Is This a Master-Disciple Reunion?

"Hmm, I feel that kid is inextricably linked to this matter, but I dare not make a final call just yet."

"After all, with that guy Orochimaru, you can never guess what his next move will be."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a bitter smile.

"But we must make preparations first."

He raised his eyes to look at the two of them.

"You two head back first; I'm going to go have a chat with Minato."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged a glance, asked no further questions, nodded, and then turned to push open the door of Hiruzen Sarutobi's home and stepped out.

A gust of wind blew into the corridor. As the two stood on the steps, Mitokado Homura lowered his voice.

"Tell me, if they really intend to declare war on the village..."

"Tsunade and Jiraiya wouldn't do such a thing." Utatane Koharu interrupted him, her brows knitted into a knot. "But what if they actually did..."

She didn't finish the rest of her sentence, and the two disappeared into the night in silence.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't rush to move, standing in place to calmly digest the news from this recent period.

"First a brat who could control the Nine-Tails, and now Orochimaru?"

He took a puff from his pipe, the embers flickering.

"Konoha, truly an eventful autumn."

He extinguished his pipe, stepped over the threshold, and beckoned for an Anbu member.

"Go notify Minato; I am heading over to see him now."

After speaking, he returned to his room to change into a crisp combat uniform, took two deep breaths, and strode toward the Hokage Office.

In the Hokage Office, sunlight slanted in, falling upon a desk piled high with documents.

Minato Namikaze sat before the desk, clutching a pen, staring blankly at a casualty list. The door was pushed open, and Hiruzen Sarutobi walked in wearing his combat gear.

Minato looked up and smiled. "Third Hokage, I just received the news. What is going on?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi closed the door behind him and walked to the desk. "Just received word. That girl Tsunade... is already on her way back to the village."

The pen in Minato's hand clattered onto the desk, and he stood up abruptly.

"Really?"

"Really. The message was sent back by Jiraiya; they are already on the road."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, his gaze resting on Minato's face, his voice slowing by half a beat.

"Kushina can be saved."

Minato let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders just beginning to slump, but he noticed Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression had not relaxed.

He was stunned for a moment and asked.

"Third Hokage, is there something else?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, his voice sinking.

"Among those traveling with them is Orochimaru."

Minato's pupils constricted. "Orochimaru?"

"Who else could it be but him?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes.

"Danzo's men saw with their own eyes that he was walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Jiraiya, with Tsunade walking right beside them. I don't know what they've been up to, but they are currently escorting a Cloud Village captive back to the village."

Minato didn't speak. He walked around the desk to the window, his fingers tapping lightly on the frame. Outside the window was the Konoha currently under reconstruction, with the clanging of hammers rising one after another.

"Something is wrong." He stood with his back to Hiruzen, his voice very soft. "Orochimaru wouldn't hang around with Jiraiya for no reason, unless..."

"Unless what?"

Minato turned around, his azure eyes shining startlingly bright in the sunlight.

"Unless he is not the Orochimaru we know!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow.

"You really do know something."

"It's hard to explain right now."

Minato grabbed the Hokage Haori draped over the back of his chair and threw it over his shoulders.

"But if we let the three of them walk into the village openly, tomorrow someone will be able to pin the charge of treason on the Sannin. By then, the council will be arguing in the meeting room. Unfortunately, Kushina cannot wait, and the village cannot wait."

He tightened the sash of his robe and swept his gaze toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"We are going outside the village to meet them directly."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned for half a second, then immediately understood.

"Are you planning to set the meeting place outside the village?"

"It's not a plan, it's a necessity."

Minato pushed the door open, and the sunlight and noise from outside rushed in all at once.

"Even if they decide to launch a sudden attack, the battlefield cannot be right under the villagers' noses. We must leave some room for maneuver... for them, and for ourselves."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Minato's back, suddenly chuckled, and followed him out.

"Fine, I'll listen to you, Fourth Hokage."

The two stepped one after the other into the midday sun, walking briskly toward the outskirts of the village. The sunlight shrank their shadows until they were very short.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest surrounding Konoha.

Jiraiya held the unconscious Cloud Village kunoichi in one hand, as if carrying a bag of rotting trash, while desperately rubbing his lower back with the other.

"This Sage is exhausted! Why is this godforsaken road never-ending?"

Shizune followed behind, clutching Tonton and muttering softly.

"It was clearly you who insisted on stopping to look at that roadside stall earlier..."

"That's called gathering material!" Jiraiya widened his eyes, his nostrils flared, "Do you understand? Art comes from life!"

Tsunade walked beside Lin Zi, flexing her wrists.

"I haven't fought in so long, my hands still feel a bit numb."

"Jiraiya, if you dawdle any longer, I'm going to carry you along with that captive."

"Hey, hey, you violent woman..."

Lin Zi remained silent. He suddenly stopped in his tracks, his forked tongue darting out to flicker in the air, like a snake reading a scent.

"What is it?" Tsunade asked.

"There are two Kage-level chakras ahead."

Lin Zi frowned, his golden vertical pupils fixed on the silhouette of the forest in the distance.

"They're still some distance from the village, but I suspect they are coming for us."

Jiraiya was stunned for a moment, then reacted.

"The Old Man and Minato?"

"Who else could it be but them."

Lin Zi crossed his arms, looking impatient.

"Think of something. I don't want to fight anymore. I'm already worn out from beating up those two brothers from the Cloud Village, and I have no interest in trading blows with our own people."

Jiraiya turned to look at Tsunade, then at Lin Zi, and scratched his head awkwardly.

"Should I go ahead? Tell them not to be nervous?"

Lin Zi stared ahead, his snake-like pupils narrowing slightly, and remained silent for two seconds.

"Forget it." He sighed, "Let's go together. Hiding and sneaking around is more trouble and makes us look like thieves."

A smile tugged at the corner of Tsunade's mouth, her fists cracking as she clenched them.

"Perfect. Let Minato see what kind of people he's invited back."

Shizune shrank her neck and hugged Tonton tighter.

"Lady Tsunade... please don't start a fight later..."

"Don't actually start fighting," Jiraiya leaned in toward the two, looking aggrieved, "Minato is my student, after all. Give me some face, at least."

"Rest assured."

Lin Zi stepped forward, his black ponytail swaying in the wind, his tone light and airy.

"I won't do anything drastic, but having to endure this kind of treatment while wearing my own face is truly exhausting."

Upon hearing this, Tsunade burst into laughter and slapped Lin Zi on the back, the force neither too light nor too heavy.

"Oh? Orochimaru knows how to complain? I thought you only knew how to stick your tongue out to scare people!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

Jiraiya immediately perked up, leaning in cheekily from the other side and nudging Lin Zi with his elbow.

"See, see? Even Tsunade is complimenting you. When you see Minato later, remember to smile. Don't keep that deadpan face."

Lin Zi sighed helplessly and continued walking forward.

"Hurry up and keep up. If we keep the two Hokage waiting too long, it will really become impossible to explain."