Orochimaru paused. His golden slit-pupiled eyes turned toward Hiruzen Sarutobi, and his lips parted in a thin smile.
"We need to trap him first, then use Impure World Reincarnation. That's the only way to make certain."
"The Second Hokage is one thing, but the First, Hashirama Senju, has such enormous Chakra that it would stand out like a bonfire in the dark."
"Uchiha Yongye is arrogant, not stupid."
Hiruzen Sarutobi pressed his lips together, then relaxed them and slowly nodded.
"Fine. We'll summon them later. Everyone, take your positions and follow the plan."
Orochimaru sank back into the ground like melting wax. Within moments, he had vanished completely. The soil smoothed over, leaving not even a crack.
In the shadows around the Training Ground, four figures flickered into motion and dispersed in four directions. Their presences rapidly faded to almost nothing.
Mitokado Homura crouched in a trench east of the Training Ground, his body pressed against its wall. The smell of earth filled his nose.
Utatane Koharu hid behind a broken wall in the southern corner. With her back against the crumbling bricks, she breathed slowly and evenly.
Power drove people mad!
They refused to be pushed entirely aside. Persuaded by Hiruzen Sarutobi, they had chosen to risk everything.
Aburame Ryoma crouched behind the Iron wire fence at the western entrance. Several Kikaichū crawled from his sleeve and scattered into the grass, bringing every fluctuation of presence within several hundred meters into his awareness.
Kimimaro hid on the north side of the Training Ground. Half-kneeling, his back slightly arched, he pressed his right hand to the ground. A half-inch Bone Spikes had already grown between his fingers.
The five presences dwindled to almost nothing in their hiding places, like stones set down in the shadows.
Sunlight crept across the Training