Who Saved Him?

"Boom-"

Tsunade summoned a giant slug.

At the sight of Tsunade, Katsuyu paused, then asked, "Lady Tsunade, do you need any help?"

"Katsuyu, I need you to help me treat someone," Tsunade said urgently.

Katsuyu nodded, having already spotted Orochimaru lying on the ground.

"Of course, Lady Tsunade."

They wasted no time and immediately began treating Orochimaru.

Katsuyu split into tiny bodies that attached themselves to Orochimaru's wounds.

Tsunade used the Mystical Palm Technique to treat his deeper wounds.

Several hours later, Tsunade wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead and stopped working.

"Thank you for your help, Katsuyu..."

Katsuyu shook her head. "It was no trouble. Naturally, I'll help whenever you ask, Lady Tsunade."

As she spoke, Katsuyu climbed onto Tsunade's shoulder.

"Lady Tsunade, I'll have a favor to ask of you in a little while."

"I'll be counting on you."

A favor? So even Katsuyu needed help with things?

Though puzzled, she nodded in agreement.

"Tsunade, how is Orochimaru?"

Jiraiya walked over, looking worried.

Tsunade shook her head. "He's out of danger. His wounds look frightening, but they aren't actually serious or very deep."

"None of his organs were damaged."

"He should be able to move around normally once he wakes up."

Only then did Jiraiya finally relax.

"Here..."

"Tsunade, keep these safe!" Jiraiya handed her four sealing scrolls. "These hold the four Kumogakure bodies. You hang on to them!"

They had preserved the bodies because they needed to submit them as proof of completing the mission.

Tsunade nodded and took the scrolls.

Unfortunately, of the other three Chunin, only one body remained intact. The other two had been burned to charcoal.

"By the way, when will he wake up?"

Jiraiya crouched down and poked Orochimaru's cheek.

Tsunade was just about to tell him that Orochimaru might already be awake.

A moment later, however, there was no need.

He had already woken up.

Suddenly, Jiraiya felt a sharp pain in his arm and was flung away.

"Orochimaru, what are you doing...?"

Orochimaru slowly pushed himself upright, ignoring Jiraiya in front of him.

He looked around at his surroundings in confusion.

"What happened...?" Orochimaru shook his head. "Where are those three Kumogakure ninja?"

"Did they escape?"

Tsunade was puzzled by his words.

"Didn't you take them all out?"

"I took them all out?" Orochimaru murmured uncertainly.

He only remembered being ambushed during his fight with the Kumogakure ninja, then losing consciousness. He had no memory of defeating the three of them.

Jiraiya dusted himself off and stood up. "Don't tell me you've lost your memory!"

Orochimaru shook his head. He felt that things weren't that simple.

"Where are their bodies? Let me take a look," Orochimaru asked the two of them.

"They're all here. Take a look for yourself!" Tsunade handed him the four scrolls.

Orochimaru nodded and took them.

He opened the scrolls one by one and laid them on the ground.

"Release..." He pressed two fingers together.

As the seals came undone, four bodies appeared before Orochimaru.

He carefully examined their injuries.

Once he got a clear look at the wounds on the bodies, a chill ran down his spine.

One of them had been killed by an Explosive Tag.

But the marks left by the attacks on the other three bodies weren't his doing.

He was certain his attacks would never leave marks like these.

They looked more like the work of Lightning Release.

Who was it? Who saved me?

Orochimaru's mind was full of questions.

Who would save me?

Suddenly, a voice interrupted Jiraiya's thoughts.

"Orochimaru, well...? Did you really lose your memory...?" Jiraiya patted Orochimaru on the shoulder.

Coming back to his senses, Orochimaru shook his head.

"Perhaps I did..."

"Huh? You really lost your memory?" Jiraiya could hardly believe it.

He hadn't expected his offhand remark to turn out to be true.

Putting his thoughts aside, Orochimaru gathered the scrolls from the ground and returned them to Tsunade.

Tsunade took the scrolls and glanced at Orochimaru.

"In that case, let's head back to the village!"

"Our mission is complete, after all."

"Besides, since Orochimaru has lost his memory, he can get checked at the hospital once we're back."

Konoha, Land of Fire.

Inside the Hokage's office.

"What...? A Kumogakure ninja...?" Hiruzen Sarutobi exclaimed. "Are you certain?"

"This is no joking matter."

Hyuga Feng carefully studied Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression. Only after finding nothing unusual did he answer again, "Yes, Lord Hokage. Last night, a Kumogakure ninja infiltrated the Hyuga Clan and attempted to steal the Byakugan."

"Damn Kumogakure..." Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his hand onto the desk.

"Did you keep the body?"

Hyuga Feng nodded and took a sealing scroll from his pocket.

He spread the scroll open and formed hand seals.

"Boom-"

A body appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The corpse was dressed in black and wore a Kumogakure Forehead Protector.

"This..." Surprise crossed Hiruzen Sarutobi's face at the sight of the body.

"I never imagined-" Hiruzen Sarutobi flew into a rage.

"Where is the Barrier Team? A grown person infiltrated Konoha, and you didn't notice? Are you all blind?!"

"Shinya." Hiruzen Sarutobi called the name toward the window.

An ANBU member instantly appeared inside the office.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered, "Go immediately and tell the Barrier Team to strengthen the barrier."

"We cannot allow anything like this to happen again."

"Also, send some ANBU members to thoroughly investigate suspicious people who have appeared in the village."

"This is a direct order from the Hokage."

"Yes." The ANBU member acknowledged the order, then vanished from the office.

Hyuga Feng glanced at the spot where the ANBU member had vanished, then turned his gaze back to the Lord Third.

So he wasn't one of the Hokage's people? he wondered.

Then who was he?

Was he really a ninja sent by Kumogakure?

"Since you've made all the necessary arrangements, Lord Third, I'll take my leave!"