"What the hell? Orochimaru has defected?"
Kaze had just returned to Root to loaf around. Before he could even get comfortable with Ayako, he heard the news that left him stunned.
"I heard it's because of Sarutobi Nagare..."
Seiven Hyūga leaned close to Kaze's ear, deliberately pressing her body against his, and whispered softly into his ear.
Her gentle breath tickled his ear, her fragrant hair swept across his cheek, and there was the softness that bumped into his body...
However, Kaze didn't care at all. He stood up, cursing and slapping the table.
"That idiot Sarutobi Nagare! Isn't this just asking for trouble?!"
"I've just sat down to take a break, and you're just causing me trouble. Are you doing this on purpose, you jerk?"
As Kaze expected.
A dozen minutes later, all the Root members remaining in Konoha were urgently assembled in Root's hall.
Tanzō stood in the center of the crowd, eyes slightly closed, and said calmly, neither sad nor happy.
"An hour ago, Orochimaru attacked and killed his colleagues and defected from Konoha. Now he has been listed as an S-rank rogue ninja by the village."
"The knowledge, intelligence, and technology he possesses are all precious assets of Konoha."
"If this information falls into the hands of other ninja villages, the consequences would be unimaginable."
"You must search with all your might. You must intercept him before he leaves the Land of Fire, or... kill him!"
The Root ninjas clenched their fists eagerly and shouted loudly, "Yes, Tanzō-sama!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
One team after another equipped themselves and left Root menacingly, setting off on the snake-hunting journey.
After most of the people had left.
Kaze jumped to Tanzō's side, frowned slightly, and asked, "Dad, about what Sarutobi Nagare did, you..."
"You're asking if I knew about it long ago? If everything was within my expectations?"
Tanzō's expression remained unchanged, and his tone showed no sign of fluctuation. Kaze couldn't detect any clues at all.
Fine!
Seeing this old bastard pretending to be mysterious, it was obvious that he wasn't going to tell him.
Kaze didn't ask anymore. He pouted and said, "Dad, I think I'll sit this operation out."
"Oh?" Tanzō gave his son a sidelong glance and showed a playful smile.
"Do you think that all the elites of Root and Anbu combined can't handle just one Orochimaru?"
"Yeah, exactly." Kaze nodded without hesitation.
That guy is an extremely sneaky and insidious snake!
First, they might not even catch up with him. Even if they did, they might not defeat him; even if they did defeat him, they might not kill him; and even if they did kill him, he might just come back to life. Dealing with this guy would just be a complete waste of his time!
Tanzō's smile became even more sinister. He turned around and waved his hand, saying, "Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, will also join the pursuit. If you don't want to go, then don't."
"Alright, thanks, old... Dad!"
With Tanzō's permission, Kaze hummed a tune and openly went back to slack off as ordered.
Today, Sister Ayako changed into a new pair of stockings. I wonder what the quality is like.
A little over half a month later, at Kushina's home.
Kaze, Minato, Kushina, and Kaori, who hadn't seen each other for a long time, gathered together.
In the kitchen.
Minato was wearing an apron. While cooking, he said to Kaze, who was helping him beside, worriedly.
"Do you think Lord Orochimaru suddenly defected from the village? Could he be in danger?"
Although he had now become a disciple of Jiraiya, Minato still remembered the kindness of Orochimaru's guidance.
"Chill out, Minato!"
Kaze patted Minato on the shoulder and said lazily.
"Good people die young, but bad guys live forever. Orochimaru must be living better than anyone else."
"Oh, right..."
Minato was just too worried. After hearing what Kaze said, he thought it made sense.
Lord Orochimaru was even more sinister than Kaze. He probably wouldn't put himself in danger.
Relaxed, the two also started chatting about other topics.
"By the way, how are the kids doing now?" Kaze asked casually.
"They're all doing great," Minato replied with a smile. "In the Chunin Exams the other day, all four of them passed!"
"Wow, so the four kids are all Chunin now?" Kaze grinned.
Not bad. They're all quite something. They didn't let me down!
In the living room.
Kaori and Kushina were also chatting.
After hearing what Kushina said, Kaori grabbed her little hand and exclaimed enviously.
"You're going to get engaged to Minato? That soon!"
Kushina blushed and smiled shyly, her eyes full of happiness.
"Hehe, it's just a natural progression."
After chatting for a while, Kushina changed the topic and asked about her little friend.
"What about you, Kaori? How are you and Kaze doing recently? Have you won him over?"
As Kaori's friend, she had long known that Kaori had a crush on Kaze.
But.
As Minato's friend, she also knew how crazy Kaze could be.
She was worried that her little friend might not be able to handle him.
Sure enough.
After hearing what Kushina said, Kaori shook her head and said with a blushing face.
"Not yet, but... but I'm confident I can now."
"Oh, really? How so?"
Kushina sat up straight and waited curiously for Kaori to continue.
"My mom used to tell me that all men are bad, but..."
Kaori hesitated for a moment and said softly.
"But there's one thing about men. As long as you can handle it right, you can win his heart."
"Now, I've... handled it pretty well..."
Kushina: (?)
She was completely confused and didn't understand what Kaori was talking about.
"Ha ha ha, dinner is served~~"
While they were whispering to each other, Kaze and Minato in the kitchen had also finished their work.
The two of them walked out with the dishes and filled the table. The four of them started to tuck into their food.
During the meal, there was a lot of toasting and chatting and laughing cheerfully.
But when Kaze heard that Minato and Kushina were about to get engaged, the smile on his face disappeared immediately!
"What? Engagement?!"
"No way! No way! I don't agree!"
Not long ago, after much persuasion, Kaze finally managed to get Tanzō to give up the idea of forcing him to marry.
Now, when Tanzō sees that his adopted son is getting engaged, he'll probably start urging him to get married again!
"Can't you two wait for a couple of years before getting engaged?!" Kaze said excitedly.
Kushina slapped the table and stood up, looking annoyed and demanding.
"Why should we listen to you about my marriage with Minato?!"
Kaze also slapped the table and stood up, saying in a domineering way.
"Because I'll give you one million Ryo as wedding gift money when you two get married!"
"Damn, one million Ryo!" Minato's eyes popped out.
"Hey, Kaze, we're all friends. Why are you bringing up money?"
Minato subtly exchanged a glance with Kushina, pulled Kaze to sit down, and said with a smile.
"If you have any objections, I'll just postpone the engagement with Kyu for a couple of years. It's not a big deal."
"Two million Ryo isn't a small amount. I think it's better to forget it!"
Hearing Minato's words, Kaze's mouth twitched.
"Fine, you're putting the squeeze on me, aren't you?"
Kaze glared at Minato. Although his liver ached, he still stubbornly said.
"I, the young master, have got plenty of money. Two million Ryo is just a drop in the bucket. Can't I give it to my good friends on their wedding?"
"Sure, of course you can." Minato said with a big smile.
Hearing that Kaze was willing to give two million Ryo as wedding gift money, Kushina had no objections either.
She exchanged a look with Minato, and a sly smile appeared on her face.
"Then we'll have to trouble you to spend money then, Kaze. I'll toast you."
"I'll also toast you, Databane!"
Looking at the proud Kushina and Minato as they raised their glasses to him, Kaze was so angry that he wanted to poison them!
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