"That's enough, Danzo," the Third Hokage raised his voice slightly to interrupt. "You're being too extreme!"
"This is the way of my policies and the original intention behind the Root," Danzo stood up directly, coldly glaring at the Third Hokage. "You'll regret it sooner or later, Monkey."
"..."
...
Orochimaru and Wakaho set off but stopped shortly after leaving Konoha.
Three masked ninjas arrived.
"Lord Orochimaru, here is the equipment you requested," one of the ninjas handed over a spatial scroll with both hands.
"Thank you. You can head back now. We don't need too many people for this mission."
"Understood!"
Orochimaru had thoughtfully informed his subordinates with a shadow clone before departure, ensuring that equipment was sent without wasting time or entering the battlefield unprepared.
The spatial scroll contained various ninja tools: a long sword, kunai, shuriken, flash bombs, and explosive tags.
There were also some soldier pills and plums (for refreshing), wrapped in wax paper. The quality was excellent, the quantity sufficient, perfect for a long journey or any potential skirmishes.
The amount was just right for two people.
"Regardless of the mission, preparation is very important, Wakaho-kun," Orochimaru said as he distributed the equipment, teaching him. "As you said, every second counts in a rescue mission. But if we fail due to inadequate preparation, the time we've fought for will be wasted."
"I understand, Teacher."
Wakaho continued to pack the ninja tools. Although he probably wouldn't need most of them, they could be sold for money.
He had an elderly family and a younger sibling to support, and in the future, whether he bought a house, married, had children, or raised an army, he would need money.
"It would be great to find an investor," Wakaho thought to himself.
"And it shouldn't be someone from the village. It's best if it's a wandering guy like Kakuzu."
The Third Hokage's surveillance was too meticulous.
Regarding Orochimaru's unusual behavior today, Wakaho had assessed it earlier.
He found that the likelihood of deceit or manipulation was less than 30%. Besides Wakaho's own theory about "advancing the will of fire," it seemed that Orochimaru was genuinely giving him advice.
There were no apparent flaws or hidden agendas.
Combined with the subtle gaze when Orochimaru revealed his three-tomoe Sharingan...
Wakaho had reason to suspect that this mission was likely some kind of test from the Third Hokage.
After all, rescue missions are the best way to reflect a person's moral character.
That's why Wakaho was so eager to set off, emphasizing his excellent character.
It's just a rescue mission...
He was the successor of the will of fire and had nothing to fear.
Coincidentally.
Orochimaru felt the same way.
Having just completed an S-rank mission, he was now given a B-rank rescue mission...
Although he appeared to be teaching Wakaho a lesson, Orochimaru knew that this was a warning related to the six Leaf Village ninjas sacrificed during his previous mission.
A B-rank rescue mission...
Just making sure to bring the people back alive to Konoha, how difficult could it be?