"Senior Sakumo, Teacher Hiruzen actually assigned you to a capture mission."
"I find that quite unexpected!"
Standing outside the civilian area of Konoha, Orochimaru felt a slight warmth in his heart as he saw the white-haired man suddenly appear with a squad of ANBU ninjas.
Although Hatake Sakumo was wearing ANBU attire and a cat-faced mask to conceal his identity, his conspicuous white hair and the sheathed short sword on his back completely exposed him to Orochimaru.
The two had a prior acquaintance, and Sakumo was not surprised that Orochimaru recognized him at a glance. He simply nodded gently to Orochimaru as a greeting, then looked towards the civilian district with a solemn expression.
"The Sky Ninja Village, with its flying fortress, has caused the Land of Fire considerable trouble before."
"Now that the Hokage has discovered these Sky Ninja remnants, they cannot be let go so easily."
Orochimaru immediately understood.
"So that's how Teacher Hiruzen instructed you?"
"Truly..."
After a moment of silent reflection, Orochimaru shook his head, refocusing his attention on the present.
"Does Teacher Hiruzen have any other instructions?"
Hearing this, Hatake Sakumo's face, hidden by the mask, showed a strange expression. After a moment of hesitation, he said with some uncertainty,
"The Hokage said..."
"You will be in command of this capture operation, and moreover..."
"After capturing this individual, there is no need to send them to the Konoha Interrogation Department for intelligence gathering. You are to handle it entirely."
Orochimaru chuckled softly, concealing the ripple in his eyes as he turned his head, and casually asked,
"Teacher is truly..."
"Very well!"
"Do any of the companions you brought specialize in genjutsu?"
Before Hatake Sakumo could answer, a person stepped forward from behind him and smiled at Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, what do you think of me?"
Orochimaru froze. This voice...
"Senior Shinku?"
"I thought you had retired from the ANBU after getting married, but I didn't expect..."
Yūhi Shinku laughed heartily and patted Orochimaru's shoulder.
"Your information is quite accurate, but it will be soon!"
"My first child is about to be born. It has been specifically checked by Tsunade, and it's a girl."
"I've already decided on a name, Kurenai Yūhi, what do you think?"
"I have already submitted my request to the Hokage. Once Kurenai is born, I plan to retire."
"Haha!"
The joy of becoming a father made this usually steady man unusually talkative in front of his friends.
This was his first child, and a daughter at that. If all went well, Kurenai would inherit his genjutsu talent and her mother's delicate beauty.
Just thinking about his soon-to-be-born child made Yūhi Shinku's paternal heart melt.
What ANBU work? What fighting and killing?
What could be more meaningful than returning to watch his daughter grow up?
He had already decided that after retiring from the ANBU, he would apply for a teaching position at the ninja academy, and if the Third Hokage deemed it unsuitable, then teaching genjutsu to Chunin and Genin would also be fine.
He couldn't help but feel delighted at the thought.
Orochimaru's lips curved into a smile, and he nodded gently.
"Kurenai Yūhi? That's a very good name!"
"Since Senior Shinku is here, there's no need to trouble anyone else."
"Let's move out!"
The conversation between acquaintances temporarily concluded. Orochimaru signaled the ANBU to follow him, leading Hatake Sakumo and Yūhi Shinku into the civilian district.
Shennong's residence was not difficult to find. His identity as a physician had earned him considerable respect in the civilian area. A quick inquiry with a Konoha resident easily revealed his exact location.
Besides Orochimaru and the two others, the ANBU ninjas, upon receiving the intelligence, instantly melted into the shadows, suppressing their chakra signatures, and silently surrounded the unremarkable wooden house.
Hatake Sakumo exchanged a look with Orochimaru, who nodded gently.
Sakumo understood and made a series of hand signs with the surrounding ANBU, used for communicating combat plans.
"The enemy is powerful. To avoid alarming nearby civilians, assign a portion of personnel to evacuate the people, and leave four to activate a barrier jutsu to contain them."
"Execute!"
These ANBU ninjas were indeed elites personally selected by Hiruzen Sarutobi for Orochimaru. Each of them was a Jonin, and their execution of orders was swift and decisive.
"Ninpō — Four Violet Flames Formation!"
Four shouts echoed simultaneously. Shennong, who was reading the secrets of the Eight Gates training method in the courtyard, was startled and instinctively looked at Might Duy beside him.
"You spoke of willingly gifting me the secret technique of the Eight Gates, yet you secretly informed the Konoha ninjas to betray me?"
Might Duy, however, looked utterly bewildered. As he watched the purple barrier rise around them, he suddenly felt as if he had truly done something wrong.
"I don't know!"
"I'm the only one at home. I didn't attract any attention when I arrived."
"Perhaps it's a misunderstanding?"
"Senior Shennong, please don't worry. I have had some dealings with an ANBU captain before, I'll go and ask what happened."
However, before Might Duy could move to open the door, Hatake Sakumo's figure abruptly appeared beside him.
He stared intently at Shennong, who appeared to be an old man, then shifted his gaze to Duy, frowning and asking,
"I remember you!"
"Konoha Genin, Might Duy! You once asked me for training methods in taijutsu."
"Why are you here?"
As Sakumo spoke, he reached for the hilt of his sword.
If Might Duy could not provide a reasonable explanation, colluding with a spy from another village would only lead to death!
Duy also recognized Hatake Sakumo's voice at this moment. Seeing Hatake Sakumo looking at him like an enemy, his hands and feet turned cold.
Shennong gave Hatake Sakumo a deep look. Seeing that his attention was now focused on Might Duy, he carefully tucked the secret art of the Eight Gates into his robes, attempting to quietly retreat into the house behind him.
"Swish!"
A flash of gleaming blade sliced through the air. A short sword less than two feet long, its edge glinting with a chilling coldness, was placed at Shennong's throat.
"Move again, and you die!"
Hatake Sakumo's voice was sharp and cold. As an ANBU captain, his observational skills were incredibly keen. He had immediately judged the incongruity in the physique of this seemingly elderly man.
Shennong's physique was robust, and the surging blood in his body, though Shennong tried his best to conceal it, was as conspicuous as a candle in the darkness to Sakumo, a powerful close-combat ninja with a samurai background.
"Senior Sakumo, I vouch with my name that this has nothing to do with Might Duy."
Orochimaru entered with Yūhi Shinku, walked gracefully to Hatake Sakumo's side, and nodded to the terrified Might Duy.
Might Duy immediately felt a wave of relief wash over him and bowed gratefully to Orochimaru.
"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru shook his head, waved him to the side, and then turned to look at Shennong, who was doing his best to maintain the facade of an ordinary physician, trembling slightly under Hatake Sakumo's sword.
"Shennong!"
"Or rather, the leader of the Sky Ninja remnants, there's no need to continue your disguise."
"Surrender yourself!"