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  ....

  Knoock-

  "e in~"

  The old man's voice carried an inexplicable excitement, as if he had beely peeping at something inappropriate through his Telescope Jutsu. Hearing the kno the door, he restrained himself.

  "Yes, Lord Hiruzen."

  With a hoarse voice, Orochimaru pushed open the front door and walked into the Sarutobi residence.

  Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi sitting in the small courtyard, a plex emotion flickered deep in Orochimaru's eyes.

  If there was anythi in this vast Konoha that he found hard to part with... it would probably be this old man. Even though he had already decided to defect from Konoha.

  After all, humans are social creatures, and bonds are shackles pced around the necks of powerful ninjas.

  Family bonds, bonds with rades, bonds between teacher and student...

  Orochimaru's parents had long since died in battle; his rades had left the vilge early and only met once a year or so. The only o was this mentor who had apanied him growing up.

  If possible, Orochimaru even hoped that Hiruzen Sarutobi would rebel against Konoha with him.

  Or perhaps, if Hiruzen could regain the position of Hokage, he might tio stay in Konoha.

  But unfortunately, there were no "ifs."

  "Oh, it's Orochimaru~ You haven't visited this old man in a long time."

  Hiruzen Sarutobi was a bit surprised.

  With Danzo far away in Kirigakure and Mitokado Homura transferred to Sunagakure, Konoha Vilge had only him left.

  Usually, he would get bored and want to remih his disciple, inviting Orochimaru over for tea to alleviate the tedium of retirement.

  But today was unusual; Orochimaru had e on his own.

  Being an old and wise man, Hiruzen immediately guessed that his great disciple might have entered some trouble and wanted his old teacher to lend a hand.

  Thinking this, Hiruzen poured two cups of tea for himself and Orochimaru.

  He took a sip first.

  "Teacher, I..."

  "Did something happen?"

  Hiruzeed him: "With your abilities, is there anything in the vilge that could trouble you?"

  Given Orochimaru's merits in the ninja wars, he was someone who could call the shots in Konoha. Hiruzen couldn't think of anything that would make him seek help.

  Unless...

  "Yes, Teacher." Orochimaru's expression was calm as he stated the fact of his unjust treatment: "I've been targeted by the Fourth Hokage."

  "Minato? Targeting you?"

  Hiruzen chuckled and shook his head: "I personally evaluated Minato. He's fair and impartial, without bias. In terms of ability and character, he's a reliable Hokage."

  "I'm fident leaving Konoha in his hands."

  "Could there be some misuanding?"

  Orochimaru silently listeo Hiruzen's praise of Minato, feeling a sour rese in his heart.

  He unhurriedly reted his experie the Hokage Building iail.

  He didn't embellish; lies wouldn't work oute Third Hokage.

  Hiruzen frowned deeply upon hearing it: "Uchiha Fugaku... In terms of ability, he's qualified to lead su important blitz mission."

  "Perhaps the Fourth Hokage has his own political siderations."

  He didn't question how such a radical operation like a blitz on the Grass Vilge, bypassing the Daimyō, nned. Not being in that position, he wouldn't ent on it. He simply analyzed the situation for his beloved disciple.

  "But it seems there's no pe in the Fourth Hokage's pns."

  "He had already firmed Uchiha Fugaku as the ander of the blitz but still called me to the Hokage Building just to humiliate me."

  "I'm very upset about this."

  Hiruzen fell silent, sensing the strong distent in his disciple's words.

  This was not a good sign.

  A flict between the Hokage and the vilge's seost meritorious ninja could lead to big problems if not resolved.

  Moreover, Minato did go a bit too far this time.

  If you want to sideline him, just do it; why call Orochimaru to the Hokage Building, giving hope and then taking it away?

  For an old hero eager to tribute to the vilge, this was disheartening.

  Hiruzen forted him:

  "You should go back for now, Orochimaru. I'll discuss this matter with the Fourth Hokage."

