Hatake Sakumo

Sarutobi Hiruzen glared coldly at Orochimaru, the veins on his face bulging with fury!

"Damnable Kumogakure! To think they would dare snatch people right out of my Land of Fire—this is absolutely intolerable!"

He slammed his palm down hard onto the desk in front of him!

Instantly, the tabletop shattered into pieces, wood chips flying everywhere; he was so enraged he looked ready to march straight to Kumogakure himself.

"Teacher, what exactly has happened?"

Cold sweat streamed down Orochimaru's forehead, and he felt a flicker of panic in his heart.

This old man's strength... it was still so terrifying. He had felt an illusion of being unable to move for a split second. There was a genuine gap between a Quasi-Kage and a true Kage-level powerhouse, not just in taijutsu or chakra, but in the very mastery of ninjutsu!

And the sheer power of his hidden cards!

Fortunately, the old man had not discovered his own affairs.

"Hmph!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a cold snort, his tiger-like eyes dark and brooding. "Orochimaru, this time... it is not a matter of spies, but of a Konoha chunin named Masatomi Ryuichi, who also worked in the archives. He has actually been turned by Kumogakure and chosen to defect!"

"Masatomi Ryuichi possesses quite a bit of our Konoha data. While it doesn't involve many top-tier secrets, it is a profound humiliation for Konoha!"

His gaze was sharp and stern.

His eyes held deep annoyance and anger.

Konoha was undoubtedly the strongest ninja village, always advocating for the Will of Fire and benevolence, yet now a Konoha ninja had been turned by Kumogakure—this was unacceptable!

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, looked at Orochimaru, and commanded: "Orochimaru, I require you to infiltrate Kumogakure, kill Masatomi Ryuichi, and... cause the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki to go berserk!"

"This... is the price Kumogakure must pay for laying a hand on my Konoha ninja!"

"No one is permitted to enter my Konoha and lay a finger on our people. Furthermore... the matter from two years ago, when the Jinchuriki Uzumaki Kushina was abducted, should also be settled now!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze gradually calmed.

Yet it carried a profound, chilling gloom.

Like ice!

He had never forgotten the incident involving Uzumaki Kushina, but he had never found the right opportunity. At the time, war was imminent and there were no suitable candidates, but now, many hands were free.

Thus, there was finally room to maneuver.

"This is a top-secret mission, S-rank. You depart today! You may choose your own team, Orochimaru. This mission must succeed; failure is not an option!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze was dark, his sharp eyes filled with endless iron-blooded resolve!

His face, carved like stone, carried the cold scent of steel.

This was the ninja hero of Konoha; only blood and sacrifice could quell the village's wrath!

"The old man is so old, yet still so hot-headed—that's not good. However, this matter... I like it!"

Orochimaru grinned, his amber pupils filled with excitement!

He had just been planning to go to Kumogakure, and now a perfect opportunity had presented itself. Moreover... it didn't conflict with his own agenda at all!

"In that case, I shall select... my two disciples. They both possess the strength of jonin now, especially Keigo Uchiha, who wields the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and the speed of Storm Release. I doubt anyone in Kumogakure, save for the Raikage, could keep him there."

Orochimaru spoke slowly.

"Hm?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen paused. "You mean... Keigo Uchiha and Hyuga Ruri? Those two?"

His expression shifted instantly, and he looked at Orochimaru with suspicion. "One is the treasure of the Uchiha Clan, the other the treasure of the Hyuga Clan. Will they be allowed to go on such a dangerous mission?"

"If something were to happen, even as Hokage, I would have to face the wrath of those two great clans."

This was too risky.

He exhaled a heavy cloud of smoke. Their strength was indeed sufficient, but... their status was too sensitive!

"If it were anyone else, I haven't coordinated with them before—Tsunade and Jiraiya aside. If you were to have those two accompany me, it would certainly be foolproof."

Orochimaru smiled enigmatically and spoke lightly: "However, I am not familiar with the traits of others."

"As for whether the Uchiha and Hyuga clans would worry... this is a stealth mission, not a grand march onto the battlefield. Besides, with me, a Quasi-Kage, present, what could possibly go wrong?"

"Being a ninja isn't child's play, after all."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, and after a long moment, said, "Fine, I will handle the arrangements!"

"Depart immediately once everything is settled. This matter must not be delayed!"

After Orochimaru left.

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but offer a bitter smile. "Orochimaru, you really have handed me a difficult problem."

He shook his head helplessly, donned his Hokage hat, and turned to leave.

Although he was the Hokage.

The ninja village was composed of various clans, so for matters like this, he had no choice but to consult them.

As for whether he would succeed, that shouldn't be a problem, right?

After all, he had treated the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan exceptionally well over these past few years!

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

"Lord Hokage, the mission has been completed!"

A whistling sound cut through the air!

A sharp, white-haired figure appeared before him, his handsome, lean face resembling a cold sword unsheathed!

On one of his sleeves.

Was the pattern of the Hokage cloak!

It looked like a burning, fiery red flame.

"All Sunagakure ninjas who crossed the border have been annihilated. This time, the Sunagakure ninjas were merely testing the waters. For the next month, Sunagakure will take no further action. According to our projections, Sunagakure will not attempt any 'Peeping Plan' in the near future!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the white-haired figure with a smile. "You've worked hard, Sakumo. Take some time to rest now that the mission is complete!"

The person who had arrived was none other than Hatake Sakumo.

A Kage-level powerhouse of Konoha!

"Understood, Lord Hokage!"

After Hatake Sakumo bowed his head respectfully, his figure vanished in a flash.

Watching the incredibly efficient Hatake Sakumo, who moved without a single wasted motion, Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "Sakumo, he is not even thirty years old yet, and his strength is already approaching my own."

"It really is... something to marvel at."

He lowered his gaze, leaving his thoughts unreadable.

After a long while.

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned and walked out the door, leaving behind a massive shadow that engulfed the entire Hokage office chair.

Three hours later.

Sarutobi Hiruzen walked out of the Uchiha Clan compound, his face filled with confusion and a strange expression. "Who would have thought that both the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan would agree so readily? They accepted without a moment's hesitation."

"It's truly bizarre."

But in the end, this was a good thing.

After all, the mission could be executed immediately!

Meanwhile.

Keigo Uchiha was training in the Forest of Death when he suddenly paused, turning his head to look at two large and one small white-haired figures not far away.

He looked stunned. "Hatake Sakumo, Hatake Kakashi?"

"And... a random ninja?"