REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!Chapter 94: Orochimaru Who Hates Evil
Uchiha Shisui didn't know what would require his effort, but he felt the atmosphere in the spacious tent was extraordinarily quiet. Lord Orochimaru was reading some documents, while after greeting him, Hiruko and Ritsu-senpai sat in chairs continuing to rest with closed eyes.
He pressed his lips together and walked over to sit on a chair the attendants brought. Knowing many more high-ranking officials would come, he took initiative, bringing over many chairs and arranging them to avoid being too busy moving chairs when many people arrived at once.
Orochimaru seemed oblivious to this, tacitly permitting the behavior.
After about four more minutes, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza arrived together. Both Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Choza had rushed back yesterday. Originally Nara Shikaku was the chief officer at Kinkozan defensive position, but Orochimaru had recalled him with a single order to prevent any mishaps in their surprise attack on the Mist ninja—Nara Shikaku would temporarily exercise Supreme Commander authority in Orochimaru's place.
It could be said—
Nara Shikaku was the fuse Orochimaru had prepared.
Fortunately, the operation went smoothly. The Mist ninja were badly defeated. Konoha's surprise attack force only lost three civilian-born jonin and eight special jonin.
However, after returning to main camp, Nara Shikaku hadn't returned to Kinkozan defensive position because others had been assigned there. Moreover, now that the Mist ninja had been routed, if not for still needing to negotiate with the Mist ninja and sign a ceasefire agreement, they could already discuss withdrawal.
"Shikaku, Inoichi, Choza—sit and wait a moment. The others will arrive soon."
Orochimaru didn't raise his head, only extending his hand to point at the neatly arranged chairs.
Nara Shikaku's gaze wandered over Orochimaru, Hiruko, Ritsu, Uchiha Shisui, and Suikazan Fuguki lying on the ground. Then he noticed Yamanaka Inoichi beside him suddenly looking downcast, immediately becoming thoughtful.
He probed: "Lord Orochimaru, may I ask why you've called us here?"
"We'll talk when everyone's gathered."
Orochimaru's answer didn't change.
Seeing this, Nara Shikaku said no more. He, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza walked toward the empty chairs, greeting the three already seated one by one: "Hiruko-senpai, Clan Head Hyuga, Shisui-kun."
Uchiha Shisui stood to respond courteously—not at all like a typical Uchiha.
"Clan Head Nara, what a pity—we nearly couldn't meet again!"
Ritsu sat motionless, greeting Nara Shikaku with a smile.
Hearing this somewhat sarcastic greeting, Nara Shikaku narrowed his eyes slightly, his face showing a smile. "Clan Head Hyuga, you exaggerate. Someone who alone killed Ao and Biwa Juzo and captured Suikazan Fuguki alive—what danger could such ability encounter? On the other hand, if Kinkozan defensive position had been surrounded by so many jonin then, I'd probably have sacrificed on the spot!"
His answer was straightforward. Though Ritsu had departed from Kinkozan to execute the mission supporting Team Kakashi, he hadn't issued the order—it came from main camp. He'd only relayed it, unaware of the hidden daggers within.
"Seems the Mist ninja's intelligence work wasn't very thorough."
Ritsu sighed with a smile.
"Indeed."
Nara Shikaku answered vaguely, sitting down with Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza.
Next, no one continued speaking, maintaining this silent atmosphere. Time slipped away quietly in the silence. Aburame Shibi, Inuzuka Kō, Uchiha Izumo, Uchiha Teyaki—these people arrived one after another.
When finally Sarutobi Mochimoto arrived late, all those Orochimaru had named had come.
"Lord Orochimaru, may I ask what this is about?"
Sarutobi Mochimoto looked at so many people gathered in the tent, momentarily puzzled.
"Jonin Sarutobi Mochimoto, please be seated first."
Orochimaru set down the documents in his hand, sweeping his gaze over the assembled crowd. Basically all the influential high-ranking members of the eastern battlefield under his command had gathered—top families of Konoha Village all had representatives present.
After Sarutobi Mochimoto sat—
Only then did Orochimaru speak: "Since everyone's gathered, I'll explain why I called you here! Not long ago, when Team Kakashi was executing a supply transport mission, they encountered a Mist ninja ambush. Clan Head Hyuga, responsible for supporting Team Kakashi, also encountered Mist ninja traps. Investigation initially confirmed the Mist ninja possessed our detailed intelligence..."
"Lord Orochimaru, wasn't this matter already entrusted to Jonin Hiruko to investigate? Results came so quickly?" Jonin Sarutobi Mochimoto hastily interrupted.
"Jonin Sarutobi Mochimoto, don't interrupt randomly. I haven't finished speaking!"
Orochimaru's gaze was sharp as flying daggers.
Frightening Sarutobi Mochimoto's heart into contraction, he decisively bowed in apology: "My apologies, Lord Orochimaru. I was rude. Please forgive me."
"Don't let there be a next time."
Out of consideration for Teacher Sarutobi's face, he'd let this pass. Orochimaru continued: "At that time, both Kakashi and Clan Head Hyuga accused someone of selling intelligence to the Mist ninja, so I assigned Jonin Hiruko to investigate. But unfortunately, one of Deputy Commander Aburame Torune's subordinates committed suicide out of guilt. Torune requested punishment and returned to Konoha to receive discipline, making further investigation impossible and unnecessary."
At this point—
He paused to catch his breath.
Everyone remained silent as crows and sparrows, unlike Sarutobi Mochimoto's thoughtless interruption. All quietly awaited what came next.
"Fortunately, though internal investigation work proved difficult to advance, Clan Head Hyuga captured Mist ninja high-ranking member Suikazan Fuguki alive, allowing us to reveal the truth through interrogating him."
"Actually, we could have interrogated Fuguki then. However, Jonin Yamanaka Inoichi claimed he wasn't confident in reading Fuguki's brain, so the matter was shelved."
Saying this—
Orochimaru glanced at Yamanaka Inoichi. Currently, Inoichi hung his head, gaze downcast, avoiding contact with the examining looks directed at him.
"However, though Jonin Yamanaka Inoichi finds it inconvenient to act, we can still use genjutsu for guided interrogation. Therefore, today I've gathered everyone to collectively witness the interrogation of Suikazan Fuguki. After all, as I said, I will investigate this matter thoroughly to the very bottom, get to the truth, and absolutely cannot allow such vile behavior of selling comrades' intelligence to happen again!"
Orochimaru made his declaration with resounding finality.
Then—
He looked at Uchiha Shisui. "Shisui, this is your assignment. Use genjutsu to interrogate Suikazan Fuguki and make him reveal the truth about the attacks on Team Kakashi and Clan Head Hyuga!"
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