Inside the special care ward of Konoha Hospital, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi had already had all his casts removed. Although he was still bandaged in many places, he had at least recovered basic mobility.
At this moment, he sat on the edge of the hospital bed, his face ashen, his fingers tightly clutching a crumpled note.
That note had just been urgently delivered by an Anbu Ninja.
"Hokage-sama, what should we do now?" The Anbu Ninja by the bed asked, his voice filled with unconcealed anxiety.
The Third Hokage's gaze was fixed on the neat handwriting on the note.
[To ensure the survival of what we cherish, we have no other choice. All actions are to forge a foundation for lasting peace—Jin]
Today, the tightly guarded Seal Cocoon prison, used to confine Orochimaru, was found empty. Aside from this deliberately left note, no signs of struggle were found, nor were any alarms triggered—Orochimaru had simply vanished into thin air.
Orochimaru was taken away by the mysterious [Jin] Organization?!
The Third Hokage felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He had to grab the bedside table to steady himself. What was the true purpose of that organization? What did they want to do by taking Orochimaru?
Countless terrifying conjectures churned in his mind—were they exploiting Orochimaru's forbidden Ninjutsu knowledge? Or were they trying to use his power for some more dangerous plan? The uncertain future and complex worries about his former Disciple clouded the Third Hokage's wrinkled face.
However, as Hokage, he had to make a decision immediately.
Silence lingered in the ward for a long time before the Third Hokage finally spoke slowly, "...Go back and carry out your original mission. There's no need to organize a team for pursuit and investigation."
The Anbu Ninja was visibly stunned, but he quickly realized his lapse in composure, lowered his head swiftly, and responded in a deep voice, "Yes!" Then, he cautiously added, "What about Jiraiya-sama? Should he be informed of this intelligence?"
"No," the Third Hokage decided emphatically, "Do not reveal anything to Jiraiya."
"Understood!" The Anbu Ninja said no more, his figure flashed, and he disappeared from the ward.
The Third Hokage sat alone on the hospital bed, gazing at Konoha Village outside the window. His decision was not made lightly—first, not sending anyone to pursue and retrieve Orochimaru was because he had no confidence in fighting the [Jin] Organization head-on.
The strength displayed by that organization was too mysterious and unpredictable. If the operation failed, and their terrifying Ninjutsu, capable of instantly destroying the entire Village, were to fall upon Konoha... the consequences would be unimaginable.
Secondly, not informing Jiraiya was because the Third Hokage truly did not want to create any more complications. The date for the Hokage succession ceremony was fast approaching, and he had to ensure that Jiraiya could ascend to the Hokage position without any worries.
"Excuse me."
Suddenly, a polite male voice cut into the stagnant air of the ward without warning.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi abruptly looked up, his cloudy pupils suddenly contracting—in the center of the ward, a dark teleportation gate opened. A figure floated out leisurely, not touching the ground, suspended in the air, defying the laws of gravity.
The newcomer had white hair, no pupils, and chillingly pure white eyes, which were the iconic Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan.
He held a red fishing rod in his hand, but his strange white clothing was now torn in several places, stained with dust and scorch marks, clearly having just gone through an intense battle. This added a touch of dishevelment and danger to his seemingly polite demeanor.
"Who are you?" The Third Hokage appeared to still be sitting on the bed, but all his muscles were tensed. "Why do you possess those eyes?"
The Byakugan, which should have been the Bloodline Limit of Konoha's Hyuga Clan, could never have fallen into the hands of such a suspicious stranger.
What alarmed the Third Hokage even more was the way the opponent appeared; he had never seen such a Space-Time Ninjutsu before.
"First time meeting. However, there's no time for introductions now." Ōtsutsuki Urashiki smiled with a slight nod, but there was no warmth in his smile. "I apologize for my abrupt visit while you are recuperating."
His voice was steady, his words polite, yet carried an air of condescending indifference.
"However, could I please... 'borrow' some Chakra from you? I've been a bit'short on supplies' lately."
His tone was as casual as if he were borrowing an insignificant trinket.
"—!!!"
The Third Hokage's face instantly turned ashen. Borrow? Breaking into the Hokage's ward by tearing space to 'borrow' Chakra? This was a blatant declaration of plunder!
The Third Hokage immediately formed hand Seals, however...
"Too slow."
Urashiki shook his head as if regretful, but with an extremely casual flick of his wrist.
The next instant, the Third Hokage only felt a red flash before his eyes.
"Pfft."
The sound of a sharp object piercing flesh rang out.
The Third Hokage's body stiffened abruptly, all his hand Seal movements coming to an abrupt halt. He looked down in disbelief at his chest, where a dark red fishhook had pierced through his hospital gown without obstruction, deeply embedding itself in his body.
He couldn't move! Not only was his body restrained by some force, but even the Chakra within him surged uncontrollably towards the fishhook like a bursting dam, being frantically drained!
"Ugh...!" The Third Hokage groaned, trying to struggle, but couldn't even lift a finger.
Only then did he truly see the opponent's change: Urashiki's originally pure white eyes had now turned an eerie blue, with concentric deep ripples appearing in his pupils.
"Those eyes... who exactly are you...!?" A terrifying association flashed through the Third Hokage's mind. Not long ago, the earth-shaking roar outside Konoha, the golden giant beast soaring into the sky, and the destructive Tailed Beast Ball explosion... combined with the Anbu's subsequent vague reports, and Naruto's vague explanation of a 'Cultivation accident'... "Could it be... that day, Naruto... was fighting you!?"
All the clues instantly connected. Naruto would never use such a massive amount of power outside the Village without reason, unless he encountered an unimaginable powerful enemy!
"Hehe..." Urashiki let out a low chuckle, his blue Rinnegan indifferently observing the massive and colorful Chakra orb gradually forming on the fishhook—it was the five-element Chakra forcibly extracted from the Third Hokage's body.
"Although I don't know who it was, I really have to thank the person who injured you to this extent."
"Thanks to your current weakened state, otherwise, things would be much more troublesome."
Urashiki nodded gently, satisfied with his 'harvest'. "Well then, thanks for the hospitality."
"Old man, are you free now? About that house Minato and I used to have, you..."
Suddenly, the ward door opened, and a red-haired figure entered while speaking. Kushina's words abruptly stopped, and she stared at the scene, dumbfounded.
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