"Planning to hire... me?"
Orochimaru examined with interest this peculiarly shaped pitcher plant before him plus the yin-yang faced humanoid creature emerging from within.
Even he was seeing such a thing for the first time.
"Correct, correct~" White Zetsu answered lightheartedly. "Mizukage-sama is recruiting capable helpers! Compensation proves quite generous!"
Black Zetsu said, "For someone like you who already parted ways with Konoha, obtaining Kirigakure's protection proves difficult."
Orochimaru laughed hoarsely. This creature calling itself "Zetsu" completely failed to understand he chose casting off restraints rather than being unable to find shinobi villages for shelter. However, such misunderstanding proved inconsequential.
What truly interested him was "Zetsu" this creature itself, plus Kirigakure's bizarre actions. Accepting employment itself also facilitated his future Land of Water operations.
Perhaps he could borrow this opportunity to find some unexpected materials.
"Sounds... somewhat interesting," Orochimaru examined Zetsu. "This commission, I accept."
His gaze swept across the robe on Zetsu's body.
These clothes seemed related to Akatsuki, which recently began gaining some reputation in the shinobi world. If memory served, that should be an organization active in the Land of Fire's western regions.
Their members actually appeared in the east, even serving Kirigakure's Mizukage?
"Then afterward, lead your subordinates and wait at this location for Mizukage-sama's subsequent orders," Zetsu left a commission document before his body submerged underground, rapidly vanishing.
Orochimaru bent down. His pale fingers lightly touched that ground where Zetsu disappeared.
"This kind of Earth Release. No, not Earth Release but special secret techniques." He felt no signs of chakra softening earth. Underground also lacked voids produced from movement. Even residual chakra fluctuations proved abnormally faint and rapidly dissipated.
This even differed completely from his commonly used techniques. Speed also proved fast, almost vanishing from his perception range the instant of submerging into earth.
After leaving the village, interesting matters grew increasingly numerous.
Konoha Village, Hokage's office.
Outside the window, sky color darkened. Inside the office, lamplight blazed brightly.
Shizune had just moved away a stack of completed documents before turning to carry in new piles.
Shuji still could not leave. The document quantity on his desk seemed to possess growth capability. This shift looked set to continue overtime until the moment Tsunade formally assumed office.
Having refused secretary work only benefited the future. Currently, he still could not escape clerical work.
Whenever this time came, he doubted his choice. At least with the Third in position, he could still sleep at home.
Rather than...
His gaze fell on the opposite side of the office desk. Tsunade held a scroll blocking her face, maintaining this posture for quite a while now. Even her shoulder movements had become abnormally steady.
Shuji pinched up a waste paper ball, his wrist lightly flicking. The paper ball traced a slight arc, precisely hitting Tsunade's forehead.
Tsunade startled. The scroll slid down, revealing her face carrying some sleepiness and confusion. After clearly seeing Shuji, that bit of grogginess was instantly replaced by irritation.
"What are you doing!"
"You seemed to have fallen asleep."
"I did not!"
"Is that so? Then why didn't you dodge just now?"
"That, that was because I was too absorbed in thinking!"
When Nara Shikaku and the current ANBU Commander walked in, they witnessed this scene: the Fifth Hokage assuming office tomorrow glaring angrily at the village's gradually rising young jōnin.
"Ahem, Lady Tsunade," Shikaku timely spoke, breaking this subtle atmosphere.
Tsunade withdrew her gaze, indicating Shikaku and the ANBU Commander to sit.
"The Land of Water direction, are there any new movements?"
"Kirigakure headquarters still maintains closure. No large-scale mobilization signs," the ANBU Commander answered. "The Land of Forests and Land of Frost regions recently showed unidentified wandering shinobi and rogue ninja activity."
"Land of Forests and Land of Frost," Tsunade's fingertips lightly tapped the desktop. "Purpose?"
"Preliminary investigation indicates seemingly quite generously compensated commissions appeared."
Shuji raised his eyes slightly. Considerable compensation plus seeking rogue ninja indicated commission targets could not see daylight.
The Land of Forests and Land of Frost's only commonality was both having sea access. If forcibly connecting with Kirigakure's movements.
Did Obito want extensively using rogue ninja?
Nara Shikaku spoke at this time. "Though locations scatter across two countries, timing proves so consistent. The commissioning party very likely is the same force."
"Combined with current situations, the only possible target is Kirigakure."
Actually, this jōnin council leader rather did not wish speculating in this direction.
Because it proved too absurd.
Kirigakure and Konoha already had direct friction. Why go to such superfluous lengths hiring these unreliable external forces?
Kirigakure could not obtain any benefits through this matter. Even if ultimately embarrassing Konoha and truly provoking a new round of shinobi world war, overseas Kirigakure would be immediately expelled.
Afterward, other shinobi villages might accordingly gain benefits. As for Kirigakure, only dead people and spending money remained.
Therefore, Nara Shikaku could not fathom what purpose they held. Could they really just insist on troubling Konoha? Was it necessary? No such great grudge existed.
However, currently guessing the opponent's motives held no meaning. Since already confirming Kirigakure was making moves, Konoha's side could make corresponding actions.
"ANBU continues monitoring those rogue ninja. Can conduct clearance as circumstances warrant," Tsunade ordered.
Current priority matters were tomorrow's succession ceremony. First harass and affect opponent assembly.
After tomorrow's succession ceremony came time for preparing counterattacks.
"Shikaku, strengthen border patrol squad configurations, especially the Land of Forests. The Prajna Group has remained restless. Don't let them cause incidents at this time."
Nara Shikaku and the ANBU Commander responded in unison before exiting the Hokage's office.
Watching their departing backs, Tsunade fell into new troubles.
Logically, after a new Hokage assumed position, ANBU also required replacing several people.
Especially the ANBU Commander position. She still hesitated about who to use.
She glanced again at Shuji buried in documents, considering. He refused even secretary work, much less the busier ANBU Commander.
Thinking this, Tsunade could not help feeling somewhat stifled. Previously, how had she failed noticing this guy was actually lazy?
Her gaze fell on that paper ball that previously hit her forehead on the desk. Her heart stirred. She grabbed it up and threw it toward Shuji's head.
Shuji tilted his head, dodging.
Tsunade crumpled another waste paper ball and threw it.
Shuji dodged again.
"Don't move!" This time Tsunade simply grabbed a handful of waste paper, crumpling it into a large ball. "Your previous offense is not finished!"
Just at this time, the office door was pushed open again. This time Shizune entered.
She looked at Tsunade's posture, then at Shuji.
"Lady Tsunade..."
"Wait, Shizune. Let me first handle matters at hand."
"Um, Shuji-kun, the Third said if convenient, he would like you to visit him..."
Before Shizune's words finished, Shuji had already risen from his seat, instantly sweeping past Shizune and vanishing at the office doorway.
"...Eh?" Shizune looked at the empty seat, blinking.
"Hey! You! Come back!" Tsunade held the paper ball, shouting toward the empty doorway before ultimately only resentfully tossing the paper ball back onto the desk. "...Runs quite fast though."
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild