"I really didn't expect so many things to happen..."
Konoha, inside the Hokage's office.
After listening to the report, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Kakashi's trio, finding it truly hard to maintain his composure.
He really didn't expect that these three went to support Shisui's squad, only to end up encountering Ao.
Then they turned around to inspect Orochimaru's abandoned laboratory, and encountered his 'beloved disciple' again.
Just how unlucky can they be...
"However, you all performed very well."
Although his mood was somewhat complicated, when his gaze fell upon Hyuga Makoto, a smile still appeared on his face.
"Especially you, Makoto, your performance this time was excellent!"
Hyuga Makoto had completely exceeded his expectations this time!
Not only did he kill Ao, but when facing the crisis brought by Orochimaru, he was still able to calmly and coolly make analytical judgments.
Ultimately protecting his teammates and retreating unscathed!
Such a performance made him even more convinced that his choice was right.
"Lord Hokage, you flatter me."
Hyuga Makoto was still quite respectful towards Sarutobi Hiruzen; after all, it was he who helped him complete his first exclusive mission.
"If it weren't for Captain Kakashi and Senior Tenzo, I wouldn't have been able to do all this."
"Makoto, you don't need to be modest."
Kakashi, who had been silent all this time, spoke up, and Tenzo also nodded in agreement.
"That's right, if it weren't for you, we really would have been in deep trouble."
"It seems you guys are getting along quite well."
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but smile as he looked at the state of these three.
Although these three were indeed a bit unlucky, they had returned after all, and this kind of atmosphere also satisfied him.
After all, the Anbu didn't operate the same way as Root.
"Also, Makoto, you really don't need to be modest. You were facing Orochimaru, and your performance is unquestionable."
"Then thank you for the praise, Lord Hokage."
Hyuga Makoto didn't act humble this time; who doesn't like hearing words of praise?
Besides, getting the 'approval of the Hokage and Anbu' would help him advance his main quest!
Moreover, he planned to increase his efforts; he still had some ruthless work in his hands.
Thinking of this, he 'hesitated slightly' before continuing to speak.
"Lord Hokage, speaking of Orochimaru, there is one more thing I feel needs to be reported."
"Oh?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was a bit puzzled. Biting his pipe, he said directly.
"Just say it."
"Captain, Senior."
Hyuga Makoto didn't answer directly, but turned to look at Kakashi and Tenzo.
"Do you still remember what Orochimaru was wearing at the time?"
"I remember, it was a black robe with red clouds."
Tenzo replied somewhat strangely, but Kakashi frowned.
"Makoto, do you suspect... that it was some kind of uniform?"
"A uniform?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen instantly became much more serious. He knew exactly what this meant!
"I can't be sure either, but besides the clothes, I noticed one other thing."
Hyuga Makoto shook his head slightly, but he quickly continued.
"Through the Byakugan, I saw that he was wearing a ring engraved with the character for 'Sky' on his hand."
This single sentence instantly plunged the entire Hokage's office into dead silence!
Everyone present was smart. If a piece of clothing was nothing much, adding a ring that symbolized identity...
"It's highly likely that Orochimaru has either joined a certain ninja organization, or he created one himself!"
How could such a thing not make them feel tense?
This was Orochimaru; he was simply too dangerous!
"Makoto, did you see it clearly?"
With such a severe matter, Sarutobi Hiruzen had to ask again. Hyuga Makoto was being truly honest this time.
"Lord Hokage, I saw it very clearly. There can be no mistake."
"It seems the situation is a bit troublesome..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was truly feeling a bit annoyed now. Although nothing could be completely confirmed yet, he couldn't let go of any piece of information!
If Orochimaru really created a ninja organization, what was his goal? Could it be Konoha?
If Orochimaru joined a ninja organization...
"Then what kind of organization could make the arrogant Orochimaru join, and what organization would dare to take in a rogue ninja like Orochimaru?"
The more Sarutobi Hiruzen thought about it, the more depressed he became. There was already the Uchiha Clan causing trouble inside the village, and now an Orochimaru crisis had appeared outside the village.
The most fatal thing was that, apart from the clothes and the ring, they knew absolutely nothing else!
