Akaseki and Ranwu objected, but naturally, it did no good.
Akaseki even suspected that the Third himself wanted to use "teaming up with Root ninja" as a way to observe him further.
After leaving the Hokage Building, Orochimaru said to Jiraiya, "Jiraiya, you and your students are ready, aren't you? Any problem with setting out right away?"
Jiraiya looked at Akaseki and the other two. Once they all nodded, he told Orochimaru, "If you have everything you need, we can leave whenever you like."
The mission scroll had already been signed.
Orochimaru was the leader, and the supplies for the mission handover—mainly the "grain" they would exchange for chakra metal—were all with him.
"Then let's talk as we travel," Orochimaru said.
"Huh?" Akaseki froze at that, then looked at Orochimaru in surprise. "Jonin Orochimaru, don't you need us to—carry some of the sealing scrolls?"
Bartering "grain" for military supplies would undoubtedly involve transporting an enormous quantity. Even with sealing scrolls, maintaining them would surely be a considerable burden.
"Don't worry about him. His sealing techniques are far more useful than you imagine," Jiraiya reminded them.
Indeed, Orochimaru was extremely accomplished in sealing techniques. Even advanced techniques such as cursed seals came effortlessly to him, so he could easily maintain all the sealing scrolls this mission required on his own.
"Would you like to feel more involved, Akaseki?" Orochimaru looked at him and asked kindly.
"No need—" Akaseki shuddered. Somehow, whenever Orochimaru acted "kind," he looked even more sinister.
After that, the six members of the mission left Konoha through the main gate together.
The gate guards wore strange expressions when they saw Akaseki and Yakushi Nonō. Clearly, the aftereffects of the Chunin Ninja Exams still lingered.
But with Orochimaru leading them and the group clearly on an important mission, the