章節 315: Chapter 315 - Tobirama's Anger
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood in the deepest chamber in the Hokage tower. And standing in front of him was the reanimated Second Hokage.
"You wanted to see me so urgently sensei?" Hiruzen asked as he saw the man's stony expression. 'He couldn't have known about the attack on Tsunade. So then something must have happened at Madara's tomb.'
Tobirama only gave a single nod and then his eyes narrowed as he looked at his successor. "I have troubling news but that can wait. Why is the village in a level 1 emergency state? What happened?"
Hiruzen internally sighed and quickly began explaining the troubles that had popped up since the Academy graduation day. He explained how Mizuki used Naruto to steal the Forbidden scroll, how the prisoners were let loose and how the new graduates defeated Mizuki.
While Hiruzen was proud that the new Genins were already proving their mettle, Tobirama had a much different opinion. "Those Genins should have reported the incident to their superiors or to you the moment they learned of that man's treachery. Instead they acted recklessly and could have gotten themselves killed. The Uchiha almost dying is proof of that." Tobirama replied sternly.
The harshness in the Second Hokage's voice made Hiruzen internally wince. 'Harsh he may be but he's right. In hindsight, I could have also made several different choices.'
Seeing the stony gaze of the white haired ninja, Hiruzen tried to speak on behalf of the Rookie 9. "They are just children and they're only Genin in name. And they did help in capturing the main culprits."
Tobirama let out a small breath as he saw the soft natured side of his former student. His face softened and he spoke in a calmer tone. "Hiruzen. During the warring era, during my childhood, if any of us made a mistake like that we'd be killed. And even if we survived by some luck we'd be severely punished for taking such foolish actions. It wouldn't matter that we were just children."
"But this isn't the warring era. You and Lord Hashirama changed all that so children could grow, choose their own path, make mistakes and then learn from them."
Tobirama sighed as he thought about all he and his brother did. He decided to change the topic. "Is the scroll secure? Is there any damage?"
"The Forbidden Scroll is under heavy protection. And No. There isn't any damage to it." The old Hokage shook his head.
Tobirama nodded. "Good. What about the prisoners?"
"We've recaptured all of them and the minor damage they caused has been rectified."
Hiruzen's reply puzzled the Second Hokage. Tobirama crossed his arms and his gaze sharpened. "You wouldn't still have the village on alert like this if the situation was over. So what else happened?"
The old kage was silent for several moments before he spoke. Tobirama noted the change in the man's demeanor.
"On the night Mizuki launched his attack, Orochimaru ambushed Tsunade and her student near the northern border. He had a large team with him and based on what I know they've both been abducted by him."
The news cut through Tobirama's soul like a blade and it ignited a fierce fire within him. The next moment, his chakra which was typically calm and controlled, surged with an intensity that seemed to shake the very earth beneath his feet. The air around him crackled with electricity signifying the manifestation of his growing fury.
In an instant, Tobirama's demeanor transformed from composed to electrifying. His eyes, usually calm and calculating, were now blazed with cold fury. The ground trembled and cracked beneath him with just the sheer force of his chakra.
The old kage had to take a couple steps back to steady himself as he felt the weight of the man's wrath in the air. To Hiruzen it was as if he was in front of a storm that was about to unleash its fury.
The third Hokage trembled as he saw the rage in his teacher's eyes. In that moment it was like he was standing in front of a force of nature that embodied chaos and destruction.
Hiruzen understood one thing as he felt his predecessor's anger. 'He wasn't just spending time trying to create a counter to the reanimation jutsu… He also improved it. This power. There is no mistaking it. He's managed to bring himself back to his peak strength.'
Instantly another thought entered his mind as the old kage looked around the room. 'The seals. They'll break if he keeps this up and everyone will sense his presence.'
"Sensei please. You need to control your chakra."
To Tobirama, the moment he heard the terrible news, the image of a blonde little girl with a big smile who used to follow him and his brother around came to mind. 'Tsunade.'