  "After all, he's still young and cks experien gover's iable he'll have his own ideas."

  "I'll get back to you with a satisfactory answer."

  "Then... I'll leave it to you, Teacher."

  Seeing his goal achieved, Orochimaru stood up. His snake-like eyes took o deep look at Hiruzen Sarutobi, as if imprinting the old man's image deep within his heart.

  Orochimaru had a vague premonition that, having embarked oh of immortality, he shouldn't have humaions anymore.

  But if he were to shed tears again, it would certainly be because of Hiruzen... right?

  Perhaps, this was the st gnce.

  Aernal moment.

  In the end, Orochimaru turned away without any lingering attat. He walked to the entrance, pg his hand on the door handle.

  His tall figure paused for a sed: "I'm leaving now, Lord Hiruzen."

  "Leaving already..."

  Hiruzen watched Orochimaru's back, slowly retrag his slightly raised hand.

  He chuckled and shook his head: "It seems I've really reached the age of an old man. How could Orochimaru leave? I'll invite him for tea again in a couple of days."

  About ten minutes after Orochimaru left.

  Hiruzen sat alone on the baly of his backyard, pipe in mouth, squinting at the distant Hokage Rock.

  He seemed to be pting how to unicate this matter with Minato Namikaze.

  Children grow up and have their own ideas. If his approach was too forceful, it might provoke Minato's rebelliousness.

  Being Hokage is truly difficult.

  But during that breakout, his teacher had passed the position of Hokage to him.

  What Hiruzen didn't expect was that if he didn't go to see the Hokage, the Hokage would e to see him.

  Knooock-

  The slow and steady knog sounded like the death knell of the Grim Reaper, clutg at Hiruzen's heart.

  "Who is it~"

  "It's me, Lord Third Hokage."

  "Ah, Minato, please e in."

  As Minato entered, he immediately noticed the teacups oable beside the Third Hokage.

  One cup was empty; the other... still had a faint steam rising.

  Not a sip taken.

  Minato's eyes flickered; through this cup of tea, his gaze seemed to traverse time ahe determination in Orochimaru's heart to betray the vilge.

  "It seems that Orochimaru-sensei has already visited you."

  Minato held a dossier, sitting opposite Hiruzen.

  Looking at Hiruzen's kind face, Minato felt a twinge of disfort. He wondered how devastated the Third Hokage would be after reading the evidence he held.

  "What brings you here today?"

  "Did you two e oer the other to pin to this old man?" Hiruzen half-jokingly said, "Did you have a disagreement?"

  Hiruzen still wao downpy the issue, treating it as a on dispute between youngsters, hoping to mediate their flict.

  "Personally, I still respect Orochimaru-sensei."

  Hiruzen's eyes sharpened, personally...

  In other words, for the sake of the vilge, Orochimaru had itted some wrongdoing? The moment, Minato's words made Hiruzen's heart sink.

  "However, for the vilge, as Hokage, I o longer hold even a shred of respect for Orochimaru-sensei."

  "For the mistakes he's itted, he o longer call himself a Konoha ninja."

  Hiruzen realized that Minato had e to hold someone atable. Given his character, it seemed Orochimaru really...

  Suddenly, Hiruze a surge of fear. His gaze instinctively fell on the dossier in Minato's hand.

  He hadn't even noticed that his voice trembled slightly: "What mistake has Orochimaru made?"

  "Lord Third Hokage... please take a look."

  Minato sighed and handed over the irrefutable evidence.

  Hiruzen took the dossier, his firembling as he turhe pages, reading each word. From time to time, Minato's voice added to the blow:

  "While Orochimaru-sensei came to see you, I personally went to iigate the se."

  "Just the ones I found-there were ten bodies of our Konoha ninjas..."

  "They were all reported missing three months ago. Their deaths... were gruesome. Orochimaru ducted live experiments on them."

  "Among them were promising in expected to be promoted. They should have been dang leaves, passing on the Will of Fire endlessly."

  Ah... the Will of Fire...

