Chihane was heading back to Konoha

Late at night.

Orochimaru's command tent.

Chihane had just entered the command tent when he saw Orochimaru talking to a ninja wearing a Jonin vest.

"Teacher Orochimaru, you wanted to see me?"

Chihane spoke to Orochimaru as he walked in.

"Yes, Chihane, you're here. This is Jonin Akita, who came from Konoha. And this is my student, Chihane Hatake."

When Orochimaru saw Chihane approach, he introduced the two.

"So this is Chihane Hatake? Heroes really do emerge young!"

Although Jonin Akita had already heard how young Chihane was, seeing him in person still left him marveling.

"You flatter me, Jonin Akita."

Chihane answered modestly.

"Haha! Jonin Chihane, there's no need to be so modest. News of you killing the Iwa Shinobi commander Kitsuchi, wiping out the Kakkō Squad, and capturing their war supplies has already spread throughout Konoha."

Seeing Chihane's modesty, Jonin Akita thought of his own son, who was the same age but still only a Genin, and admired Chihane all the more.

"Jonin Chihane?"

Chihane echoed his words in surprise.

"That's right. I forgot you only just returned and haven't heard the news yet. Congratulations, Jonin Chihane! As far as I know, you're the first person since Konoha's founding to be promoted straight from Genin to Jonin."

As he spoke, Jonin Akita picked up Chihane's Jonin credentials from the table. Before Chihane arrived, he had been discussing this very matter with Orochimaru.

"A Jonin!"

Chihane had just been thinking that, according to the original course of history, Kakashi would become a Jonin this year while he remained a lowly Genin. He had never expected such a pleasant surprise to fall into his lap, and he could not help feeling moved.

Still, he knew this was thanks to his hard work on the battlefield and the strength he possessed. Becoming a Jonin had been only a matter of time.

"Jonin Akita also brought three thousand ninja with him to reinforce the front line. However, Chihane, Teacher Sarutobi has urgently summoned you back to the village. He sent Jonin Akita to take your place."

Orochimaru explained the purpose of Jonin Akita's arrival with a smile. Yet even Akita, standing beside him, could feel the chilling menace in his words.

How could Orochimaru not understand Hiruzen Sarutobi's intentions? Hiruzen had sent Jonin Akita, a peripheral Jonin with virtually no reputation in Konoha, to strike a bargain with him.

Three thousand ninja in exchange for removing Chihane Hatake from the Land of Earth battlefield. Although those three thousand ninja would become part of his own power base, it also meant that whatever great achievements Chihane earned on other battlefields would have nothing to do with him.

But Orochimaru had no choice at present. Unless he was prepared to force the Hokage's hand, he could only accept.

"He wants me back in Konoha? What do you think, Teacher Orochimaru?"

Sending Chihane back to Konoha just when they were about to reap the fruits of victory meant that even another three thousand ninja would not make much difference against the Iwa Shinobi army. This was an attempt to keep Orochimaru from earning any more credit.

"Since it's Lord Hokage's order, make your preparations and return to Konoha tomorrow, Chihane."

Orochimaru understood what Chihane was asking, but his expression remained unchanged as he answered.

"All right, Teacher Orochimaru. I'll head back tomorrow."

Chihane could tell that Orochimaru did not want to say more in front of Jonin Akita, so he gave a definite answer.

An awkward silence settled over the tent.

"Haha, we've only just arrived at the front, and there are still plenty of arrangements to make. If there's nothing else, Lord Orochimaru, I'll take my leave."

Jonin Akita could hardly fail to realize that the silence was meant to drive him away, so he volunteered to leave with a laugh.

"Then I won't see you out, Jonin Akita."

Orochimaru answered with narrowed eyes, but the coldness within them still sent a shiver down Jonin Akita's spine.

Jonin Akita then respectfully left the tent.

"Teacher Orochimaru, what does the Hokage mean by this? Does he think the lives of the ninja we've lost don't matter?"

Chihane was angry. He thought of all those ninja who had died on the battlefield to protect Konoha.

"Chihane, this is politics. Right now, all he's probably thinking about is how to keep me in check. If you don't want to face this sort of thing in the future, you'll have to become as strong as the First."

Though Orochimaru was furious, he was also helpless. The power he currently commanded was still far too little to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi.

But since Hiruzen had planted three thousand ninja here, he could hardly blame Orochimaru for swallowing them up and making them his own.

Never underestimate Orochimaru's talent for brainwashing. Just look at Kimimaro and the Sound Five.

"Become as strong as the First?"

Chihane could not help murmuring after hearing Orochimaru's words.

"Yes! Get yourself ready, Chihane. Once you return to the village, he'll probably assign you to the Land of Lightning battlefield. Go spend tonight with your younger brother. Who knows when you'll see each other again!"

By now, Orochimaru had lost all faith in Hiruzen Sarutobi. Clearly unwilling to continue the subject, he said this to Chihane instead.

"All right, Teacher Orochimaru. I'll be going, then."

Seeing that Orochimaru clearly did not want to discuss the matter further, Chihane stopped pressing him.

Chihane then left the command tent and went to say goodbye to Kakashi and the others.

Minato Namikaze's rest tent.

"Jonin Minato, I'd like to see Kakashi."

Chihane arrived outside Minato Namikaze's tent and called softly inside. His voice was not loud, but he was certain a ninja's keen senses would pick it up clearly.

Sure enough, a short while later, Kakashi emerged from the tent.

"Brother, you wanted to see me?"

Kakashi had been about to settle down for the night when he heard Chihane's voice, and he spoke with some confusion.

"Kakashi, I'm returning to Konoha tomorrow. You'll be here without me, so make sure you ask Jonin Minato and Teacher Orochimaru for advice whenever anything comes up. And be especially careful around bridges lately."

Seeing that Kakashi had already grown tall enough to reach his shoulder, Chihane realized that his younger brother was no longer a little boy. Even so, he still felt uneasy and gently patted Kakashi's shoulder as he spoke.

Since he was returning to the village tomorrow, he would no longer be able to search for the elderly Madara. It seemed heaven intended to spare him after all.

"Back to the village? Brother, why are you suddenly going back?"

Startled by the news, Kakashi completely missed Chihane's warning about bridges and anxiously questioned him.

"These are Lord Hokage's orders. Kakashi, this is my lucky bandana. I'm leaving it with you. Wearing it will make your sword training much easier."

Of course, Chihane had not forgotten about giving Zoro's bandana to Kakashi. Ignoring Kakashi's resistance, he forcibly tied the green bandana around his head.

The two brothers immediately began tussling over the bandana.