Chapter 004: Danzo Is in a Very Bad Mood

“Old man, call Jiraiya back. Someone has set their sights on the Leaf Village and on the Jinchuriki.” Orochimaru’s voice was laced with a cold, sinister amusement. “Since you won’t let me raise him, then at least entrust him to someone who can truly protect him.”

To Orochimaru, it mattered little who raised Naruto, so long as the power of the Otsutsuki that he represented could be awakened faster and better. Innovation? That was easier said than done; he hadn’t even figured out what needed to be replaced, let alone what to create anew. In such circumstances, precious raw material like Naruto, with his rich potential, could not be wasted.

For this, Orochimaru didn’t mind sounding an alarm.

“Someone has their eyes on the Leaf?” The Third Hokage’s gaze sharpened. “Orochimaru, what exactly do you know?”

“I know little more than you,” Orochimaru replied, his smile fading into a serious expression. “Aside from turning someone into a Jinchuriki, there’s only one other way to control the Nine-Tails.”

The Third Hokage fell silent at those words. Even Minato, with his limited experience, could guess as much. As a witness to the Battle at the Valley of the End, how could the Third not understand? In fact, in the shinobi world, this was hardly a secret.

Madara Uchiha. The Mangekyo Sharingan.

The current system where each village managed its own Tailed Beast stemmed from Madara’s attack on the Leaf using the Nine-Tails. In the aftermath, the First Hokage, fearing that the other Beasts left at large would become future calamities, gathered them up and distributed them among the villages.

Tonight, the tomoe in the Nine-Tails’ eyes had been clear as day. Was this merely a contingency Madara had left behind, or had the Uchiha within the village played a role?

Thoughts rushed through the Third Hokage’s mind, sending his thoughts spinning out of control. If it was only Madara’s doing, then all they could do was guard the new Jinchuriki well. But if the Uchiha of the village were involved…

The village had suffered grievous losses tonight—casualties, the death of the Hokage, and the fall of the Jinchuriki, both powerful as Kage. They truly needed Jiraiya’s return to deter those with ulterior motives.

“I’ll have someone contact Jiraiya to return to the village as soon as possible,” the Third said, his gaze settling once more on Orochimaru.

This was his student too, and a shinobi of Kage-level strength, but somewhere along the way, they had grown distant. Now, even a simple conversation felt strained and difficult.

Meeting the Third’s complex, unreadable gaze, Orochimaru sneered inwardly. “The old man is as sentimental as ever.” At one time, Orochimaru had entertained the thought of destroying the village cherished by his former master, but now, none of that mattered. All he pursued was eternal life.

“Genie, if there’s nothing else for us here, let’s hurry back to Root. I can hardly wait to restart the First Hokage cell research.”

“There’s no need to be so hasty,” the Genie replied, amusement in his voice. “From our previous experiments with the First’s cells, one subject actually survived and has awakened the Wood Release.”

“What?” Orochimaru’s expression darkened with both shock and anger, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

“So, our first small goal is to snatch that Wood Release boy from Danzo’s hands—and make sure to hit him where it hurts.”

…

Meanwhile, deep within the heart of the village.

Amidst the ruins and chaos, Fugaku Uchiha, captain of the Uchiha Police Force, was directing his clansmen to evacuate non-combatants toward the shelters.

Yet, hidden in shadows darker than the night, a squad of Root ninja watched the busy Uchiha.

“Sir, shouldn’t we be helping with the rescue effort?” one Root operative couldn’t help but ask.

Though the Nine-Tails had rampaged for less than ten minutes, the destruction was vast. Injured, incapacitated villagers cried out from the wreckage, and help was desperately needed everywhere.

“Keep your eyes on the Uchiha first,” Danzo replied coldly, casting a sidelong glance at the Root ninja. “Don’t forget, they can’t be innocent in what happened tonight.”

The Root operative felt a chill. The Nine-Tails’ sudden appearance, the unmistakable tomoe of the Sharingan in its eyes—the Uchiha were indeed prime suspects.

A sudden rush of wind, and another Root ninja knelt before Danzo. “Sir, Intelligence has just reported: the Nine-Tails is sealed again. The Fourth and his wife sacrificed themselves to do it.”

“What?” The shadows around them stirred. Even Danzo, ever reserved and inscrutable, lost his composure, stepping forward to grip the operative’s shoulder. “Say that again—what exactly happened?”

The Root ninja’s tone was incredulous. “The Nine-Tails is sealed, but the Fourth Hokage and his wife are dead.”

Danzo clenched his fist, as if only by force could he restrain his roiling emotions. In that moment, only one thought remained: the young Fourth had fallen, and the seat of Hokage was vacant once more.

…

The night deepened toward dawn. Danzo, exhausted, dragged himself back to the Root base.

Yet, as he cooled his head, it was clear the Hokage’s seat would not be his this time. The village had suffered calamity; many of its upper echelons were lost, including a Hokage. In times like these, caution would prevail—there would be no hasty election. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was the most likely to return to office.

After all, the Third was hardly decrepit—his staff still swung with vigor, he’d just driven the rampaging Nine-Tails from the village, and could easily serve as Hokage for a few more years. Moreover, the Fourth’s tenure had been brief, and the Third had never fully relinquished power; reclaiming it now would not be difficult.

To see the former victor claim victory yet again was a bitter pill for Danzo to swallow. His mood, already sour, only grew worse when he returned.

In the Root conference room, seated in a chair identical to the Hokage’s, was a thin figure, feet brazenly propped on the table.

Danzo started in surprise, but when he saw who it was, his face instantly darkened. “Orochimaru, what are you doing here?”

“Danzo, you seem to have had quite a busy night,” Orochimaru sighed, his raspy voice full of mock feeling. “Me, I can’t say the same. My longtime partner, it turns out, is all smiles to my face and daggers behind my back. The betrayal chilled me to the bone—I was so shaken I couldn’t even sleep.”

What nonsense is this? Danzo frowned, not understanding Orochimaru’s coded language. “What are you getting at, Orochimaru? I don’t have time for your riddles.”

“The First Hokage cell experiment—all the subjects died, or so you said.” Orochimaru’s casualness vanished; his gaze bored into Danzo. “But today I learned otherwise. That Wood Release boy, codename Alpha—just how long did you plan to hide him from me, Danzo?”

Danzo’s heart skipped a beat, then rage overtook him. “Orochimaru, how dare you meddle in my Root?”