A Trip to Konoha

"The people of Konoha are so alert. They found us this quickly!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu removed his hat and smiled at the Konoha Ninja blocking their way. Beside him was Orochimaru, disguised as a Hidden Mist Anbu.

"Visitors from Kirigakure, stop! This is Konoha territory!"

Several Konoha border guards stood before them, watching the two men warily.

Some time ago, a ninja had been killed near the border, so Konoha had immediately tightened its security.

"I'm Hozuki Mangetsu of Kirigakure. I've come to meet the Third Hokage on the Mizukage's orders."

Hōzuki Mangetsu calmly raised his right hand. He held a scroll—the letter Mizukage Yagura had written to Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The Konoha Ninja leading the group hesitated, then slowly approached Hōzuki Mangetsu and took the scroll. He opened it and glanced through it.

It was an official document between the two countries.

Five Mist Ninja had died near Konoha's border some time ago. It was only natural for Kirigakure to come to Konoha and demand an explanation.

The lead ninja's expression softened. "Please come with me. We'll have someone escort you into the village. We hope you'll cooperate and not wander off."

"Understood!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu readily agreed.

Though they were envoys from an allied nation, neither side trusted the other.

Accompanied by Konoha Ninja, Hōzuki Mangetsu and Orochimaru walked through Konoha's gates.

Konoha was the wealthiest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Its infrastructure and village administration were both relatively advanced.

Orochimaru said nothing. In a flash, he appeared atop a building and gazed into the distance for a while.

"Stop! Don't make any sudden moves!"

The Konoha Ninja assigned to watch them immediately rushed over and surrounded Orochimaru, silently keeping their eyes on him.

Hōzuki Mangetsu was surrounded too, with two Anbu among them.

"Don't be nervous!"

He smiled and raised both hands. "We mean no harm. Perhaps this guy has always been eager to see Konoha. Hey, that's enough. Let's not cause a misunderstanding."

Although Orochimaru had betrayed Konoha, he still felt some attachment to the place where he'd grown up.

Orochimaru ignored the ninja watching him. After gazing into the distance for a while, he finally dropped down beside Hōzuki Mangetsu.

Only then did the Konoha Ninja escorting them breathe a sigh of relief.

"Mr. Mangetsu!"

He said coldly, "I hope you can keep your subordinate in check. Don't do anything that'll put everyone in an awkward position."

"Understood, understood!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu smiled helplessly. If the man knew that the person he'd just reprimanded was Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, he probably wouldn't be so calm.

"Please come with me."

An Anbu stepped forward and gestured for them to follow.

Hōzuki Mangetsu nodded and followed them into the village.

The two stopped at a secluded inn. Konoha used it specifically to accommodate foreign guests.

"It's getting late. You should both rest. Lord Hokage will see you first thing tomorrow morning," one of the Anbu said.

"Thank you for your hospitality!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu nodded.

It was only natural that the Konoha High Command didn't receive them immediately. After all, five Kirigakure Ninja had died near Konoha's border, and Konoha had to give Kirigakure an explanation.

When it came to matters involving the ninja villages of two great nations, neither side would make a hasty decision.

Once the two men had settled in, Konoha's Anbu took their leave. They didn't go far, however, but spread out to keep watch from various corners.

A barrier?

Hōzuki Mangetsu immediately sensed a faint trace of Chakra.

It seemed the inn was more than it appeared.

They must have set up a sensory barrier to monitor the foreign guests staying there.

But...

A smile appeared at the corner of Hōzuki Mangetsu's mouth.

Orochimaru should be making his move too, right?

In an instant, a tiny white snake slithered out of Orochimaru's room and slowly made its way into the sewer.

The white snake was naturally one of Orochimaru's transformations. He had once been part of Konoha's High Command and knew the inn's barrier well. It didn't take him long to slip out.

What he didn't notice was that a stream of water followed close behind him.

"Orochimaru, you actually dare come back to Konoha?"

Danzo stared at Orochimaru with a dark expression.

He was wondering how Orochimaru had managed to evade Root's surveillance and enter Konoha.

"What, you're not happy to see me?"

Orochimaru sneered at Danzo.

"Don't forget, you're a rogue ninja from Konoha. If anyone finds out you're here, you might not make it out alive."

Danzo replied coldly.

"Hahahaha!"

Orochimaru laughed several times. "So what if they find out? Haven't you also been working with Konoha's rogue ninja?"

A sharp glint flashed through Danzo's single eye.

Still, he held back. He hadn't fully mastered the power in his right eye and right arm, and he might still need Orochimaru's help.

"Orochimaru, I'll let you off for sneaking into Konoha without permission. Tell me, where are Shisui's eyes?"

Danzo changed the subject.

Uchiha Shisui's Sharingan possessed the ultimate genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami—a power capable of starting a war.

No matter what, Danzo would rather destroy it than let it fall into an outsider's hands.

"Shisui's eyes?"

Orochimaru sneered. "Accusing others of what you've done yourself? That sounds like you, Danzo. You took Shisui's eyes, then tried to pin the blame on me."

"What?"

Danzo's single eye widened.

He'd always believed Orochimaru had killed Uchiha Shisui.

He'd known for a long time that Orochimaru coveted the bodies of elite Uchiha. Besides, Orochimaru was one of the Sannin and powerful enough to kill Shisui.

But after hearing Orochimaru say that, Danzo's heart sank.

Orochimaru hadn't killed Shisui.

Then who had killed Shisui?

"Orochimaru!"

Danzo shouted, "You really didn't kill Shisui?"

Orochimaru was also a little surprised by Danzo's reaction. It seemed Shisui's eyes hadn't fallen into his hands either.

Could Danzo also have failed to come out on top?

The two men suspected each other, but they soon reached one conclusion.

Someone else had obtained Uchiha Shisui's eyes.

If Orochimaru had killed Uchiha Shisui, he would have taken over his body by now.

That guy had coveted the bodies of elite Uchiha for a long time.

Likewise, if Danzo had obtained Shisui's eyes, he would certainly have transplanted them into his right eye.

With Hashirama's Chakra and Shisui's ocular power, Danzo wouldn't have been so accommodating toward Orochimaru.

The only reason they could still stand there on such civil terms was that neither had obtained Uchiha Shisui's eyes.

In other words, someone else had reaped the rewards.