The Old Hokage dispatched Kakashi Hatake, Sarutobi Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi, three Jonin, all at once. This was to cooperate with Luffy and capture that guy Orochimaru first!
If Orochimaru were allowed to escape at this moment, that would truly be the start of real trouble!
…
"Huh… who are you?" Luffy arrived just in time.
In truth, even if Kakashi and the others had arrived a bit later, Luffy would have been able to catch up to Orochimaru after some time.
"Mr. Luffy! We know this guy suddenly attacked Konoha. Upon receiving Lord Hokage's order, we hurried over!"
Among the three, Kakashi and Luffy could be considered acquainted, after all, they had fought together before.
"Perfect!" Luffy didn't mind cooperating with others.
"This guy tried to sneak attack me while I was sleeping! But I found him! I was still wondering if he was from your village…"
"He used to be…" Asuma glanced at Orochimaru and said. "But he is a traitor who was judged by the village for his evil deeds!"
"Then it's fine."
Luffy clenched his fists, ready for battle.
"Please, the three of you, help me hold him back from the sides… I don't want this guy to escape again. His 'ninjutsu' is really troublesome."
In fact, just as Orochimaru didn't understand the Haki power Luffy possessed, Luffy also didn't know all that much about the various ninjutsu displayed by the ninjas of the ninja world.
Orochimaru's ninjutsu was actually relatively rare and bizarre even among ninjas.
Luffy found it difficult to cope with, although he was confident.
With just one slip-up, Orochimaru might use his bizarre transformation jutsu to escape the scene!
Just like before, when Luffy punched Orochimaru away, but couldn't find a trace of him.
Kakashi and the others arrived at this moment, which was actually the optimal time.
Luffy wasn't afraid of direct combat; he was just worried about Orochimaru's strange and bizarre ninjutsu, which could allow him to escape the scene unexpectedly.
This made Luffy feel a similar sensation to when he fought Devil Fruit users.
When dealing with Devil Fruit users, understanding the opponent's abilities first was a key factor in achieving ultimate victory in battle.
If one didn't understand the opponent's Devil Fruit power, didn't know their strengths and weaknesses, a blind fight could lead to a disadvantage.
It seemed that the battles in this ninja world followed much the same set of rules… Kakashi and Asuma exchanged glances, then nodded.
Truthfully, Orochimaru indeed had a myriad of tricks up his sleeve.
The ninjutsu he used was considered unique in the ninja world.
If one wasn't careful, let alone a foreigner like Luffy who had no chakra and wasn't skilled in ninjutsu.
Even Kakashi and the others, ninjas who had received similar Konoha ninjutsu instruction as Orochimaru, would probably not be able to detect Orochimaru's movements in time!
At this moment, Luffy charged forward, with Kakashi and the other three supporting from the periphery.
Guarding against Orochimaru using other strange and bizarre tricks to escape the scene was actually a very good combat method.
"You guys are discussing as if no one else is here..."
Orochimaru chuckled. Enemies were all around him.
Luffy, a foreigner with strange powers, and Konoha's elite Jonin like Kakashi.
"Bringing out such a lineup to deal with me… Let me guess, Sensei should still have other tricks waiting, right…"
"No…"
Orochimaru suddenly chuckled, then said.
"Sensei isn't as impulsive as he was when he was young."
He's probably still dealing with inquiries from Konoha's higher-ups right now…
Orochimaru had indeed done his preparations beforehand before coming to Konoha to try and complete his plan.
At this moment, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was indeed dealing with those Konoha higher-ups.
Konoha was not a one-man show for the Hokage. Perhaps it was like that during the First and Second Hokage's time.
But the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength, though not weak, compared to his two teachers…
It actually seemed a little insufficient.
So, while in the village, the Old Hokage also pulled in many allies. A considerable number of influential elders in the village sided with the Old Hokage.
However, even so, the village's affairs still needed to be discussed by everyone.
Although the elders on the Old Hokage's side were numerous.
But to completely settle a matter, it was impossible without a lengthy meeting.
And now, the Root organization, which had always either supported the Hokage or remained neutral, seemed to subtly lean towards opposing the Hokage…
This made the situation at the meeting even more complex and baffling.
"...Why should we pay such a heavy price for a foreigner?"
"Since Orochimaru has already suffered, just let him leave on his own!"
The elders gathered in the village were discussing nothing else but Orochimaru's attempt to impersonate the Fourth Kazekage and sneak into Konoha to attack Luffy.
"How could it be that simple? Orochimaru impersonated the Kazekage and came to Konoha this time. So, where is the real Kazekage? Could he have been harmed by Orochimaru?"
"When Sunagakure comes looking for him, what will Konoha do?"
"If we don't capture Orochimaru, and the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind go to war, who will be responsible for this?!"
"How can two countries go to war over something like this?"
"Orochimaru's actions should naturally be borne by Orochimaru!"
"Just tell those guys from Sunagakure that clearly and directly!"
No matter the era or the place, unifying all thoughts and opinions within an organization was never a simple matter.
Even the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had decades of experience in governance, often suffered headaches over such troublesome matters.
"Alright, alright…" The Old Hokage patted the desk in front of him, calming everyone down.
"Whether it's Luffy or Orochimaru, both are very important figures to Konoha."
"Protect Luffy, capture Orochimaru. These two things are difficult to bring together."
"Now that they are coincidentally together, why don't we concentrate our strength and make one mighty push, to accomplish both tasks at once?"
"We can both gain goodwill from Luffy, and have a chance to completely resolve this hidden danger, Orochimaru, who lurks in the shadows. Why not?"
Previously, at the Hokage's suggestion, the higher-ups in the village had probably realized Luffy's "value" to Konoha.
And now, being able to resolve Orochimaru while helping Luffy was indeed a good opportunity.
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