When Fugaku said Gua had disappeared the day Danzo stirred up trouble, Orochimaru lost his composure.
He turned around and returned to the dungeon.
He grabbed Danzo and subjected him to a brutal interrogation.
Danzo remained stubbornly silent, his expression practically saying, "Kill me if you've got the guts." Orochimaru really wanted to kill him!
But Orochimaru still didn't dare do it.
Orochimaru hurried out of the dungeon.
"Teacher!"
"I can still ask Teacher!"
Orochimaru looked utterly lost, then suddenly snapped out of his daze.
"Lord Orochimaru...?"
Seeing that Orochimaru wasn't in a good state of mind, the guards at the door tried to stop him, only to recoil under his icy glare.
"Get lost!"
The two guards said nothing more.
Orochimaru barged into the Hokage Office.
"Teacher! Did you hide Gua somewhere to protect him?"
Orochimaru looked at the Third Generation in the Hokage's seat, his gaze earnest and tinged with hope.
The Third Generation had never seen such an earnest look in his student's eyes. And the first time he did, it was over an outsider.
The Third Generation felt rather put out.
My dear student, can't you see how much I love you?
You heartless brat!
The Third Generation took a puff from his pipe, still distracted.
Orochimaru spoke urgently again.
"Teacher, it's safe now. You should give Gua back."
Only then did the Third Generation emerge from his daze and turn his attention to Orochimaru.
"What did you just say?"
Orochimaru: ?
So you weren't listening to me at all?
All that smoking has scrambled your brains!
You old bastard!
Orochimaru froze for a moment, then hurriedly repeated himself. "Gua. I'm asking about Gua!"
The Third Generation frowned.
"Shouldn't he be at the Uchiha Clan Compound? He's only a child, after all. He shouldn't have taken