"Orochimaru slipped in among the Genin competing in the Chunin Ninja Exams and attacked Team 7."
Seeing Jiraiya grow serious, Sarutobi slowly recounted the whole sequence of events.
"I see. Looks like that bastard Orochimaru's experiments succeeded after all."
When Jiraiya heard that Orochimaru could use Wood Release, he let out a long sigh. He had never imagined Wood Release would return to the Shinobi World this way.
"Yes, so I called you back this time to capture Orochimaru."
Sarutobi nodded. He planned to gather all of Konoha's current forces except Team 7 to bring that wayward student back.
As for what to do with him afterward...
He would wait and see, and decide when the time came.
Ultimately, Orochimaru had once been the student he was proudest of, and now he had even developed Wood Release. Sarutobi had yet to decide exactly how to deal with him.
"Capture him? That bastard Orochimaru isn't easy to catch."
Jiraiya had pursued Orochimaru for so many years. He had run into him a few times, but Orochimaru had always escaped.
Orochimaru's endless escape methods really gave Jiraiya a headache.
"That's why I called you back. Quite a few people will be taking part in the operation against Orochimaru this time."
A trace of amusement flashed in Sarutobi's eyes. To ensure Konoha's security during these Chunin Ninja Exams, almost all of its top fighters had been called back.
They included Itachi and Tenzo from Root; Kakashi and Might Guy among the Jonin team leaders; and Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, Hizashi Hyuga, and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio from the shinobi clans.
And, serving as commander, himself: Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Oh, right, Might Guy was still watching Zabuza. When the time came, they could have that fellow sit in Root for a while and pick