"Well, if it isn't Kisame Hoshigaki. That teacher of mine really has some skill."
Inside the prison, Orochimaru glanced at the new inmate in the cell next to his. To his surprise, it was none other than Kisame Hoshigaki the "Tailless Tailed Beast" of the Akatsuki. Intrigued, he couldn't help but speak up.
"Has the Third Hokage launched a strike against Akatsuki? I didn't think the old man had it in him. Quite a surprise."
"Orochimaru," Kisame growled. His face, already shark-like and intimidating, looked even more terrifying now.
As someone who prided himself on brute strength, discovering that his trusted comrade "Chen Yongren" had been an undercover agent all along was a gut-wrenching blow.
"You were captured alive? What about Uchiha Itachi? Don't tell me he's dead," Orochimaru asked, a hint of amusement in his tone. Clearly, Itachi's fate interested him more.
At the mention of Itachi's name, Kisame's face darkened further. After a long pause, he finally said, "He was always a Konoha shinobi."
A flicker of surprise crossed Orochimaru's eyes, followed by a slow, amused smile. "Well now… That's unexpected."
After that, no matter how Orochimaru tried to pry, Kisame said nothing more. He simply sat silently in the corner, eyes fixed grimly on the ground.
In truth, Orochimaru himself wasn't at peace. He looked down at his hand, fingers drumming rhythmically against the wall as a bitter thought crossed his mind: To think such a limited life is being wasted rotting in here. What a joke.
Since his capture, only Jiraiya had come by mocking him, of course and had sternly warned him, "Behave yourself. If you try anything again, prison might be the least of your worries."
Orochimaru had dismissed Jiraiya's warning as nonsense, but even now, he still hadn't figured out a way to escape.
Kabuto… You haven't made a move yet? he muttered under his breath, fingers still tapping against the floor.
What kind of fate would the Third Hokage decide for him?
"Lord Orochimaru, I'm coming to rescue you!"
Kabuto Yakushi was still lurking in Konoha, gathering intel. After strategically retreating last time, he realized he was the last of the Sound Village's inner circle.
Yet after several days of fruitless investigation, he had almost been exposed. To avoid detection, he had cycled through various disguises posing as a restaurant waiter, a street vendor, even a wandering traveler.
Whether Orochimaru had left behind any other spies in Konoha, Kabuto had no idea.
Please hold on a little longer, Lord Orochimaru, he thought as he stepped into a small restaurant.
A shuriken with an explosive tag attached suddenly flew at him.
Kabuto barely dodged it, but the blast wave caught his left arm, wounding him.
"Crescent Moon Dance!"
Three sharp flashes of a blade followed. But Kabuto, famed as a shinobi on par with Kakashi, dodged them with unbelievable precision and even countered with a powerful kick, knocking the attacker back.
"Ugh..." the masked ANBU operative staggered back, clutching his chest, and quickly blew a whistle. "Quit watching! Everyone, move in!"
In an instant, more ANBU agents wearing animal masks emerged from the shadows, surrounding Kabuto from all sides.
"Kabuto Yakushi! You've been exposed!" the squad leader shouted.
Sweat beaded on Kabuto's forehead as he swiftly formed a chakra scalpel with his right hand. He scanned his surroundings, spotting even more ANBU agents closing in from rooftops, alleyways, and treetops.
This is bad. I'm completely compromised.
Gripping his chakra scalpel, Kabuto lunged at the squad leader, planning to kill him and create chaos to escape.
The leader's hands blurred into seals. "Wood Style: Birth of the Dense Woodland!"
"Captain Yamato!" shouted the others as they jumped back to make room for the jutsu.
The squad leader was none other than Yamato, a Wood Style user and one of the Third Hokage's elite shinobi.
The ground trembled violently as thick trees erupted from beneath, quickly growing and entangling the area. Kabuto was forced to retreat, barely slicing through a few branches with his scalpel, but more vines surged toward him.
This was clearly a well-planned operation. He had been discovered far earlier than he expected.
