Konoha Notes

Chapter 136 Temporary Stay
Just as Danzo was about to end this less-than-pleasant meeting, a Root ninja appeared silently beside him and whispered a few words in his ear.

Danzo glared angrily at Orochimaru: "Where have you been again? Tsunade already knows you're here and has raised the village's alert level."

Orochimaru's dim, yellowish eyes gleamed slightly in the dim light, and a playful smile appeared on his lips.

"I just happened to be passing by the Chunin Exams venue," he said lazily. "I saw some former subordinates and couldn't help but take another look. It's... a nostalgic feeling."

Danzo immediately understood the reason, and his face became even uglier: "You left behind such a troublesome thing, and you didn't even deal with it properly back then. You've become weak too, Orochimaru."

He considered his options. If the information only came from Mitarashi Anko's uncertain reaction to the cursed seal, and there was no more conclusive evidence, then there was still room for maneuver.

"Heh, it's just a tiny, insignificant connection left over from a failed experiment," Orochimaru said indifferently. "If you find it a nuisance, just get rid of it."

"Stay here until you receive my next instructions!" Danzo turned to the shadows beside him. "Rin, you stay here."

The Root ninja obeyed the order and stood guard to the side.

Danzo's figure disappeared into the darkness of the passage. He needed to go back and prepare to deal with Hiruzen Sarutobi's possible questions.

Orochimaru seemed to take an interest in the long-abandoned experimental facility, strolling leisurely, his fingertips brushing against the dusty workbench, making a soft rustling sound.

Time flowed slowly in silence, with only a few rays of light shining from the ventilation vents, and dust dancing silently in the air.

Ren stood motionless, like a statue, his muscles at their peak of power. The ninja before him was Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin; he could not afford to be careless in the slightest.

After a while, Orochimaru suddenly stopped, turned his head, and casually glanced in Ren's direction.

Just a glimpse.

Ren felt as if the blood in his entire body had frozen.

The scene before him suddenly distorted and shifted, his body became unusually heavy, and a heart-wrenching pain shot through his chest. He looked down in disbelief and saw a pale hand piercing through his chest, clutching a faintly beating heart, from which warm blood gushed.

This is an illusion...

Although he knew it was an illusion, he still couldn't move a single finger.

Ren stood stiffly in place, his body as if bound tightly by invisible shackles.

Orochimaru's lips curled into a disdainful smile, seemingly bored with this silent contest. His body sank slowly into the ground beneath his feet as if merging into water, without creating a ripple, and disappeared completely.
-
The enthusiastic atmosphere at the Chunin Exams venue had not completely dissipated, but an unusual tension was already evident in the upper levels.

Fugaku Uchiha had already left the match in a hurry—news had come that Orochimaru might have infiltrated the area, and as the captain of the Konoha Police Force, he had to return immediately to deploy resources and strengthen security in the clan's territory and other important areas.

Advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado took over the responsibility of accompanying the daimyo and dignitaries from various countries, ensuring that the Chunin Exams, held for these important clients, would not be ruined by unforeseen circumstances.

Communication with the ninja teams from other villages was inevitably much briefer. After all, they had all been defeated, and even though they were mentally prepared, seeing Konoha's Uchiha Itachi win so easily inevitably put them in a bad mood, and they had no interest in talking much with the people from Konoha.

The final match was between Itachi Uchiha and Hidari from Kumogakure. The visual effects of the Lightning Release were great, and the Fire Release was also impressive.

The special effects on both sides clashed, Itachi's kunai and Hishi's knife collided twice, and then came the Uchiha combo—seizing the opportunity, the Sharingan met, using the momentary stun brought by the genjutsu, and then taking him away.

Simple and efficient.

The Cloud Village and Sand Village teams plan to rest for one night and depart once the wounded are in stable condition. The Grass Village's Muwa will stay a few more days, when an envoy from Konoha will accompany him back to handle follow-up matters.

Not long after Danzo returned to the Root base, Hiruzen Sarutobi's message arrived.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade were both in the Hokage's office.

"Hiruzen, what is it?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his eyes: "Danzo, you know about Orochimaru's infiltration of the village, right?"

Danzo's single eye remained unmoved: "Where did this information come from?"

