The Director, She Isn't in Konohagakure

The moonlight was hazy, and the wind and sand howled.

In the boundless desert, a Sunagakure squad was silently making its way toward this ruined village under cover of night.

"Seriously, this damn place is really desolate."

The Sunagakure patrol squad maintained sufficient vigilance, but someone among them could not help muttering a complaint.

"Cut the nonsense and focus on the mission."

Hearing the complaint, the Sunagakure captain could not help interrupting.

"Besides, we're searching for Lady Pakura. Don't you know how many contributions she's made for us?"

"Alright, Captain, I know. It's just..."

That Sand Ninja did not dare talk back to his captain, but his gaze could not help drifting to the bespectacled boy behind him.

The boy looked only eleven or twelve, refined and somewhat frail. His appearance made the Sand Ninja rather unhappy.

"It's just, why are we listening to this brat and coming all the way out to this remote place? Seriously."

"Sorry. I just thought this place was a possibility, so I made the suggestion."

The boy scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed look, his face full of apology.

"And if we really find traces of Lady Pakura, then our records will all—"

"Enough. Shut up, all of you."

The captain shook his head. He glanced at the boy before continuing.

"This place may be remote, but it's an ideal hiding place. We only need to find clues. Leave the rest to the Anbu, understood?"

"Yes!"

Several Sand Ninja answered at once, but the moment their voices fell, the ground suddenly churned!

In that instant, the desert seemed to turn into mud. Several Sand Ninja sank into it before they could even react.

"Damn it, enemy attack—"

The Sunagakure captain immediately noticed what was happening and instantly drew his ninja blade. Yet at that moment, an extremely dangerous feeling suddenly surged in his heart. That icy presence made his hairs stand on end!

In the blink of an eye, he tried to form hand seals, but a flash of cold light had already swept past!

In an instant, he felt a chill at his neck.

So fast.

That was the last thought echoing through his mind. Before his consciousness faded, he saw Earth Spikes suddenly rise from the ground. Every one of his teammates except Hideyoshi had been pierced through!

"So you're called Hideyoshi now, Kabuto? Then if I kill you, can I pass it off as an accident?"

Hidezawa emerged from the shadows. He glanced at the corpses on the ground, then looked at Kabuto with a teasing smile.

"Stop joking around, Hidezawa."

Kabuto pursed his lips, shook his head helplessly, and gave a dry laugh.

His childhood friend really had not changed at all. Back at the Training Ground, this guy had always hit him with heavy punches.

There had been times when he had wondered whether he would be beaten to death at the Training Ground.

Of course, he had not simply stood there defenseless and taken the hits. It was just that this guy seemed to have grown far too quickly.

And now, he seemed even fiercer. Had he taken down so many people in the blink of an eye?

Fortunately, Kabuto had been undercover for so long and tempered himself through so much. He quickly composed himself.

"Why are you in Sunagakure too? Forget it, I shouldn't ask. You have your own mission. What did you need from me?"

"I happen to have something I need your help with."

Hidezawa had already deactivated his Cursed Seal state. After spending so long in Root, he had long become accustomed to eliminating enemies in the fastest way possible.

"I'm sure you won't refuse me, right?"

"..."

Kabuto fell silent for a moment. He had wanted to say that Hidezawa was breaking the rules.

But after glancing at the corpses strewn across the ground and recalling his memories of Root, he subconsciously adjusted his glasses before speaking.

"Fine. Tell me what it is, but all I can promise is that I'll do my best."

"I want you to investigate something."

Hidezawa nodded and spoke directly.

"Some of Sunagakure's policies, especially anything related to Pakura."

"Pakura?"

Kabuto's expression changed at once when he heard Hidezawa's words. When he heard Pakura's name, his face even turned pale.

"Damn it, did you kill Pakura?"

"We only captured her. She isn't dead yet."

Hidezawa spread his hands, then explained.

"We planned to interrogate her for useful information, but I suspect Sunagakure may be planning to sell her out. That's why I need more intelligence."

As he spoke, Hidezawa laid out his earlier "speculation." Kabuto listened intently.

But once he had heard it all, his expression became solemn. If all of this was true, it would be absolutely explosive intelligence!

What shocked and astonished him even more was that Hidezawa had analyzed all of it himself.

Just how much had this guy grown?

"I need to think this over carefully."

Kabuto naturally understood the value of this matter, and soon he suddenly realized something.

If he succeeded, he would definitely be rewarded. Perhaps he could return to Konohagakure and see his Director!

But the position he was masquerading under made this extremely difficult.

"Damn it, I'm only posing as a Genin."

"A Genin? That makes this far too difficult."

Hidezawa frowned. After pondering for a moment, he spoke in a low voice.

"If I can cause a major disturbance, would you have a chance?"

"Only if the Kazekage leaves his office, but that would be difficult."

Kabuto answered without hesitation, but soon shook his head again.

"I should think it over carefully. Don't act rashly, and don't expose yourself. Sunagakure's Anbu have been deployed too. Your situation isn't good either."

At that, Kabuto sighed. Then his gaze became resolute.

"Also, I want to be involved in this. Truly involved.

"This may be my chance, a chance to return to Konohagakure and see the Director. Not just hear news relayed through information you gathered.

"Please, Hidezawa. Give me this chance!"

With that, Kabuto suddenly gave Hidezawa a deep bow.

What Kabuto was doing was against Root's rules, but for the sake of seeing Yakushi Nonō, he was truly going all out. He was unwilling to let any opportunity slip away!

Seeing this, a thought suddenly flashed through Hidezawa's mind.

This seemed to be a good opportunity for him as well!

At this point, Kabuto still trusted Danzo—or rather, he trusted Konohagakure's upper ranks—until all his illusions were shattered.

And Hidezawa could shatter some of those illusions ahead of time!

Looking at Kabuto before him, Hidezawa suddenly reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, then spoke in a low voice.

"There's something I need to tell you. The Director actually left Konohagakure long ago."

"Hm?"

Kabuto froze. The next instant, his expression changed drastically.

"W-What are you talking about?"

"You may not know this, but I'm in the Anbu now, not Root."

Hidezawa shook his head and spoke calmly.

"Though I'm still under various restrictions and forbidden from going to the Orphanage, I have much more freedom than before. I used certain methods to look into the Orphanage.

"As a result, I discovered that the Director wasn't there. The information I received and passed on to you was probably all fake too."

"H-How could that be...?"

Kabuto was already stunned. He truly had not expected to receive such news.

The Director was not in Konohagakure, and the information he had received might have been false.

Then where had the Director gone? What exactly was going on?

"Do you remember why Danzo came to the Orphanage back then?"

Hidezawa did not stop there. He continued in a low voice, and Kabuto immediately thought of something.

"You mean the Director, she..."

"It's very likely. The Director is too kind-hearted."

Hidezawa sighed, putting on a helpless expression.

"She was probably trying to exchange herself for our freedom. But things did not go as she wished. Danzo, he..."

At that, Hidezawa stopped. Looking at the dazed Kabuto, he gave his shoulder a heavy pat.

"Of course, this is all just my speculation. And I have no reason to deceive you.

"We both came from the Orphanage. I think you have the right to know something about the Director.

"And just as you said, if this operation succeeds, perhaps you'll be able to return.

"That way, won't you be able to investigate it properly yourself?"

New author, new book. Please keep reading and add it to your collection.