The five-day mission in the Defense Zone came to an end.
Dule Jiong had never expected that the most terrifying part of this mission would not be the Stone Ninja, but Danzo's arrival.
"These big shots really know how to scare people, don't they? I wonder if Orochimaru is as cold and sinister as the rumors say."
Anko thought to herself that, by the time they returned to the Main Camp, it would have been almost five months.
You've only met Orochimaru once. Once you've met him three times or more, you'll know just how frightening he is.
After completing their mission, they still had a long journey back to the Main Camp.
Throughout the journey, Uchiha Ling kept wondering which of the abilities he had drawn from Nagato he should choose.
Shinra Tensei, Banshō Ten'in, Chakra Dragon... Once they returned to the Main Camp, Anko immediately went to the Command Center tent to hand in the mission scroll.
The moment she entered the tent, she noticed something different.
There was an extra chair behind the long table, alongside those of Advisor Danzo and Deputy Commander Nara Shikaku.
Noticing where Anko was looking, Nara Shikaku said, "Anko, your squad is about to become one of the more unusual squads on the front lines.
"The Village has just appointed Lord Orochimaru as deputy commander of the front lines. He'll arrive in another three or four days."
Previously, Nara Shikaku had never gone out of his way to look after Anko's squad. Even if he had, Orochimaru would not have thanked him.
Whether Orochimaru went to the Land of Hot Water battlefield or the Land of Waterfalls Battlefield would determine which front shifted from defense to offense.
As things stood, Advisor Danzo's influence over the Lord Hokage was as strong as ever.