Hinata: I'm in charge of Konoha.

Chapter 108 When the Winds of Change Are Rising

Under the cover of night, above the dome.

At the top of an unknown building, Orochimaru, dressed in a dark-colored Jonin uniform from the Sound Ninja, met a man in a black robe who was leaning on a cane.

"It's been a long time! You've aged."

Orochimaru sat down on the ground with a calm smile, clearly very familiar with the man in black robes.

"snort."

"There's no need for so much hypocrisy."

"I'll ask you one question now: Hinata Hyuga has already shown her fangs."

"Even you have to back down, so what should we do now?"

"Your so-called plan was stillborn six years ago the moment Hyuga obtained the Flying Thunder God Technique."

The man's words were sharp, showing no respect whatsoever to Orochimaru, who was known as one of the Three Legendary Sannin.

Orochimaru smiled without saying a word, gazing at the tranquil forest in the distance under the night sky, as if he hadn't heard the other person's words. His golden snake eyes looked particularly eerie in the night. From some unknown corner, a small white snake silently crawled in front of Orochimaru and opened its mouth to spit out a scroll that didn't seem to fit its body at all.

Orochimaru picked up the scroll and unrolled it without ignoring the black-robed man's gaze. He only glanced at it briefly, and his smile deepened.

"When Hinata arrives that day, someone will stop her. The plan remains unchanged."

Orochimaru spoke flippantly, seemingly unconcerned about this so-called Flying Thunder God Technique user.

"7

The man in black robes looked at Orochimaru, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "Since you are so confident, then I will trust you this once."

"At that time, the Konoha Police Force will have a gap in the barrier due to negligence, and the people from Sunagakure and Kirigakure will be able to take the opportunity to infiltrate Konoha."

Whether it succeeds or fails afterward is none of my business.

With just those words, the man in black robes stepped into the night alone, as if he had never been there.

Orochimaru watched the departing person, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

He is obsessed with the position of Hokage, yet unwilling to take responsibility.

Danzo, you've really gotten old.

Meanwhile, in another unknown place.

As the vortex of spacetime slowly twisted, a figure wearing a black robe with red clouds and an orange vortex mask emerged from it.

This person was none other than Obito Uchiha, who disguised himself as Madara Uchiha back then.

"Orochimaru has sent a message."

When Obito Uchiha appeared, a black and white aloe vera-shaped head emerged from the ground.

"Because of the Byakugan, I didn't get too close to the Forest of Death, but Orochimaru clearly stated that Hinata Hyuga's combat strength was comparable to that of the top ninjas from various villages."

"Orochimaru is not good at direct combat. He was defeated after only one move against Hinata Hyuga. I hope you or someone else can take care of Hinata Hyuga."

Zetsu was relaying the message that Orochimaru had passed on.

"Heh, not good at head-on attacks?"

Obito Uchiha scoffed upon hearing this.

As one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, even if he is not good at direct combat, could not possibly be defeated in one move.

This is a strategic retreat, a way for them to force me to personally stop Hinata Hyuga.

After all, no one wants to be an enemy of a Flying Thunder God Technique user.

"In that case, tell him."

"We don't need to worry about Hinata Hyuga."

"Then let him deal with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi."

Obito Uchiha casually waved his hand.

His and Zetsu's initial goal was to eliminate Hinata Hyuga. It would be best if Orochimaru were willing to cooperate in taking down this Flying Thunder God Technique user, but it wouldn't matter if he didn't come.

"Do you need any help from others?"

Jue asked at this moment.

The "others" he was referring to were naturally the other members of the Akatsuki organization, not Orochimaru.

"It is not appropriate for the Akatsuki organization to be exposed to the sight of the other villages in the ninja world at the moment."

"Otherwise, the future plan to capture Jinchuriki will cause a huge uproar once it begins."

"Heh, although it's only the initial stage—"

Accompanied by Obito Uchiha's slightly mocking words, his figure gradually twisted in the void—

In the Hokage's office at the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi was deep in thought as he looked at the report on the recent verbal battle with Kumogakure handed to him by Koharu Utatane.

Well known.

The group of black-skinned devils and white-skinned pigs from Kumogakure always prefer to fight rather than talk.

They've been engaged in a war of words with Konoha for nearly two months, which is truly baffling.

This is not in line with their style.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't believe that Kumogakure was bluffing. If they were bluffing, they would never have had the confidence to confront Konoha so fiercely until now.

Considering the recent Chunin Exams, the One-Tailed Jinchuriki of Sunagakure was killed, yet Rasa, the Kazekage, remained completely indifferent—

ask.

Hinata eliminated six of Kirigakure's seven squads, and Kirigakure had no objections.

Both sides almost universally stated that they were handling the matter strictly by official procedures, and that being eliminated or killed was simply due to a lack of ability.

This magnanimous attitude, which was so incomprehensible to others, made Hiruzen Sarutobi keenly sense something unusual.

Hidden by sand, hidden by mist, hidden by clouds.

"Pass down the order to strengthen the village's defenses."

"Especially these days, we cannot let our guard down for a moment."

As an old man who had experienced three consecutive Shinobi World Wars, Hiruzen Sarutobi was extremely sensitive to conspiracies.

I was already on guard from the very beginning of the verbal battle with Yunyin.

"Yes."

The Hokage's direct subordinate ANBU was about to receive their orders and leave.

"slow."

Hiruzen Sarutobi called out to the Anbu.

"Send word to the village ninja clan chief that everyone must be present during the Chunin Exams finals."

"The clan should make proper personnel allocations to ensure that sufficient combat power remains within the clan."

"Order the Mission Department to suspend all missions immediately."

"The ninjas who left the village on their missions should return to Konoha as quickly as possible."

"Order the border ninja forces to raise their alert level to Level 1 and await further orders from the village."

The series of orders issued in quick succession startled the direct subordinate secret service.

Such a high-level instruction is almost enough to warrant a level-one alert in the village.

And it even affected the border ninja forces, I'm afraid it's not—

"Yes."

The subordinate undercover agent responded in a deep voice and then vanished without a trace.

Feeling the emptiness of the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples.

These are turbulent times —

Practice, practice, practice!

At this moment, Naruto Uzumaki is training alone in the training ground where Team 7 once stole the bell.

Sweat rolled down his forehead, his body was being relentlessly pushed, but Naruto showed no sign of stopping.

Naruto went to great lengths to defeat Hinata.

"Naruto."

"You can't beat Hinata like this."

Just as Naruto was training, a sudden voice interrupted his practice.

"Kakashi-sensei?"

Upon seeing Kakashi suddenly appear, Naruto felt a sudden release of the tension he had been holding in, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Hinata learned the Fourth Hokage's signature technique when she was nine years old."

"Just admit defeat when you encounter Hinata."

Kakashi held the "Make-Out Paradise" book in one hand, with the other hand in his pocket, his only visible eye fixed on the novel he never tired of reading.