The Hokage Office.
The Konoha High Command had gathered there. Some wore angry expressions, some remained silent, and others looked grim.
Tsunade said, "This matter must be investigated thoroughly!"
The Third glanced at Danzo but didn't immediately state his position, as if weighing something.
Danzo's face was grim, but he remained unruffled.
This time, he had indeed worked behind the scenes with Orochimaru, using Yakumo's parents to lure her out of the village.
He had simply been very careful about it.
Kurama Murakumo's mission itself had been aboveboard. The news that his squad had run into danger had also been passed to the Kurama Clan as a rumor.
So although Danzo had played an important role in this matter, all he had actually done was pass certain information to Orochimaru.
As long as Orochimaru wasn't caught, no one could testify against him.
And without a witness, even Tsunade couldn't simply bring down one of the village's advisory elders.
Realizing this, Mitokado Homura cleared his throat twice. "Ahem. Let's set the internal investigation aside for now. We need to figure out why Orochimaru targeted Kurama Yakumo, and what his relationship with the Akatsuki Organization is!"
Utatane Koharu nodded. "Yes. There's no need to rush the internal investigation."
Tsunade immediately glared at Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
Though these two advisory elders didn't support Danzo on many issues, whenever the authority of the advisory elders was at stake, they immediately sided with him.
Seeing that things were about to get out of hand, the Third spoke up. "I'll personally oversee the internal investigation this time! All right, let's discuss the other issues. Jiraiya, has it been confirmed that Orochimaru defected from the Akatsuki Organization?"
Jiraiya replied, "It has! The Akatsuki Organization even made inquiries about Orochimaru's whereabouts on the black market. So