The next day, Gekko Chizan did not show up for the match.
Early in the morning, he had been summoned by the Hokage, along with many others.
Inside the Intelligence Center, Gekko Chizan stared blankly at the mountain of scrolls piled before him, his mind frozen. He glanced in a daze at Sarutobi Hiruzen standing behind him.
"Hokage-sama, shouldn't this kind of work be given to someone else???"
"What even is all this?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at him with a cheerful smile, happily puffing on his pipe.
"Chizan, as the village's acknowledged intelligence expert, you shouldn't be unfamiliar with information work, right?"
"These are all reports submitted by our village's elite. Since you don't need to be on the battlefield, it's only natural that you lead a team to process them."
"This is the Intelligence Center of the village. From now on, this will be your office."
"So? I'm treating you well, aren't I?"
Gekko Chizan was completely dumbfounded. What kind of job was this? Intelligence Center?
Looking at the mountain of scrolls, his head began to ache.
And seeing the sly smile tugging at Sarutobi Hiruzen's lips, how could he not realize? He had been tricked by this old man.
For his own good? Yeah, right! This was clearly revenge!
Revenge for the Crystal Ball incident! This sly old man was devious!
"Um... Hokage-sama, do I have another choice?"
"This kind of brain-draining work seems more suited for Shikoku than for me, don't you think?"
"What if I make a mistake? Wouldn't that end up harming the village?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, forcefully suppressing the laughter bubbling in his chest. He had picked this position specifically for Gekko Chizan.
This brat dared to steal his Crystal Ball.
If he didn't straighten him out a little, this kid would never learn who the true shinobi leader was!
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly exhaled a smoke ring and said,
"There are no other choices. This post was carefully chosen just for you."
Gekko Chizan let out a helpless sigh, and could only grit his teeth and approach the pile of scrolls.
Just as he was about to open the first one, a commotion suddenly came from outside.
It turned out to be Nara Shikoku rushing in. With a solemn expression, he addressed Sarutobi Hiruzen:
"Hokage-sama, latest frontline report — the Four-Tails and Five-Tails have appeared simultaneously on the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Fire. They've already pushed our border forces back inside our territory."
"And according to intelligence, the Kamizuru Clan from Iwagakure has launched a large-scale jutsu."
"Since Gekko Chizan has crossed blades with the Kamizuru before, I'll need his help in formulating tactics."
At the mention of the Kamizuru Clan, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned.
This insect-wielding clan was as renowned as the Aburame. They had shown considerable performance in earlier battles.
"How large is the scale?"
"Hard to estimate. From the intel we've received, it looks like the entire clan is mobilized, and this time their bees are carrying poison."
Poison?
That made Sarutobi Hiruzen furrow his brows even tighter, and Gekko Chizan's face grew grave as well.
The Kamizuru Clan excelled at controlling bees, but their bee poison was always negligible.
And now they carried venom? What had happened in the meantime?
"Chizan, you've fought the Kamizuru before. Did their bees have deadly poison?"
Gekko Chizan shook his head. Whether on the battlefield or during his time in the Land of Earth, he had never seen their bees with venom.
"There's been a development..."
"What about the Aburame? Have they been mobilized?"
At the Hokage's question, Shikoku nodded. Since yesterday's meeting, he had already begun preparations.
The moment he received the frontline report, he immediately ordered the Aburame to get ready.
"Chizan, your work here is on hold. Go with Shikoku."
War could not be taken lightly. Gekko Chizan gratefully escaped the nightmare office.
The moment he stepped outside, he felt an immense weight lift off his shoulders.
He looked at Shikoku with eyes full of gratitude.
"Shikoku, you're my savior, my second father!"
"From now on, if you need my help, just say the word. I can't promise I'll be useful, but I'll always hear you out."
Shikoku: ... How is that any different from refusing?
"This has nothing to do with me. It was Suzaku's idea. He's in the Operations Department too."
"If you want to thank someone, thank him."
Inwardly, Gekko Chizan made a mental note about Nara Suzaku, already planning that someday he'd repay him — no, wait, retaliate.
"Haha, got it. Then I don't need to follow you, right?"
"I think when it comes to dealing with bees, my teacher will have a better solution. I'll go ask him."
Shikoku thought about it and admitted it made sense.
Orochimaru was an expert in handling such matters, and as the village's top researcher, he might indeed have a way.
But what Shikoku didn't know was that Gekko Chizan wasn't going to Orochimaru because of the Kamizuru.
He was simply going there to avoid work.
With a flash of Flying Thunder God, he vanished on the spot.
...
Arriving at the research institute, that familiar sinister aura pressed down on him. Gekko Chizan felt no discomfort — quite the opposite, he found it soothing. Perhaps it was due to Ryūchi Cave, but he had grown fond of dark, shadowy places.
"Sensei."
Hearing his student's call, Orochimaru slowly emerged from the laboratory, a playful smile curling his lips.
"The Kamizuru Clan matter?"
"Mm. Sensei already knows?"
"Of course I know such things. But bees suddenly carrying venom... that's not normal at all."
Orochimaru retrieved a jar from a nearby cabinet. Inside was a swarm of bees.
Gekko Chizan instantly recognized them as the very same kind controlled by the Kamizuru.
His sensei even had these on hand?
"The war has begun..."
"Chizan-kun, my time is running out..."
There was a faint trace of helplessness in Orochimaru's voice.
Indeed, the only reason he had been able to remain peacefully in the village was because the war dragged on.
But now that it had reignited, once it ended, his reckoning would surely come.
"Sensei, the retreat is already prepared."
"The Island Turtle has already reached the northern seas. Even if you're targeted, you can slip away at once."
"There's nothing to worry about."
Orochimaru nodded, never doubting the escape route his student had prepared.
Instead, his expression showed a faint spark of anticipation.
"The shinobi of Takigakure — do you know them?"
"Mm. Before, the shinobi of Amegakure were also aligned with us. Now that Amegakure's leader is dead, I believe Takigakure can also be drawn into our fold."
When it came to Orochimaru, Gekko Chizan held nothing but trust.
After all, his bond with Orochimaru had been built up bit by bit, until it was strong and close.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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