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  Hokage Office.

  Shortly after Hiruzeuro his office after his meeting with the Sed Hokage, Inoichi came to see him.

  "Tell me you have some good news for me Inoichi."

  "I have news, Lord Hokage. But I'm not sure if it's good." The Yamanaka replied with a heavy tone.

  "Nothing is today." Hiruzen sighed and nodded for Inoichi to tinue.

  "Guren had several defenses in her mind but they were pced a few years ago. Although they were strong they weren't as powerful as the ones Mizuki had. I was able to get through a some information but the defensive measures Orochimaru put in pce destroyed her mind and killed her before I could uncover everything."

  "Orochimaru was always cautious. It is to be expected. What have you found?" The Hokage asked the blond interrogator.

  "She was an integral member under Orochimaru. Based on what I learned she was a trusted member because of the loyalty she showed arength. Guren overlooked the stru of several hideouts in the Land of Fire during the st several months. She also oversaw the movement of several important shipments in and out of the try. Some were high end medical equipment but others are unknown."

  Inoichi then handed several papers to the Hokage with locations, and roughly drawn blueprints on them. "The structure of the hideouts created under her supervision."

  Hiruzen examihem and his eyes narrowed. "These are among the seven locations we found scattered across the try."

  "Yes. From the memories I looked through, I was also able to get data on some of the defenses and measures they put in pce. I've already shared that intel with Shikaku and the Analysis team."

  "Good. Were you able to find out why they went after Daichi?" Hiruzen asked.

  Inoiodded. "Yes sir. It's in the dot in there." The man said, pointing to one specific sheet of paper.

  "The base marked on that location is where Orochimaru instructed Guren t Daichi. Acc to my uanding Orochimaru has pced a great importan the child and had asked t him to the location without inflig much harm on him."

  Hiruzen leaned ba his chair and narrowed his eyes. 'So I was right. Now we have the where. But why? Why is Daichi so damn important to him?'

  "Have you found out why Orochimaru he boy?"

  Inoichi grimaced at that question and Hiruzen had a bad feeling in his heart.

  The Yamanaka slowly nodded and spoke. "Yes sir. And it's not good. Orochimaru has created some sort of a jutsu that take over a person's body."

  Hiruzen's eyes widened in horror as he quickly realized the implications. "He did it. He actually did it. A forbidden immortality jutsu."

  The blond interrogator nodded. "Yes. From what I uouren's memories, Orochimaru pces special curse seals on those he deem worthy to bee his new vessel. Surviving the curse seal itself is quite an ordeal because the success rate is low. But ohe subject survives the Curse seal impntation, Orochimaru uses some kind of jutsu to take over their bodies. I'm unaware of the specifics."

  "Will Orochimaru be able to use the abilities of the new body?" Hiruzen asked the man.

  "From what I gathered, Yes. This Guren owerful and was to bee Orochimaru's vessel but he ged his mind a few months ago. Guren believes that Orochimaru asked her to capture Daichi so that he could make Daichi his new vessel."

  Hiruzen's fists ched in anger as he thought about the moral implications of such a teique. 'To achieve something like that, you would o attaot just the body but the soul as well… Orochimaru, have you truly gone so low…'

  Hiruzen suddenly looked up. "What about Tsunade? Have you found any informatiarding her whereabouts?"

  Inoichi shook his head. "No."

  Hiruzen ched his fists a out a deep breath of ay.

  "But I don't think Orochimaru is currently in Fire try." Inoichi's sudden statement caught Hiruzen's attention.

  "Why do you assume that?" The kage questioned.

  "Based on the memories I saw, Orochimaru uren to capture Daichi ao that location on the map. But he also informed her that he would only be able to join her several days ter. And if she was successful in her mission and we were to trace her to that location before Orochimaru arrived he gave her instrus to use the special summoning scroll in that hideout and send Daichi to him."

  "But it's possible Orochimaru could be in another location in the try. In one of the other hideouts." Hiruzen argued.

