I, Uchiha, will not be whitewashed!

Chapter 97 Arrangements!

On the second day of the Chunin Exams, the Anbu discovered a corpse on the outskirts of the Forest of Death.

When the body was found, it was stuck in the branch of an old camphor tree. It was wearing a headband and clothing of a Kusanagi ninja. The skin on its face had been completely peeled off, exposing the muscles and tendons. The eye sockets were empty, and the teeth were protruding. It looked like a crumpled mask thrown into the mud.

The Anbu sealed off the scene, and the news was quickly sent to the Hokage's office.

Minato stood in front of the corpse, and the ANBU lifted the white cloth covering the body.

His expression was serious. He squatted down to examine the corpse's neck, pressed his fingers on it, and found that the cervical vertebrae had been strangled. The cut was clean, indicating it was not a blunt instrument, but strangulation.

Looking at the hands again, there was dirt and tree bark debris under the fingernails, indicating that the person had struggled before death.

Minato stood up, and an ANBU handed him a clean cloth, which he used to wipe his hands.

How long ago was he dead?

"At least two days. The humid climate outside the Death Forest accelerates the decay, so the exact time cannot be determined."

The ANBU paused for a moment, then said, "The patrol team has already checked the list of examinees. Seven people from Kusagakure registered, but only five actually showed up. This corpse wasn't on the attendance list; it's likely that someone else impersonated him."

Minato didn't answer. He thought of Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's signature technique is the ability to steal another person's face and infiltrate their territory.

If Orochimaru has already infiltrated Konoha and participated in the Chunin Exams, what is his target? Sasuke? Naruto? Or—

He stood up, took the damp cloth handed to him by the secret service, and wiped the mud off his fingers.

"Monitoring of the second Death Forest event has been strengthened. All candidate entry and exit records have been retrieved, especially those of the Grass Ninja..."

Sound Ninja, Rain Ninja.

Minato paused. "Recheck the identities of all the genin who participated in the Chunin Exams."

"Yes, Hokage-sama, the suspicion is—"

"Orochimaru." Minato threw the cloth on the ground. "He's back."

The atmosphere in the Hokage's office was as heavy as lead.

Minato stood behind the desk, his hands resting on the edge of the desk, with the autopsy report and crime scene photos sent by the Anbu spread out in front of him.

The office was packed with people. Sakumo Hatake leaned against the window, his sword at his waist, his eyes closed. Jiraiya, unusually, was not grinning and was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Shikaku Nara stood on one side of the long table, holding an intelligence scroll in his hand, his brows furrowed. Inoichi Yamanaka sat next to him, his fingers interlaced, his thumbs unconsciously twisting together.

Shuoge stood in the corner, his knife leaning against the wall, his mask tucked into his waistband, his expressionless.

Several secret squad leaders stood against the wall, wearing masks so their expressions were not visible.

Shuimen pushed the autopsy report to the center of the table.

"A corpse from the Hidden Grass Village was found on the outskirts of the Forest of Death. The skin on its face had been completely peeled off, and there were strangulation marks on its neck. This is the Face-Changing Technique, Orochimaru's signature technique."

No one spoke. Sakumo Hatake opened his eyes.

"The time of death is at least two days ago." Minato's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear. "Orochimaru has already infiltrated Konoha, and is very likely involved in the Chunin Exams."

Jiraiya lowered his arms from his chest. "Are you sure it's him?"

"pretty close."

Jiraiya didn't ask any more questions. His face darkened, a mixture of emotions—sadness, grief, and indignation.

Nara Shikaku flipped through the autopsy report, then looked up. "We need to set up defenses."

Minato walked towards the map of Konoha Village hanging on the wall, tracing his finger from the Hokage Building to the Forest of Death, to the hospital, to the Ninja Academy, to the Uchiha headquarters, and to several entrances and exits of the village.

"Starting today, the village is on high alert. All Jonin and Anbu members are canceled their leave and will work in three shifts."

"First squad, the third and fourth detachments of the Dark Guard. They are responsible for monitoring the perimeter of the Death Forest and must report on the candidates' entry and exit every two hours. Orochimaru is very likely still in the forest."

"The second team, led by Hatake Sakumo, is responsible for the Hokage Building, the hospital, and the school. These three places cannot be lost."

Sakumo Hatake nodded.

