Chapter 40

This time, Team Minato had taken an S-rank mission-representing Konoha in signing an Alliance Treaty with Sunagakure. Put plainly, they were delivering a document, getting the Kazekage to sign it, and bringing it back. An errand, nothing more.

But ninja missions were ranked not just by their difficulty, but by the weight they carried.

With an alliance between two villages involved, classifying it as S-rank was perfectly reasonable.

Of course, Hiruzen Sarutobi certainly had his own interests in mind. Adding a bright spot to his son's record-how impressive that would look. Having participated in an S-rank mission at ten years old would give him plenty to brag about.

When Minato, Kakashi, and Obito heard Xuan Zhe mention Orochimaru's name, all their expressions changed.

They had indeed been attacked by Orochimaru on their way back to the village.

But how had Xuan Zhe known?

"Don't look so shocked." Xuan Zhe waved a hand. "Before he left, he told me he'd settle old scores with our Lord Hokage sooner or later. I thought it over, and he was the only one who fit."

His explanation left Minato half-convinced. It sounded reasonable enough, but on closer examination, it was full of holes.

"What happened after that? How did he beat you?" Xuan Zhe was rather curious, too.

Naturally, Orochimaru had been able to set his ambush so precisely because Xuan Zhe had tipped him off.

But Xuan Zhe had never thought it would work in the first place.

Yet somehow, it had.

Minato smiled bitterly. "Orochimaru and I... no, the gap between our experience was too great."

In short, his lack of experience had cost him.

Orochimaru had targeted Asuma from the outset, but made it look as though he was after Minato. Minato had told the three brats to retreat first, never expecting Orochimaru to have already stationed people along their escape route, allowing him to intercept Asuma with ease.

Once that was done, Orochimaru had not bothered tangling with Minato. He had escaped underground.

When it came to running away, Orochimaru truly feared no one in the Shinobi World.

"Kakashi, Obito, go home and rest." Minato was under tremendous pressure. "I'll report this to Lord Hokage."

Losing the Hokage's son was a responsibility he could not bear.

"Relax. You'll be fine." Xuan Zhe patted Minato's shoulder.

Minato forced a smile uglier than a grimace, taking it as nothing more than consolation.

But Xuan Zhe's next words made him shudder-

"The Third Shinobi World War is about to break out. Our Lord Hokage, who doesn't dare go to the front himself, still needs you to hold things together."

The moment he said that, Minato Namikaze and his two students were dumbfounded.

How did this man know about the Third Shinobi World War?

Xuan Zhe was calculating inwardly-that fellow Sasori of the Red Sands was probably getting restless by now.

The Land of Fire and the Land of Wind had just signed an alliance, so Konoha and Sunagakure certainly would not be fighting anytime soon.

That cut off his avenue for ** against White Fang.

It would make sense for him to turn his fury on the Third Kazekage, who had advocated the alliance.

The alliance between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind had originally been good news for Konoha.

But then another piece of news broke-

Lord Hokage's second son, Asuma Sarutobi, had been captured by the rogue ninja Orochimaru.

His eldest son had died on the front lines, and now his second son had fallen into a traitor's hands.

Many in the village sighed on behalf of the Hokage, who was already over fifty.

Xuan Zhe did not know whether Hiruzen Sarutobi would make trouble for Minato Namikaze.

But he was certain of one thing-the old man would never dare treat Minato the way he had once treated White Fang.

After all, this was the only worthwhile card he had left.

"Say, could that old man and that old woman Biwako still have another kid?"

That night, a mischievous thought suddenly struck Xuan Zhe, and he lowered his head to ask Tsunade beside him.

"Lord Kazekage is missing?"

"Could he have gone out to attend to something at short notice? With Lord Kazekage's strength, nothing should have happened to him."

In the Land of Wind, Sunagakure's leadership was already in an uproar, right after signing its alliance with Konoha.

Even Chiyo, who had been preparing to retire, was forced to return.