  "I'm not so sure about that. Orochimaru has men guarding those locations but they're not his best. Not the stro or the brightest. I'd say they are there to slow us down or distract us." Inoichi told the kage his reasons.

  Hiruzen crossed his arms and mulled over the information. "Maybe Daichi's theory has more merit than I gave it credit for." He muttered to himself.

  Seeing Inoichi's curious gaze Hiruzen expined. "Daichi proposed a theory that Orochimaru might be in the nd of Earth."

  Inoichi frowned as he thought about their current situation with that try. "That could plicate things. The potential to escate tension should anything g is high."

  "I'm aware."

  As they were discussing the situation, an Anbu suddenly appeared. Hiruzen instantly reized the man. Bear. The ageasked with infiltrating the Root.

  Hiruzen turo Inoichi and spoke. "Report everything you've learo Shikaku and work on the remaining priset as muformation as you out of them."

  Inoiodded and quickly left the room. Hiruzeurned his attention to his loyal ninja kneeling in the middle of the room.

  "Bear. Did something happen?"

  The Anbu stood and nodded. "My existence has been discovered. Danzo has made preparations to have me killed on a mission. But they don't know that I found out about that."

  Hiruzen nodded. He k was only a matter of time before Danzo found the mole. "We always khis day would e. I'm pulling you out of this mission. I have aask for you that's more important."

  "Yes sir. But before that there is something you should know."

  Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the Anbu.

  "Danzo has been recalling his agents from across the try. All those on active duty and on mission are being summoned. He made sure to keep it a secret from me but I've been keeping an eye on his secret unications el. He's trying to bolster his forces. It's almost as if he's…"

  "Preparing for war." Hiruzen fihe sentence.

  "What should we do sir? Should I assemble a strike team and arrest Danzo?"

  Hiruzen was silent for several seds as he thought about his move. He finally made his decision. He looked at his Anbu Shinobi and spoke.

  "I've ordered Captain Ox to assemble a team to attack Orochimaru's bases. And with everything happening our manpower will be low. But still, Danzo's threat o longer be ignored. Assemble a small team focused on heavy assault. Make sure two trag ninjas are included as well. I don't want any rats to slip the ."

  The Anbu nodded. But thehought of the other problem. "He has his Root agents in our Ranks. If we start a ter attack they will cause chaos."

  "Snow has given me a detailed list of all sleeper cell agents from Root. They'll be taken care of soon."

  The masked ninja was surprised. 'Based on what I learned, only Danzo and his sed in and has that ihey personally traihe sleeper ninjas so their identities would be an absolute secred finding that out would be extremely difficult. Snow must have found them out by analyzing their smallest behaviors, history and training patterns. He certainly is the best at that.'

  "Sir, what should be done about Danzo?" Bear asked.

  "I will personally deal with Danzo. He is my responsibility."

  The masked ninjas nodded.

  "Do you know the identity of Danzo's lieutenant?" Hiruzen asked. That was what he mainly wao know.

  "Five me sir. But I was only able to meet him on two occasions in all these years. I failed. I'm not sure who he is." Anbu replied.

  Hiruzen nodded. 'I suppose I 't expect everything to go my way.'

  "Assemble the team. But do not make a move until I give the order. It's almost time to end this shadow war." Hiruzen gave his instrus and the Anbu ninjas vanished.

  Once he was alone in his office Hiruzen thought about his student that was currently in the vilge. 'Last time, Jiraiya only used his Sage jutsu to power up the Reanimation ter seals. He didn't meet Tobirama sensei… It seems this meeting 't be avoided. He will certainly be shocked when he sees sensei.'

  Hiruzen got up from his seat and headed out. It wasn't long before he reached the Analysis department. He looked at the analysts and enquired about the intelligence collected.

  "Aside from the locations in the Fire try, where are the others situated?"

  "Lord Hokage. Based on the information collected, we've identified bases in Land of Rice Paddies, Land of Hot water, Land of Rivers and Land of Mountains. Among these we're certain that Orochimaru is using the Land of Rice Paddies as his primary hideout." One of the Analysis ninjas replied.

