The next day, during the day. Hokage Building, conference room.
"Some of you may have already heard. Yesterday, Gekko Hayate's body was found near Kikyo Castle."
After glancing around and confirming that everyone attending had arrived, the Third Hokage gently set down the hat representing his position as Hokage. After a brief pause, he spoke.
"What? Hayate?"
At those words, every shinobi who had been suddenly summoned for this emergency meeting changed expression. Some even cried out in shock.
"How could this happen?"
"Impossible!"
The news of Gekko Hayate's death had clearly shocked everyone, and more exclamations followed.
"Was it... Orochimaru?"
At that moment, Anko, who had already heard some of the news, slowly grew solemn and spoke in a low voice.
Just as the Third Hokage had said, Anko already knew about Gekko Hayate. Or rather, she had learned the news last night, after Yugao discovered Gekko Hayate's body. From the moment she found out, she had suspected that Orochimaru was responsible.
"No, not necessarily. We can't jump to conclusions."
Her deduction was quickly rejected by Kakashi behind her. "Hayate should have been on routine patrol last night. He may have discovered something and followed it to the vicinity of Kikyo Castle. According to the intelligence we currently have, there was also a Sound Village spy named Kabuto in Kikyo Castle at the time. Hmm... but Kabuto is also connected to Orochimaru."
"Then suspend the Chunin Exams and capture Orochimaru."
Namiashi Raidō's voice rang out from in front of Kakashi, carrying a trace of anger.
"No. He openly revealed his identity in front of Anko. In a sense, he isn't afraid of the Chunin Exams being suspended. On the contrary, it's entirely possible that he showed himself so openly precisely to make us suspend the Chunin Exams. I believe