C19 Capture Orochimaru

"Alright!" Russell couldn't help but silently cheer on Kushina as she lost her temper and lashed out.

In his mind, confronting such a conniving old snake required a fist-first approach; anything else was futile.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Just then, a sudden knock at the door captured everyone's attention.

"Come in."

"Lord Hokage, the Anbu has uncovered Orochimaru's involvement in human experimentation and located his base!"

The Anbu chief, without even looking up, rattled off the report, his voice tinged with a mix of disbelief and urgency.

The others in the office exchanged uneasy glances. It was hard to believe that Orochimaru, one of Konoha's legendary Sannin, would stoop to such depths.

Of course, who was feigning shock and who was genuinely taken aback was something only they knew. They were all masters of deception, after all.

"Minato, Orochimaru is my student. I'll handle this," Sarutobi Hiruzen was quick to assert himself.

Russell, feigning surprise like the rest, bristled at the command. A request would have been one thing, but an order?

With the frustration already brewing inside him, Russell retorted sharply, "Lord Sarutobi, you've stepped down. I believe it's up to the Yondaime Hokage to make that call!"

He put extra weight on 'stepped down' and 'Yondaime Hokage,' causing Sarutobi Hiruzen's face to sour.

Had it been just them, Sarutobi could have conjured a myriad of excuses, but with the Anbu present, his hands were tied.

How could he justify himself now? What would become of his reputation?

"Fine, Minato, you make the call. But as Orochimaru is my student, it would be most fitting for me to apprehend him."

The wily old Sarutobi Hiruzen gracefully backed down, yet inwardly, he seethed with resentment toward Russell.

With just a few words, Russell had become a thorn in his side, an obstacle in his quest to control Minato. He'd have to find a way to remove him.

He was merely a six-year-old child, and while he might possess some talent, it was ultimately inconsequential. Talent does not equate to true strength.

What he failed to realize was that Russell's strength had already reached that of an Elite Jonin. Not even an Elite Jonin could defeat him, which is precisely why he dared to challenge Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Lord Hokage, Orochimaru is one of the Legendary Sannin and a symbol of our Konoha. It's best if as few people as possible know about this. Why don't just the few of us handle it?"

Minato appeared hesitant, but Russell didn't wait. He spoke up promptly, shooting Kushina a knowing glance as he did.

Kushina, trusting Russell implicitly despite not understanding his reasoning, chimed in, "Orochimaru is incredibly powerful. Minato, it would be safest if you and I confronted him together. Otherwise, he might slip away."

Their conversation turned Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression as dark as charred coal.

He was well aware of Orochimaru's human experimentation, including his work with Senju Hashirama's cells.

Not just for Orochimaru's sake, but for his own, he could not allow Orochimaru to be taken alive!

Yet now, with more than a dozen Anbu members arriving, was he expected to subdue Minato in front of them all?

Russell was banking on the fact that he wouldn't dare, and that's why he spoke out.

Some things are best handled in the shadows, understood by all but never openly acknowledged.

Even if he were to make a scene now, he stood no chance against both Minato and Kushina.

And with Orochimaru in his current predicament, it was clear he wouldn't be coming to the rescue.

The other two Legendary Sannin, Tsunade and Jiraiya, were not in Konoha, and their loyalties were uncertain.

Jiraiya was Minato's mentor and also a disciple of the Third Hokage.

As for Tsunade, her close relationship with Kushina was undeniable, and she too had grievances with Sarutobi Hiruzen, especially concerning the fall of the Senju clan.

Tsunade's reluctance to remain in Konoha, choosing instead to wander the Ninja Realm, stemmed from this very reason.

At that point, Tsunade's fury might have even surpassed Kushina's.

Even Kakashi, standing before him, had perished due to his own covert influence.

These thoughts raced through Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind, and he instantly realized he was defeated, falling into a heavy silence.

Before, he could throw his weight around, leveraging his status as the Sandaime and Minato's mentor, but now this young upstart had called his bluff, rendering those tactics useless. Cursed be the situation!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's glare was as menacing as a wild beast's when he looked at Russell, who remained utterly unfazed.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't handle it now, he certainly wouldn't be able to in the future.

"Alright, we'll all go together. If Lord Sandaime wishes to join us... then by all means, let's go as one."

Minato hesitated briefly but ultimately didn't outright refuse Sandaime's request.

"Minato, oh Minato, your soft heart is your downfall. No wonder you met your end as the Hokage after just two years."

Though he inwardly lamented, Russell felt a surge of satisfaction.

To truly silence Sarutobi Hiruzen, he'd need to flex his muscle in front of him.

Today was the day he'd showcase the combat prowess of Minato, Kushina, himself, and Kakashi!

Lost in thought, they were led by a contingent of Anbu to Orochimaru's laboratory.

As the door swung open, a collective grimace marred the faces of those present.

Within jars of pale green formalin, naked bodies floated one after another.

Beyond that, the lab tables bore several lifeless forms.

"Hahaha!" Orochimaru laughed, disregarding the crowd as he addressed Sandaime, "Teacher, at last you've discovered my hideout."

Russell had expected to remain detached, but the sight before him stirred waves of revulsion.

It wasn't just abhorrence for Orochimaru's human experiments—it was pure disgust.

While the others looked on with horror, only Kushina maintained her composure.

"Tsk tsk tsk!" Russell's eyes darted around as he mused, "In a dog-eat-dog world like this, how could anyone truly despise Orochimaru over such an incident? They're all quite the actors!"

But he had no time for the idle banter between Orochimaru and Sarutobi Hiruzen. Without hesitation, he called out, "Minato, let's take him down alive! Kushina, back me up. Kakashi, you're with me—we'll keep him off balance from a distance."

With those words, Russell swiftly created space between himself and Orochimaru using the Body Flicker Technique.

He wasn't foolish. Orochimaru's stats in speed, strength, and durability were easily over a thousand. With his own modest two hundred, charging in would be tantamount to suicide.

As Russell made his move, Minato and Kushina sprang into action as well.

"Whoosh!" Minato's shuriken flew across the lab, setting up for his signature Flying Thunder God Technique.

Kushina went straight for the jugular, eight golden chains sprouting from behind her and coiling around Orochimaru like a group of striking cobras, a technique from the Whirlpool Clan designed to restrain even the mightiest of tailed beasts.

"Water Release—Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

In a mere six seconds, Russell executed forty-four hand seals. The water dragon bellowed, surging directly at Orochimaru. The confined space of the lab barely contained the beast's form.

"Summoning Jutsu—Triple Rashomon!"

"Boom! Boom!"

The water dragon smashed through the first gate like a twig and dissipated after warping the second.

Having launched his assault, Russell took a step back to play it cool, all the while keeping a watchful eye on Sarutobi Hiruzen.