A Real Mission

"Why are you suddenly going on a mission?"

Ayano looked at Hiashi, who had changed into a ninja combat uniform, and could not help asking.

"Some supplies need to be transported to the front lines. It is a matter of great importance, so the Hokage assigned the Hyuga Clan." Hiashi merely replied calmly.

The servants had already packed his things, and Hizashi was waiting for him outside.

"How long will this trip take?"

"If all goes well, I'll be back in two or three days."

Ayano stood to the side with worry on her face, but Hiashi's detached attitude made it difficult for her to say anything more.

When Hiashi reached the living room, he saw Hizashi and Kamado in the courtyard.

The Hyuga Clan was currently dwindling in numbers. There were very few adult ninja left, and among the younger generation, Kamado was the only particularly outstanding one.

Hiashi stopped and stood silently for a moment before suddenly asking Ayano beside him, "Is Makoto home?"

Ayano froze at his words, then said, "He should be... at home right now."

"Call him over too."

"Huh?"

"Go bring Makoto here."

"Oh! All right!"

Ayano hurried away and made her way toward Makoto's residence.

Makoto was reading at home at the time. When he heard the knock, he had assumed it was Ayari.

"Ayano?"

"Makoto, Hiashi wants you to come over." Ayano got straight to the point.

Makoto was somewhat surprised as well. "Now?"

"Hiashi is waiting for you."

Makoto pondered for a moment before saying to Ayano, "Ayano, please wait a few minutes."

"Wait..." Before Ayano could say anything else, Makoto turned around and shut the door.

Ayano could not help knitting her brows. She wanted to knock, but after raising her hand, she lowered it again.

Frowning in thought, she activated her Byakugan to see what Makoto was doing in the room. But the first thing she saw was Makoto taking off his clothes.

Startled, she immediately deactivated her Byakugan.

The few minutes Makoto had mentioned truly were only a few minutes. When he opened the door again, Ayano discovered that he had already changed into Konoha's standard green ninja combat uniform. His forehead protector, leg wraps, ninja tool pouch, and everything else were all in place.

Ayano stood there blankly for a moment. She realized that she had only told him Hiashi wanted to see him. Why had he come out dressed like this?

After carefully considering Hiashi's intentions, she realized that calling Makoto over at a time like this must mean he intended to take him along on an external mission.

How had this guy guessed that?

"Let's go, Ayano."

"..."

When the two arrived where the others were gathered, Hizashi and Kamado were both quite surprised to see Makoto dressed this way.

Hizashi especially had never expected Makoto to take part in this mission as well.

Was this Hiashi's intention...?

Makoto had not gone to the battlefield even when Konoha had been on the brink of destruction. Why was Hiashi taking him to the battlefield now? What did this mean?

Hizashi thought long and hard but still could not make sense of it. He could only stand beside Hiashi and silently watch Makoto.

"Lord Hiashi." Makoto bowed.

"It seems you are already prepared." Hiashi assumed Ayano had told him that he intended to bring him along on the mission.

Makoto said, "I have always wanted to do something for the clan and the village. I am deeply grateful that Lord Hiashi has given me this opportunity. I only hope that I will not hold everyone back during this mission."

Hiashi nodded. "It is good that you have such resolve."

He then looked at Hizashi and Kamado.

"Let's depart."

After returning home from seeing the daimyo, Orochimaru found Danzo sitting in his living room.

"Lord Danzo, trespassing into someone else's home is not a very good habit."

"Orochimaru, the daimyo specifically summoned you. You are highly valued indeed."

Hearing Danzo's bland words, Orochimaru smiled faintly and walked over to sit beside him.

He said, "After all, I once saved his life. Have you forgotten, Lord Danzo? You were the one who arranged everything back then."

Danzo sneered. "I thought you had forgotten. I thought you, Orochimaru, had reached this point entirely on your own."

Orochimaru chuckled softly, but his laughter was hoarse and low, carrying an unsettling quality.

He said, "It seems Lord Danzo is quite dissatisfied with me."

Danzo sneered. "How would I dare be dissatisfied with the future Hokage?"

Orochimaru sighed at that. "It seems Lord Danzo has misunderstood me. Everything I have was given to me by you. I have never had any intention of burning bridges after crossing them."

Danzo remained unmoved by those words.

Orochimaru continued, "Lord Danzo, perhaps you do not yet know this, but Teacher Sarutobi seems to have obtained some clues."

Danzo's gaze shifted slightly. "What clues?"

"Naturally, clues about the things we did in the past."

Danzo frowned. "How do you know?"

"When I spoke with Teacher Sarutobi before, he tested me more than once. He has already begun to suspect me."

Danzo's brows drew tightly together. He began carefully recalling his recent conversations with Sarutobi. Then he suddenly remembered Sarutobi's words when he had recommended Orochimaru as commander-in-chief against the Hidden Mist Village: he would never allow an internal traitor to remain alive. Could that have been directed at him?

Thinking about it that way, it was indeed possible.

Orochimaru sighed. "Lord Danzo, we are currently standing at the center of the storm. Only by retreating at the height of the rapids can we protect ourselves wisely."

"What we should do first is deal with the internal traitor and sever every loose end and trace we have left behind. Then we can put forward a scapegoat. If I go to the front lines now, I will no longer be able to control what happens in the village. It will become inconvenient for you and me to communicate, and if one of us is exposed, both of us will face certain death."

"It is only the victory of a war against the Mist Ninjas. There is no harm in giving it to Minato. What do you think, Lord Danzo?"

Danzo's gaze flickered repeatedly as he weighed how much of Orochimaru's words he could trust.

Orochimaru smiled faintly again. "Lord Danzo, neither of us can do without the other now. I could never abandon you. After all, all my 'weaknesses' are in your hands, are they not?"

Only then did Danzo speak indifferently. "It is best that you understand that."

The smile on Orochimaru's lips deepened, and his snake-like gaze became even more inscrutable.

He smiled. "Lord Danzo knows what kind of person I am as well. I am only interested in researching secret techniques and know nothing about political affairs. Even if I become Hokage, I will still need to rely on Lord Danzo to help govern the village in the future!"

Danzo gave no indication of whether he believed such words. He merely said, "The matter of the internal traitor must indeed be resolved quickly. During this period, I will put forth a scapegoat."

Orochimaru outwardly agreed, but inwardly sneered.

At such a sensitive time, how credible could an internal traitor who willingly showed himself be? Far from dispelling their suspicions, he might very well become the thread the Hokage seized upon!

Danzo, Danzo. No wonder you were suppressed by Teacher Sarutobi your entire life. You fancy yourself shrewd and calculating while treating everyone else as fools? Your vision can only reach this far.