Avengers of the Whirlpool Family.

Chapter 102 Necessary Preparations (Fifth Update)
And that was when Orochimaru, Menma and the Sand Village were interacting and each was preparing their own plans.

The Hidden Leaf Village was not completely unaware of the situation.

Without saying too much, the fact that Orochimaru returned after many years was enough to make Konoha alert.

No one would think that this man, the former pride of the Hidden Leaf Village, came back just to stroll around. Even if Sasuke was involved, from Sarutobi Hiruzen's perspective, his former beloved disciple must have bigger plans.

Therefore, almost at the moment when the second round of the Chunin Exam ended, the entire Konohagakure Village became relaxed on the outside but tense on the inside. Under the order of Sarutobi Hiruzen, not only the general garrison troops, but even the Anbu directly under the Hokage were all on alert, and began patrolling and exploring in shifts around the clock.

Don't miss any suspicious clues.

However, it seemed that Orochimaru really only came back for Sasuke, and he completely disappeared after that day.

But Sarutobi Hiruzen still didn't dare to relax at all.

Sarutobi Hiruzen knew best how strong his disciple was, but he was no longer the same as before. Many years ago, he was barely at his peak and had the ability to kill Orochimaru, but now he could only take a gamble with that forbidden technique.

This is a natural decline that cannot be reversed by human power.

do not forget.

Sarutobi Hiruzen is now 69 years old.

The last heyday of ninja has long passed.

He had to take the most cautious and prudent approach, and based on this, Sarutobi Hiruzen directly sent the Anbu to recall another disciple of his.

It was the famous hero of Konoha - Jiraiya.

And this former one of the three ninjas of Konoha rushed back to his own ninja village the moment he received the news from his teacher.

Konohagakure Village, Hokage Building.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was busy handling government affairs, suddenly paused and put down the pen in his hand. His slightly cloudy eyes looked at the French window beside him and said with a faint smile: "You are back so soon. It seems that you didn't get delayed on the road this time, Jiraiya."

The falling words.

Then a burly figure appeared.

The waist-length white hair, the red marks under the eyes, and the bright "oil" word on the forehead.

This figure was none other than Jiraiya, one of Sarutobi Hiruzen's direct disciples.

"Haha, isn't this your own request, old man?"

Jiraiya leapt up and came directly in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen and spoke softly.

"As expected, you still care about Orochimaru."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Jiraiya steadily, and what he said made Jiraiya's face freeze.

next second.

Jiraiya also quickly adjusted himself, and asked with a solemn look, "Old man, are you sure that Orochimaru has returned?"

"You don't need to doubt this. Jiraiya and Anko have already confirmed it. And Naruto's team also encountered Orochimaru at the 44th training ground during the exam. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be heading for Sasuke."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said as he shook his head slightly.

In fact, Sarutobi Hiruzen himself hoped that this was fake news. There is no doubt that Sarutobi Hiruzen had placed great expectations on his disciple Orochimaru, if he had to choose someone from the Fourth Hokage to succeed him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen must have hoped that it was Orochimaru the most.

This is a special feeling that made Sarutobi Hiruzen finally soften his heart and let Orochimaru go during that confrontation. He was unwilling to kill his former most proud disciple with his own hands.

All along, Sarutobi Hiruzen has been hypnotizing and deceiving himself in this regard. As long as Orochimaru does not reappear in front of him, Sarutobi Hiruzen will pretend that such a thing has never happened. The best proof of this is that the Anbu has never seriously searched for and hunted down Orochimaru over the years.

But now his most proud disciple has returned, and he obviously came back with a conspiracy.

This forced Sarutobi Hiruzen to face it.

No matter how much he values ​​this disciple, in Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart, the justice of Konoha still takes top priority.

"Then I understand. I'll leave Orochimaru to..."

Jiraiya took a deep breath and was about to say something.

"No, Jiraiya, if something unexpected happens, I'll leave the rest of the village to you to protect."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was sitting on the main seat, shook his head and said.

"Old man, you..."

The meaning of these words could not be clearer.

Jiraiya's expression was stunned.

"I still need to make up for my past mistakes. Don't worry, I'm not too old to be able to hold the Ruyi Stick."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a slight smile.

"I understand. You don't have to worry about other places. With me here, everything will be fine."

After Jiraiya took a deep look at his teacher, he slowly nodded and said.

That 'mistake' many years ago

This is a pain that Sarutobi Hiruzen does not want to recall not only for him, but also for Jiraiya.

And this mistake must be corrected eventually.

Even though it was many years late.

"I will stay near the village for the next period of time. If you have any information, you can call me first. Old man, don't push yourself too hard."

Jiraiya stepped to the window and said this last sentence.

"Whoosh."

Jiraiya then leaped up.

He jumped down directly, disappeared into the thick night.

"Don't force yourself? This sentence should be said to you. However, I still hope that you can shoulder the real responsibility that belongs to you when the time comes."

Sarutobi Hiruzen relit his pipe, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled the smoke as many memories of the past emerged in his mind.

Then it finally froze on the scene of his favorite disciple's final defection many years ago.

'This time, I won't hesitate again...'

The various forces wrestled privately before the final collision, but in the end Konoha was still on the passive defensive side, and the initiative was temporarily in the hands of the forces of the two major ninja villages of Sound and Suna, headed by Orochimaru.

And it was in this shadow that a huge and dangerous situation slowly emerged.

The Hidden Leaf Village is also entering its busiest period in recent years.

The politicians and nobles who flocked in from various countries, as well as some businessmen who heard the news, made the Hidden Leaf Village even more prosperous and bustling.

The people of Konoha, who had no idea that danger was approaching, were completely enjoying the festive atmosphere during this period of time.

(End of this chapter)