  Hiruze as if his heart had been stabbed.

  As an elder Konoha ninja who had believed in the Will of Fire all his life, he was now betrayed by his closest disciple...

  Hiruzen's hands gripped the sides of the dossier, his firembling incessantly. The oneat pages began to crumple, on the verge of being torn.

  "Ugh-"

  The shog words, bined with Minato's mention of the Will of Fire, felt like the Grim Reaper's hand squeezing Hiruzen's heart.

  A mouthful of blood spurted onto the white dossier.

  "Lord Third!"

  Minato, ed, was about to check his dition but was stopped by Hiruzen raising his hand.

  "Sixty people... a full sixty people!"

  Hiruzen's heart turned cold. The more fervently he loved the Will of Fire, the deeper the wound he now suffered.

  The ever-burning Will of Fire values the bonds between rades above all.

  Harming fellow Konoha rades-even one person-is a capital offense. And what had Orochimaru done? Sixty people died by his hand!

  Shaking with anger, his whole body trembled, heart freezing.

  The detailed descriptions in the report had already vinced Hiruzen halfway. With Minato as a witness, no matter how much he wao believe in Orochimaru, he had to accept the truth.

  Orochimaru, bearing the lives of sixty Konoha people, could be deemed the most heinous criminal in Konoha's 51-year history.

  Now he uood why Orochimaru sought to bee the leader of the strike force.

  He wao seize the chaotic situation to leave the vilge and bee a rogue ninja! Knowing Orochimaru, he might even kill some Konoha ninjas irike force during his escape, taking them as experimental subjects.

  If these events were made public, what would happen to Konoha's image in the ninja world? What legacy would Hiruzen leave for future geions?

  He was being deceived by Orochimaru!

  Hiruzen wiped the blood from the er of his mouth, gritting his teeth and growling: "Orochimaru... how could he! How dare he?!"

  "In his heart, is there not even a shred of respee as his teacher, or for the vilge that raised him?! The vilge nurtured him, and he wants to destroy it!"

  "And Danzo-Danzo khat Orochimaru was itting such taboos i, and not only did he not stop him, but he also covertly facilitated it!"

  As he spoke, Hiruzen stood up from the table.

  The double blow of betrayal by his close friend and beloved disciple filled his heart with murdere.

  "Minato... it's fortunate we have you." Hiruzen suppressed his killing i, slowly walking towards his dressing room. With his bainato, he donned his ninja armor once more.

  "If you hadn't discovered this, I wouldn't have known what disaster my unworthy disciple would bring to Konoha."

  "Lord Third..."

  "The evil caused by me must be ended by me personally."

  "Minato, you say more. The wicked Orochimaru-I will personally arrest him. After the external military operations, he will face trial..."

  Hiruzen's repeated use of "I" showcased his immense anger.

  "As for Shimura Danzo, though he hasn't itted a fatal error, he ot escape punishment. But since he's far away in Kirigakure, I have no authority to recall him."

  "I ask the Fourth Hokage to summon Danzo back for iigation."

  Hiruzen's tone was filled with killing i.

  As a former Hokage and the lo-serving one, Hiruzen also wished to quietly exit the stage in a "heroic" manner.

  The Will of Fire and his legacy were his everything. Anyone obstrug his ninja way, whether friend or disciple, would not be spared!

  Minato listened silently, then solemnly o Hiruzen after a long pause.

  The worst-case sario hadn't happened.

  His teacher Jiraiya hadn't chosen the wroor. Faced with personal feelings and the vilge's greater good, Hiruzen chose the tter.

  Justice over family!

  Perhaps it's easy to say, but when it es time to act, one realizes the immeorment involved.

  At least, if he repced Orochimaru with Kakashi, Minato would find it hard to give su order without feeling pain.

  As for why he didn't think of Gojo Kaigetsu... Minato didn't dare pte it.

  "I will, in the name of the Hokage, order Elder Danzo to return for iigation. As for Orochimaru... I'll leave everything to you, Lord Third."

