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  The Hidden Leaf Vilge.

  Around two hours before midnight Kakashi and his team reached the vilge. The patrol squads they had met on the way had sent word back to the vilge and a team from the interrogatioment personally led by Ibiki and Inoichi were already waiting for them at the gates to receive the prisoners.

  The Jonins haheir prisoners over and the Yamanaka head escorted them to the T building. Ibiki came near Kakashi and his team. "Inoichi will prepare them for a mind walk. In the meantime, follow me. Lord Hokage wants to see all of you."

  The group of Jonins quickly made their way to the rge tower in the middle of the vilge. Si was te in the night there weren't many people around the streets but the movements of several patrol squads of in and Genin roaming the vilge could be seen.

  Soon Kakashi, Genma, Asuma, Guy, Anko, Daichi and Ibiki were in the Hokage's office.

  "Kakashi, what happened?" Hiruzen asked.

  "Orochimaru has employed deying tactics. We couldn't find any traces of him or Lady Tsuhat would lead us to their location. He's created false trails to waste our time and throw us off his st. Even though it might be false trails, I've tasked the other three to look into it."

  The Hokage sighed when he heard that. "Just as I feared. He's not taking any ces… What about the prisoners you captured."

  "On our way back to the vilge we entered them attag Genma's team." Kakashi replied and Hiruzen turo Genma.

  "They ambushed us several kilometers away from the Capital. Their target was Daichi. There were nine people and they were determio capture him alive." Genma spoke and Hiruzen looked at the Genin standing in the room with a raised eyebrow.

  "Well, you've certainly caught Orochimaru's attention if he's willing to spend so much effort on you. And the fact that he's taking such a bold move at this time means you're reted to whatever he's pnning."

  Daichi stood silent as the kage gazed at him.

  "What you tell me about them?" He asked, turning his attention to Genma.

  "The womahe rare bloodline ability crystal style. And she's the leader. The rest were her followers. They wao capture Daichi badly enough that she was willing to sacrifice her people."

  Ibiki spoke at that moment. "Anything more you tell me about them? Might make my job a tad easier."

  Genma was silent and turo Daichi. "Daichi, were you able to find anything about her during yht?"

  The gamer ninja quickly shared the information he learned. "That woman's name is Guren. For whatever reason, Orochimaru tasked her with capturing me alive with as minimal wounds as possible. From what I uand, she's a true Orochimaru loyalist. Arength... Based on my estimates, she go toe to toe with Kakashi sensei if pressed."

  Some of the people in the room were surprised to hear that. "She's that strong?" Ibiki asked.

  Daiodded his head. Kakashi, who was standing nearby, had no reason to doubt Daichi's words.

  "Normal interrogation tactics won't work on her. She's even willing to sacrifice her own life for that madman. That bined with her rare bloodline and strength. I think she might be a ninja in Orochimaru's inner circle. I'm betting she has valuable intel on what that snake wants with Tsunade sensei and where she might be."

  The Genin looked at Ibiki and spoke. "But before that, I would start with the man with the dark brown hair. His name is Rinji. He's worked for Orochimaru and looks up to him but I'm not sure he's truly loyal to him. All the rest were just pawns."

  Ibiki looked at the kage and Hiruzen gave a small nod. The rge ninja left the room and Hiruzen looked at Genma. "Were you able to find anything at the loizuki gave you?"

  "It was a trap. Ko Yamanaka was killed over a week ago and his body ced inside a scroll and rigged with a booby trap." The Special Jonin replied with an awkward sigh.

  "We went to the Capital to iigate Nam but he vanished. No one's seen him in a few days." Anko spoke.

  "Another dead end." Hiruzen sighed and leaned back.

  "Dad, were you able to find anything based on the information from the Analysis team's reports?" Asuma asked.

  "I've sent several squads to follow up on that. They will send a report ba a few hours." Hiruzen held back the urge to sigh again and looked at the dots in front of him. "So we still have no idea where they are huh?"

