Journey to Konoha

"The people of Konoha are quite alert; we were discovered so quickly!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu removed his conical hat, smiling as he looked at the Konoha ninja blocking their path. Beside him stood Orochimaru, disguised as a Kirigakure Anbu.

"Halt, visitors from Kirigakure. This is the territory of Konoha!"

Several Konoha border guards stood before them, watching the two men with grim, ready-for-battle expressions.

Not long ago, there had been incidents of ninja being killed along the border, prompting Konoha to immediately increase its security measures.

"I am Hōzuki Mangetsu of Kirigakure. I have come to meet the Third Hokage under the orders of the Mizukage."

Hōzuki Mangetsu calmly raised his right hand, holding a scroll—the very letter written by the Mizukage Yagura to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The lead Konoha ninja hesitated for a moment before slowly approaching Hōzuki Mangetsu, taking the scroll, and opening it to glance over the contents.

It was an official diplomatic document between the two nations.

Since five Mist Ninja had died on Konoha's border recently, it was only natural for Kirigakure to come to Konoha to demand an explanation.

The lead ninja's expression softened slightly as he lowered his voice: "Please follow me, both of you. We will send someone to escort you into the village. I hope you will cooperate and refrain from wandering about."

"Understood!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu agreed readily.

Even as envoys from a diplomatic nation, there was still a deep lack of trust between the two sides.

Accompanied by the Konoha ninja, Hōzuki Mangetsu and Orochimaru walked through the gates of Konoha.

Konoha was the most prosperous of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, with infrastructure and systems far more advanced than the others.

Orochimaru said nothing, flashing to the top of a building to gaze into the distance for a while.

"Stop! Do not act rashly!"

The Konoha ninja responsible for surveillance immediately gave chase, surrounding Orochimaru and watching him in silence.

Hōzuki Mangetsu was also surrounded, with two Anbu members among those closing in on him.

"Don't be nervous!"

He smiled, raising his hands high. "We have no ill intent. Perhaps this fellow is just longing for Konoha. Hey, that's enough—let's not cause any misunderstandings."

Although Orochimaru had already betrayed Konoha, he still held some lingering feelings for the place where he had grown up.

Orochimaru ignored the surrounding surveillance ninja, only dropping down to Hōzuki Mangetsu's side after gazing out for a while longer.

The Konoha ninja responsible for guiding them finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mr. Mangetsu!"

He said coldly, "I hope you can keep your subordinate in check. Do not do anything that would make things awkward for everyone."

"Understood, understood!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu smiled helplessly. If the man before him knew he was lecturing one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, he likely wouldn't be so composed.

"Please follow me, both of you!"

An Anbu stepped forward, gesturing for them to follow.

Hōzuki Mangetsu nodded and followed them into the village.

The two arrived at a secluded inn and stopped. This was the place Konoha used specifically to host foreign guests.

"It is getting late. Please rest for now; the Hokage will summon you tomorrow morning."

One of the Anbu said.

"Many thanks for your hospitality!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu nodded.

It was normal for the Konoha high command not to receive them immediately. After all, five Kirigakure ninja had died on their border, and Konoha had to provide an explanation.

When it came to matters between two great shinobi nations, neither side would make decisions so rashly.

Once they were settled, the Konoha Anbu immediately withdrew, though they did not go far, scattering into various corners to keep watch.

A barrier?

Hōzuki Mangetsu immediately sensed a faint trace of chakra.

It seemed this inn was not as simple as it looked.

They had certainly set up a sensory barrier to monitor the foreign guests staying there.

However...

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

Orochimaru should be making his move now, right?

In an instant, a tiny white snake slithered out of Orochimaru's room and slowly entered the sewer system.

This white snake was naturally an avatar of Orochimaru. Having once been a high-ranking member of Konoha, he was intimately familiar with the inn's barrier and quickly slipped away.

However, what he did not notice was that a stream of water was following his path, trailing closely behind him.

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

Danzo looked at Orochimaru with a gloomy expression.

He was feeling somewhat puzzled, wondering how Orochimaru had managed to bypass the surveillance of Root to enter Konoha.

"What, am I not welcome?"

Orochimaru looked at Danzo with a cold sneer.

"Don't forget, you are a missing-nin of Konoha. If you are discovered, I fear it will be very difficult for you to leave this place."

Danzo also replied coldly.

Hahahaha!

Orochimaru laughed out loud and said, "So what if I'm discovered? Aren't you also collaborating with a missing-nin of Konoha?"

A sharp glint immediately flashed through Danzo's eyes.

However, he held back, because he had not yet fully mastered the power of his right eye and right arm, and he might still need Orochimaru's help.

"Orochimaru, I will not pursue the matter of you sneaking into Konoha. I ask you, where are Shisui's eyes?"

Danzo changed the subject.

Uchiha Shisui's Sharingan possessed the strongest genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami, a power capable of inciting war.

No matter what, Danzo would rather destroy them than let them fall into the hands of outsiders.

Shisui's eyes!

Orochimaru sneered, "A thief crying 'stop thief'? That is indeed your style, Danzo. You took Shisui's eyes yourself, yet you splash dirty water onto me."

What?

Danzo's single eye widened.

He had always assumed that Uchiha Shisui had been killed by Orochimaru.

He had long known that Orochimaru coveted the bodies of Uchiha elites. Furthermore, as one of the Sannin, Orochimaru certainly had the strength to kill Shisui.

But hearing Orochimaru say this, Danzo's heart immediately sank.

Shisui was not killed by Orochimaru.

Then who exactly killed Shisui?

Orochimaru!

Danzo said sharply, "Are you sure Shisui really wasn't killed by you?"

Seeing Danzo's reaction, Orochimaru was also somewhat surprised; it appeared that Shisui's eyes had not fallen into his hands either.

Could it be that Danzo was not the final winner either?

Both men began to suspect each other, but they quickly established one thing.

The person who obtained Uchiha Shisui's eyes was someone else entirely.

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

This fellow had been coveting the bodies of Uchiha elites for a very long time.

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

Possessing the chakra of Hashirama and the ocular power of Shisui, Danzo would not necessarily be so polite to Orochimaru.

The reason both sides could still stand here peacefully was because neither of them had obtained Uchiha Shisui's eyes.

In other words, someone else had reaped the benefits.