  "When do you need me to act?"

  Hiruzen pulled out his Adamaaff. Even though he was retired, he had maintai well; not a speck of dust on it.

  Minato pondered: "The pn to blitz the Grass Vilge is in a few days. To avoid u, the operation to arrest Orochimaru should be carried out secretly before the pn begins."

  "If we dey, I fear Orochimaru might sense something and forcefully flee the vilge."

  "Simirly, summoning Elder Danzo back requires that news of Orochimaru hasn't leaked; otherwise..."

  Hiruzeated, then slowly shook his head: "That won't be necessary."

  "I uand Danzo. Though he's ambitious, he's different from Orochimaru. He's still loyal to Konoha and would never defect. Even in the worst-case sario, he might attempt to overthrow the current order but would return to repce the Fourth Hokage."

  "As long as you, as the Fourth Hokage, firmly order Danzo to return for iigation, he will e back."

  "In this, I trust my judgment. So there's o worry about Danzo choosing to defect after hearing of Orochimaru's arrest."

  Minato nodded: "Very well, I trust you, Lord Third."

  "In that case, to avoid plications, let's set the pn to arrest Orochimaru for midnight tonight!"

  "Agreed."

  Hiruzen's voice was cold as he raised his hand to stroke the staff's body: "I hope my old tricks still work on that unworthy disciple."

  her of them mentioned whether Hiruzen, with his current strength, could defeat Orochimaru.

  Because such a question was unnecessary.

  Even though age had reduced his strength, Hiruzen was still the "Professor of Ninjutsu," hailed as the "stro Hokage in history."

  Capturing or killing Orochimaru might not be a sure thing, but it was well within his capabilities.

  ....

  Late at night.

  After returning home, Orochimaru felt uneasy.

  His right eyelid kept twitg, as if something was about to happen.

  But what could it be?

  The boratory's location was secret, and traces had bee with. He just o find an opportunity to dispose of the used materials.

  He had also persuaded Lord Hiruzen to help him secure the position of ander of the strike force from Minato.

  "Just a few more days. Ohese days pass, I sever these bonds and pursue the path of immortality."

  Orochimaru csped his hands on the window railing.

  Moonlight filtered through thick clouds, casting mottled shadows on half his face. The interpy of light and shadow revealed an indescribable gloom between his brows. Outside, wind and rain raged, and cold raindrops struck his pale face.

  Behind him, a pool of bck mud emerged from the ground in his backyard, transf into a pnt-like humanoid.

  "Who's there?"

  The moment Bck Zetsu surfaced, Orochimaru se.

  Turning around, he saw the strange figure ed in twe leaves, and his expression grew serious.

  Judging by the attire, the other was not a Konoha ninja.

  As one of the Legendary Sannin, he hadn't detected any presence before being approached... Who was this?

  "Don't be nervous, Orochimaru of Konoha~ I'm here to make a deal with you."

  Bck Zetsu spread his hands, indig he meant no harm.

  Bck Zetsu had long collected intelligen Konoha. After Orochimaru and seeing his secret boratory, he was certain that Orochimaru was a ninja harb darkness.

  Unfortunately, he wasn't an Uchiha; otherwise, he'd be aremely useful pawn.

  "A deal? I'm not ied in dealing with fn intruders."

  Orochimaru was cautious, bringing his hands together, ready to form seals to capture the mysterious ninja before him.

  "Oh my, su unfriendly start~" Bck Zetsu threw out his bargaining chip: "Orochimaru... you've been researg the Impure World Reination, but your progress has stalled at 'the body covered in dust, maing the deceased's true form, with only a tenth of their inal power.'"

  "Moreover, due to Konoha's increasingly stri defenses, it's being harder for you to obtain the necessary materials for your experiments. These things trouble you, don't they?"

  What?!

  Orochimaru's snake-like eyes narrowed. He could hardly believe that this mysterious ninja evehe progress of his Impure World Reination research.

