Zeyu sensed the area around them. Finding nothing unusual, he was about to lead the others away.
"Hm?"
Just then, he spotted his Flying Thunder God mark on Kakashi. He turned to look at Kakashi beside him, his gaze full of reproach.
"Kakashi-sensei, hand it over." Zeyu held out his hand.
"Ah, I forgot all about it. Sorry, sorry." Kakashi awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
He pulled out Zeyu's kunai and returned it.
Zeyu looked at the kunai in his hand and sighed deeply.
"Kakashi-sensei, that's theft."
"And you even brought Genma along."
Kakashi could only give an awkward smile.
Seeing that, Zeyu realized there was no point in hiding it any longer.
He walked to the middle of the group and held out both hands.
Kakashi and Genma exchanged a glance and smiled, then stepped forward and grabbed Zeyu's arms.
"So it really is the Flying Thunder God?" Elephant thought. He stepped forward and grabbed Zeyu's other arm.
Then all four of them turned to look at Hayate, who was still standing there. Hayate looked confused, not having figured out what was going on, his hand hovering in midair.
"What are you waiting for?" Zeyu said, taking Hayate's hand in his.
The next instant, all five vanished from the spot.
When they reappeared, they were in Zeyu's room.
"Cough, cough. What was that...?" Hayate coughed and stumbled back two steps, visibly startled.
"Who are you? You know the Flying Thunder God Technique? And why did you bring us here?" Elephant asked.
Zeyu walked over to the table and took off his waist pouch.
"Now, don't rush, Big Brother Elephant. We can talk it through. Since things have come to this, why don't we make some trouble together?"
Zeyu glanced at the open drawer. One scroll was clearly out of place, and the writing visible on it was different from before.
Great. I was in such a hurry that they've seen everything, down to my underwear. Zeyu put his ninja tools back and shut the drawer.
Then he took off his mask, turned around, and said, "I'm Zeyu Nichiro of Konoha."
"Let's discuss how to deal with Orochimaru."
Elsewhere,
Zeyu had taken the two men away under cover of the noise, and the whole thing had happened so quickly that Kabuto and Baki hadn't noticed anything unusual.
After finishing their discussion, the two went their separate ways.
Kabuto went over to Dosu to check whether he was dead.
"Oh? You're still alive?" Kabuto said, standing beside Dosu, who was pinned beneath the rubble.
"You really are unlucky. Wouldn't it have been better to just die here?" Kabuto chuckled softly and slowly crouched down.
Dosu, with only one arm sticking out, moved his fingers and murmured something.
"I... beat... Sasuke..."
"Heh. You want so badly to prove yourself? How interesting."
"There's someone else here. You can try it on him. Heh." Kabuto chuckled and pushed up his glasses.
When Zeyu revealed his face, Elephant and Hayate were very surprised, their feelings complicated. Genma had already been surprised when he saw Zeyu's build and realized he was a boy.
Such a promising young man, Genma thought as he watched Zeyu busy arranging the map.
The group crouched around a map of Konoha. Zeyu shut the window, lit a candle, and set it beside the map before sitting cross-legged.
Just as they expected him to say something, Zeyu suddenly formed the cross-shaped hand seal and created a clone.
The clone sat cross-legged behind Zeyu, closed its eyes, and began sensing the area.
"Is he sensing the surroundings?" Hayate asked.
"If we're going to discuss something like this, it's right to be cautious," Kakashi said.
Then they began exchanging information. Kakashi told them about Sasuke, Elephant told them about Gaara, and Zeyu told them about Kabuto and Baki's meeting just now.
"Now, are you going to answer my question, Zeyu? Why did you bring us here?" Elephant asked.
Zeyu folded his arms and closed his eyes, thinking for a long while before answering.
"First, if you're discovered, the enemy will kill you to make sure their plan doesn't get exposed."
"Second, even if you can beat them, you'll alert them. They'll be much more careful from then on, and it'll be harder for us to uncover their schemes."
"Hmm, you're not wrong. But why are you so sure we'd be discovered? And this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear important information. If we miss it, we may never get another one," Hayate said after considering it.
The others nodded in agreement and looked at Zeyu.
Zeyu slowly opened his eyes.
"Because I know what they're planning, and I don't want you to take that risk."
The others stared at him in surprise. Zeyu continued, "If you fail, things will get very complicated. I don't want it to come to that."
"How do you know what the enemy's planning?" Elephant asked quickly.
Zeyu simply said, "Deduction."
"Ridiculous! What can you prove with deduction alone? This isn't a game. This is war!" Elephant clenched his fists and spoke with some agitation.
Genma and Hayate looked disappointed. Both sighed.
Kakashi raised a hand, holding it in the air.
"Well, since things have come to this, let's hear Zeyu's deduction first. We might learn something unexpected."
"It's all right, Zeyu. Say what you want."
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei," Zeyu said with a smile.
