Hokage's Office.
"Orochimaru..." Upon hearing Anko Mitarashi's report, Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand holding the pipe froze. The curling smoke seemed to blur his eyes.
How long had it been since he last received news of his beloved disciple?
If Orochimaru had not gone astray back then, deviating from the path Hiruzen had arranged for him, he would not have had to betray Konoha and become an S-rank missing-nin of Konoha.
More than ten years had passed. Hiruzen Sarutobi had thought that, as long as he remained Hokage, he would never see Orochimaru again. Yet at this time, Orochimaru had chosen to conceal himself and enter the second round of the Chunin Exams.
"Lord Hokage, we should immediately suspend the Chunin Exams..." Anko Mitarashi sternly advised. "Orochimaru must have some unknown scheme. If the Chunin Exams continue, they will only be exploited by Orochimaru."
Hiruzen Sarutobi came back to himself slightly and set down his pipe. After pondering for a moment, he said in a deep voice, "The Chunin Exams will continue. I will arrange for the Anbu to strengthen security.
"No matter what scheme Orochimaru has, since he has set his sights on the Chunin Exams, he will show himself eventually. We will respond to all changes by remaining unchanged. This time, Orochimaru will not escape Konoha!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was firm and resolute. He had no intention of stopping the Chunin Exams.
Notifications for the third-stage battles of the Chunin Exams had already been sent to the nobles of the Land of Fire and other nations. The nobles had already begun their journeys, followed closely by merchants from various countries arriving in Konoha, bringing a series of economic boosts. Matters concerning Konoha's interests could not be stopped by a single Orochimaru.
Hiruzen Sarutobi also believed that, even in the end,