In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo Shimura in shock. Mito Menma and Tenzō awkwardly nodded. Hiruzen almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.
"Danzo, you!"
This time, Danzo felt somewhat vindicated. He angrily took out a scroll from his robe and threw it directly at Hiruzen.
"Open your eyes and look at this scroll. Wasn't it I who sent it to you, only for you to have it returned to me untouched?
"When did I ever make my plans known to everyone? Do you think I don't regret what happened to White Fang? Don't I know how great a loss it is for the village to lose a shadow‐level ninja? Now the Sarutobi clan is all over the village. Oh yes, including your ambitious and arrogant daughter‐in‐law who only wants to become the Hokage's wife."
Danzo didn't hold back this time. His original plan was to win over Orochimaru after Hiruzen abandoned him again, making Orochimaru a weapon in his hands. Now it seemed things had gone too far; the weapon had become too dangerous, injuring people everywhere.
At that moment, Hiruzen opened the scroll thrown by Danzo and his face turned red. He had been too careless!
Tenzō and Mito Menma also realized that now was not the time for infighting and spoke solemnly, "Now is not the time to shirk responsibility. It's about how to deal with Orochimaru."
When it came to Orochimaru, Danzo, Menma, and Tenzō all looked at Hiruzen.
Faced with their stares, Hiruzen's face turned pale and he slumped into his chair, "It's too late! Orochimaru has already fallen into darkness. He's researching the forbidden jutsus you've provided! He wants to develop an immortality jutsu! He's even acted against my Anbu."
"What!" The three were shocked. Seeing Hiruzen's despair, they knew the matter was serious this time.
All three felt a tingling in their scalps. Danzo cursed, "Damn it! Orochimaru defected? A Hokage candidate has defected? The village is in trouble, find Orochimaru now."
"How do we find him?" Tenzō stomped his foot in anger, "This is pushing him too far. If Orochimaru defects, it's no small matter. It will disturb the entire Land of Fire and may even cause a chain reaction."
"Hiruzen! This time you need to sort out your Sarutobi clan!"
All three spoke out. Originally, they planned to suppress Orochimaru and manipulate public opinion. Hiruzen himself was in great pain, regretting his carelessness. He hadn't expected Orochimaru to actually delve so deep into such dark jutsu.
After all, in the minds of most ninjas, immortality jutsu doesn't exist. If it did, that would be god‐like.
Even the whole ninja world agreed, but Orochimaru, with his incredible talent, had exceeded all their expectations. He had dived in and couldn't get out.
Combined with a woman's ambitions, the whole matter had been blown up, leaving no way for Orochimaru to turn back.
Once he had a clear understanding of the situation, the Third Hokage quickly calmed down. The current situation indicated that the entire village was about to undergo a change.
"Send the order, deploy two squads from the Anbu to hunt down Orochimaru!"
"The Root Division must cooperate unconditionally. Although Orochimaru is injured, he's not easy to deal with. Danzo, you can't escape responsibility this time!"
After glaring fiercely at Danzo, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, suppressed all his emotions and spoke solemnly: "We can't afford the consequences if a candidate for Hokage defects. The entire village can't afford it. Issue an order within the Land of Fire to hunt down Orochimaru with all our might!"
It was now beyond the point of no return, and he had to make a tough decision. Capturing Orochimaru or keeping him within the borders of the Land of Fire would minimize the damage.
The impact of Orochimaru, a defector hiding in the shinobi world, would be severe for the Leaf Village.
Hearing this, Danzo snorted coldly. He had his own schemes. This was clearly your doing, Sarutobi. If Orochimaru successfully defects, it would damage your reputation, giving me an opportunity.
As for Hiruzen's successor? Hmph, such shortsightedness. Hiruzen would never tolerate someone who causes this much harm to the village while vying for the position of Hokage.
Danzo suddenly felt this was advantageous for him, smirking internally. Sarutobi, this failure is on you, don't blame me.
Meanwhile, in the forest…
Uchiha Kaien, Uchiha Shisui, Kakashi Hatake, and Might Guy raced through the trees, heartbeats hammering in their ears. They burst into a moonlit clearing—and froze.
Orochimaru stood at its center, wounded but alive, mud dripping from his form as his clone dissipated.
"Hehe, Third Hokage, it seems you've made up your mind."
Orochimaru's sinister laugh cut through the night. His bleeding clone ankles were gone; he was free to flee.
"How could this happen! How could it turn out like this!" Shisui's voice trembled as he watched his mentor betray everything he'd stood for.
The ANBU poured into the clearing, led by Sarutobi Hiruzen in full combat armor.
"ANBU, hunt down Orochimaru!" Hiruzen's roar echoed, and the ANBU obeyed.
"No! I don't believe it!" Shisui fell to his knees, horror flooding his eyes.
Hiruzen's gaze swept the four. "By my decree, ANBU, capture Orochimaru, one of the Three Legendary Sannin!"
Then he was gone, swallowed by the night.
Kaien watched in despair as the ANBU fanned out.
"No! There's still a chance!" Kaien pushed himself up. "Quick—Prison! Protect the children! Seventh Squad, assemble—abandon all missions!"
Kakashi and Guy sprang into action, leaving Shisui to guard the rear.
Above the village, a hawk's cry snapped every ninja to attention. Memories of the Nine‐Tails attack flashed in their minds as they scrambled onto roofs.
Under first‐level alert, a single command echoed:
"Hunt down one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru!"
Inside the Sarutobi compound, Sarutobi Hizuki faced her own kin, resolve hardening her features.
"Yes! I know what to do!"
Elders of the Sarutobi clan exchanged grim looks.
"Strike without mercy."
"He must be stopped."
And so Konoha shattered its peace—pitting master against student, clan against clan, and innocence against ambition.
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