  "Actually Lord Hokage, I have a theory. I might have an idea as to where they could be." Daichi spoke up and Hiruzen gazed at the boy.

  "Where?"

  "Land of Earth." Daichi's reply was met with a puzzled gaze from the kage.

  "What makes you say that?" Hiruzen slightly narrowed his eyes and looked at the Genin. 'Earth try? Does he know something that I don't?'

  "After an atta Lady Tsunade and Shizune and with their abdu, it would be foolish of him to stay in this try. Too risky." Daichi spoke and the Hokage nodded.

  "I agree. I've been thinking about that as well. But how you be sure Orochimaru took them to the Land of Earth? Isn't there the possibility of him fleeing to one of the smaller nations, or to the Land of Rice. Maybe even anreat nation. So why the Earth try?" Hiruzen asked.

  "A few reasons. One is that a smaller neighb nation isn't powerful enough to stop us should we get any information about him... Hypothetically if you get information that Orochimaru is somewhere in one of the smaller neighb nations with Lady Tsunade, would you send people after them?" Daichi asked the Hokage and Hiruzen was silent for several seds as he pohe answer.

  A few moments ter he nodded his head. "If it's a smaller nation then yes. While sending infiltration teams would be seen as an act of aggression and might escate the tensioween nations I'd still do it if it means resg her. The bes outweigh the costs. They don't have the mao pete with us and if such a situation happens and the smaller natioaliate, we could also say that they've beeering a known S rank criminal and was holding Lady Tsunade hostage trying to weaken us. Turn the public perception and make them the aggressors."

  "Exactly. Not only will Orochimaru not be able to proceed with his pns he'll have to fend off ninjas from multiple nations in that case. So the smaller vilges 't protect him. Now only the freat nations remain as an option."

  Just then Anko spoke. "You're talking about the situation of the small nations on our border. What if Orochimaru takes them far away? Theher rge vilges will be obligated to protect them regardless of what we say and we 't send such a rge team to infiltrate o to battle without aig if the distance is te. And if Hidden Vilges find Lady Tsuhen who's to say they won't capture or even kill her."

  "I think it's because of such reasons that Orochimaru won't go too far and would even hide from other ninja vilges. The distance is te that Orochimaru won't take such a risk." It was Kakashi who replied.

  Anko and the others turo the former Anbu captain. "Orochimaru has hostages with him. Lady Tsunade audent. If on his way, they were found by any other party, it would be trouble for him. A wrinkle in his pns. So he would o find the possible stronghold that guarantee his safety. Is that what yetting at Daichi?"

  "Yeah. Precisely." Daiodded and looked back at the Hokage. "Orochimaru won't go to his own base of operations and he won't select a small nation. If we somehow track him aroy the whole pce then his years of effort would have goo waste."

  "So that leaves us with 4 great nations." Hiruzen muttered and recalled the map of the ti in his mind. "The Land of Lightning is too far away. You have to gh the Land of Rice, Land of Hot water and Land of Frost to get there."

  "The Land of Water is too far as well. You'll need a boat and it'll take several days." Asuma said thinking about the situation.

  "Not to mention the Hidden Mist vilge is in the midst of a civil war. If they find Orochimaru or Tsuhey'd show hostility. There are too many uain factors in that pce. That snake wouldn't take that risk." Anko gave her thoughts.

  "And the possibility of him going to the Land of Wind is also small. They are our allies and if they find him they'll treat as an enemy." Guy spoke up.

  "And that's not taking into at the terrain of that try. Orochimaru must have built a base of operations. It won't be easy to navigate the desert and create a hideout in such ditions." Kakashi agreed with his friend.

  "The Land of Iron is a ral try. Mifune won't tolerate anyone causing trouble there. Especially a knue ninja." Hiruzen rubbed his and looked at the boy. "So that leaves us with the Land of Stone."

