I'm Inside Naruto Manga

Orochimaru's mocking tone swept across the rooftop like a cold wind, causing everyone to pause momentarily.

Thud, thud.

Two bodies fell heavily to the ground. The Reanimation Jutsu faded, and the faces of Hashirama and Tobirama showed a trace of relief as they slowly turned to dust, returning to nature. The sacrifices they inhabited lost all signs of life, their Otogakure's forehead protectors adorning corpses whose eyes remained wide open, seemingly still filled with the agony of their final moments.

Sarutobi's combat armor was damaged. He glanced at the corpses of the two Otogakure's Ninjas at his feet, and anger flashed in his eyes. He understood that the student he had taught had strayed further and further off course. He slammed the Adamantine Staff heavily into the ground, shouting: "Orochimaru, what are you talking about?"

Jiraiya, keeping his composure, shot a discreet look at Logan, who remained expressionless, searching his mind for any familiar information.

'Raiden Hattori, he should be the Jonin of the village, but he is so young...'

"What I mean is exactly what it sounds like." Facing the fierce momentum of Hiruzen's glare, Orochimaru was unfazed, a faint smile playing at his lips, "It's quite exhausting to be kept in the dark for so long, isn't it?"

Orochimaru turned his gaze toward Logan, a shadow crossing his face as he thought of something, "But then again, it's not surprising. Him involving himself in the attack on Konoha really was unexpected. His act was so convincing that I almost believed it myself. Heh, is this also part of your identity concealment?"

The last sentence was directed at Logan, who remained silent. He listened quietly to Orochimaru's narration.

The truth, that Logan was an undercover Akatsuki member planted in Konoha to gather 'intelligence', would finally be exposed today. When Logan had decided to confront Orochimaru, he had mentally prepared himself for this moment.

'This day was inevitable.'

"Is this the time for such nonsense?" Hiruzen naturally refused to believe Orochimaru's words. Not only had Logan's actions in the village always been above suspicion, but his performance in the battle just now had also proven a lot. However, after his rebuttal, Hiruzen suddenly recalled what Orochimaru had said when Logan had first arrived at the scene inside the Four Violet Flames Formation...

"If you think it's nonsense, you can always ask for yourself."

The inconsistencies in the timeline raised doubts in Hiruzen's mind. He opened his mouth and turned to Logan, but instead of seeing any annoyance over the accusation, he saw an unusually calm expression, "Hattori, you..."

The short sword was sheathed with a metallic clang, and Logan slightly bowed his head, showing no signs of wanting to interrupt Orochimaru's speech.

This uncharacteristic behavior made Hiruzen's heart sink. A sudden, unfamiliar sense of estrangement surfaced. He seemed to feel some hidden, unknown secret from Logan's lowered eyelids… something he had never realized before.

"Orochimaru, what are you implying?" Jiraiya eyed Orochimaru carefully, wary of any attempt at sowing discord. Yet Logan's behavior was clearly out of place, making the atmosphere atop the damaged rooftop even more tense.

"Hahahaha, isn't it obvious?" Orochimaru watched Logan's expression with a hint of interest, hoping to catch a glimpse of some slight gratification from revenge. Unfortunately, he was disappointed.

Shaking his head, Orochimaru revealed the truth in front of everyone.

"Raiden Hattori has long ceased to be a Ninja of Konoha." Orochimaru said, successfully capturing the disbelief on the faces of those around him, "He is an undercover agent who has been lurking among you for a long time."

"What?!" One of the ANBU exclaimed in surprise. Hiruzen's expression also grew increasingly grim. He stared at Orochimaru, trying to detect any sign of deception, then turned his gaze back to Logan, his heart refusing to accept the claim.

However, Orochimaru continued speaking, relentlessly pushing everyone to consider the authenticity of his words, "As early as four years ago, Raiden Hattori came to me in the Otogakure requesting a ring, a ring that serves as proof of loyalty to the organization he serves."

Jiraiya's mind raced at the mention of the ring, 'Orochimaru had possessed one ring before...' Jiraiya, who had always paid attention to Akatsuki, had an idea of what Orochimaru is talking about. He glanced at Orochimaru, who was smiling slyly.

"That organization..."

By now, Orochimaru felt that there was no need to the audiences suspended. Orochimaru met Jiraiya's gaze and sarcastically said, "That organization is… Akatsuki."

It was as if a giant bell had been struck right beside the ears of the Konoha's Ninja present. The ANBU could hardly believe that a comrade they had just fought alongside was actually an undercover agent. Hiruzen and Jiraiya were equally shocked, as the implications of 'an Akatsuki's member' were far more disturbing for them, given what they knew.

"You've got to be kidding!"

"Raiden Hattori... is what Orochimaru said true?"

Amid the commotion, an ANBU cautiously asked Logan, who had remained silent all this time. Immediately, all eyes turned toward him.

Hiruzen's lips moved slightly. In this moment, with an external enemy present, he should believe in a Ninja who had fought for the village. But the current situation was far too confusing.

Orochimaru watched Logan, now the target of everyone's suspicion, eagerly awaiting his response. If Logan were to deny it, Orochimaru was prepared to reveal even more damning evidence.

After all, ever since their confrontation in the Otogakure's underground, Orochimaru had taken an interest in Logan and had gathered a significant amount of information on him over the years.

The air was still, the afternoon breeze blowing gently at high altitudes, forming a stark contrast with the chaos below.

A few loose stones tumbled along the rooftop, and everyone waited for an answer. Finally, a sigh broke the silence.

"Orochimaru, do you know what you look like right now?"

There was no denial, no hesitation to stall for time. In the face of reality, Logan, who had kept his secret for so long, had no intention of making a disingenuous defense just to buy a momentary reprieve. He knew that if he did not confess now, Hiruzen and Jiraiya would probably not press him further, but he decided it wasn't worth the effort.

Today, the clear wind had blown through the tumultuous Chunin Exams for a long time. Facing the vast, open sky, Logan felt a fleeting sense of unrestrained freedom and the solitude of the wind blowing past.

This time, however, the emotion was faint, accompanied more by a sense of relief at letting something go.

Logan looked at Orochimaru, a smile spreading across his face, one that seemed out of place in the current setting, "You look like a naughty brat who lost a fight and ran to the teacher to tattle."

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's expression instantly darkened, and a dangerous light flashed across his yellow pupils, "What did you say?"

That incomprehensible smile on Logan's face made Orochimaru inexplicably annoyed. However, Logan just shrugged, "I mean, you really do look like that."

Logan paused, then turned to face Hiruzen and Jiraiya, "Hokage-sama, uh... how should I put this now..."

'This is such an awkward conversation... If I don't play along, what should I even say? Maybe I should just drop everything and run. But that would look even more awkward.'

"He's right."

Hiruzen tightened his grip on the Adamantine Staff in his hand.

As for being an undercover agent, half-heartedly doing intelligence work, there wasn't much point in elaborating on his personal intentions... Logan straightened his face and spoke the words he had been holding back in his heart.

"Thank you, all this time, for the village's care."