She hated the Third Kazekage for allying with Konoha and leaving her unable to seek ** for her son and daughter-in-law.

But right now, Sunagakure needed this strongest of all Kazekage to hold things together!

"The Third is the strongest Kazekage in history. He wouldn't come to harm so easily."

As a member of the older generation, Chiyo spoke up to steady everyone. "But word of this must not get out, especially to other countries, lest it cause unnecessary panic. Understood?"

The Third Kazekage had disappeared.

That also meant the Third Shinobi World War was about to officially begin.

"Hatake Sakumo, Orochimaru told me everything! Your little brother Hatake Xuanzhe killed my older brother!"

Somewhere in an underground hideout along the northern border of the Land of Fire.

Locked in a cell, Asuma flew into a rage the moment he saw Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru approach. He rushed to the iron bars and shouted at Sakumo.

This was one of the secret bases Orochimaru had built.

"Lord Hokage's son... so it really was your doing."

Seeing the scene before him with his own eyes, White Fang's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily as he swallowed.

"Asuma, I'd advise you to save your strength."

Orochimaru cast a sidelong glance at Asuma in his cell and tossed out those words coldly. Then he turned his gaze to Hatake Sakumo, a sinister smile curling his lips.

"Now then, Mr. Sakumo, Xuan Zhe sent you here with something for me, didn't he?"

Hatake Sakumo fell silent for a few seconds, then took a small scroll from inside his clothes and handed it over.

Orochimaru unrolled it, quickly scanned its contents, and chuckled softly.

"Teacher Sarutobi really is angry this time. He's even sent the Anbu after me. It seems our previous agreement is completely null and void."

Originally, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru had agreed that his defection would be a sham.

Konoha would publicly declare him a rogue ninja, but would not actually send pursuit squads to capture him.

But Orochimaru's abduction of Asuma had directly enraged Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Now the old man was genuinely treating him as a rogue ninja and had even deployed elite Anbu to hunt him down.

Xuan Zhe's scroll was a warning for Orochimaru to lie low for a while.

"It seems I'll have to find somewhere else to stay."

Orochimaru held the scroll to the oil lamp's flame and watched the paper slowly burn to ash.

The firelight shone on his face, making his eyes look especially sinister. He glanced sideways at Hatake Sakumo and spoke languidly.

"But I never expected Xuan Zhe to send you to deliver the message. It seems he's planning a major move."

"...Xuan Zhe intends to use the coming Shinobi World War to bring down the Third Hokage and have Tsunade succeed him as the Fourth."

Hatake Sakumo frowned slightly and spoke in a low voice.

Inside his cell, Asuma's eyes flew wide. He could scarcely believe what he was hearing.

"That won't be easy."

Once the scroll had burned away completely, Orochimaru rubbed his chin, then propped it on one hand.

"You and I both know how much effort Teacher Sarutobi put into securing his position as Hokage back then. Getting him to surrender that seat... not unless he dies."

"He said you only need to wait for word."

Hatake Sakumo gave that reply.

"Heh, Mr. Sakumo, don't tell me you still can't bring yourself to act against Teacher Sarutobi? Are you still clinging to some unrealistic hope?"

Noticing the hesitation that flashed through Hatake Sakumo's eyes, Orochimaru could not help scoffing.

"I simply never imagined the waters in Konoha ran this deep..."

There was a note of ruefulness in Hatake Sakumo's voice.

Especially after Xuan Zhe had sent him to deliver this message to Orochimaru and he had learned everything.

Hatake Sakumo felt as though his entire worldview had been shattered.

Orochimaru's smile deepened.

It seemed White Fang's mind was even more surprising than his abilities.

"You won't get away with this!"

Asuma began raging again inside his cell.

Annoyed, Orochimaru raised a hand and made a casual motion.

Asuma's expression changed abruptly, and he rolled wildly on the floor in pain.

An eerie black Cursed Seal spread rapidly like tadpole script, crawling over his entire body.