  In his most ret experiment, he had set up multiple yers of anti-surveilnce barriers inside and out.

  "Who exactly are you?"

  If he knew such secret information, did he also know about his other taboos... Orochimaru's gaze became wary.

  He couldn't let this person leave alive.

  It would ruihing.

  'Activate the barrier seals immediately,' Orochimaru thought.

  "My name is Zetsu," Bck Zetsu said. "I offer you some insignifit assistance."

  Impure World Reination-a truly magical jutsu. One had to admit that Tobirama Senju, the brother of Asura's chakra reination, was a genius in ninjutsu development.

  After all, pces like the underworld were unknowo Bck Zetsu. Perhaps not even his mother knew such pces existed in the ninja world.

  Summoning the souls of the deceased from the underworld, giving them flesh and spirit reborn, possessing most of their power from life, or even surpassing it.

  Although the inal pn was for Obito to oversee Nagato, having Nagato with impnted Rinnegan perform the Samsara of Heavenly Life Teique to revive Madara.

  But pns never keep up with ges. Though Nagato was currently oh Bck Zetsu had arranged.

  Who knows, perhaps another reination of Asura's chakra might e and disrupt things?

  This was a bloody lesson Bck Zetsu had learned over multiple cycles.

  So, a backup pn was necessary!

  Developing the Impure World Reination to its limit to revive Madara wasn't a bad option! If Nagato didn't cooperate in the end, an Impure World Madara could also disciplihe disobedient pawn.

  The same logic applied to Uchiha Obito.

  Even if he were killed by Konoha ninjas, it didn't matter. Konoha would never expect that Bck Zetsu could use the Impure World Reination t people back.

  As long as the Impure World Reination was developed to perfeany obstacles troubling Bck Zetsu could be easily resolved.

  "Help...?" Orochimaru's snake-like eyes narrowed further, his csped hands slightly parting.

  He had to admit, Bck Zetsu's words struck at his desires.

  "I provide you with the human materials needed for your experiments, offer funds and facilities, help you evade Konoha's pursuit, and give you strong prote."

  "Or, if you wish to stay in Konoha to plete your research, I assist you."

  "Then, what's the price?"

  "The price is that I need you to help me revive two people and trol them as per my ands when necessary."

  Orochimaru began calg silently...

  All his secrets were exposed before this pnt-like person, without any cealment.

  A rather scary intelligeninja.

  "An attractive deal... but how you vince me you aplish all this?"

  "Have you heard of the miracle in the Land of Rain?" Bck Zetsu said leisurely.

  Orochimaru was taken aback: "Miracle? What?"

  "It doesn't rain on Sundays~"

  "If you step outside Konoha, you'll find that the ninja world is vast, much rger than you imagine."

  "You've stayed in Konoha for too long, Lord Orochimaru."

  "So, give me your answer now."

  As long as I leave Konoha... the outside ninja world is vast?

  Saying this to one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha was a bit arrogant.

  But it happeo resoh Orochimaru's current state of mind.

  He had stayed in Konoha long enough, and the taboos he had vioted were nearing their limit.

  Then... it's time to open his eyes ahe ninja world!

  "It doesn't rain on Sundays... If that's achievable, it would be a miraculous jutsu."

  At least from Orochimaru's perspective, there was no jutsu in the ninja world capable of trolling the weather.

  Unless ōnoki carried Water Release ninjas into the sky every Sunday to manipute the clouds, but that was too far-fetched.

  "An attractive deal."

  "However, I don't io stay in Konoha any longer. Set up a base for me in the Land of Rice Fields. I'll defect from Konoha ahere soon."

  Orochimaru fully separated his csped hands, casually reag an agreement with Bck Zetsu.

  He had no desire to probe further into Bck Zetsu's background or his mention of "it doesn't rain on Sundays."

  Sihe other party knew about his taboos in Konoha but didn't report him to the Fourth Hokage or Lord Hiruzen, it already indicated his stance.

