The next day, just before dawn.
In the courtyard, rhythmic breathing echoed softly.
"Hoo..."
"...Suck..."
"Hoo..."
The wind occasionally shifted direction, rustling the branches and leaves of the tall trees around the yard. This continued until noon, when a sharp alarm rang from inside the house.
Orochimaru removed the weights strapped to his body, ending his training session. He headed back inside to wash away the sweat.
"The time's about right. Fugaku should be sending someone soon."
Dressed in a clean ninja uniform, Orochimaru sat on a stone bench in the courtyard. As he waited, he reviewed his progress.
Thanks to the Dahe-brand genetic serum, his vitality had increased noticeably, and his physical training was yielding impressive results. The breathing technique he once struggled to maintain—the "Constant State"—now flowed without conscious effort.
"Still," Orochimaru muttered to himself, rubbing his chin, "relying on breathing alone, the strengthening is too slow… even with added weights."
He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "It seems Jiraiya's training will need to accelerate. After all, both Sage Arts and breathing techniques draw on natural energy. If I can find a way to make them reinforce each other…"
Knock knock knock…
A knock on the door snapped him from his thoughts.
"Orochimaru-sama, it's me," came a voice—Uchiha Fugaku.
"Fugaku? He came himself?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Well, considering how anxious he must be about his clan, it makes sense."
He leapt over the courtyard wall in one smooth motion, landing beside Fugaku.
"Right on time."
In truth, Orochimaru had been waiting at the gate for a while.
Fugaku gave a curt nod and went straight to the point. "Orochimaru-sama, do you have any way to resolve the Uchiha situation?"
"No rush," Orochimaru replied calmly. "Let's talk as we walk."
He gestured in the direction of the Uchiha District and began walking. Fugaku hesitated for a moment, then followed.
---
Unlike typical ninja movement, the two walked leisurely through the village streets like ordinary civilians.
Along the way, people took notice—shopkeepers, merchants, even children whispered among themselves. Orochimaru of the Sannin, and Uchiha Fugaku, the captain of the Konoha Police Force—seeing the two infamous figures walking side by side was bound to attract attention.
Both had murky reputations in recent years.
Orochimaru's expression didn't change. Fugaku kept a stoic face, but his twitching lips hinted that he too felt the stares.
"Clan Leader Fugaku," Orochimaru began, "resolving Uchiha's situation on the surface is simple. The Third Hokage or another elder just needs to publicly endorse the clan."
He paused as the crowd noise dipped—his lowered voice commanding attention.
"But such moves only suppress what's on the surface—not what's in the heart."
Fugaku's expression darkened. That, too, had been a growing concern.
The Uchiha had always been somewhat isolated from the rest of the village. Their pride and distance had long created tension. The suspicion surrounding the Nine-Tails incident had only worsened it.
"But..." Orochimaru continued, "Uchiha now has a chance."
He turned to look Fugaku in the eye. "Kumogakure is preparing to move. War with Konoha is almost inevitable."
"Kumogakure?" Fugaku blinked, then quickly grasped the implication. A flicker of hope lit up in his eyes—only to be quickly concealed as his face returned to its stoic mask.
"You're right. This could be a real opportunity."
Defending the village, earning merit on the battlefield—that was the core value of any shinobi. With Konoha's leadership in flux and their forces weakened, Uchiha could step in and prove their worth.
"Exactly," Fugaku said, more to himself than to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru let out a quiet chuckle. "I know what you're thinking, Fugaku."
His tone turned sharp. "But that kind of thinking would've worked before the Nine-Tails attack. Now, ask yourself—why is Konoha going to war? And why is it that Uchiha of all people have the chance to become heroes on the battlefield?"
Fugaku's eyes widened as the realization hit.
During the Nine-Tails Rebellion, the village's ninja forces were devastated—yet the Uchiha were largely spared. If the Uchiha were to take advantage of the coming war with the Cloud Village to earn military merit and improve their standing, it might only deepen the suspicions already cast upon them.
Worse still—if their sacrifices were dismissed or met with scorn—the clan would surely grow resentful. And what could happen then... was something no one wanted to imagine.
"I thought it would be straightforward," said Fugaku, his voice strained. "But I'm open to hearing your solution, Lord Orochimaru."
"It's simple," Orochimaru replied, calm and precise. "The key to Uchiha's involvement in the war isn't about how much credit they gain—but how much loss they suffer."
Fugaku blinked, confused at first. Then his expression twisted with anger.
"What a heartless plan," he snapped. "Do you want the Uchiha to die?"
"That's not what I mean," Orochimaru replied without flinching. "I'll be on the battlefield too, facing the most dangerous enemy. If there are losses, I'll share them. I'll control the casualties carefully."
"That's unacceptable!" Fugaku said coldly. "I'm the head of the Uchiha clan. I won't ally with outsiders to harm my own people."
Orochimaru opened his mouth to respond—but was interrupted as a squad from the Konoha Security Force approached, not stopping to acknowledge their clan head.
Fugaku's face hardened. "Shinzu, what's the situation?"
"Patriarch," said Uchiha Shinzu, clearly agitated, "we've cleared the ruins, but the village still hasn't sent any craftsmen to rebuild the clan grounds."
"I went to confront the person in charge, but they all just pushed the responsibility around. No one wants to help."
"Some even said there's no point in rebuilding because the Uchiha are being relocated."
"Patriarch... is that true? Are we really being forced to move?"
The murmurs began to swell among the others. Rumors had spread—whispers from the Hokage's office that the Uchiha, still suspected of causing the Nine-Tails attack, would be moved to the village outskirts.
Even if it was just gossip, the inaction and treatment they were receiving made it hard not to believe. The clan members were shocked, angry, and fearful.
Fugaku remained silent. He had no answer to give.
Then Orochimaru stepped in.
"Relocate?" he said, his voice cutting through the tension. "The village has no intention of forcing the Uchiha to move. The Third Hokage has issued no such order."
"Go back and tell them exactly what I've said."
Shinzu hesitated, startled to realize who had spoken. "Y-Yes… Lord Orochimaru."
__________
Support me on patreon
patreon.com/Silver757