The news that she was attacked and taken infuriated the man and made him lose his composure. It was only after hearing Hiruzen's plea that he came to his senses. Tobirama stood amidst the aftermath, his chest rising and falling with each measured breath as he gradually regained his composure. It was only then that he noticed his fingers digging into his palms.
The electric tension that had once surrounded him began to dissipate, replaced by an aura of solemn tranquility. With a deliberate motion, Tobirama unclenched his fists and released the pent-up energy that had coursed through his body like wildfire.
The third Hokage let out a breath of relief. 'The seals didn't break. Thank goodness. Otherwise we'd be swarmed right now. And seeing Lord Second would have opened a whole other can of worms.'
While the Third Hokage felt relief, the Second was experiencing a different emotion.
Even though Tobirama regained his composure the anger in his eyes was still visible. "Hiruzen, explain to me how this happened. How did Orochimaru manage to abduct Tsunade and Shizune so easily?"
"It was a calculated assault, sensei. The patrol squads and other shinobi were redirected to other areas to make sure the prisoners didn't escape and to secure the borders near those sections. Orochimaru used that moment to go after them. We believe he had been planning this for months, if not longer. This attack was unexpected. It happened in the brief moment when our defenses were at their lowest." Hiruzen replied with a subdued tone.
Tobirama's eyes narrowed and his voice grew a tad colder. "Unexpected? Orochimaru was once a student of yours, Hiruzen. You should have anticipated something like this from him. And now, Tsunade is paying the price because of your oversight."
Hiruzen met Tobirama's icy gaze, his own resolve hardening. "I know you're angry and your criticism is warranted, Tobirama. But blame and regret won't help us save them."
A brief moment of silence passed as Tobirama collected his thoughts. His mind worked on how to rescue his grandniece. "We need to use Anbu ninjas to locate them immediately. Time is of the essence. We don't know Orochimaru's intentions but I have a feeling they won't bode well for either of them."
Hiruzen nodded with the plan. "I've already organized and sent several Anbu and tracker teams."
"And?"
At Tobirama's questioning gaze, Hiruzen sighed and spoke. "Nothing concrete but there has been some developments. We've managed to identify 8 locations but we can't confirm if Tsunade or Shizune are in any of them."
Tobirama's brows furrowed in anger. "Orochimaru... What's his goal? Why did he abduct Tsunade and her apprentice?"
"We suspect he might be after Tsunade's unparalleled medical ninjutsu or her forbidden techniques. At this point it's unclear what he wants. All we have are theories."
The Second Hokage noted the slight reluctance on the old Kage's face. "What aren't you telling me Hiruzen?"
The third Hokage was silent for a few moments before he spoke. "We have another theory as to why Orochimaru took Tsunade… To experiment on her. On the Senju bloodline."
Tobirama's eyes widened when he heard that. He couldn't help but clench his fist and grit his teeth again. "That damn snake. He should have been dealt with a long time ago."
"This is just a theory. We don't know for sure if that's the case." The third Hokage said trying to calm him.
"Regardless, we need to save those two as quickly as possible. We can't let Orochimaru roam freely with such valuable hostages."
Hiruzen nodded and agreed with his predecessor's statement.
"We also have to secure our village against any other threats. This abduction might just be the beginning…" Tobirama suddenly realized something and asked. "What about Mizuki? Does he know anything?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "He doesn't. He was just a pawn."
"Have there been any other incidents?"
"Yes. Some of Orochimaru's people went after the Genin Daichi Hekima."
The Second Hokage's eyes narrowed when he heard that name. "Daichi Hekima… Isn't he also Tsunade's student?"
Hiruzen nodded. "Yes. I've sent him along with two other Jonins to investigate a lead. It was during their return to the village that they were ambushed. A few kilometers away from the capital. In the forest."
"Based on your expression I assume that the ambush failed?"
The third Hokage nodded. "Yes. We were able to capture several of Orochimaru's people. And among them is a crystal style user."
'Crystal Style huh. That's a rare and unique bloodline.' Tobirama had only seen that special Kekkei Genkai a few times during the battles in the warring era. "I can't believe there is still someone with that bloodline in this time period."
