I rushed into the Hokage's office. But this time I wasn't stopped. I was a bit famous now. Although I did not crash into the place. After meeting the Anbu and knocking. It was quite fast all things considered.
The Hokage was working on some papers.
"Lord Third, I need your help. And if possible, I would like to talk in private."
Hiruzen raised his head. Seeing my sincere expression, he waved his hand, and the Anbu Disappeared.
I decided to directly cut throught the bullshit.
"What is your opinion on Human Experimentation? Especially forced?"
"The village absolutely condemns it, and as part of the 5 Kage treaty, it is a punishable offense. But what does that have to do with the help you need?"
"I have found confirmed traces of Human Experimentation in the village. I am going to raid one of their labs tonight. But I have a feeling that someone very high up in the chain of command is protecting them. So I need you, and if possible, Lord Jiraya, to accompany me to the raid."
His back went rigid. He was serious now. His expression was complex. As if debating what to tell me. "They are volunteers."
I stopped. What? Is this all happening with the Hokage's tacit approval? Then why did Orochimaru defect after the Third War? Or was he mistaking my problem for something else?
Oh right. There was something about him and Danzo experimenting to resuscitate Wood release right? But they failed and sealed the records in canon. He is misunderstanding me.
"I know for a fact that my clan member who is in that lab was kidnapped. The Yamis have a connection as I have told you before."
This made the Hokage pause. He must not have authorized anything like this. Now it was a problem.
He sighed. No doubt cursing Danzo in his heart. Then got up. "I'll help you get your clanmate back. But this news cannot get out."
I wanted to argue the unfairness of it. But his voice brokered no argument.
"I just want my Shinobi back."
"Come, I'll take you there," he sighed and got up.
As we moved towards the edge of the village, the Hokage stopped me. "You're going the wrong way, Ren."
I knew it. He had no clue about that lab. "Lord Third, I am certain that Lord Orochimaru's lab and my clanmate is this way."
"Orochimaru's Lab?"
-----
We found ourselves back in the office again.
"Explain. From the start."
"Before we continue. I also have a suspicion that Lord Danzo might be involved in this. SO I request you to not include the council for a little while at least."
"That's a very heavy accusation, Ren. Are you sure you can take responsibility for it?"
That's why I said. When you swing at the king. You'd better not miss.
"The Snake Sanin, I'm sure. Lord Danzo, No. But someone high on the elder council must have helped. A lab inside the village does not appear out of thin air."
I pushed out the entry seal on the outer door. We will have to break this seal without alerting them.
The Hokage had threatened me with the consequences several times. But when I threatened that I would take my clan and attack it anyway. With or without him. He went along. His consequences and my threat were both bluffs. I won't lead my clan into slaughter. He will not punish me hard for worrying about one of my own. And since only he and I knew the truth so far. I was confident of only getting a slap on the wrist if we failed. After all, Hiruzen was not that kind of a man.
The Hokage and I worked on the seal. While my clan ran around in the village. We made it look like we were trying to find Taku. But it was a mask. Haruto quietly slipped into the mission desk and issued a Uchiha-specific mission.
One night of work, Minimal Chunin-level fighting. Not going out of the village. Secrecy required. Generous compensation. It hurt the wallet, but it was necessary.
-----
2 hours later. The Hokage had deciphered and unraveled the seal. I would like to say I helped. But not really. The professor was still in a class of his own. I sent a message through the Yami. Their range wasn't big, but enough to cover the majority of the village. My clan started assembling at the Hokage tower.
Haruto informed me of the acceptance of the quest.
In just under half an hour. A hundred Kurosawa Shinobi and a hundred Anbu gathered at the gate.
"What are we waiting for?"
"Reinforcements."
The Hokage raised an eyebrow. Brat, do what more reinforcements do you want! You have the damn Hokage with you!
"These will be exceptionally helpful in opening the inner door. We can smash through it, sure. But I don't want to take the risk. Nor do I want to spend days deciphering the inner, more complex seal door that was guarded."
The Hokage wanted to say something when four new faces showed up. I knew one was Haruto. The other three wore Konoha Military Police Uniforms with their fan-like clan emblems stitched on them.
"Uchiha Yashiro?"
When the Hokage took the name, I remembered. Wasn't this guy Fugaku's right-hand man? Fugaku hadn't been named clan head yet. But the day was close. And this guy was the leader of the next generation of Hawks.
I gave generous money, but not generous enough to hire a damn Jonin squad. The Uchiha had consolidated their power in the KMPF(Konoha Military Police Force) in the last war. And now they were properly feeling the sting of the hidden dagger that the Second Hokage had left them. The isolation and marginalization.
"I was curious to know who was paying 100,000 Ryo for one night of Chunin-level work. Didn't expect to find the Hokage himself."
Suspicion, huh, that makes sense. And also my luck. I spoke up before it turned into a political delay. "Good, you are here. The advance team will consist of the Hokage, the Jonins, the Uchihas, and me. The rest will wait for the Hokage's signal before entering. Stealth is paramount. We cannot risk the hostages."
We were on a clock now. This gathering had gathered too much attention already.
I knew they had questions. But the Hokage's presence suppressed all with one word. "Later"
And just like that, we moved out.