In Konoha: Three Choices at the Start

Their garrison alone had ten Elite Jonin, twenty Jonin, and thirty elite Chunin!

If war broke out, those ninja would form a solid barrier around the main camp.

They were there to stop anyone from striking the camp while the two sides fought.

They did not know the Sand Ninja's exact strength, but it could not be much weaker.

Add Ebizo and Chiyo, who had secretly rushed back, and the comparison was clear.

The Sand Ninja garrison had at least as much fighting power as theirs, if not more.

Yet Orochimaru claimed Liuyun had fought his way through the entire Sand Ninja camp. If Jiraiya had said that, none of them would have believed a word!

But they had to believe Orochimaru. Anyone who knew his temperament knew he was not one for jokes!

It was almost absurd. Uchiha Liuyun was only ten years old!

What would he be like in a few more years? The Uchiha Clan's luck was unbelievable!

"Don't be so quick to marvel. There's more," Orochimaru said quietly.

He owed Liuyun a favor anyway. This was a good chance to help him.

"More? He fought through the Sand Ninja Main Camp, and there's still more?" Jiraiya stared at him in disbelief.

"Yes. Liuyun made quite a commotion, so on the way back, he and Tsunade ran into Bunpuku, the One-Tail Jinchuriki."

"Holy shit! Don't tell me Liuyun fought Bunpuku head-on too?" Jiraiya blurted out.

The others stared at Orochimaru, shock and eager curiosity filling their eyes.

"That's right. The two fought a battle that shook the entire Land of Rivers!"

"I'll spare you the details. Liuyun won in the end!"

"Bunpuku fell under Liuyun's Genjutsu and went berserk!"

"Liuyun and Tsunade disappeared after the battle, but neither of them is in danger right now!"

"With Liuyun's strength, even the Third Kazekage wouldn't get the better of him!"

Orochimaru smiled, a trace of wonder in his voice.

How could he not be amazed? They were twice Liuyun's age, yet their strength...

The tent erupted with excitement!

"Lord Orochimaru, does this mean we can strike back once Lord Liuyun returns?"

"Lord Orochimaru, when do we launch our counterattack?"

Now that the Konoha Ninja knew how strong Liuyun was, they were itching for a fight.

Ever since Sakumo was injured, they had endured plenty of taunts from the Sand Ninja!

"Quiet!" Hatake Sakumo barked, though his voice was weak.

"We'll discuss that when Liuyun and Tsunade return. For now, everyone is dismissed!"

The ninja rose and filed out, talking with renewed spirit. The gloom that had hung over them was gone.

Once everyone else had left, leaving only Orochimaru and the other two, Hatake Sakumo spoke.

"Orochimaru, there's something you haven't told us, isn't there?"

"Yes." Orochimaru nodded. A strange light flickered in his eyes, and his voice turned cold.

"There's a spy in our camp. Someone who doesn't want us to win has been colluding with the enemy."

"Someone leaked our raid plan to the Sand Ninja. That's why Tsunade walked into an ambush inside the Sand Ninja Main Camp."

"If the enemy had known Liuyun's strength, everyone on the mission would have died!"

"I'll leave this to you. Find the traitor before Tsunade returns. Treachery cannot be forgiven!"

The pleasure vanished from Hatake Sakumo's face.

No matter the era, everyone despised a traitor in their midst.

"I understand." Orochimaru nodded.

"Commander Sakumo! My lords! Lady Tsunade and Lord Liuyun are back!"

One of the Jonin who had left earlier rushed in, breathless.

"Come on. Let's welcome our two heroes." Hatake Sakumo smiled.

The three stepped out of the tent and saw Tsunade and Liuyun walking toward them.

Konoha Ninja followed behind them, their excitement plain to see.

That bastard Kato Dan was among them too.

"Tsunade, Liuyun, come inside with me. The rest of you, disperse."

Hatake Sakumo waved a hand and spoke evenly.

The Mastermind: Danzo, the Pot King!

"Orochimaru has told me what happened. I never expected someone in our camp to collude with the enemy."

"I've asked Orochimaru to investigate."

As soon as they entered, Hatake Sakumo got straight to the point, his expression dark.

Tsunade swallowed the words she had been about to say.

"Does Lord Orochimaru have a good way to find them?" Liuyun asked with a smile, stepping forward.

"Oh? Do you already have an idea, Liuyun?" Orochimaru asked, an appreciative smile touching his lips.

"It's simple. Call in the ninja who were there that day, one group at a time. With my Genjutsu, they'll confess."

Liuyun narrowed his eyes, his expression turning icy.

"That might work, but you'd make an enemy of every Jonin in the camp," Jiraiya said with a frown.

"Then we'll use my method. If the spy learns Liuyun and Tsunade have returned, and someone is directing him, won't he report back?"

"You mean..." Jiraiya's eyes lit up.

"Leave it to me. I'll have an answer within a week," Orochimaru said with a chilling smile.

"Good. I'm leaving it to you, Orochimaru. Tell me when you catch the one who betrayed us!"

"I'll smash his head in!" Tsunade said through clenched teeth.

"Don't worry."

With the matter settled, Hatake Sakumo sent Liuyun and Tsunade to rest while he wrote to Hiruzen Sarutobi about everything that had happened that day.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya took their leave as well.

In moments, Hatake Sakumo was alone in the once-crowded tent, writing furiously.

Time flowed on, and three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Orochimaru worked faster than Liuyun had expected.

The moon was nowhere to be seen. The sky was black as ink, and they could barely see their hands in front of their faces.

Orochimaru led the other three to a tent, stopped, and pointed.

"He's in there."

"This is Momonosuke's tent." Jiraiya looked troubled.

The kid shared his tastes, and they had often talked about them together.

They were fairly good friends in the camp. He had never expected this...

"What are you waiting for? If we're sure, let's go in and beat him up first!"

Tsunade pulled open the tent flap, her face murderous.

"Lady Tsunade! Lord Jiraiya! Lord Orochimaru! And Lord Liuyun! Wh-what brings you here?"

Dark Moon Momonosuke, who had been cooking, froze. Nervous and caught off guard, he hurriedly greeted them with a smile.

"Cut the crap! Were you the one who sold the Sand Ninja the information about our mission?"

Tsunade seized Momonosuke by the collar, her voice ice-cold.

"Wh-what are you talking about? What information? I don't understand!"

Momonosuke looked utterly confused.

His expression made even Tsunade hesitate. She turned to Orochimaru.

Her look asked whether he had made a mistake.

Orochimaru remained calm and took an envelope from his robe.

"I intercepted the messenger pigeon you secretly sent out yesterday."

"I don't need to tell you what's in the letter, do I?"

"Lord Orochimaru, you really have the wrong person. I was asleep in my tent all night. I never left!"

Dark Moon Momonosuke's expression did not change. He still looked confused.

Liuyun was growing impatient. The kid was clearly an old hand at this. A real spy would not put his name on a letter.

Liuyun was certain Momonosuke would have taken other precautions while writing it, too.

He had no patience for more questions. Like Tsunade, he went straight to action.

He flashed forward, activating his Three-Tomoe Sharingan in an instant. A surge of Mental Energy poured through his eyes into Dark Moon Momonosuke's mind.

The confusion in Momonosuke's eyes gave way to a vacant stare.

"Tell me. Why did you reveal our plan to the Sand Ninja?"

"The leader ordered me to!"

Jiraiya had been about to speak up for Momonosuke. At those words, he abandoned the thought.

"Your leader told you to..."

Before Tsunade could finish, Liuyun covered her mouth.

He smiled at her puzzled look. "One moment."

Then he turned to Momonosuke. "Open your mouth and stick out your tongue."

Momonosuke obeyed. A black seal was branded on his pink tongue.

"Is that... the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal?"

Orochimaru's serpentine eyes narrowed. There was no surprise in his hoarse voice.

"What does that mean?" Jiraiya asked, baffled.

"The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. Danzo developed it to control Root. It works much like the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird Seal."

Danzo held their lives in his hands. They could reveal nothing about Root or Danzo.

At the first sign that they might speak, the Cursed Seal on their tongues would invade their brains and leave them mindless. The weaker ones would die outright.

Understanding dawned on Liuyun's face as he spoke.

"You're saying Danzo was behind this?"

Tsunade's face turned livid, and she could not hide the fury in her voice.

"I told you Konoha had a dark side. What you've uncovered is only the tip of the iceberg!" Liuyun shook his head with a cold smile.

"A dark side? Konoha?" Jiraiya muttered to himself, bewildered.

"What do you intend to do with Momonosuke, Liuyun?"

Orochimaru licked his lips, his eyes full of admiration.