Thus, Luffy's speed while swinging through the dense forest reached an astonishingly terrifying level in a short amount of time!
In such a dense jungle environment, there really wasn't a good way to move quickly.
One either had to be like Orochimaru, possessing a form suitable for this environment.
For example, the snake form Orochimaru chose was undoubtedly a more suitable animal form for a wild environment like a forest.
And no matter how dense or winding the path, a snake could probably slither through, smoothly and simply.
Ninjas would jump and swing between tree trunks and branches, but their speed wasn't necessarily slow.
But Luffy's method of bouncing and grabbing, constantly swinging, was actually a very efficient way to travel...
To minimize his presence, he used sound, scent, and aura to sense the ambusher fleeing ahead.
Luffy had no choice but to abandon the grand and loud pursuit method and adopt this more subtle form.
But now, it seemed, this swinging and flying method was both interesting and fun, and its efficiency was not low. Luffy even began to rather like it...
"Luffy was attacked? Who has such audacity?!"
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, received the intelligence at the first possible moment.
The one who came to report, wasn't it the Konoha ANBU ninja wearing the fox mask, who had just been near Luffy's resting place?
"This... Lord Hokage, we did not find the attacker."
According to the instructions given by their superior, the Konoha ANBU ninja wearing the fox mask could only shamefully state the facts.
"Actually, we didn't initially discover that Mr. Luffy was attacked..."
"It was Mr. Luffy who discovered the enemy, then struck and heavily injured the attacker, which caused a commotion. Only then did we notice what was happening..."
"None of you discovered it... not a single one?"
The old Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, narrowed his eyes and frowned.
He raised both hands to support his chin, sinking into thought behind his desk.
"...No." The ANBU ninja with the fox mask lowered his head.
To be honest, as ANBU ninjas, whether it was operating in the dark or capturing "rats" hidden in the shadows.
This should have been their duty, something within their professional capabilities.
But now?
The enemy was right under their noses, and a crucial figure they were protecting was attacked, causing a commotion. These guardians, these protectors, only realized something was wrong afterward... Isn't this like a joke?!
In today's ninja world, a notorious presence could completely evade Konoha's ANBU ninjas, a truly terrifying entity.
And coincidentally... among the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's several disciples, there was such a troublesome individual.
"Don't tell me it's... that bastard Orochimaru again?"
"It truly is a time of many troubles."
The old Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately seemed to realize something, and his eyes shot out a sharp gaze.
"Go! Take people to see what the situation is with the Kazekage now!"
"Yes!" The ANBU ninja with the fox mask immediately accepted the order.
"Lord, should we bring more brothers to protect Lord Kazekage?"
"Protect?" The Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi roared, "The more you talk, the more something feels wrong."
"Go check first, then report back to me immediately. Is the Kazekage still in his resting room? What exactly is the situation with the ninjas around him right now...?"
Finally, the old Hokage added a reminder.
"Remember! Don't alert the enemy!"
"Yes!"
The ANBU ninja with the fox mask flickered and disappeared into the shadows of the office.
No need to think, one knew he was off to execute a mission.
At least, except when facing top-tier entities like Orochimaru, Luffy, or the Hokage.
Konoha ANBU ninjas were still considered a relatively top-tier squad in today's ninja world.
After all, the "ANBU" organization, directly controlled by the Hokage, was originally established in Konoha Village.
Back then, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, in order to strengthen his own power, and to suppress enemies both inside and outside the village, single-handedly created the ANBU system.
Later, because the ANBU system was indeed very effective in enhancing the village's power.
So, it was immediately adopted by other powerful ninja villages.
Now, except for Konoha Village's ANBU organization and the whereabouts of Tuanzo Shimura (Danzo Shimura),
Other ninja villages also mostly had similar configurations.
...
The old Hokage at this time already began to suspect whether the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, who appeared before him during the day, was truly real.
In fact, ever since he started thinking of the name "Orochimaru," his mind immediately went through all the anomalies he had encountered and heard recently, or even some unusual normal phenomena, as well as all the people and events.
"One who knows their child best is the father," and "one who understands their disciple best is the master."
The old Hokage had taught knowledge and ninjutsu his entire life, and had only taken three disciples.
Jiraiya and Tsunade were both good disciples whom the old Hokage was proud of.
Tsunade came from a prestigious family and had a special constitution, so relatively speaking, the ninjutsu she cultivated was somewhat inferior to what the old Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi taught.
What the Hokage taught him was actually more about principles of conduct and methods, techniques, and experience for dealing with strong enemies in battle.
The other person, however, had also received direct tutelage from the Hokage.
Back then, Jiraiya was ranked last among the old Hokage's three disciples. Orochimaru, however, performed the best and was the most talented.
But who would have thought that everyone's life experiences were different, and in the end, the one who truly satisfied the old Professor was Jiraiya, who had the weakest initial strength and a temperamental personality that wasn't well-regarded...
On the other hand, Orochimaru, who was exceptionally talented from the start and whose genius was evident from a young age, was now a human-loathing Konoha traitor... a heinous and utterly wicked god of evil!
The old Hokage always kept Orochimaru's abilities in mind.
If it really was Orochimaru who had infiltrated the village... the old Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered deeply. He really wouldn't have any good way to distinguish him with his own eyes.
But... a Hokage is a Hokage after all.
Having held power in Konoha for so many years and fought on battlefields, he naturally accumulated quite a wealth of experience.
In today's ninja world, the only one who could compare with the old Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi in terms of experience, age, and qualifications was the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, that old fellow Oonoki.
Even if there was no way to distinguish Orochimaru by strength, to know if this guy was right beside him
It didn't mean there was absolutely no way to find this treacherous teacher, this disciple who forgot his roots.
Wisdom, too, should be what ninjas value most and what they should develop most.
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