Hiruzen looked at his teacher with a questioning gaze. Tobirama began explaining what he knew about the Crystal style users.
"The crystal style users… Their clan was small and the people who could awaken and use that ability were few in numbers. But those who could were exceptionally strong. The way they could use their bloodline. It was incredible. They could crystalize nearly anything. It's a powerful bloodline that could be used offensively and defensively. Just one Crystal style user was enough to decimate entire squads of ninjas."
Hiruzen was surprised to hear that. He read the report on Daichi's battle with Guren but hearing the power and abilities of the bloodline from his sensei broadened his understanding of their strength.
Tobirama asked for more details on the incident and Hiruzen explained everything. When the Second Hokage heard that Daichi defeated the crystal style user on his own he was surprised. 'He's grown beyond what I anticipated. Hiruzen certainly didn't underestimate his talent.'
The Senju crossed his arms and was in deep thought. 'Orochimaru has Tsunade. Why would he need Daichi? Is it to hold him hostage and force her to do something? No. Orochimaru already has Shizune to use as leverage… So what could he be after?'
Tobirama looked at Hiruzen and spoke. "Without more information, we won't know why he went after the boy but one thing is certain. That child is more important to him than we realize."
Hiruzen agreed. "Exactly what I was thinking. At the moment I have Kakashi keeping an eye on him."
"Good." Tobirama nodded. He was silent for a few moments before he asked another question that's been on his mind. "Do you suspect Danzo's involvement in this? He and Orochimaru have had… questionable associations in the past. It's no secret he's always had his own agenda."
Hiruzen was silent and thought for a few moments before he replied. "Danzo... His ambitions are no secret. Whether he had a hand in this or not… It's a very small possibility but we cannot ignore it."
Tobirama narrowed his eyes as he heard that response.
Hiruzen began explaining the reason for his suspicion. "Danzo's ambition for my position and his 'ends justify the means' philosophy could align with Orochimaru's plans. It's possible Danzo sees Orochimaru's actions as a means to take control and become Hokage."
"But do you believe he helped Orochimaru with this attack on Tsunade?" Tobirama asked again.
The Third Hokage was silent for several seconds. He then looked at his teacher and spoke. "No. I don't think he was involved…"
"But you're not sure."
"He already went after Tsunade and Daichi once several years ago. He failed. And he tried to have me assassinated to get my seat. So I don't know what to believe…"
Tobirama, who didn't know about these incidents before, was shocked. "What you're describing is treasonous crimes. And you still did nothing?"
"There was nothing left that tied back to him. And without any proof I had to tread on delicate grounds. Accusing him without evidence would have only caused more chaos within the village at that time. However, I've had ANBU keep a closer eye on him and his Root operatives."
"What about the Root sleeper cells that have infiltrated the ranks?" Tobirama asked with a hardened tone.
"You know about that?" Hiruzen sighed. 'I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.'
"I've been doing my own investigations. Things have certainly not gone the way I expected…"
Tobirama's words made Hiruzen lower his head. "Forgive me sensei. I continued your work but I was nowhere as skillful as you."
The Second Hokage sighed. He decided to focus on what was important. "Tell me about the eight bases you mentioned. What information do you have on them?"
"Seven of them could be decoys to distract us or even reduce our manpower. But the eighth… Scouts have reported two powerful chakras in that building. But we couldn't confirm Tsunade or Orochimaru's presence in any one of them." Hiruzen paused for a second and then told the theory Shikaku proposed. He also told the man of his decision to use sleeper agents in the ranks for the operation.
Tobirama was silent for several moments. "You're right. We can't have the village destabilized in such a precarious time. Do it. But when the moment comes I'll confront Danzo myself."
Hirzuen nodded. "I understand sensei."
The old kage turned around and was about to leave when a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned his head and saw the determined face of his teacher.
"Hiruzen. I want you to understand this. Tsunade has my brother's blood running through her veins. She is family. So if need be my involvement will go far beyond duty. By going after her Orochimaru made this personal."
