Minato Namikaze took a file from his desk and handed it to Yechen.
Yechen took it and opened it. After reading through it, he understood where Orochimaru had gone since leaving the village.
Although many of the traces had only been discovered after the fact, the record was still complete and accurate.
The trail in the file ended at a town in the southern Land of Fire.
According to the intelligence, Orochimaru and Jiraiya should currently be somewhere near that town.
Their exact location, however, remained unknown.
Seeing that Yechen had finished reading the intelligence, Minato Namikaze continued.
"As you can see, Jiraiya-sensei and Orochimaru are near this town right now. I need you to head there immediately."
"Do you need me to take action myself?"
Yechen set the file down as he asked.
Minato Namikaze thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"Not yet. Only step in if Jiraiya-sensei fails to persuade him."
"All right." Yechen stood up, but after taking just two steps, he suddenly added,
"Oh... right, I forgot to ask. If Orochimaru refuses to come back, do you want him dead or alive?"
"Uh..."
Minato Namikaze was immediately stunned by the question.
Seeing his expression, Yechen chuckled.
"Just kidding. Don't worry, I'll bring Orochimaru back in one piece."
With that bit of banter, Yechen left the office. The moment he stepped out of the Hokage Building, he felt that prying gaze again.
It annoyed Yechen. Does he really think he's still the Hokage? Even if he were, he shouldn't provoke me so lightly.
After being spied on by Hiruzen Sarutobi time and again, even someone as good-tempered as Yechen could no longer put up with it.
He instantly activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, sending a powerful surge of mental energy along the prying gaze and into