  Orochimaru didn't need any substantial proof of credibility; all he wanted was an attitude! Just like how he'd seen Konoha's female ninjas tell male suitors they just o show siy!

  Sihe attitude was there, they could cooperate on the big picture.

  As for what came after... once he left Konoha, Orochimaru had plenty of patieo explore further. As a schorly ninja, patience was ohing he wasn't g.

  Regarding the terms they agreed upon-helping Zetsu revive and trol two people... Orochimaru licked his lips; he was never an ho or trustworthy ninja.

  "An exceptionally pleasant transa~"

  Bck Zetsu hadn't expected to persuade one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, so easily. It seemed he was also tired of Konoha.

  "Do you need my assistao defect?"

  "Oh? Assist me?" Orochimaru flicked his tongue: "Once I leave Konoha, no one stop me."

  fidence filled Orochimaru's voice.

  What was Konoha's current state? Below the Sannin, he was invincible; above the Sannin... they wouldn't know he po defect.

  Once he left Konoha, with the Fourth Hokage and Lord Hiruzen not among the strike force, who could stop him?

  Even if there were spies pnted by the Fourth Hokage irike force carrying Flying Thunder God markers, it didn't matter.

  Orochimaru had browsed the Scroll of Seals. Though he couldn't learn it, he had his own insights into the Flying Thunder God Teique.

  The strength of the Flying Thunder God Teique y in its instantaneous teleportation, ign spatial distaheoretically, one could jump from the Land of Lightning to the Land of Wind.

  But theory was ohing; in practice, the chakra required for ultra-long-distaeleportation... Minato could hardly afford it.

  If Minato teleported from the Hokage Building in Konoha to the Grass Vilge battlefield, Orochimaru was fident he could handle a weakened Minato.

  If possible, Orochimaru didn't want to fight Minato. Killing Minato would deal a devastating blow to Konoha's prestige in the ninja world. At the same time, he would face relentless pursuit from Konoha.

  Seeing Orochimaru's demeanor, Bck Zetsu felt an ominous premonition. This fidend disdain-it felt like déjà vu.

  That damned, strangely familiar tone...

  The st person who spoke to him like that had been killed by the Fourth Hokage.

  But... respect!

  "Very well, I'll head to the Land of Rice Fields to set things up for you. Lord Orochimaru, I look forward to meeting you there."

  After his final words, Bck Zetsu's body slowly merged with the earth, sinking underground.

  The moment Bck Zetsu disappeared from sight, Orochimaru could no longer sense his presence, as if he'd never been there.

  "What a marvelous ability. If I could master this jutsu..."

  Deep curiosity and greed flickered in Orochimaru's eyes; his damhirst for knowledge had been piqued.

  So-called "immortality."

  Eternal life was one aspeot dying was another. With su ability to burrow and evade dete, his survivability would reach a new level.

  Orochimaru turo his study, took out pen and paper, and wrote:

  "The ninja world is vast; I want to see it."

  He casually cpped his hands, hiding the note.

  Perhaps when news of his defe reached the vilge, Lord Hiruzen would find this note.

  Farewells needed proper preparation~

  Bck Zetsu, who had vanished from Orochimaru's sight, didn't immediately head to the Land of Rice Fields as he had said.

  He roamed underground, searg for Obito's whereabouts.

  "Obito... where are you?"

  Bck Zetsu was full of doubts. That day, Obito had used Izanagi under his watch.

  Although the Mangekyō Sharingan's ocur power was much strohan ordinary Sharingan, so much time had passed-he should have reappeared.

  But after cheg Konoha's mues and official boratories, he hadn't found any trace of Obito.

  Obito seemed to have vanished from the ninja world.

  Although remnants of Uchiha Obito's body remained in the old base.

  Bck Zetsu only had a superficial uanding of the Impure World Reination Teique, instinctively believing that an intact, fresh corpse was better than old, inplete body parts.

  "I'd better searore night. If I still 't find Obito, then fet it."

  ...

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