The Uzumaki Clan

Hanzo watched Orochimaru charge toward him with a sword in hand and sneered. "Kid, you're still far too green to challenge me with a blade."

Hanzo raised his weapon, a sickle, and swung it horizontally at Orochimaru. The moment their weapons clashed, Orochimaru was stunned.

"How is that possible?"

"Nothing is impossible, kid. Work hard to grow stronger, and then stand against me."

Hanzo put his full strength into the blow, sending Orochimaru flying like a cannonball toward Tsunade.

It didn't take long for Hanzo to realize something was wrong. "That guy... Damn it."

Orochimaru flew off into the distance like a kite with a severed string, never coming down.

"Hanzo is still too strong. Even his physical strength is something I can only look up to. Next time, I definitely won't just run away like this."

Orochimaru had used Hanzo's strike to launch himself away from the battlefield. Hanzo had also been held back by Orochimaru, and then Gamabunta and Katsuyu had tangled with him.

Seeing Orochimaru flying toward him, Jiraiya did a few flips and landed steadily. He couldn't help praising him.

"Not bad, Orochimaru. You really gave that guy the runaround."

"Let's go."

"Yoshi! Let's do this!"

The three quickly withdrew from the battlefield. When Gamabunta saw that Jiraiya was gone, he exchanged a glance with the Slug Sage, shoved Hanzo away with all his strength, then vanished in a puff of white smoke.

Seeing that, Manda, already covered in wounds, hurriedly released the Summoning Technique and disappeared from the spot, leaving Hanzo with a grim expression.

"Those guys... Their summoning beasts are incredibly strong. Give me a few more minutes and I could've dealt with them. They sure ran fast. Someone, come here!"

"Lord Hanzo."

Kyusuke stepped out from the crowd and came before Hanzo. He knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

"Kyusuke, you gave them the intelligence, right?"

"Lord Hanzo, everything went according to plan."

"Find out who those people are. Anyone who can summon such powerful beasts is no ordinary person."

"Yes!"

"Everyone, disperse. Give our fallen comrades a proper burial. Look after those who left children behind, and make sure they receive every coin of their compensation."

"Yes, Lord Hanzo! You are wise!"

"Pant, pant... Let's take a break. They haven't followed us."

Orochimaru created a Shadow Clone. "Keep moving forward."

The Shadow Clone didn't say a word. It continued onward, leaving an obvious trail behind.

Seeing this, Tsunade and Jiraiya also created Shadow Clones. "You two, go as well."

After the Shadow Clones had gone some distance, Orochimaru summoned several small snakes and sent them burrowing into the ground.

"Let's go. Be careful not to leave any traces."

They reached a place that looked fairly inconspicuous. "This will do. Jiraiya, make us an underground room."

Jiraiya stepped forward and pressed his hand to the ground, using Earth Release. A flight of steps appeared before them. "Let's go."

The three went underground, and the steps were covered over. Jiraiya turned to Orochimaru. "What happened back there, Orochimaru?"

"Our intelligence agent has been exposed. I stole the information from the Rain Ninja."

"Have you developed that Substitution Technique?" Tsunade shuddered at the memory of Orochimaru's wet appearance when he emerged.

"I used my own cells as material. It lets me shed my skin like a snake and escape like a cicada. It works pretty well."

Orochimaru stuck out his tongue and flicked it like a snake. Tsunade got goosebumps just looking at him.

"That guy's getting more and more twisted."

"Tsunade, don't get too caught up in the fight next time. Your Taijutsu is all wide, sweeping moves, and once you got started, you got carried away again."

"Sumimasen. I know."

"Right, let's take a look at the information."

Orochimaru spat a scroll out of his mouth. Seeing the strange fluid on it, Tsunade looked disgusted and stayed back, only glancing over their heads.

Jiraiya didn't mind the mess. He squeezed in beside Orochimaru to read the information.

"The Land of Rain is this bold? They actually dare to... Tsunade, don't get worked up."

Jiraiya turned around and saw Tsunade's face flushed with anger. "How dare they! Send word to the village, quickly!"

"Okay."

Jiraiya summoned a small toad and took out a little scroll. He wrote on it: "The Land of Whirlpools is in danger. Send support immediately."

"Those puny Rain Ninja want a Tailed Beast, and they want to use the people of the Land of Whirlpools, too. What a pipe dream!

"They even want an alliance while plotting to take our Land of Fire's territory. This is... unforgivable!"

"Tsunade, I'm sure our teacher will handle it. After all, the Land of Whirlpools is our ally, too.

"Our main task now is to figure out the Land of Rain's exact intentions. If they launch a surprise attack, the Land of Fire will suffer heavy losses as well."

"I know. Konoha is my Konoha, too. I know what needs to come first."

Tsunade summoned Katsuyu. "Slug Sage, sorry for the trouble. Please deliver this scroll to my grandmother."

"Lady Mito? No problem."

Once everything had been arranged, the three took a short rest at Tsunade's urging, then began another round of covert investigation.

In the Land of Fire, in Konoha, Uzumaki Mito and Hiruzen Sarutobi each received intelligence from Tsunade and Jiraiya.

Uzumaki Mito furrowed her brows. "Why am I so unsettled? This matter is clearly not simple."

"Someone!"

"Lady Mito!"

"Go get Lord Hokage. I have an important matter to discuss with him."

"Yes!"

In the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed away on his pipe. "The Jinchūriki handover is coming up soon. For something to go wrong at a time like this... Hanzo, what exactly are you plotting?"

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in."

"Lord Hokage, Lady Mito requests your presence."

"Understood. You may go."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi had just stepped out of the Hokage Building, he ran into Shimura Danzō. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here. Don't keep Lady Mito waiting."

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes. "Danzō, don't try anything funny. I'm the Hokage now, and you only have authority because I gave it to you."

"Hmph! Hiruzen, everything I do is for Konoha.

"Where there is light, there is darkness. I am the Darkness of Konoha, silently protecting the village."

The two men had far too many schemes to speak of, so they fell silent and headed to see Uzumaki Mito, one in front of the other.

"Little Monkey, come in."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had just been about to knock when he heard Uzumaki Mito's voice from inside. He lowered his hand and opened the door.

"Lady Mito's Mind's Eye is as impressive as ever."

"Enough of that. Danzō, you're here too?"

"Lady Mito, I came to see if I could be of any help."

Uzumaki Mito turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Little Monkey, you know why I called you here, don't you?"

"Lady Mito, I've already sent Anbu to the Land of Whirlpools. Hatake Sakumo is leading them."

"What do you think of this matter?"

"The situation isn't clear yet, so I can't say for sure. On the surface, it seems to be about the Jinchūriki. The Uzumaki Clan..."

"Since you know about the Jinchūriki, can you arrange for people to protect the Uzumaki Clan from now on?"

"I... I understand, Lady Mito."

"Rest assured, Lady Mito. I'll take Root with me to the Land of Whirlpools shortly."

"Good. You may leave. Report back as soon as anything happens."

"Yes!"