"Is it okay to talk about this?"
Wakaho frowned. "Teacher Daito taught me that the content of a ninja's mission is confidential and should not be casually disclosed. This involves the village's core secrets and can only be reported to the Hokage..."
"..." Everyone looked at the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage twitched his eye.
Now you respect me? After using that fire technique earlier... never mind.
"Ahem!" The Third Hokage cleared his throat. The sand he accidentally swallowed while digging had made his throat a bit uncomfortable.
"It's fine, little Wakaho. Grandpa approves, so go ahead."
"..." Wakaho rolled his eyes. "Grandpa Hokage really has no principles..."
"..."
"So, the situation is like this," Wakaho began.
Everyone sat atop the high ashes, listening intently as Wakaho recounted the story.
"My teacher and I were on a B-rank mission, and we encountered a few rats along the way. These rats..."
"Wakaho-kun, you don't need to mention that part." Orochimaru smiled.
Clearly, some things should not be disclosed at this moment...
Everyone turned to Orochimaru, including the Third Hokage.
Orochimaru silently shook his head at the Third Hokage, enduring the pressure and smiling, "You can start from the first race."
"Alright then..." Wakaho shrugged nonchalantly. "My teacher and I uncovered the rats' plot and decided to assist the team that had sent out a distress signal, as well as help destroy the Kaminari Bridge."
White Fang's brows furrowed.
Destroy the Kaminari Bridge... that was his mission.
So his distress signal was intercepted? By... rats?
White Fang looked at the Third Hokage, only to see him also frowning.
It dawned on White Fang.
It seemed the Third Hokage and Minato were not here to support him...
Orochimaru's smile remained, but he did not stop Wakaho this time.
"I thought time was of the essence, so we decided to fly over. My teacher summoned a giant snake with a dark aura similar to those rats."
"That snake, like the rats, also claimed to be my teacher's companion. We had a race to see who could destroy the Kaminari Bridge first."
Wakaho finished and asked Orochimaru, "Teacher, is this where I should start?"
"..."
You don't have to be so detailed.
Orochimaru sensed all eyes on him once again.
The rats who intercepted the information...
The conspiracy...
And claiming to be a companion...
It was hard not to misunderstand or make certain associations.
The Third Hokage gestured, and the ANBU responsible for vigilance immediately dispersed.
Everyone realized that what Wakaho was about to say might be sensitive...
"That's correct, Wakaho-kun."
Orochimaru forced a smile. "Start from here."
"Very well."
Wakaho took in everyone's expressions.
Since White Fang was still here, he might as well activate another "special" technique...