"The third squad, led by Jiraiya, will be responsible for the main entrances and exits of the village. From today onwards, anyone entering or leaving Konoha must have their identity verified. Orochimaru's Face-Changing Technique can change faces, but it can't change chakra. Sensory ninjas will rotate every four hours; don't let them fight when they're tired."

Jiraiya nodded.

Minato glanced at Sakugo. "Team Four, led by Uchiha Sakugo, will be responsible for patrols. The route includes the Uchiha base..."

The secret outpost, the old warehouse of the Root, and the eastern city wall. Closely monitor suspicious individuals, especially candidates acting alone.

Shuoge didn't speak, he just nodded.

Minato glanced at everyone present. "Orochimaru's target is still uncertain. It could be Sasuke, it could be Naruto, or it could just be to disrupt the Chunin Exams. Whatever it is, this information must not leak out. The examinees are still taking the exams, and the villagers are still living their lives. Don't cause panic. Act quickly, but keep it low-key."

"Yes." The voices were not in unison, but everyone responded.

The group gradually left the office. Shuoge walked at the very back, paused at the door, and didn't turn around.

"If you really encounter Orochimaru, don't fight him head-on. Hold him off and wait for reinforcements."

The sound of water coming from behind.

Shuoge didn't answer, and went out the door.

Tsk, I've been underestimated!

Night falls on the outskirts of the Death Forest.

Shuoge crouched on a tree branch, his Mangekyou Sharingan behind his mask slowly rotating, scanning the darkness at the edge of the forest.

Footsteps came from afar, but they weren't from the Dark Guard—the Dark Guard's footsteps wouldn't be so heavy, and they wouldn't break the dead branches.

"Your area of ​​responsibility isn't here," Shuoge said.

Jiraiya emerged from the shadows of the trees. He wore a green vest, his white hair was loose, and his feet crunched on the fallen leaves.

He stood against the tree trunk, not climbing it, his gaze passing over the layers of canopy, fixed on the dense, impenetrable darkness deep within the forest.

His breathing was uneven, his chest heaving several times before calming down, as if he had rushed along a long road, or as if something was blocking his chest.

Shuoge silently withdrew his gaze.

Jiraiya stretched out his hand, a wisp of flame flickered at his fingertips, then went out.

It rises again, then dies down.

He repeated this several times, the flame flickering in his palm, illuminating his face with alternating light and shadow. His jaw was taut, his brow furrowed, and the corners of his mouth pressed into a thin line.

That wasn't focus before a battle; it was resentment.

"What is it?" Shuoge's voice was neither warm nor cold.

Jiraiya didn't answer. He put his hands in his pockets and straightened up.

The moonlight shone on his white hair, like a layer of frost.

He glanced at Shuoge, his gaze lingering for a moment on the knife mark on his mask before moving away.

Then he walked deeper into the forest. There was no cover, no need to lower his pace; the dry branches snapped and cracked under his feet, like the sound of bones breaking.

Shuoge watched his figure disappear into the shadows of the trees without making a sound.

He knew who Jiraiya was looking for, and he also knew he couldn't find him.

Jiraiya knew that Orochimaru wasn't inside, but he still went to look for him because Orochimaru had appeared in the Forest of Death.

Deep in the forest, Jiraiya stopped in his tracks.

He stood under an old camphor tree, surrounded by dense bushes and vines, where the moonlight could not penetrate and it was all dark.

He looked up and saw a few stars through the gaps in the tree canopy. He stood there for a long time, then squatted down, pressing his fingers into the soil. There were traces of a snake crawling, but they were dry; they weren't from today.

He rubbed the mud off his fingers on the tree trunk. He looked down at his hands, at the tiny cuts made by the branches.

He wondered if Orochimaru would have stayed if he had been stronger back then.

If he had kept a closer eye on his research into those forbidden techniques, would Orochimaru have had no chance to touch things he shouldn't have?

If he hadn't let him go, if he had chased after him with all his might—

Jiraiya stood up and walked back. His footsteps were much slower than when he came, each step firm and deliberate, as if confirming that the ground beneath his feet was still there. When he emerged from the forest, Sakugo was still perched on the same branch.

"I'm not here anymore." Jiraiya's voice was hoarse, as if it had been dried by the night wind.

Shuoge did not answer.

Jiraiya left. His bare feet trod on the fallen leaves, making a soft, rustling sound, like something slowly crumbling.