017 Flipping the Table

“Danzo, by doing this, are you trying to confirm the Uchiha clan's involvement in the Nine-Tails Incident?” As Orochimaru spoke, the faces of everyone in the conference room changed; their composure was shattered, and it became impossible to maintain an air of calm.

Fugaku, who had just sat down, felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. His mind jolted, and he turned to glare angrily at Danzo. He realized now that he had underestimated the consequences of relocating the clan’s territory.

Danzo felt a chill under Fugaku’s resentful gaze, his expression hardening instantly. He stared fiercely at Orochimaru and rebuked him sharply, “Orochimaru, what nonsense are you spouting? The Nine-Tails Incident is not yet settled; when have I ever accused the Uchiha of anything?”

“I’ve heard it said that a person’s eyes see everything clearly.” Orochimaru smiled, looking one by one at the clan leaders and senior members of the village. “The Uchiha do carry suspicion regarding the Nine-Tails Incident. The tomoe in the Nine-Tails’ eyes cannot be faked; everyone saw it for themselves.”

Fugaku’s anger froze on his face. He turned to Orochimaru, his expression complicated, uncertain whether Orochimaru was helping or harming the Uchiha.

The clan leaders exchanged glances, their expressions no longer indifferent. They could not pretend nothing had happened.

“But, Lord Danzo, can you produce evidence that the Uchiha clan is guilty?” Orochimaru smiled. “I doubt you can; otherwise, you wouldn’t resort to such methods.”

Danzo kept a stern face, saying nothing.

“Relocating the Police Force to the village’s outskirts and stripping their emergency duties—what is that if not punishment?” Orochimaru ignored the warning look from Jiraiya beside him and pressed on. “If no crime has been committed, why impose punishment? Danzo, are you not cementing the village’s rumors, confining and banishing the Uchiha?”

The atmosphere in the conference room fell silent after Orochimaru finished speaking.

No one here was a fool. Across from Orochimaru sat Shikaku Nara, reputed to have an IQ over 200; he had likely seen through Danzo’s intentions long ago, but he would not voice them.

Danzo truly had no way to prove the Uchiha’s guilt, yet at the same time, the Uchiha could not clear their names; otherwise, they would have stepped forward to refute public opinion immediately.

With neither side able to prove nor disprove the case, it became a matter of whose power and methods prevailed. After all, in the Nine-Tails Incident, so many died, even the Fourth Hokage perished; could a simple “not yet settled” resolve it so easily?

Such a response only highlighted the incompetence of the village’s leadership.

Thus, whether directly or indirectly, the village’s leaders needed to provide an explanation to the villagers. Someone had to bear the blame.

Of course, the Third Hokage and his advisors dared not go too far; they would not point at the Uchiha and declare them guilty outright, for they were neither prepared nor willing to confront the Uchiha directly.

But now, the situation had changed. Orochimaru had lifted the ceiling, exposed the darkness above. Previously, there was a barrier; even if you sat below it, aware of someone above, you could pretend not to see. Even if you heard the flushing of toilets overhead, you could choose to ignore it.

Now, however, one side hurled accusations, the other endured, and the issue was laid bare. It was a matter that could no longer be ignored.

In the midst of the silence, Orochimaru laughed—quietly at first, then with open satisfaction, until the Third Hokage opened his eyes and sent him a fierce glare, prompting him to restrain himself.

While Orochimaru was no master strategist, he excelled at muddying the waters, thriving in chaos.

The meeting continued, but the topic of the Uchiha relocation was shelved. Fugaku would never agree to such a demand; if he failed to represent the clan’s interests and instead sided with the village, forcing his clan to bear the blame, the next day a radical Uchiha would propose replacing him as leader.

The village leaders were also unwilling to push too hard, and both sides tacitly ignored the topic. Of course, this was only temporary; the conflict would merely be delayed, not resolved. Sooner or later, the Uchiha and the village would clash.

Aside from the Uchiha matter, the meeting proceeded smoothly. After all, Orochimaru did not stir every pot, and others were also cautious.

After the meeting, Fugaku approached Orochimaru to thank him for his actions and to discuss possible solutions for the Uchiha’s predicament. Orochimaru did not refuse, though the agreed time was not today.

Once the clan leaders departed, only the Third Hokage, his three advisors, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru remained.

Danzo barked angrily, “Orochimaru, what are you up to?”

“I could ask the same—what exactly are you doing?” Orochimaru grinned, unconcerned by Danzo’s fury. The previous day’s transaction had been completed; to him, Danzo was nothing more than a penniless passerby.

Orochimaru understood Danzo’s intentions perfectly: he wanted to eliminate the Uchiha step by step, harvest their Sharingan, and, combined with research on the First Hokage’s cells, obtain the powers of both Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju.

Orochimaru coveted the Sharingan as well, but he could not agree with Danzo’s methods—such reckless exploitation was a waste of the Uchiha’s bloodline treasure.

Koharu Utatane frowned. “Why are you helping the Uchiha for no reason?”

“Helping the Uchiha? I’m acting for the village.” Orochimaru replied. “Do you really think such crude tactics will fool them? This approach only pushes them toward rebellion.”

Orochimaru sneered, mercilessly, “Utter fools!”

“You!” Koharu exploded with anger, slamming the table. Since becoming a Hokage advisor, she had never suffered such direct insult.

“Orochimaru, hold your tongue,” Jiraiya interjected, then turned to apologize to Koharu, “Elder, he’s always like this. Please bear with him.”

The atmosphere became tense once more. Koharu snorted, and she, Danzo, and Homura Mitokado left the room. They had stayed to probe Orochimaru’s position, but clearly, he was uncooperative. Continuing would only be humiliating.

Orochimaru’s unexpected support for the Uchiha had embarrassed the Hokage’s camp at the meeting; the matter was left for Hiruzen to deal with. After all, Orochimaru was his disciple.

The conference room doors closed again, leaving only the master and his two students.

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes and spoke slowly, “Orochimaru, what is your purpose? Speak plainly.”

After so many years as a teacher, Hiruzen knew Orochimaru well—his detachment from the world, his purposeful actions, never speaking without reason.

Orochimaru produced a scroll from his robes. “This is the intelligence I obtained yesterday. Let’s discuss it after you’ve read it.”

Hiruzen took the document from the scroll and scanned it briefly, his expression darkening. “Is this information accurate?”

Orochimaru grinned. “Absolutely.”

Jiraiya glanced at the file in Hiruzen’s hand, and after a single look, his face changed. “The Hidden Cloud is planning to strike at Leaf at this very moment.”