  "Yes. There is one more reason I picked that try. Orochimaru ambushed se the border he Land of Waterfall. From there it's retively easy for him to get to Earth try. If I'm right then they're somewhere in there but away from the Hidden Stone Vilge. I don't think the Tsuchikage knows that there are two Sannins in his try."

  Hearing Daichi's reasoning the kage became silent and mulled it over. 'If that's true and Onoki finds out then it'll be an even bigger problem. He'll certainly try to spin it to his advantage.'

  A few moments ter he nodded his head. "It's an iing theory. I'll look into it."

  "Thank you Lord Hokage." Daichi was gd the old kage didn't ht reject his notion.

  "You're dismissed Daichi. Head to your training ground. Kakashi will join you soon."

  Daiodded but before he left, he took a small scroll and unsealed it. A small bottle appeared and the young medic took a small green pill from it. He ha to the Hokage who held the small spherical pill and curiously exami.

  "You look tired. I have a feeling yoing to be up all night. Take that pill a for about 20 minutes. It'll be the equivalent of getting 6 to 7 hours of sleep."

  Daichi's words brought a small smile to the old man's face. He didn't doubt the boy's words. "Thank you Daichi. I'm certainly going to he energy."

  The boy nodded and quickly exited the room.

  "A pill that replicate the effect of a 7 hours sleep. That's impressive." Anko said with a grin and whistle.

  "Yes. Young Daichi made something like that for my dear Lee as well. It's certainly effective." Guy said with a smile as well.

  "Yes." Hiruzen didn't waste another sed and dowhe pill. He let out a deep breath and looked at the Jonins present. "I have information about multiple hiddeional bases under Orochimaru. I've sent teams to iigate and when they send word back you'll o be ready to engage. So for now, all of you get some rest."

  "Yes sir."

  "Kakashi, a moment. Rest of you are dismissed."

  The silver haired Jonin stayed with a calm gaze while the others left. "Are you worried about Orochimaru's atta Daichi?"

  Hiruzen nodded with a serious gaze. "Yes. But I'm also relieved. The boy is certainly strong enough to hold his own. But still, we 't take any ces. From this point forward, till this situation is resolved you'll have to stay with Daichi."

  "Is it for his prote or to keep an eye on him?" The Jonin sensei asked.

  "Both. I tell that he cares for Tsunade and Shizune very much. The boy is smart but in desperate times even smart people will make dumb decisions."

  The Hokage's words made Kakashi frown. "What are you getting at sir?"

  "Even during such a tumultuous time Orochimaru tried to go for Daichi. That means the child is more important to Orochimaru than perhaps he realizes. Now that his pn to forcefully abduct the boy has failed he might ge tactics."

  Kakashi was silent as he listeo the worries of the old leader.

  "I don't know if Orochimaru has any other spies hidden deep in the vilge. But if they make tact with Daichi they might use words instead of fists."

  "Try to vince him to go with them for the freedom of his teachers." The silver haired Jonin fihe man's thoughts.

  "Yes. Daichi might very well know it's a lie or trap but there is a ce that he might still make that choice. Or he could leave the vilge ao the Land of Earth in desperation. This is a very precarious time. I don't want to deal with more on my pte than what I already have."

  Kakashi nodded. "Yes sir. I uand. I'll keep an eye on him."

  "Good. Dismissed."

  Once Kakashi left the Hokage let out a deep breath of air and leaned ba his chair. He felt tiredness creeping in. 'Must be the effects of the pill.'

  "I'm going to sleep for about half an hour. Wake me up if anything important es up." Hiruzen gave orders to the Anbu in the room and shut his eyes to take a power nap.

  Training Ground 3.

  Daichi was meditating under a tree when suddenly he got new memories and chakra of his e. The gamer ninja opened his eyes a out a deep breath of air.

  'So he's in pce huh. It's time. Let the raid begin.'

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