Hiruzen's eyes slightly narrowed. "What exactly are you saying, sensei?"
"We will do whatever it takes to bring Tsunade and Shizune back. Orochimaru will face judgment for his actions. Tsunade isn't just my grand-niece, Hiruzen. She represents the future of this village. Her safety is paramount. So if I have to step out of the shadows, I will."
The third Hokage was silent for a few seconds before slowly nodding his head. "I understand Lord Second."
Tobirama nodded. "I want constant updates on the situation and inform me of the assembled teams' readiness. I will lead them myself if the need arises."
Time: 2:30 am
—------------
Author's Note:
I hope I wrote Tobirama's character as true to himself. Let me know your thoughts. Things are about to heat up.
If you like my story and want to read ahead, then check out my P.a.T.R.E.0.N page. I've uploaded up to 30 additional chapters there.
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章節 316: Chapter 316 - Interrogation: Ibiki's Mind Games
Leaf Village - Forest.
"This is very troubling news Jiraiya boy." A small green road with white hair, thick eyebrows and small goatee spoke. "To think that man would do something like this after all these years…"
"I know. It's the reason I summoned you, boss." Jiraiya was respectful as he spoke to the elder toad. "I've been able to dig up information on Orochimaru but it might be too late by the time we act on it. I was hoping you could make contact with Tsunade's summon Katsuyu."
"I'll see what I can do Jiraiya. In the meantime… How are you holding up?" The toad sage Fukasaku was concerned as he looked at his student.
Jiraiya looked down as he remembered the day he confronted Orochimaru. "I should have taken care of him that day when he escaped. I was merciful. And today that mercy has caused untold tragedies."
"You can't predict the future and you can't control what he does. This isn't on you Jiraiya."
The Toad sage clenched his fist. "Regardless, he is now my responsibility. No matter what, I'm going to find him and stop him once and for all."
Fukasaku nodded. "I'm heading back to the mountains. I'll try to make contact with Katsuyu as soon as possible."
Jiraiya nodded. Just before Fukasaku disappeared Jiraiya spoke. "In the next few days, please be ready. And please tell Ma' to be prepared. I might be in need of both of your assistance."
The small green toad nodded in understanding. "I got it. But one of these days you need to learn to go into sage mode by yourself."
The toad Sannin had a small smile as he listened to the old toad's lecture. "I'm nowhere near as proficient in it as either of you."
"And that's why you need to train." Fukasaku replied. The green toad made a ram seal and vanished in a puff of smoke the next instant.
—-
T
In the dimly lit, confines of a secured interrogation room deep within the bowels of the T (Torture and Interrogation) Department in Konoha, a tense atmosphere prevailed. The room, sparsely furnished with a stark metal table and chairs, was designed to disorient and apply psychological pressure on its occupants.
At one end of the table was Ibiki Morino, one of Konoha's most formidable interrogators. Across from him was Rinji. A high-value prisoner with direct ties to Orochimaru. The tied up prisoner displayed defiance on his face but Ibiki was slowly cutting through that mask.
It's only been a few hours but Ibiki was slowly starting to understand the mind of his prisoner. He started with subtle psychological tactics, carefully observing Rinji's reactions to gauge his mental state.
Ibiki's approach was methodical and he was able to create an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty inside his victim's mind. His goal was to exploit any cracks in Rinji's loyalty to Orochimaru, to sow doubt and fear.
The interrogator looked at the tied up man without any pity. 'He's ambitious and has above average intelligence. He's also the scheming type. On top of that he has an inferiority complex when it comes to Kabuto but he's trying his best to hide it.'
Ibiki didn't utter a word as he stared at Rinji. He even used silence as his weapon. 'Unlike that woman Guren this man isn't as devoted to Orochimaru as he wants us to believe. That may be my chance.'
Finally, Ibiki leaned forward slightly, breaking the silence with a voice that was calm but carried an underlying edge of menace. "Rinji, you're a smart man," he began, his tone deceptively conversational. "You should understand the situation you're in… And you know that your cooperation can... alleviate certain outcomes."