"Lord Hokage, I think there is a place we might be able to try."
Just when Sarutobi Hiruzen was at his most frustrated, Hyuga Makoto timely spoke up again.
"Orochimaru has many laboratories, but where does the money come from?"
"The Ninja Black Market?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen instantly understood Hyuga Makoto's meaning, and he nodded thoughtfully.
Actually, they had investigated the black market long ago, but hadn't obtained any intelligence. But now...
"We can investigate and see if there are people with similar clothing!"
Thinking of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen made up his mind, and his gaze fell on Hyuga Makoto once again.
He was now truly sighing with emotion. Fortunately, he had agreed to let Hyuga Makoto join the Anbu.
Not to mention the issue with Ao, they really would have missed out on this important intelligence regarding Orochimaru!
"Perhaps, I should do something..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought to himself, but his ideas were somewhat unconventional, and he would need to discuss them with Danzo and the others first.
"Do not spread the word about what happened today."
Having thought this far, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke slowly.
"Also, Makoto, your performance was particularly outstanding. I wonder what kind of reward you would like."
"A reward?"
Hyuga Makoto froze for a moment, and his face instantly lit up with joy.
"Anything goes?"
"Not exactly anything, but I will consider it seriously."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said while biting his pipe, completely failing to notice that Kakashi and Tenzo's expressions had changed.
But Hyuga Makoto's next sentence directly left him stunned.
"Then, Lord Hokage, can Ao's bounty be issued directly?"
"?"
"Also, can it be claimed under the names of Captain Kakashi and Senior Tenzo?"
"..."
"After all, the bulk of the bounty comes from the Hyuga Clan..."
"..."
Kakashi and Tenzo remained silent. They knew something like this would happen.
And the corner of Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth couldn't help but twitch. He found that although Hyuga Makoto was excellent, he also seemed to have some minor flaws...
...
"Finally back."
In the Hyuga Clan compound, inside Hyuga Makoto's home.
Having just arrived home, he lay directly on his bed. Having been out for over a week, constantly eating in the wind and sleeping in the dew, he hadn't had a good rest.
"But all of this has its rewards..."
A smile appeared on the corner of Hyuga Makoto's mouth. Sarutobi Hiruzen was truly generous.
He had already promised to ask the Hyuga Clan for the money, and it would be issued in no more than a week!
"Moreover, Kakashi and Tenzo both volunteered to take less, so I've got one 'Asuma' in my hands..."
Hyuga Makoto was indeed short of money. It wasn't that he couldn't survive, but he had to plan for the future.
"My bloodline doesn't have other chakra natures, so I can only use other methods."
The reason he wanted to find Orochimaru so badly was actually because he had his eyes on Orochimaru's technology!
He wanted to clone bodies that possessed different chakra natures. This would not only allow him to adapt to other chakra natures in advance and accumulate enough experience.
But when his bloodline upgraded, he could quickly master and utilize them!
"Even if there really aren't any, I can still absorb them through certain secret jutsus..."
Hyuga Makoto couldn't help but think of a certain senior in his memory, and the Ninja World, this vibrant land where all things thrive, also had these conditions.
"Besides, to become the 'World's Condensation Nucleus', I can't just stay in Konoha. Those bodies can help me a lot..."
[Main Quest: Become the World's Condensation Nucleus (2%)]
[You already have a nice little circle, and everyone likes to surround you, but you are still too insignificant]
Looking at his panel, Hyuga Makoto couldn't help but nod.
Although the evaluation hadn't changed, the progress had increased!
After all, in this mission, he had gained the recognition of Kakashi and the Hokage, plus he had exposed some of Orochimaru's secrets.
This gave him a clearer understanding of the direction of his future actions!
"Although I could copy Naruto, since that kid will also be considered a 'World's Condensation Nucleus' in the future, but..."
Rather than enduring until the Fourth Great Ninja War, why shouldn't he take the initiative to push things along?
Whether as a hero or a villain...
"Forget it, I'll take it step by step."
Shaking his head, Hyuga Makoto stopped thinking about these things. He still had a lot of things to do.
He felt that he really needed to properly thank Orochimaru.
Because Orochimaru truly gave him a bunch of technology and ruthless work...
...