Without war, life was always so peaceful. Kiyosuke's daily routine was simply taking care of the child, going on missions, then taking care of the child again and going on more missions.
Life was so plain, unadorned, and boring.
However, recently, more and more ninjas in the village had gone missing, and even ordinary people in the surrounding areas were disappearing. This made Kiyosuke realize that the time for Orochimaru's defection was approaching.
In the morning, he was holding Naruto, sunbathing in the yard when Kakashi, wearing a mask, arrived and said, "Kiyosuke, an Anbu mission."
Since joining Anbu, Kiyosuke had only carried out one mission, which was to protect Kushina. He had planned to resign from the Anbu to Hiruzen Sarutobi, but the other party directly asked him to keep his position in Anbu. Now, unexpectedly, a mission had come.
"What's the matter?"
"I don't know. We're just told to follow the Third Hokage."
"I think I know what it is."
Kiyosuke stood up, sighed, and changed into the Anbu uniform that Kakashi brought. The previous one no longer fit him. He was almost eighteen years old now, 1.82 meters tall, much taller than three years ago.
He put on the mask, strapped the Anbu - standard long sword on his back, gave Naruto to Rin, and then the two of them went to the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was wearing battle - ready clothes and a light armor. A group of ninjas were kneeling in front of him. When he saw the arrival of Kiyosuke and Kakashi, he said, "Let's go!"
"Yes!"
Everyone replied in unison.
They closely followed Hiruzen Sarutobi. The destination was Orochimaru's experimental base.
Kiyosuke's thoughts were racing. It seemed that Anko had already been implanted with an incomplete version of the Cursed Seal of Heaven and was now in the Land of Waves.
Well, never mind. She should be fine. At most, it would be very painful.
No pain, no gain.
When they arrived at the experimental base, Hiruzen Sarutobi said to Kiyosuke and Kakashi behind him, "You two wait here."
"Yes."
The two jumped onto a tree and hid.
Kiyosuke crossed his arms and looked down. Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't take action against Orochimaru. After all, he was a disciple he had raised single - handedly, almost like a son. The aged Hiruzen Sarutobi had become soft - hearted, no longer as decisive and ruthless as he was in his youth.
Sure enough, Orochimaru rushed out and fled the experimental base at an extremely fast speed.
Kakashi blocked his way, and at the same time, lightning appeared in his hand. "Chidori Sharp Spear!"
The Chidori Sharp Spear, more powerful than the Chidori, stabbed towards Orochimaru.
Orochimaru didn't dodge but attacked Kakashi with a kunai, forcing him to jump up to avoid the attack. In terms of combat experience, the gap between the two was too large.
Kakashi quickly turned around and was about to attack, but Orochimaru instantly appeared in front of him. The kunai sliced through, and the mask on Kakashi's face was split in two.
A chill went down Kakashi's spine. The gap was really huge.
"Your eyes are nice," Orochimaru said, turning his head and licking the kunai with his tongue. "But I don't need fakes."
A snake climbed onto his body. Orochimaru smiled and said, "Cute little thing, do you also crave his blood?"
The snake opened its mouth, and an exploding tag was stuck to its upper jaw.
Boom!
Before he could think, Orochimaru dodged in a panic, covering his right rib.
He was affected by the explosion. Several bones were broken, and the area was blown to a bloody mess.
"Don't move!"
"Yes! Don't move, sensei!"
Kiyosuke appeared behind Orochimaru, pressing a kunai against his back.
"Was that you just now, Kiyosuke?"
"No, sensei. You know me. I never stick exploding tags in such places."
"Then it seems it was the Third Hokage." He covered his wound, ignored Kiyosuke and Kakashi, and left directly.
Kakashi was covered in cold sweat. Being stared at by those cold snake eyes just now, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
"This is... Orochimaru? So terrifying! Kiyosuke, why didn't you stop him?"
"Do you think I could?" Kiyosuke shrugged. "I don't know what the Third Hokage is thinking. He brought me here to stop sensei, but neither of us can actually do it."
"This is a mission."
"Come on, Orochimaru has taught me for so many years. It would be the same for you. The Third Hokage let sensei run away without even getting a scratch. It shows that he also softened his heart. It's okay if this mission fails."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know."
Kiyosuke nodded. "But we can't catch up with him now anyway."
"You deliberately didn't chase, right?"
With Kiyosuke's speed, he could definitely catch up with the injured Orochimaru, but he didn't.
"I can't catch up," Kiyosuke said.
Well, this guy did it on purpose.
Not long after, Hiruzen Sarutobi came out with a solemn expression. Looking at the injured Kakashi and Kiyosuke, who seemed indifferent, he sighed in his heart and said, "Let's go."
Everyone left, and a figure chased in the direction Orochimaru had left...
At night
Anbu Base
A large number of Anbu members gathered here. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo stood on the steps. Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "I know many of you have important missions, but this emergency call - up is to capture the defected Orochimaru as soon as possible.
"According to the report, he is seriously injured now. Judging from his injuries, it won't be easy for him to leave the Fire Country. Listen carefully. The knowledge, intelligence, and technology that Orochimaru possesses are precious assets to Konoha. I hope you can bring him back alive if possible. Once he leaves the Fire Country, it will be a fatal blow to Konoha.
"This is a race against Orochimaru and time. For the sake of Konoha, please search with all your might."
"Dismissed!"
The Anbu ninjas left the Anbu base at the same time and disappeared into the night.
Kiyosuke slowly stood up, glanced at Danzo, and let out a sneer under the mask. Then he sauntered away.
"Hiruzen, look at him! Look at him! He's Orochimaru's disciple! I suggest we capture him first and release him after proving his innocence!" Danzo said.
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at him and said, "As long as you have the combat power equivalent to that of the Nine - Tails, I have no objection."
Danzo was left speechless. Even if he went himself, he couldn't withstand that kind of attack.
He didn't give up. "But the jinchuriki should be taken back! We can't let him raise the jinchuriki anymore. He's Orochimaru's disciple! There's a risk that he'll inherit his crazy ideas!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi still said the same thing, "If you have the combat power equivalent to that of the Nine - Tails, I have no objection."
"Ah, well..."
His words were blocked. Danzo didn't know what to say.
"I'll also help with this manhunt."
"Sorry to trouble you," Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, looking as if he had aged several years, and left the Anbu base.
Danzo also went to Root and sent a large number of Root members to hunt down Orochimaru.