Tsunade slapped a Sealed Mission Scroll onto the desk, the vermilion Hokage Seal still warm.
Yamato stood before the desk and accepted the scroll with both hands, then unrolled it.
"Before Sasori died, he revealed that he had planted a spy at Orochimaru's side."
Tsunade propped her chin on her hand, enunciating every word.
"They're meeting at Tenchi Bridge in ten days. This is our best chance to uncover Orochimaru's hidden cards."
Yamato finished reading and closed the scroll.
"Lord Hokage, should a reinforcement squad accompany us?"
Tsunade tapped the desk twice, then paused for a few seconds.
"No. This mission focuses on reconnaissance and contact, not fighting. Let Team 7 handle it themselves."
The sound of cracking seeds came from behind her, at the window.
Tsunade did not turn around.
"...Did you climb through the window again?"
Goten sat cross-legged on the windowsill, a handful of Sunflower Seeds in his hand, cracking them without a trace of shame.
"You're not letting me go?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes at him.
"If you went along, who within a hundred miles would dare show themselves? You're reinforcements when we need you. When we don't, don't cause trouble."
Goten shrugged and blew the last few seed shells out the window.
His words were casual, but in those few seconds when the scroll was being read, his ki had silently swept through the entire office.
The chakra flowing inside Yamato was steady, but deep within him, the patterns of that Wood Style energy bore an indescribable resemblance to the markings on the Sasori Core Fragment.
It was faint enough to overlook, but Goten had not overlooked it.
He withdrew his senses without a word, jumped down from the windowsill, and slipped his hands into his pockets.
Yamato clasped his hands in salute and withdrew,