What Do You Mean the Sannin Betrayed Us?

Killer B dragged his four octopus tails, his body in a state of partial Tailed Beast transformation, as he lunged out from the shattered remains of the Rashomon and scooped up the blood-soaked, semi-conscious Ai.

Red Tailed Beast chakra covered most of his face, his pupils narrowed into vertical slits; he was clearly on the verge of losing control.

Lin Zi stood where he was, breathing heavily, his snake-like pupils narrowing slightly.

"How tenacious... even that didn't kill him?"

Jiraiya walked over to Lin Zi and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't underestimate anyone, Orochimaru."

"So, are we still going to fight the Eight-Tails?"

"I think they're about to run."

Killer B held the unconscious Ai, unable to even muster a rap; he stared fixedly at the three of them, his entire body coiled tight.

"Konoha Sannin... we lost. But we still have a trump card."

"A trump card?" Lin Zi grinned and took a half-step forward. "Are you sure you want to play it?"

"I can stake my life right here."

Killer B's voice was hoarse, carrying the low growl of a beast.

"But in your current state, are you sure you want to fight us to the death?"

"Our current state?" Lin Zi looked down at himself, then looked back up with an innocent expression. "What state are we in?"

Ai, held in Killer B's arms, suddenly opened his eyes; his pupils were unfocused, but his voice was weak yet resolute.

"B... leave quickly. Even with a full Tailed Beast transformation... we are no match for them."

"Big Brother!"

"Whoa, brotherly love, is it?" Jiraiya rubbed his hands together and turned to look at Tsunade. "How about we just capture them and take them back?"

Tsunade walked over and slammed a fist onto the top of Jiraiya's head, forcing him to crouch down while clutching his skull.

"Jiraiya! Do you want Konoha to declare war right now?"

Jiraiya rubbed his head, remembering the news in Minato's secret letter about Konoha still being under reconstruction, and could only nod sheepishly.

"Fine, fine... you two go. Konoha doesn't want to make any enemies right now."

The atmosphere had just begun to relax.

Suddenly.

Lin Zi's neck emitted a jarring, bone-grinding "crack," and like a boneless snake, it shot forward two meters!

His head instantly pressed against Ai in Killer B's arms, his mouth opening wide to bite down on Ai's neck!

"Orochimaru! What did you do!!" Killer B was terrified out of his wits, retreating three steps while clutching Ai.

Ai's eyes rolled back, and he fell unconscious once again.

"Hurry back and get him checked out, rap kid."

Lin Zi's neck "whooshed" back to its normal length; he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled indifferently.

"Any later, and your Fourth Raikage might have actually died here."

Killer B's face turned deathly pale; not daring to delay any longer, he held Ai and turned to flee, disappearing at the end of the street in the blink of an eye, moving as if he were being chased by ghosts.

Jiraiya was dumbfounded. "Hey! Why did you bite him just now? What did you do?"

Lin Zi shrugged, his forked tongue flicking out to lick his teeth. "I didn't do anything."

He turned around, his black ponytail whipping in the night wind, his tone relaxed.

"I was just imitating the Orochimaru from your side to scare them, that's all."

Jiraiya's mouth twitched. "...You have such twisted tastes."

"Likewise, Pervy Sage."

Tsunade looked at the two oddballs and helplessly rested a hand on her forehead.

Just as she was about to speak, her pupils suddenly constricted.

On a distant rooftop, a transparent figure flashed by and vanished, as if it had been sucked into something; it didn't even cause a ripple in the air, moving so fast it felt like an illusion.

But Tsunade was certain that it was definitely not someone from the Cloud Village; someone had been watching the show, and they had been watching for a long time.

"Orochimaru, it seems we're being watched again."

Lin Zi followed Tsunade's gaze, but the rooftop was empty.

He frowned. "What did you see?"

"I'm not sure, a transparent figure, but... they had no intention of attacking."

"A transparent figure?"

Lin Zi stroked his chin, his snake-like pupils narrowing slightly, and he suddenly let out a scoff.

"I think I know who it is. It doesn't matter; a rat that doesn't stay tucked away in its nest dares to come out and stir up trouble."

"What mouse?" Jiraiya leaned in, his head nearly pressing against Lin Zi's shoulder.

"Jiraiya, you're too close!" Lin Zi swatted his face away with a palm.

"Oh, don't be so cold!" Jiraiya rubbed his cheek, grinning heartlessly.

The three of them bickered noisily, as if the life-or-death struggle they had just survived were nothing more than a post-meal stroll.

"So, time to head back to Konoha?" Tsunade flexed her wrists.

"Yeah." Lin Zi nodded, pointing at the unconscious Cloud Village ninja on the ground. "Jiraiya, grab that one. Let's go."

"Why is it always me doing the heavy lifting..." Jiraiya grumbled, yet he walked over and hoisted the man onto his shoulder like a chick.

The three turned around and set off on the return journey toward Konoha.

On the border of the Land of Fire, deep within a desolate mountain forest.

Two Root ninja, like lifeless puppets, crouched in the shadows of the canopy.

They had been lurking here for a long time, tasked with monitoring any signs of the mysterious blonde man; Lord Danzo had issued a death order: bring him back, dead or alive.

One of the Root members, wearing an animal mask, was observing the distant mountain path through binoculars.

Suddenly, his hand froze.

Four figures appeared on the mountain path.

The one on the left with white hair, carrying a large scroll and walking with a slouch... was Jiraiya.

The one on the right, whose fists were cracking as she clenched them... was Tsunade.

And the one in the middle, with pale skin, golden slit pupils, and a black ponytail reaching his waist...

The pupils beneath the mask shrank to pinpricks.

"That's... Orochimaru?!"

The other Root member whipped his head around, his binoculars nearly slipping from his grasp. He stared fixedly at the figures walking side-by-side on the path, his mind going blank.

The legendary Sannin of Konoha.

They were actually all together?!

And Orochimaru was walking with his arm around Jiraiya, while Tsunade was walking beside them without punching him into oblivion?!

"Quick... report to Lord Danzo!"

The first Root member's voice trembled. He fumbled to pull out a communication scroll, his fingers shaking so badly he couldn't even form the hand seals.

"Say... say the Sannin have collectively defected! Orochimaru has turned the other two! They are moving toward Konoha together!"

"Wait, they're carrying someone... is that a Cloud Village ninja?!"

"Don't worry about that! Send the message first!"

The scroll transformed into a wisp of black smoke, shooting toward the Root lair deep beneath Konoha at top speed.

In the Root secret chamber.

Danzo unfurled the scroll, his single eye sweeping over the intelligence. The hand gripping the scroll tightened, causing the paper to emit a strained, brittle sound.

"Jiraiya... Tsunade... Orochimaru... acting together?"

His voice was low, as if squeezed from the depths of the earth, carrying a tremor of disbelief.

"And Orochimaru has captured a Cloud Village ninja alive?"

Danzo slowly raised his head, looking toward the dim oil lamp on the ceiling of the chamber. His single eye churned with a complex mix of shock, anger, and ecstasy.

The shock was that Orochimaru was not only alive and well, but had reunited with the other two Sannin.

The ecstasy was that this was a god-sent handle; Minato colluding with a rogue ninja and the Sannin conspiring together was enough to completely topple the Fourth Hokage at the council meeting!

"Aburame Torune."

"Present."

"Go invite Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura."

Danzo's lips curled into a cold, sinister arc.

"Tell them... I have a matter of immense importance to discuss, regarding the Fourth Hokage's dereliction of duty, and... the collective betrayal of the Sannin of Konoha."