Danzo's story had long proven one thing. No matter how accomplished an old man might be, the moment he thought about crossing a line with a woman, fate would ensure he paid the price swiftly and mercilessly.
After fully grasping the current state of the Ninja World, Hayashi fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"Since Konoha has already deployed two thousand ninja, what exactly do you need me to do?" he asked calmly. "You are not planning to have me rendezvous with them, are you?"
With a force of that scale, Hayashi doubted any village would dare launch an ambush. Across the entire Ninja World, only the Third Raikage possessed the kind of overwhelming confidence and power to attempt something so reckless.
Orochimaru shook his head, his expression grave.
"That is not your mission. This still concerns Sunagakure," he said. "According to reliable intelligence, the Third Kazekage has deployed the One-Tails' Jinchuriki."
Hayashi's faint smile vanished instantly.
"Is that information confirmed?" he asked, his gaze sharpening.
Tailed Beasts were not ordinary weapons. They were strategic forces of mass destruction, notoriously unstable and nearly impossible to control. No village would deploy one lightly, especially not in the early stages of a war.
Kushina was the perfect example. Despite being the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, she had remained under strict protection within Konoha. Once the war began, her brief freedom ended, and she was confined once more.
Would the Third Kazekage truly send out a Jinchuriki so early, or was this merely a diversion?
Orochimaru met Hayashi's eyes directly.
"The intelligence has been verified multiple times. It is accurate."
Hayashi fell silent.
Once again, it was spies.
The surprise assault unit, the Third Kazekage personally leading seventy percent of Sunagakure's forces to the front line, and now this. All of it came from internal intelligence.
To possess information of this level, Sunagakure's spy within Konoha had to be someone of extremely high standing. Whoever this was, they were no ordinary infiltrator.
Unaware of Hayashi's brief distraction, Orochimaru continued.
"The One-Tails' Jinchuriki did not advance with the main force. He separated from them early during transit. His current location is unknown."
Hayashi narrowed his eyes.
"You are not planning to have me infiltrate enemy territory alone to track him down, are you?"
That kind of mission carried an absurd level of risk. If that were truly the case, Hayashi would have no reason to remain behind, nor would he ever experience Orochimaru's so-called consideration again.
Fortunately, Orochimaru shook his head.
"That is not the task."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"I want you to capture Shukaku."
Hayashi went silent.
That was even worse.
Seeing his reaction, Orochimaru added, his tone unusually calm, "If that proves impossible, then kill the Jinchuriki. Make the One-Tails disappear for a while."
Hayashi exhaled slowly.
How thoughtful. Offering alternatives, as if eliminating a Jinchuriki were some minor adjustment rather than an impossible feat. Since when had killing a Jinchuriki become something that could be discussed so casually?
Who exactly gave Orochimaru the confidence to say something like that?
"I feel deeply burdened," Hayashi said flatly.
Orochimaru sighed as well, his voice hoarse.
"You know the village's situation. I understand how dangerous this mission is. If necessary, you can temporarily take command here, and I will personally ambush the Jinchuriki."
Silence followed.
At this point, Hayashi could only raise his hands in resignation.
"I will take the mission."
Orochimaru placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled faintly.
"I will report your contributions truthfully to the Third Hokage. You will receive everything you are owed."
Hayashi rolled his eyes.
Pretty words were meaningless. Actual compensation would have been far more convincing.
If not for Orochimaru, he would never have accepted such a mission. Still, if even he was being assigned something this dangerous, then Sakumo and Jiraiya were likely facing missions of similar risk.
Orochimaru tossed a document pouch toward him.
"This contains all available information on the Jinchuriki. His name is Shinya. Before becoming a Jinchuriki, he was the Third Kazekage's right-hand man. His combat ability is considerable."
Hayashi caught it but did not open it immediately. Instead, he studied Orochimaru's pale expression.
"There is one more issue," he said. "The battlefield is massive. How am I supposed to find him?"
"That is what I am about to explain," Orochimaru replied, his tone sharpening.
"According to intelligence, Shinya is operating alone. His objective is reconnaissance and sabotage. He is attacking indiscriminately, targeting any Konoha squad he encounters. His range of movement stretches from this battlefield deep into the Land of Rivers, all the way to our supply storage routes."
Understanding dawned instantly.
Sunagakure was using the One-Tails' Jinchuriki as a roaming infiltration unit.
"He is confident," Hayashi murmured.
Such missions demanded exceptional mobility and combat prowess. Typically, ninja operated in squads of four, three, or at the very least two. For Shinya to act entirely alone, with the Third Kazekage's approval, suggested one terrifying possibility.
Shinya could control Shukaku's power.
Orochimaru shook his head in response to Hayashi's look.
"After becoming a Jinchuriki, Shinya was imprisoned. We have no information regarding his level of control over the One-Tails."
Hayashi flicked the document pouch lightly.
"So aside from his appearance and past combat records, there is nothing useful here?"
"That is correct."
Hayashi sighed.
"Then how many Sensor Ninja are you assigning to me?"
Tracking an enemy who could appear anywhere without sensor support was unrealistic.
Orochimaru shook his head once more.
"You will go alone."
Hayashi blinked.
"What?"
"The enemy's range is too vast. Without hundreds of Sensor Ninja, it would be impossible to monitor the area, and we do not even have a hundred in the entire garrison. You will rely on your own sensory abilities and your summons."
This decision was deliberate.
Any teammates would only slow Hayashi down. The One-Tails' Jinchuriki could strike anywhere at any time, and Hayashi would need to reach the location immediately. No one could keep pace with him.
As for locating Shinya, Orochimaru continued seriously.
"I will mark the positions of all Konoha squads on a map. If Shinya attacks, the report will come to me first. I will relay the location to you."
Hayashi frowned slightly.
"By the time I arrive, he could already be gone."
Orochimaru shook his head.
"Shinya dislikes unnecessary effort. The squads are scattered. Attacking them one by one would be inefficient. He will leave survivors deliberately and wait for reinforcements, then eliminate them all at once."
This conclusion came from a detailed analysis of Shinya's personality.
In Orochimaru's judgment, Shinya was dangerously arrogant. Otherwise, he would never have volunteered to become a Jinchuriki under the belief that he alone could control Shukaku.
People like that trusted their strength absolutely. They believed no encirclement could truly trap them.
After hearing this, Hayashi nodded slowly.
He trusted Orochimaru's understanding of human nature, though he still wished a Sensor Ninja could accompany him. Doing the work of two people for a single mission reward was hardly appealing.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Hayashi muttered to himself,
"The days without Himeji… I truly miss her."
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