Son of the Sannin(Back)

The Butterfly Effect

Author's notes: Hello once again, my cute little readers. This chapter is a bit shorter than usual, mostly because it will set up future events, but there are also a couple plot developments. Still, I hope you like it.

Jiraiya was as timely as usual to his meetings with the Hokage regarding the Kyubi attack investigation. However, there was something different this time. The first, less noticeable difference is that Jiraiya had a look of excitement on his face. That was good, as it meant that Jiraiya had made some important breakthrough in his research. Which might explain the second, more noticeable difference, Inoichi Yamanaka and Anko Mitarashi walking behind him.

"I got it, sensei!" Jiraiya claimed enthusiastically. "I got the definitive proof that will exonerate the Uchihas, and expose the real culprit behind the Kyubi attack!"

"Those are indeed excellent news, Jiraiya. Not only we will finally be able to put an end to Danzo's suspicions of the clan, but we will close Konoha's darkest chapter," Sarutobi replied as he gave a puff to his pipe.

"Anko, show him the report," Jiraiya instructed. Anko nodded, and handed the Hokage a folder with several files inside.

Hiruzen inspected the files, and as he did, his good mood slowly vanished while his expression grew somber. He looked at Jiraiya with a grave expression. "So you think that the perpetrator of the Kyubi attack was...Orochimaru?"

"Listen Hokage-sama, I know it sounds far-fetched, but when you put all the evidence together, it makes perfect sense," Anko hurried to explain.

"Enlighten me then."

Jiraiya cleared his throat and began his explanation. "I've been investigating that shady mercenary group, Akatsuki, for the past four years. Like I told you before, they were interested in the Tailed Beasts, and often incorporated missin-nin to their ranks. And guess who was among them? The snake bastard himself!"

"Jiraiya-sama brought a no-name missing-nin to Torture & Interrogation a couple months ago. My team and I have been scanning his mind, and made some interesting discoveries," Inoichi interceded. "The first one, as Jiraiya said, was that Orochimaru is part of the Akatsuki. I could see many memories of Orochimaru not only wearing the organization's uniform, a black cloak with red clouds, but having meetings with other members. Though he never met more than one member at once."

"The second one was that Orochimaru is creating his own ninja village somewhere, called 'Otogakure' or something," Anko added. "I think we should find and deal with that village as soon as possible before it snowballs into a bigger problem."

"While this discoveries are indeed worrying, I fail to see the connection between Orochimaru and the Kyubi," Sarutobi pointed out.

"Don't you see it, sensei? It's obvious that Orochimaru was a member of Akatsuki before he defected from Konoha. Besides his own ambitions, he wanted to be Hokage in order to increase Akatsuki's resources and had access to the Kyubi. But things didn't go as he planned, he defected, and a year later, when the seal on Kushina was at its weakest, returns, sneaks his way to the place she was being kept, kills the guards, takes her away and releases the Kyubi."

Anko decided to intercede. "Think about it, Hokage-sama. Orochimaru was the perfect man for the job. He's a really good infiltrator, knows Konoha ins-and-outs better than anybody else, and is strong enough to deal with even the strongest of our ANBU."

"After destroying Konoha, he would have handed the Kyubi to Akatsuki, and thus killing two birds with one stone. But once again, he didn't count on Minato's interference, who more than likely defeated him and then sealed the Kyubi inside Naruto, foiling his plans. And now he's building his own village in order to raise an army to try to destroy Konoha and reclaim the Kyubi again!"