Chapter 56
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his temples, exhaustion settling deep in his bones. His thoughts drifted to Minato. If only he were still alive, perhaps an old man like him wouldn't have to bear the weight of everything alone.
Behind him, Mitarashi Anko stood rigid, her expression a mix of guilt and regret. She still remembered that night in the Forest of Death—when she crossed paths with Orochimaru once again. Even though she had resolved to die with her former teacher, she lacked the strength to make it happen.
Faced with the man who had once trained her, she hesitated.
Hiruzen could sense Anko's turmoil, and his voice was calm but firm.
"It's not your fault. There's no one in the village right now who can completely defeat Orochimaru."
At this moment, Hiruzen had no idea that another of his disciples—one he had once disappointed—had already returned to Konoha.
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The Tension in Sunagakure
Temari and Gaara sat in the stands of the second-floor observation area, silently watching the Konoha genin making their way to a restaurant after a month of intense training. Kankuro sat nearby, his feet bare, legs crossed in a relaxed manner.
"That lazy bastard? You really think he can beat you? He looks half-dead—probably forced into training. Sister, you're definitely gonna win," Kankuro scoffed.
Temari barely paid attention. "That's trivial. The real battle ahead is what matters..."