The Hokage's Decision
Back in Konoha Hiruzen is listening to an Anbu Shinobi who is informing him of the unfolding event caused by Bulma's arrival. After finishing the report Hiruzen said, "This is troubling, but we still have time to act." He then looks the Anbu Shinobi in the figurative eye and says, "Gather a squad of Anbu, use one of the Inuzuka clan shinobi to track Gozai down and switch with him." He then furrows his brow and says, "I fear that someone may be plotting against Goku so keep a close eye on him and only interfere if you see Shinobi make an attempt on him. I will give you further instructions later, please keep me informed with messenger birds."
The shinobi compiled and disappeared only for Hiruzen to say out loud, "Kakashi I have a mission for you." Suddenly a Shinobi with snow white hair which spiked upward entered the room. He wore a light brown flak jacket with a blue undershirt with a red swirling symbol on the shoulder area of his sleeve. He wore fingerless gloves with a metal plate attached to the back, he also was wearing blue pants that stopped a foot above his ankles which were covered in white bandage cloth above his thigh. He wore bandages that connected his kunai holster. He also wore a shuriken holster that rested on his right side at the back of his pants. He wore open toed shoes and uniquely enough, he wore a blue mask that covered all but his eyes. Lastly, he wore a hidden Leaf headband that was actually positioned to cover his left eye.
Kakashi immediately asked, "Is this about protecting the boy?" Hiruzen immediately said, "Only partially, I assume you heard everything." Kakashi nodded and said, "It's a pretty amazing story if it's true." Hiruzen immediately replied back, "If it is then we will have an even bigger incident on our hands if we don't act accordingly. I want you to cross over to the West and gather what information you could about these "Dragon Balls" and immediately return with your findings." Kakashi then said in an inquisitive tone, "Because that's where the girl learned the story?" Hiruzen replied with, "Partially, you see we received a job request just recently. The job was to retrieve artifacts stolen by bandits for a collector from the West." Kakashi caught on immediately and said, "And this collector described these "artifacts" in the same manner as these "Dragon Balls"."
Hiruzen then said, "This collector seems harmless enough but if these orbs do as this "Bulma" says they do then we can't take any chances. I want you to have your "Team 7" to do this job as you search for any validity in the orb's power." Kakashi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you really want to send Genin for this type of mission?" Hiruzen then said, "This "collector" only wanted to hire a Genin, he argued that he doesn't trust any higher class, Shinobi." Kakashi lifted his chin with his right hand and said, "That's troubling." Hiruzen then said, "Which is why I was originally planning to reject this mission, but Bulma's story makes me think it would be better if we had a team keep an eye on them while you collect the desired information.
We will figure out what their end goal really is afterwards." Hiruzen then said, "I believe having a small squad of Genin to keep an eye on will be better than just letting him go off on his own, especially since we don't know his true intentions." Hiruzen then said, "I also want to keep too many of our ninja from seeing Goku, the more Shinobi that see him the harder it will be to keep his true nature concealed and protected from threats outside or inside the village."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you expect Team 7 to encounter Goku on this mission?" Hiruzen simply states, "Goku and this "Bulma" as well as the mission Team 7 will be taking part in involves gathering these orbs. I feel it's a foregone conclusion that Goku and your Genin will meet in the field. This also means before you leave for your search, I want you to meet with the Anbu I sent a minute ago and go with them to inform the current observation team that if Team 7 meets Goku, then they should stand down." Kakashi scratched the back of his head with a troubled look and said, "This is turning into a bigger mission than I thought it was." Kakashi then has one more question and asks, "You said inside the village, I thought Goku's existence was a well-guarded secret." Hiruzen's shoulders slump downward, and he says with a heavy sigh, "It pains me to admit it but for the past couple years, ever since the death of Gohan several of our Anbu had made attempts to harm the boys against my orders."
Kakashi gave Hiruzen a surprised look and said, "That impossible the Anbu are the most loyal Shinobi among us, what could possess them to disobey your orders?" Hiruzen lets out a heavy sigh and says, "I believe they have been infiltrated and this incident is a result of a plan set up by this group." Hiruzen then adopted a serious expression and said, "There aren't many who know of Goku's existence, least of all an outside group. Anbu lookouts being assassinated without anyone noticing is proof that the Anbu I have assigned to observe and protect Goku have been compromised." Kakashi immediately asks, "Then why are you sending Anbu to monitor Goku during this trip, isn't that a risk?"
Hiruzen then said, "We have only ever caught individual members, so I believe it's a small group, so far it has been my loyal Anbu that has kept Goku alive despite the traitors in their ranks. What's more, I want to keep Goku's existence a secret so sending anyone else would be counterproductive, especially if Goku transforms at any point." Kakashi stopped to think for a moment but then he let out a sigh and asked, "Should I inform my Genin on the true purpose of their mission?" Hiruzen shook his head and said, "I don't want to risk them tipping the collector off, that might cause more problems later down the road so please keep them in the dark." Kakashi nodded in agreement and disappeared into thin air.