"Wood Style: Binding Technique!" Yamato slammed his hands into the ground. Vines burst forth again, wrapping tightly around Kabuto's legs.
Kabuto gritted his teeth and slashed the vines, but Yamato was already on him.
Kabuto hurled several smoke bombs, shrouding the area in thick mist. Yamato immediately fell back and quickly formed another seal. "Wood Style: Wood Shield Wall!"
A wooden wall shot up, blocking any potential escape route.
At the same time, the other ANBU threw kunai and explosive tags toward another possible exit path.
There was nowhere left to run. This was a full-scale manhunt. Kabuto was surrounded in a net that left no gaps.
Is this how it ends? Am I going to end up in a cell next to Lord Orochimaru?
"Wood Style: Four Pillar Prison!"
Four massive wooden pillars rose from the ground, blowing away the smoke. They quickly closed in, forming a cage around Kabuto, who was dodging shuriken and explosive tags.
Yamato's Wood Style might have been a pale imitation compared to the First Hokage, but it was still Wood Style. If he'd been a rogue ninja, he could've easily earned a spot in Akatsuki as a specialist.
As for Kabuto, not yet transformed into the monstrous being he would one day become, he was no match for a full squad of ANBU led by one of Konoha's finest.
From Yamato's perspective, the Hokage's earlier warning had clearly been exaggerated. How could a traitor with such paltry loyalty to the village ever be compared to someone like Kakashi?
The moment Kabuto's presence had been confirmed, the Hokage had greenlit the operation and to ensure absolute success, had personally assigned Yamato, the Wood Style user, to lead it.
Orochimaru looked speechlessly at Kabuto, who was being dragged into the adjacent cell. He was wrapped in bandages, his face still marked with the traces of battle.
"Lord Orochimaru, I tried my best," Kabuto said with a bitter smile, his voice full of regret.
Orochimaru nodded. He appreciated all Kabuto had done for their cause. "Even you got caught. I suppose we really are stuck."
"Kimimaro doesn't have the ability," Orochimaru cut him off. "At this point, we can only wait for my teacher to decide what becomes of us."
Inside the Hokage's office.
Yamato stood reporting to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage praised him effusively, calling him one of Konoha's most indispensable shinobi. Perhaps even someone with the potential to be Hokage one day.
"You flatter me, Hokage-sama," Yamato replied, slightly embarrassed. Ever since the Hokage had used that mysterious technique to regain his youth, he'd become much more generous with compliments.
He had originally been called Tenzo, but the Hokage had suggested he adopt the name Yamato. It was easier to form bonds with his comrades that way, he said.
"Yamato, you really do carry the Will of Fire. I believe you're a strong candidate for the next Hokage. For now, I'd like you to temporarily lead Team 7 in Kakashi's place."
Yamato looked flustered. "Hokage-sama, I've never even thought about becoming Hokage."
"A ninja who doesn't dream of becoming Hokage isn't a good ninja," Hiruzen said with a smile. "If everyone had your devotion and Kakashi's spirit, Konoha would be even stronger. Where the leaves dance, so too shall the fire burn everlasting."
Such a wise and righteous leader how could one not serve him with loyalty?
After Yamato left, Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, scribbling in a notebook as he planned his next moves.
By now, Orochimaru should have lost all hope of escape. A few more days, and it would be time to visit him in person.
After that, he'd send Jiraiya to find Tsunade. The letters from the women's bathhouses had been piling up lately, after all.
Next on the list was the Hyuga clan. It might seem harsh to summon them right after they'd d money, but Hiashi did possess the Will of Fire. Surely, he would understand the Hokage's good intentions.
Work hours were over.
Hiruzen left a message for his friend "Ace," saying he would be sending someone soon. Get that treasure ready.
Settling comfortably into his chair, Hiruzen entered the dimensional interface and launched the game.
Starting lineup: Edo Tensei Third Hokage. Midfield: Edo Tensei First Hokage. Backup: Tendo Pain.
Such a fun game. Once ninja tech evolves, I'll make sure everyone can play it.
With that thought, the Third Hokage switched into ranked mode.