, go ahead."

Minato and the others stepped aside, brushing past Hiruko.

But suddenly, Hiruko stopped beside Genitsu. Slowly raising his head, he revealed a sinister smile.

"You are Shiranui Genitsu, aren't you? The one with the Nuclear Release Kekkei Genkai capable of wide-area attacks... What an extraordinary rookie. Every time I hear news of your achievements, I feel a surge of excitement. With people like you around, the village is destined to have a bright future."

Hiruko wore an unsettling smile. Then he glanced at the pale-faced Uchiha Kazue, frowned slightly, and finally turned his gaze on Obito.

After looking at him for a moment, Hiruko revealed intense contempt.

Then he left.

Everyone felt somewhat baffled.

"Minato-sensei, who was that guy? The way he looked at me just now made me really uncomfortable..." Obito complained. Maybe it was an illusion, but he felt as though he had been offended yet again.

"Hiruko is a friend of the Sannin and a dependable senior of the village. He may seem a little strange, but his nature isn't bad."

Minato smiled, watching Hiruko's departing back with slight hesitation.

"What? He's a friend of the Sannin? Then there's no problem!" Obito let out a sigh of relief. That feeling from before must have been an illusion.

The group entered headquarters. Orochimaru was looking down coldly at a scroll in his hands, occasionally letting out a sneer.

After some conversation, Minato and Shibi submitted their mission reports.

"You've worked hard. The western battlefield has stabilized now, and it is all thanks to you. I have no new missions for you at the moment, so you may rest."

Orochimaru gave a low laugh. "Also, Genitsu, your recent performance has been exceptional. You are drawing more and more attention. I hear the Stone Ninja and Sand Ninja have placed you near the top of their assassination lists... Your 'treatment' is comparable to that of an elite jonin."

Genitsu's expression did not change. "It can't be helped. As long as I can contribute to the village, everything is worthwhile. I will not shirk my duty."

"Is that so? How admirable..."

Orochimaru chuckled in a low voice.

After Genitsu and the other seven left.

Inside the main tent.

Orochimaru sat in his seat, his face filled with coldness as he picked up the secret letter Danzo had sent once more.

"That Danzo, still unable to stay quiet even during wartime. He actually teamed up with Hiruko. How laughable..."

Orochimaru sneered repeatedly.

Hiruko had once been the Sannin's close friend—but that was in the past. As the Sannin achieved fame and success, became disciples of the Third Hokage, and gradually grew into Kage-level powerhouses, the distance between Hiruko and the three of them only grew wider.

Orochimaru had been even more keenly aware that Hiruko, a man of mediocre talent but extreme jealousy, was showing faint signs of a twisted mind.

"Hiruko, now that you have chosen to side with Danzo, have you prepared yourself to be devoured? Or are you plotting something more interesting, believing you can bear the risks involved..."

Orochimaru sneered and opened his mouth. A snake extended from within, swallowed the letter in one bite, and digested it, ensuring that nothing could go wrong.

"What a pity. I had originally thought highly of that child Genitsu. His bloodline is precisely the power I need. That boy clearly has a will of his own, yet every time he faces my overtures and recruitment, he only talks about the Will of Fire. He is exactly like that old man, putting on such a convincing act."

On the final line of text still exposed as the snake swallowed most of the letter, a name was clearly written.

Shiranui Genitsu.