Rinji swallowed and then kept his voice steady as he responded. "I have nothing to say to you. I won't betray Lord Orochimaru."
Ibiki had a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Betrayal is such a harsh word. Instead, you should think of it as... reassessing one's loyalties in light of new information. After all, loyalty to a cause that is doomed to fail is, quite frankly, stupidity."
Rinji smiled as he looked at the Leaf ninja. "Oh Please. You can dress it up however you want. But the reality is, the moment you get what you want from me, I'll be dead. So unless you're willing to let me go, which I highly doubt, I don't have any incentives to help you."
Ibiki smirked as he looked at the man. "You're right. But there are things far worse than death in our world."
The way it was spoken immediately erased the smile on Rinji's face. He clenched his fists under the table in anger.
Ibiki was undeterred and he continued. "Alright. We won't speak of betrayals then. Let's talk about survival. About choices… You see, I'm not here to break you. I'm here to offer you a chance. A chance to reconsider the path you're on."
Ibiki then shifted tactics, detailing the fates of the other followers of Orochimaru who chose silence over cooperation. "You're not immune to the consequences of your choices, Rinji. No one is. But it's not too late. You have valuable information. Information that can save important lives. Helping us isn't betrayal, it's choosing a different future… Think about it. In the end, what reward do you get for your loyalty to Orochimaru? Isolation? Suffering? Maybe even death?"
Rinji was silent even as fear slowly gripped his heart but he tried not to show it on his face. He kept his mouth shut and still held a defiant attitude.
"I want to ask you a question? Orochimaru uses many people as just disposables. Do you think you're one of those people or do you think Orochimaru sees any value in you? Like he does with Kabuto." Ibiki asked, keeping a calm tone. He deliberately mentioned Kabuto's name just to provoke a reaction out of the tied up man.
"Of course he does." The answer came from the man too quickly.
Ibiki smiled when he heard that answer. "You don't have to answer my next question. You just have to think about the answer in your heart. Just do yourself a favor. Don't lie to yourself."
Seeing Rinji's silence, Ibiki continued. "Orochimaru tasked your team with rescuing Kabuto from our Anbu. Do you think he'd do the same for you if he found out you've been captured? Or do you think he'd just kill you to stop any information leak?"
The interrogation specialist leaned back in his chair and turned his attention to the glass near him. He took the small jar of water and began to fill the cup. The man drank the glass of water as he glanced at his prey.
Rinji was cautious and he tried to gauge the interrogators' intentions. He was looking for loopholes and ways to mislead them without giving away vital information. However, Ibiki's psychological maneuvers were designed to induce guilt, fear, and doubt and slowly chip away at his resolve.
Ibiki was an expert in the art of interrogation and reading body language. He could see several micro emotions appearing and disappearing on Rinji's face.
Several moments of silence later Rinji spoke. "As long as I stay silent I'm valuable to my Lord. And even if I die, I don't have any regrets because Lord Orochimaru will complete his goals and take revenge for me. So Leaf nin… I don't have anything to say to you."
Ibiki leaned forward, with a menacing smile on his lips. "Oh, but I think you do. Rinji, we already have a good deal of information on Orochimaru's operations. What I'm interested in now is...the finer details. And I believe you're just the man to fill in those blanks. You see, I understand you better than you might think. You're intelligent, calculated, and you weigh every decision carefully. You're not blindly loyal to Orochimaru, you're loyal to your survival, to the idea that serving him is your best option."
Ibiki slowly stood from his chair and walked behind Rinji. "Do you want to know what else I learned?"
The man was tense as Ibiki leaned closer to his ear.
"You're not as valuable as you'd like us to believe. You have information on Orochimaru but you aren't one of his trusted men, are you? That means there is a good chance you don't have the intelligence we're looking for. That would be unfortunate for you… You understand where I'm going with this right?"
Rinji's eyes flickered with a hint of uncertainty. He sensed the change in Ibiki's demeanor. He tried to mask it quickly, but Ibiki had already seen it—a crack in Rinji's facade.