Then his expression turned serious. He pointed at the map and looked at the others.
"All right. I'm going to analyze the situation now. If you have any objections, save them until I'm done."
They exchanged glances and nodded.
I should make this sound as reasonable as possible. It won't do if it seems too far-fetched, Zeyu thought as he looked at the map.
Then he said, "First, figuring out what the enemy wants is simple. You only have to put yourself in their shoes and think about it."
"If you want to crush a hidden village, take its resources, and profit from it, there's only one most direct and effective way..."
"Kill its Kage."
The others looked shocked. Cold sweat broke out on their foreheads, and chills ran down their backs.
"You mean their target is Lord Hokage?" Elephant asked, his pupils trembling.
"Don't rush, Big Brother Elephant. Let me continue," Zeyu said.
"Now that we know their objective, it's obvious what they'll do."
"Based on the information we have so far,"
"During Sasuke's match against Gaara in the Chunin Ninja Exams, Gaara, the One-Tail Jinchuriki, will undergo a Tailed Beast Transformation and create chaos."
"Then the enemy forces lying in wait will send a signal, telling all the troops inside and outside to begin their attack. They'll strike from both sides."
"While we're busy dealing with the attack, Orochimaru, who's been hiding, will appear and assassinate Lord Hokage."
"That's their plan."
After Zeyu finished, the others furrowed their brows and pondered. There was a lot they couldn't understand.
After a long while, Elephant said, "What you're saying makes some sense, but there are plenty of holes in it. For example, how can the main force be sure the Anbu won't detect them?"
"And where will Orochimaru hide? How can he assassinate the Hokage in front of everyone?"
After listening to Elephant, the others nodded and looked at Zeyu.
Zeyu smiled faintly.
I was waiting for you to ask that.
Then he said, "If Orochimaru doesn't want to be disturbed, wouldn't a barrier ninjutsu do the trick?"
"And to keep the main force from being discovered, they'll need help from certain people."
"For example, someone high up who knows where the Anbu's blind spots are, or can directly order the Anbu's assignments."
"Someone high up? Who?" Elephant asked, puzzled.
"Hmph. Other than Lord Hokage, who else can give orders to the Anbu?"
"Shimura Danzō." As soon as Zeyu said it, the air seemed to freeze. The others could hardly believe their ears.
"That's impossible! Lord Danzō isn't just part of Konoha's High Command; he's also Lord Hokage's friend. He's made many contributions to Konoha."
"How could he help Orochimaru harm Lord Hokage? That would be betraying Konoha!" Elephant cried, springing to his feet.
"Hey, Zeyu, don't say things like that without thinking. This isn't a joke," Genma said.
"Cough, cough. Exactly. If anyone found out, you'd be in trouble. Cough," Hayate added.
Kakashi said nothing. He simply closed his eyes and pondered.
"What do you think, Kakashi-sensei?" Zeyu asked.
"Hmm... Let's set that aside for now. You still haven't told us where Orochimaru will be hiding," Kakashi said.
The others glanced at Zeyu, looking unconvinced by what he had said. Then Zeyu spoke.
"Heh, where else? Right next to his target. That way, he can act immediately. If he's lucky, he can carry out the plan in an instant."
"He'll be sitting right beside Lord Hokage."
The others' eyes widened.
"Hey, wait. Isn't the Kazekage supposed to be sitting beside him? Zeyu, this is getting more and more ridiculous," Genma said.
"Tch. Lord Hokage really misjudged you. You're just a brat who talks nonsense," Elephant said.
"Cough, cough. I thought you'd say he'd be beside the Kazekage. That would at least make sense," Hayate said.
"Zeyu, you must have a reason for saying that. Can you explain?" Kakashi asked.
Zeyu realized something was strange. Why was Kakashi taking his side so much?
Has Kakashi figured something out about me? Oh... He did see that scroll. Could he think I'm... Zeyu thought, smiling.
Then he cleared his throat and said, "Don't forget, the Kazekage is a Kage too."
"Orochimaru went to all this trouble to team up with the Sand Ninja and arrange things with Danzō. Do you think he did it just to share the spoils of victory with them?"
"Absolutely not. The alliance is just a cover. He'll use it to ambush the Kazekage, take his place, and sit beside Lord Hokage."
"That way, he can achieve his goal without anyone noticing, right at the start of the battle."
After Zeyu finished, the group fell silent for a long time again.
"Cough, cough. If that's the case, then everything makes sense. It's a very clever plan," Hayate said after pondering for a long while.
"Exactly. If that's true, Lord Hokage will be in grave danger," Genma said.
"That does sound like something Orochimaru would do," Kakashi said.
"That does seem possible. Wait, Zeyu, you still haven't explained Danzō. Why would he help Orochimaru?" Elephant asked.
The others all turned to Zeyu again.
"It's simple. He wants to become Hokage." Zeyu spread his hands and shrugged.