  At that moment Ibiki arrived after pleting his interrogating Rinji. Hiruzen turo him and motioned for him to speak.

  "I've questioned Rinji and the other prisoners."

  "What did you learn?"

  "Orochimaru uses the Land of Rice Paddies as his main base of operations but he's stantly on the move. He subdued several small s in that region and created a work of bs. He calls it the Hidden Sound vilge. Many of them have curse seal abilities and many were used as experiments. They have modified bodies and with their hey are strong enough to create trouble for ins and even Jonins. Rinji y Orochimaru pnted in his hideouts to gather information or eliminate uain factors. The rest of the prisoners were just pawns. They didn't have any valuable intel. I believe they were intended as sacrificial pieces." Ibiki informed with a ral tone.

  The Hokage nodded and soo. He met with the Sed Hokage and informed him of everything he learobirama frowned when he heard that Danzo preparing to strike against the vilge but other than that he showed no other emotion.

  "So that's why he wahe child. He's created some sort of body transfer jutsu huh. It will no doubt be a forbidden jutsu with certain risks involved." Tobirama had also ducted several human experiments to create the Forbidden Reanimation jutsu so he knew a simir jutsu would have dangers involved to the user as well.

  "Yes. Daichi's potential and strength is extraordinary for a child his age. If Orochimaru gets such power, he'll be a much bigger threat."

  "Yes. The urgency with which Orochimaru ordered his people to go after the boy. I believe it has something to do with Tsunade. But unfortunately we still have no idea on her location." Tobirama frow the ck of information.

  "I already have Jiraiya gathering intelligen the movements in the Earth try. I'm sure he'll get us something. But we'll need some more time." Hiruzen replied to alleviate his sensei's worry.

  "That's not a luxury we have, Hiruzen. We o move now." Tobirama crossed his arms and spoke.

  "The squads are being assembled. We'll attack all the locations in the Fire try first. The seven locations will be deemed sedary targets. Even if they're merely there as decoys, I 't ighem." Hiruzen id out his pn to his former teacher.

  "You're right. We o make sure nothing happens to the stability of this try. Even if Tsunade is not there we'll have to get rid of them all." Tobirama agreed with that battle pn.

  "The subterranean building with the two powerful chakras… That will be our primary target. I will be sending Jiraiya and another Anbu. But I would also like for you to be present during the raid on that base."

  The Sed Hokage nodded. "Give them one of my markers. I'll join when he's reached the location."

  The old Hokage's expressiourned slightly solemn. "Sensei. I've decided to execute Danzo. During the Anbu attacks on Orochimaru's base I'll lead a team to attack the underground Root facilities. It's time to end this tug of war between us."

  "I would like to be present when you see him. There are a few things I want to know from him."

  Tobirama's eyes tained disappoi aimed at both Danzo and Hiruzen and the old Kage could see that. "I uand. I will make the arras."

  —-

  2:45 am.

  Time went by and soon several teams were assembled and present atop the Hokage tower. There were several ninjas wearing fk jackets and Anbu gear present.

  The Hokage stood in front of the rge crowd of ninjas and spoke. "This will be a Joint operatioween the Anbu and Jonin squads. Your task is to infiltrate and elimihe targets you've been assighis mission is critical to the stability of the vilge and the future. So failure is not an option."

  The Anbu in the crowd were standing like statues but some of the ins and even a couple Jonins were nervous at the temosphere. They realized that this robably one of the most important missions of their lives.

  "Go." Hearing the Hokage's orders the teams vanished in several dires.

  The Hokage then turo the lone Anbu remaining atop the tower. It was the Anbu ander Ox. Hiruzen came near him and gave him a scroll. "You'll be heading to the primary location. Once you reach the area, use the kunai in that scroll. Help will arrive. Do not engage before you do that."

  "Uood sir." Anbu ander Ox nodded and disappeared.

  Hiruzen turned his attention to the night sky a out a tired breath. 'It will take a while for them to reach the hideout… I hope everything goes alright…'

  Author's Note

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