Meanwhile.
Just as the Rock Ninja were preparing to launch a full-scale attack on Konoha over the disappearance of Nanto's unit,
a serious meeting was underway in Konoha, in the Land of Fire.
Many members of Konoha's leadership had gathered in the conference room of the Hokage Building, at the heart of Konoha. Their expressions were grave as they listened to the crucial intelligence the Sannin had stolen after infiltrating Iwagakure.
"That's the gist of the intelligence. Sosuke has joined the war and formed some kind of alliance with the Rock Ninja, leading an organization called Las Noches."
Orochimaru stood calmly in the conference room, speaking in a hoarse voice.
After returning to the village, the Sannin had hurried to pass along this crucial intelligence.
However, Jiraiya had been seriously injured, and Tsunade was in no condition to explain the intelligence, so the task had fallen to Orochimaru.
Now, as the gathered members of Konoha's leadership listened to Orochimaru, they all furrowed their brows.
"Orochimaru, you said earlier that the three of you encountered Sosuke. How did you escape from him?"
A slightly discordant voice rang out in the conference room.
The one who had voiced the doubt was an elder of the Uchiha Clan. He wore a stern expression, his eyes fixed on Orochimaru as if trying to detect any sign of deception.
At his words, everyone present paused, then realized what he meant.
Given Sosuke's strength, the badly wounded Sannin had little chance of escaping if they ran into him.
Orochimaru's expression did not change. He simply gazed calmly at the Uchiha elder with his snake-like eyes and replied in a hoarse voice,
"I can't answer that. If you want to know, you'll have to ask Sosuke yourself. I don't know what he was really after."
"Oh... right.