The forehead protector was in his hand, still carrying a trace of Kaze's warmth.
The symbol of Konoha glinted metallically in the morning light, its edges slightly worn.
Orochimaru held the forehead protector, his fingers trembling slightly.
Not from fear.
But a kind of... long-lost, almost unfamiliar emotion.
"Welcome home, Head of the Konoha Research Department."
Kaze's voice was very calm, as if he just casually said a perfectly normal sentence.
But the waves this sentence stirred in Orochimaru's heart were more violent than any ninjutsu.
Home?
This word was already too distant for him.
From the day he left Konoha, he never thought he could come back.
Even less did he think that someone would say "Welcome home" to him.
"Teacher..."
Orochimaru spoke subconsciously, but stopped.
He thought of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
That teacher who once had high hopes for him, but in the end regarded him as a traitor.
"I am not Sarutobi Hiruzen."
"I won't bind you with the Will of Fire, nor will I judge you with the path of righteousness."
"What I want is your knowledge, your technology, your... madness."
"As long as you abide by the bottom line, Konoha is your solidest backing."
"Whatever you want to research, go research it. Whatever you need, just ask."
"Even if what you want to research is... immortality."
Kaze noticed Orochimaru's emotional fluctuation and spoke deeply.
Aside, Naruto also looked at Orochimaru in front of him curiously.
He knew this person.
Isn't Orochimaru a missing-nin?
His small head couldn't quite understand what was happening now.
"You... know?"
Hearing Kaze's words, Orochimaru's vertical pupils constricted slightly.
"No need to be nervous."
"I'm not interested in your method of immortality. I only care about what you can bring to Konoha with this persistence."
Kaze turned around and looked into the distance.
"What if I tell you I can advance the Uchiha's Kekkei Genkai?"
"Make the side effects of the Sharingan disappear, make those eyes even more powerful!"
Orochimaru suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of probing.
"Then I will give you the best laboratory and the most funds."
Kaze didn't hesitate.
"What if I develop an artificial Tailed Beast?" [Orochimaru]
"Konoha's resources are yours to use." [Kaze]
"What if I..."
"Orochimaru."
"You don't need to use these to test me."
"I said, as long as you abide by the bottom line, Konoha is your biggest supporter."
"So, put away those petty thoughts."
"Think carefully about how to use your knowledge to make Konoha, and yourself... stronger."
Kaze interrupted him and turned around, those scarlet Mangekyō looking directly at Orochimaru.
Looking at Kaze's scarlet eyes.
Sharingan, the eye that reflects the heart.
In these eyes, there was no suspicion, no doubt.
Only a kind of almost cold... trust.
Orochimaru suddenly understood.
This man in front of him was completely different from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted obedient pawns, while Uchiha Kaze wanted useful knives.
Pawns need control, need taming.
And knives...
Only need to be sharp.
"I understand."
"From today on, I am the Head of Konoha's Research Department."
Orochimaru slowly put on the forehead protector, placing the Konoha symbol squarely on his forehead.
"Very good."
"Then, Head Orochimaru, your first mission has arrived."
The corner of Kaze's mouth rose slightly.
"Mission?"
Orochimaru was stunned.
The emotions that had just accumulated in his heart disappeared all at once.
"Sunagakure is active within the Land of Fire. I need to know their specific purpose."
"Also, I received intelligence that Chiyo is personally leading the team."
"Setting up an ambush at the border, the target is one of my Konoha mission squads."
Kaze took out another scroll from his chest and placed it in Orochimaru's hand.
Orochimaru opened the scroll and browsed quickly.
"The leading Jōnin is... Hatake Kakashi?"
"Chiyo making a move personally, it seems she still wants to avenge her son..."
Orochimaru remembered some past events from the Ninja War era.
"Not necessarily."
"It could be a test, or it could be... someone wants to borrow a knife to kill."
Uchiha Kaze shook his head.
"Borrow a knife to kill?"
Orochimaru was puzzled.
Chiyo had sufficient reason to act.
"How much do you know about the Yondaime Kazekage?"
"Can Rasa control the current Sunagakure?"
"This action is not just a test... perhaps it is also a ridiculous imitation."
The smile on Kaze's lips grew even more.
That Kazekage who watched indifferently as his son continuously became distorted, remained silent facing Chiyo and Ebizo's power in Sunagakure, and used his brother-in-law to...
Kaze didn't think such a Kazekage was any kind of benevolent person.
"What do you need me to do?"
Orochimaru was ready to go fight Chiyo.
Even, he was confident he could complete this mission!
"Return to Konoha."
"You are fully responsible for setting up the Research Department."
"Within three days, I want to see a preliminary plan."
Kaze's answer left Orochimaru stunned on the spot.
He had taken off his pants, and Kaze told him to go squat in the grass?
"Then what about you?"
Orochimaru asked subconsciously.
"Me?"
"Go watch Sunagakure's performance."
Kaze moved his wrist a bit.
"Teacher, I want to go too!"
"I want to fight too!"
Naruto suddenly spoke, his blue eyes full of determination.
A child of over five years old, with no fear in his eyes, only a kind of almost reckless courage.
"Hmm."
Kaze nodded and took Naruto to rush southwest again.
Orochimaru watched the direction Kaze disappeared, and only after a long time did he lower his head to look at the scroll in his hand.
This was not only the restriction Kaze gave him, but also the appointment Kaze gave him.
On it, there was already the signature of Kaze, the Godaime Hokage.
It seemed Uchiha Kaze had already prepared before coming over.
"My choice this time might be correct."
Orochimaru muttered to himself.
Then, he raised his finger.
A large snake appeared, swallowed Orochimaru, turned into white mist, and disappeared from there.
Southwest border of the Land of Fire, a dangerous place called "Rekkū Valley" (Rifting Wind Valley).
The terrain here was precipitous, with steep rock walls on both sides and only a narrow passage in the middle.
Strong winds howled all year round, blowing sand and stones everywhere, making visibility extremely poor.
It was an excellent place for an ambush.
Above the rock wall, over a dozen Sunagakure ninjas lurked in the shadows.
Leading them was a white-haired old woman, her face full of wrinkles, but those eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.
It was exactly Sunagakure's "Village Flower", the Puppet Master Chiyo.
Standing beside her was a middle-aged ninja, the SunagakureJōnin Baki.
"Elder Chiyo, is the intelligence accurate?"
"Will Hatake Kakashi really take this route?"
Baki lowered his voice.
"Accurate."
"Our informant in Konoha sent back news that Kakashi's squad took a B-rank mission to escort a caravan, destination is a border town in the Land of Wind."
"This is the only way they can pass."
In Chiyo's turbid eyes, a trace of hatred flashed.
This time, she must make Konoha pay the price...