Their eyes met in mid-air, and a brief silence fell over the office.

Tsunade spoke up: "It's Anko. The cursed seal on her body is reacting strongly."

"Mitarashi Anko?" Danzo scoffed. "What can the reaction of a little girl abandoned by Orochimaru prove? Is it really possible to raise the entire village's alert level so easily based on such uncertain feelings?"

"Such a large-scale mobilization will only make the VIPs from various countries and ninja villages who are stranded feel that Konoha is weak and insecure, which will only invite suspicion and criticism."

"Such reckless behavior, without considering the consequences at all, Tsunade!" Tsunade's eyebrows shot up as she glared at Danzo: "You!"

"Enough." Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted the escalating conflict. He glanced at his enraged disciple, then at Danzo. "Anko's reaction to the cursed seal is a signal that needs to be taken seriously."

"Danzo, the Root should immediately cooperate with the Anbu to investigate all possible areas of the village, and thoroughly investigate all suspicious areas, focusing on abandoned facilities that Orochimaru may have used or may be familiar with in the past."

“I’ll personally lead the Anbu to investigate!” Tsunade immediately interjected, her gaze fixed intently on Danzo.

The Third Hokage did not object, and Danzo remained silent for a moment before finally agreeing, "Understood."

He had already made arrangements, making it impossible for Tsunade to find out anything.

Meanwhile, outside the venue, the crowd gradually thinned out.

Shuji watched as Uchiha Mikoto and her two sons walked towards him. Sasuke was excitedly gesturing around Itachi, his face flushed.

"As expected, my brother is the strongest. That guy from Kumogakure has no power to resist the Sharingan."

Itachi smiled gently and patted his younger brother's head lightly.

"Senior, Senior Red Bean."

Itachi greeted her politely, but noticed that Anko's expression was somewhat stiff.

"Congratulations, Itachi," Shuuji said. "It was a very exciting match."

Then, he naturally joined the team of Uchiha Mikoto, Itachi, and Sasuke, along with Anko.

Sasuke continued chattering away, while Mikoto occasionally responded gently to her youngest son, but her gaze remained mostly on Shuji and Itachi.

The group headed towards the Uchiha clan's territory, with Shuji and Itachi lagging behind.

Shuji said softly, "Even when we're in the Uchiha clan's territory, we need to be extra careful lately."

"Orochimaru may have infiltrated Konoha."

Itachi paused, "Orochimaru? One of the Legendary Sannin..."

"Hmm." Xiu Si's gaze swept over the gradually thinning crowd around him. "The dignitaries from various countries have not yet left, and the warning barrier cannot function. It will probably not be so easy to find him."

Root's investigation into Otogakure also indicates that Danzo has now resumed cooperation with Orochimaru. With Root's cover and Orochimaru's methods...

I've been trying to find him these past few days, but the chances are slim.

Danzo had previously tried to use Itachi as a breakthrough point, and Orochimaru might target him this time.

Orochimaru may be interested in the Uchiha clan.

"You did a great job today, so be careful."

A hint of seriousness flashed in Itachi's eyes: "I understand, thank you for reminding me, senior."

Needless to say, after arriving at the Uchiha clan's territory, Uchiha Mikoto thanked Shuji and Anko.

After Fugaku left, she suspected something had happened, knowing that Shuji had accompanied her on this journey out of a desire to protect her.
Watching the Uchiha mother and her two children enter the Uchiha clan's territory, Shuji turned around and said to Anko, who had been somewhat silent since leaving the venue, "Let's go, come with me to the western suburbs for the night."

Hongdou paused for a moment: "Huh? No, is that alright? I can go back to my apartment by myself..."

"I'm worried about leaving you alone in your current state."

Although Orochimaru had long since given up on Anko, only keeping a backup plan, there was no guarantee that he wouldn't decide to test the effects of the Heavenly Curse Seal upon his return.

There's no need to take that risk.

"There are many empty rooms in the old house, so there's no need to feel like you're disturbing anything."

Hongdou opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing the persistence in Xiu Si's eyes, she swallowed her words of refusal and awkwardly lowered her head.

"...Okay, then...thank you for your trouble."

(End of this chapter)