The two were quietly discussing their next moves and plans for handling the risks when a gentle knock suddenly came at the office door.
Naruto paused, seemingly surprised that someone had come to interrupt them. Then a smile crossed his face, and he said casually, "Come in."
The door opened, and a tall, pale figure slowly entered the office, his long robe swaying in the breeze. His expression held that same eerie composure he had worn for years.
The moment Naruto recognized the visitor, he greeted him with a smile. "Orochimaru? What brings you here?"
Sasuke also gave a slight nod, his expression calm. It served as a greeting, without the slightest hint of hostility.
The Sky Screen hanging high overhead broadcast the scene clearly, instantly leaving viewers across the entire Shinobi World dumbfounded.
Countless shinobi and civilians stared in bewilderment as an uproar erupted.
"Am I seeing things?! Orochimaru?! That notorious rogue ninja, Orochimaru?!"
"He personally killed the Third Hokage back then! He's a villain who committed countless forbidden crimes and wreaked havoc on Konoha!"
"Why can he stand openly in Konoha's Hokage Office now? And why are Naruto and Sasuke treating him like that? They actually seem to respect him!"
No one could make sense of it. Everything they had believed had been turned upside down.
Some could only make wild guesses after failing to find an explanation. "Could Orochimaru have done something incredible for Konoha later on? Otherwise, there's no way to explain this!"
"This is ridiculous. He's a rogue ninja, and he killed the Third Hokage! Yet he returned to Konoha unharmed, without punishment or imprisonment, and can even come and go freely from the Hokage Office."
"Did the Third Hokage's death really matter that little?"
"Looking at it this way, even without Naruto and Sasuke