The Leader's Resolve

Seeing that he could not secure a quick victory and that Mizuki was clearly just stalling for time, Kabuto Yakushi found himself at a loss for a better plan.

"You've been dodging the whole time, Senior. This is quite different from the arrogant words you were spouting just a moment ago."

"Still using such childish provocations? Do you think I'm that stupid?" Mizuki retorted. "We're both adults, let's not be so naive. Have you spent so much time with those genin brats that your brain has rotted?"

"It's not working, huh?" Kabuto felt a wave of regret; it seemed Mizuki wasn't as easily fooled as the genin kids.

Just as Kabuto was caught in a dilemma, several kunai were fired directly at him. This sudden turn of events brought their skirmish to an abrupt halt, and two Anbu wearing animal masks appeared.

"You arrived quickly. I suppose it's because I was already being watched?" Even facing three opponents, Kabuto remained unfazed.

Faced with this situation, Kabuto didn't retreat but instead lunged forward, charging straight toward the Hokage Rock. One of the intercepting Anbu was caught off guard and had his wrist slashed. Without looking back, Kabuto leaped off the Hokage Rock and vanished into the small forest below.

"Should we keep chasing?" Mizuki asked. "Kabuto's strength is nothing to scoff at; his use of the Mystical Palm Technique and Chakra Scalpel is exceptional. You two were careless."

"No need. Our Anbu have already launched an investigation into him, and specialized ninja will take over this matter from here," one of them said while applying medicine to the other's wound.

Judging by their build and appearance, they aren't ninja I recognize, so there's no point in trying to get close to them. Mizuki sized up the two unfamiliar Anbu; they were likely just background characters even more insignificant than himself, the opening villain.

"Why were you fighting here?"

"This Kabuto was representing Orochimaru to recruit me, and well, you saw the result," Mizuki said dismissively. Since he had already cleared his name, this half-truth should be enough to convince them. "Besides, he also hinted that he might make a move on Sasuke Uchiha."

"I see." Mizuki's explanation didn't raise many questions; it was already known intelligence that Orochimaru coveted Sasuke Uchiha. As an S-rank missing-nin from Konoha, it was expected that he would plant spies in the village to recruit personnel. "We will report this intelligence. If there are any questions, we will come looking for you again."

With that, the two left, leaving Mizuki alone on the Hokage Rock.

"Time to head back. What a buzzkill; I came out to clear my head and ended up in a fight."

It was nearing noon, and the weather was gradually heating up. Time to head back for lunch.

In a scenic courtyard in Konoha, Orochimaru listened to Kabuto's report.

"Mizuki actually said that?" Orochimaru asked, surprised.

"Yes," Kabuto confirmed. "I was quite shocked myself at the time."

"This is truly unexpected. It seems many things have happened recently that I am unaware of." There had been too many accidents lately; he had been sabotaged by an unknown party in the Forest of Death and nearly suffered serious injuries. He had originally intended for the Sound Ninja Trio to test Sasuke's level after the Cursed Seal was applied, but they had almost failed to find him. Even Mizuki, who should have been beneath notice, dared to negotiate with him. "Could it be that the name of Orochimaru no longer carries weight in Konoha?"

"Lord Orochimaru's prestige remains as strong as ever; one only needs to look at the nervous state of Konoha to see that."

"Never mind that. Kabuto, I didn't ask you to kill Sasuke, did I?" Orochimaru said with a playful tone.

Hearing this, cold sweat broke out on Kabuto's forehead, and he didn't know how to respond.

"Forget it. Act as you please. However, this was your only chance to stop me from obtaining Sasuke Uchiha," Orochimaru said with mild interest. "Let me see what you're capable of. I am leaving soon, so you should prepare for the next operation. When that time comes, there will be no room for regrets." With that, Orochimaru used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished.

Serving such a temperamental master is truly exhausting.

Seeing Orochimaru leave, Kabuto let out a long sigh of relief.

In the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage and his two advisors were present, along with Danzo, listening to the Anbu report.

"What are we to do? Orochimaru's reach is growing longer; he is becoming far too unscrupulous," Koharu Utatane said first.

"How should we handle the situation with Mizuki?" Homura Mitokado asked with a steady tone.

The Third thought for a moment and said, "For a ninja with a criminal record like Mizuki, it's no surprise Orochimaru approached him. Mizuki is lucky he refused the recruitment; Orochimaru is no saint. However, we only know about Mizuki—are there more village ninja who have secretly been in contact with Orochimaru?"

Although Orochimaru was a missing-nin and his image among ordinary villagers was poor—not to mention his notoriety for using his own kin for human experiments—he still had many former comrades and subordinates among the mid-to-high-ranking ninja who had followed him during his time in the ninja world. He did not lack supporters within the ninja community. If his human experiments hadn't been so heinous, it was hard to say how many would have chosen to follow him when he left.

The question posed by the Third left those present unable to answer.

"Is there really nothing we can do?" Koharu asked, unwilling to accept this.

"It's unnecessary. Kakashi is responsible for protecting Sasuke Uchiha; as long as Orochimaru doesn't make a move himself, there shouldn't be any problems." After a pause, the Third continued, "If Orochimaru acts personally, no one in Konoha can stop him right now, except for me." The Third's expression was grave as he spoke.

If the Hokage, the leader of the village, had to take the field himself, it would signal nothing but the village's weakness and the incompetence of its subordinates.

"What about security for the Chunin Exams?" Danzo asked.

"I have already arranged the security for the venue," the Third replied. "We have no idea what Orochimaru is planning. If he only wanted Sasuke Uchiha's Sharingan, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths. Without concrete intelligence, we can only choose to focus on protecting key personnel while dispersing the rest of our defenses."

"That approach requires too much manpower; we simply don't have enough people."

"Do you have a better idea?"

Danzo remained silent. Although he had deep connections with Orochimaru, that was in the past, and they had merely been using each other. Danzo did not approve of Orochimaru's actions against the village. His commitment to the village's interests even outweighed his desire for the Hokage's seat; otherwise, he wouldn't have silently endured the pain of war, hiding in the shadows as the village's secret cleaner.

"Protect the Ninja Academy well. Give orders to the teachers to schedule more evacuation drills," the Third said. As a leader, he prepared for the worst; preserving the next generation was Konoha's final hope.