Kapitel 272: **Chapter 272: Cooperating with Orochimaru, the Root Organization's Disgrace!**
As the presence of Namikaze Minato and his team faded, the four surviving hired ninjas stood in shock and confusion. The sudden departure left them baffled. It felt like teetering on the edge of an abyss, only to find a path out at the last moment. The relief was overwhelming, and they couldn't help but tear up. None of them ever wanted to face that kind of torment again.
"Hehehe…"
"Reiki, you've given me quite the gift!"
A chilling voice echoed from the shadows.
"Who—?"
Before the ninjas could react, a swarm of snake-like shadows enveloped them.
"Orochimaru?!"
They finally saw their captor—a pale man with serpentine eyes. It was none other than Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin. But why was he here?
Orochimaru offered no explanation. A giant serpent appeared and swallowed the four of them whole before disappearing into the night.
It was Reiki who had summoned Orochimaru. When he tasked Kakuzu with attacking the four ninjas the previous day, he already had plans for what to do with them. Killing them outright felt wasteful. Bringing them back to the village would likely only bring more complications, knowing Hiruzen Sarutobi's tendency for leniency and the potential for political entanglements.
That's when Reiki thought of Orochimaru—a man unafraid of trouble and constantly seeking new "materials" for his experiments. These captured ninjas would be perfect for his purposes. After sending a shadow clone to reach Konoha quickly, Reiki contacted Orochimaru, who agreed without hesitation and even made a promise in return.
By noon the next day, the team returned to Konoha without further incidents.
"I'll report the mission and get the rewards distributed today. Go rest; I'll inform you about the next mission a day in advance," Minato said before vanishing in a flash.
Akimichi Choza and Aburame Kan exchanged brief farewells with Reiki before heading home.
"Nozuki, are you going home or coming with me to see the teacher?" Reiki asked.
"Let's see the teacher. I defeated a Jonin on my own; I want to tell her and make her proud," Nozuki said with a smile. She had gained a lot from this mission, and being Reiki's partner meant she also enjoyed the perks of free resources.
"Great. Let's pick up some ingredients and make something good to eat. I'm tired of those ration pills."
Laughing, the two made their way to the market.
Back at their courtyard, Tsunade had just returned. While Reiki, Shizune, and Kurenai prepared food, Nozuki eagerly recounted her mission stories to Tsunade.
---
**Late at Night, at the Orphanage**
"Swish, swish, swish…"
Three figures moved stealthily through the shadows.
"The list."
"Machuan, Kazeto, Kenta, Rei, Hanyu Azawa. All confirmed. Commence capture mission."
The trio, holding information about the five children, moved in to seize them.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Before they could enter, they were forcefully repelled from within. Their vision darkened, and they collapsed unconscious.
"Three more test subjects secured."
Orochimaru emerged from the shadows, smirking. "But with someone as exceptional as Reiki here, I can't let him fall into anyone else's hands. After all, he is Tsunade's disciple."
Orochimaru didn't fully understand Reiki's actions. With such talent, Reiki should have been laser-focused on growing stronger, not caught up in these matters. Orochimaru assumed Reiki's dedication to healing was rooted in personal or family issues. These pursuits, in Orochimaru's eyes, only delayed his progress. Reiki could have easily reached Jonin status by now, like Uchiha Shisui, who had accelerated his development in the Anbu.
Still, it was Reiki's choice. Orochimaru could only watch, intrigued. Gathering the unconscious intruders, he disappeared into the darkness.
---
**The Next Morning, at Root Headquarters**
"Disappeared?" Danzo's brows furrowed as he listened to the report. "Their mission was simply to retrieve children from the orphanage. How could they vanish in the village?"
Root members were trained to prioritize missions above all else. Losing contact with three operatives at once was unheard of.
"Only traces of one person were found," said his aide. "But it's not particularly suspicious—it's Orochimaru. He might have been searching for subjects for his experiments."
Danzo's expression softened. "I see. Summon Orochimaru. If he was here last night, he might know something."
Danzo trusted Orochimaru more than most would believe. As long as Orochimaru needed resources for his experiments, he relied on Danzo's support—something Hiruzen Sarutobi would never provide openly.
---
In the end, Danzo learned nothing. Orochimaru's skill at covering his tracks was unmatched. To everyone else, the three Root members had simply vanished from Konoha.
**At the Hokage's Office**
Hiruzen Sarutobi also received the report about the missing ninjas. Yet, he trusted Danzo to manage such matters himself. He had bigger issues to focus on—the Uchiha clan.
The current behavior of the Uchiha was not what he expected. The death of Uchiha Tani should have made them more volatile, yet they were unusually calm. Even their police work had become more harmonious.
This was not the outcome Sarutobi wanted.
>>>>>
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