The Leader's Resolve

Seeing that he still couldn't defeat his opponent, and that Mizuki was clearly just stalling for time, Kabuto Yakushi was at a loss for what to do.

"You keep dodging, senior. That's completely different from all that swagger you showed earlier."

"Still trying that childish provocation? Do you think I'm stupid?" Mizuki said. "We're both adults. Don't be so naive. Have you been around a bunch of little Genin for so long that your brain's gone soft?"

"Not working?" Kabuto felt a pang of regret. It seemed Mizuki wasn't as easy to fool as some Genin kid.

Just as Kabuto was caught between a rock and a hard place, several Kunai flew straight at him. The sudden turn of events brought their fight to an end, and two Anbu wearing animal masks appeared.

"You got here pretty quickly. I guess I've been under surveillance for a while, huh?" Kabuto showed no fear, even with three people against him.

Faced with this situation, Kabuto advanced instead of retreating, charging straight toward Kage Rock. An Anbu moved to block him, but Kabuto slipped past and slashed the Anbu's wrist. Without looking back, Kabuto leaped off Kage Rock and vanished into the woods below.

"Should we keep chasing him?" Mizuki asked. "Kabuto Yakushi is no pushover. He's exceptionally skilled with the Mystical Palm Technique and Chakra Scalpel. You let your guard down."

"No need. The Anbu have already started investigating him. Specialized ninja will take over from here," one of them said as he applied medicine to the other's wound.

"Judging by their builds and faces, I don't know these ninja. No need to try to cozy up to them, then." Mizuki sized up the two unfamiliar Anbu. They looked like bit-part characters even more doomed than him, the opening-act villain.

"Why were you fighting here?"

"Kabuto Yakushi came on Orochimaru's behalf to recruit me. You saw how that turned out." Mizuki answered casually. He'd already been cleared of suspicion, so a half-true story should be enough to convince them. "He also let slip that they might make a move against Sasuke Uchiha."

"I see." There was little about Mizuki's story to raise suspicion. It was already known that Orochimaru coveted Sasuke Uchiha, and it was entirely plausible that the S-rank rogue ninja would plant spies and recruit people inside the village. "We'll report this intelligence. If we have any questions, we'll come back to you."

After that, the two left, leaving Mizuki alone at Kage Rock.

"Time to head back. What a drag. I came out for a change of scenery and ended up in a fight."

It was nearly noon, and the weather was getting hotter. Time to go back for lunch~

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

"Mizuki really said that?" Orochimaru asked in surprise.

"Yeah," Kabuto said firmly. "I was taken aback, too."

"Well, that was unexpected. It seems a lot has happened lately that I don't know about." He'd run into one surprise after another recently. Someone of unknown identity had ambushed him in the Forest of Death, nearly leaving him seriously injured. He'd sent the Sound Ninja Trio to test Sasuke's abilities after the Cursed Seal was applied, but they'd almost failed to find him. And now Mizuki, who had once seemed utterly insignificant, dared to bargain with him. "Has the name Orochimaru stopped carrying any weight in Konoha?"

"Lord Orochimaru's reputation is still formidable. Just look at how on edge Konoha is."

"Enough about that, Kabuto. I never asked you to kill Sasuke, did I?" Orochimaru said to Kabuto Yakushi with amusement.

At Orochimaru's words, Kabuto broke out in a cold sweat, unsure how to answer.

"Never mind. Do as you please. But this is your only chance to stop me from obtaining Sasuke Uchiha." Orochimaru seemed intrigued. "Let's see how much resolve you have. I'm leaving soon, so prepare for your next move. When the time comes, there'll be no chance to regret it." With that, Orochimaru used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

"Serving a capricious master like that is exhausting."

After watching Orochimaru leave, Kabuto let out a long breath.

In the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage and two advisors were present, along with Danzo, who listened as the Anbu gave their report.

"What should we do? Orochimaru keeps reaching farther and farther into the village. He's far too brazen," Utatane Koharu said first.

"What should we do about Mizuki?" asked Mitokado Homura, his tone more measured.

The Third Hokage thought for a moment. "It's no surprise that Orochimaru approached a ninja like Mizuki, with his history and past misconduct. Mizuki was lucky to refuse the offer. Orochimaru is no good person. But we only know about Mizuki. Could there be other ninja in the village secretly involved with Orochimaru?"

Although Orochimaru was a rogue ninja from the village, and his image and popularity among ordinary villagers were poor, he was also notorious for experimenting on his fellow villagers. Still, among the upper and middle ranks of the ninja, many had once fought alongside him in the Shinobi World, as comrades and subordinates. He still had plenty of supporters among the ninja. If his human experimentation hadn't been so heinous, who knew how many people would have followed him when he left?

None of those present could answer the Third Hokage's question.

"Are we really not going to do anything?" Utatane Koharu asked unwillingly.

"There's no need. Kakashi is responsible for protecting Sasuke Uchiha. As long as Orochimaru doesn't act personally, he should be safe." The Third Hokage paused, then continued, "If Orochimaru does come himself, no one in Konoha can stop him right now. I'll have to face him personally." His expression was grave.

If the Hokage, the leader of the village, had to face the enemy personally, it would only make the village seem weak and its subordinates incompetent. It would give others no other impression.

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

"I've already made arrangements for security at the venue," the Third Hokage replied. "We have no idea what Orochimaru is planning. If all he wanted was Sasuke Uchiha's Sharingan, he wouldn't need to go to so much trouble. Without reliable intelligence, all we can do is focus on protecting key personnel and station the rest of our forces elsewhere."

"That would require too many people. We don't have enough manpower."

"Do you have a better idea?"

Danzo said nothing. Although he, too, had deep ties to Orochimaru, those were in the past, and the two had only ever used each other. Danzo didn't approve of Orochimaru's actions against the village either. Protecting the village's interests mattered more to him than his desire to become Hokage. Otherwise, he wouldn't have silently endured the pain brought by war, staying behind the scenes as the village's secret cleaner.

"Keep the Ninja Academy safe, and give the teachers orders to schedule more evacuation drills." As the leader, the Third Hokage had to prepare for the worst. Preserving the next generation was Konoha's last hope.