Ibiki continued, the psychological noose tightening. "When you were brought in, Daichi gave us a full report on your team. He noted that it was Guren who called the shots. She's the leader. Not you. And based on his observations you were all intimidated by her."
"So what?" Rinji gritted his teeth and asked. The anger in his tone was visible.
"You see, in your position, your worth is measured by the information you can provide. And if you're not as useful as we thought, well, I'm sure you can imagine the implications."
Ibiki gave another blow to his target's psyche. "Here. Let me show you something."
The Leaf ninja took a scroll from his pocket and spread it across the table in front of him. The scroll was a map of Fire country and its bordering nations including the Land of Rice Paddies. On the map several spots were marked with a red X.
Rinji took a look at the map and slowly his eyes widened in shock.
"See. This is just a small piece of the intel we gathered on Orochimaru and his hideouts. I'm showing this to make you realize that you don't hold all the cards. So unless you can provide us with new intel we don't know, your life will get infinitely harder from here on out."
Rinji looked at the marked location on the map and was shocked. 'Those are the locations of some of the bases recently built in this country and there are even a few marked in the Sound village. How did they get that? I thought Orochimaru made sure to keep the existence of those locations a secret.'
The nails on Rinji's fingers dug into his palm. 'Damn it. Am I going to die for no reason? If they have this much information then they'd definitely have more. Lord Orochimaru's plan to capture Daichi failed. Even if his plans with Tsunade succeed, Orochimaru won't be able to survive the wrath of an entire great village… Am I going to die because of his mistakes? Should I…'
After several long moments of silence Rinji spoke. "Hypothetically, if I tell you what I know, what do I get in return?"
"That depends on the information you give us. If it helps us with our current situation, you'll be looked upon much more favorably." Ibiki told him.
Rinji was silent for a few moments. Ibiki then added another point. "You should hurry up though. My colleagues are currently interrogating the woman and the others in a much more hands on manner. If they decide to cooperate, your value becomes even lower."
"Guren and Gozu won't talk. And the rest of those fools. They don't know anything." Rinji spoke with a frown on his face.
"We have mind readers capable of pulling out your deepest darkest secrets. It might take some time but the results speak for themselves. So Rinji. In all fairness, I don't need them to talk." Ibiki replied in a cold tone with his arms crossed.
Rinji's resolve began to waver and the psychological pressure was mounting exponentially. He had been trained to resist torture, to guard secrets with his life, but Ibiki's methods were something else entirely.
As he came to terms with the demoralizing thought that he might not be as important as he believed, he slowly began to crumble.
Ibiki, watching the man's internal struggle, knows he hit a nerve. "Consider this your last opportunity, Rinji. Help us, and we can offer you protection, perhaps even a chance at redemption. Keep your silence, and you become nothing more than a liability, easily disposed of."
The room went silent once more, save for the low hum of the lights and the distant sounds of the facility beyond the walls. Rinji sat motionless, caught between loyalty and survival, his mind racing with the potential consequences of his next words.
A minute of silence passed before the prisoner spoke. "What do you want to know?"
Ibiki kept a neutral expression and slightly leaned forward. "Let's talk about the last mission Orochimaru assigned you. The capture of Daichi Hekima. Tell me everything about it. From why Orochimaru wanted the Genin to where you were supposed to take him."
Rinji was silent for a few more seconds before he slowly began spilling his guts.
—------------
Author's Note.
We haven't seen much of any interrogation tactics in Naruto. Especially from Ibiki. In my opinion Kishimoto could have used him much better. Ibiki and Inoichi were untapped potential.
If you like my story and want to read ahead, then check out my P.a.T.R.E.0.N page. I've uploaded up to 30 additional chapters there.
Patre on.com/MonkWithAPen (No space)
創作者的想法
MonkWithAPen
MonkWithAPen
Add to your library.
And Hit me up with some POWER stone guys.
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Review, Comment and Rate the story.
See you in the next update... PEACE!
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