When that just drew a bunch of muttered questions, he reluctantly stirred himself a bit more. He really hadn't expected that to be sufficient. "Iwa, Kumo, and Suna have agreed to pool resources for this purpose. This is to be considered an ongoing mission, B-Rank, with the various villages putting aside our differences for the purpose of stopping Orochimaru."
"An independent fund?" asked Danzo, sounding heavily disapproving of the idea.
"Yes," said the Third Hokage. "Suna has the least budget for anything at all, so will be the least involved. Kumo has the budget, but I suspect they'll be maintaining a seperate investigation with better information. I also suspect they're trying to duplicate or unravel the methods that Orochimaru used here."
"To be expected," noted Homura.
As Homura Mitokado had been one of those hit by an earlier attack, there was a tendency to stare at the petite glasses-wearing girl. Her response of late was to wear an outfit that completely enshrouded her.
"Isn't that kind of hot and stifling?" asked Hiruzen softly.
"Better than being ogled," grumped the mostly-concealed girl.
"Nobody's 'ogling' you," grumped Danzo.
"YOU were," grumped back Homura.
"I don't see what the problem is," said Koharu Utatane, checking herself in a hand-mirror.
"Other than you constantly preening in the mirror?" asked Danzo, shuddering for some reason.
Both Koharu and Homura guessed that reason being something to do with ROOT, which also mostly had been hit with Orochimaru's jutsu.
"There has been no word from Kiri or the Mizukage," said the Third Hokage, deciding not to dwell on the unspoken subtext going on. Mainly because he was tired and didn't want to deal with opening any more boxes of trouble at present. "Amegakure is silent on this matter, as is Getsugakure. A runner from Takigakure pledges their support but they are at least as limited as Suna."
"I'm sure all the minor villages will be more than happy to share information that comes to them within their own borders," noted Homura thoughtfully from somewhere inside her robes. "It's not as if they can actually field any forces to speak of."
"What of Kusagakure?" asked Danzo.
"Sent a messenger hawk stating that they were dealing with the problem themselves and wanted to be independent of outside involvement," said Hiruzen. "Ay interpreted that as Kusa being paranoid about certain other villages trying to use this to infiltrate them."
"Kusa? Who'd bother?" asked Koharu.
"I'm more worried by these rumors out of Kiri myself," said Danzo.
"What rumors?" asked Hiruzen, forcing himself to be more alert. Having to travel like he had wasn't pleasant for people who should be retired after all.
Two months previously:
"When are we going to do something about this?!" demanded Zabuza, slamming a hand against a wall.
"Not wearing a bra yet, I see," said Yagura calmly.
"Argh." Zabuza Momochi visibly tried to get control of herself. "When are we going to devote resources to dealing with that snake?"
"It's Konohagakure's problem, let them deal with it," said Yagura, not even looking at the swordwielder. "It's not as big a problem as these bloodlines and the unrest."
"Not a big problem?!" asked Zabuza.
"All references to your bust size aside," said Yagura, still not looking up from his paperwork, "is this some feminine problem? That 'time of month' or something? Because I really don't have time for petty gripes."
"It is NOT that time of month and this is not petty!" declared Zabuza. "This is an assault on our village. Half our chunin are now kunoichi!"
Yagura made a half-dismissive noise.
"And then there are these two other effects," noted Zabuza. "Catgirls? What's next - bunnygirls?"
"Hmmm," hmmmed Yagura. "Enhanced hearing and speed. That could be handy. Is that all? Because I'm quite busy here. You only got in because there was a chance you had some valid problem."
"This IS a valid problem!" said Zabuza.
"Don't get your panties all twisted up and in an uproar," began Yagura.
"ARGH!" said Zabuza, ready to draw and attack.
At which point he found a jet of water slamming her through two walls and into the street outside.
"The repairs will come out of your mission pay," called out Yagura. "Now have a nice cold soak and get over it."
Present:
"Apparently there was some civil unrest, now a civil war," said Danzo. "What caused it - we may never know."
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(Posted Tue, 21 May 2013 17:58)
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