Chapter 257: Caught Off Guard! (2)

As soon as Kakashi returned to the Hokage office, he didn't immediately address the issue with Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura.

The first thing he did was mobilize enough shinobi! 

The military strength of Konoha had dropped to its lowest point in history.

Even during the village's founding, they were stronger than now.

At this point, he couldn't guarantee whether the enemy would make a move or not.

So, the first thing he prepared for was an enemy attack.

Only after this did Kakashi turn his attention to the scroll sent by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Along with the scroll, there was some evidence.

"Tch!"

Since he was alone in the office, Kakashi didn't bother to hide his expression.

He sneered, casually tossing the scroll and evidence to the side.

If he took these things seriously, he'd be a fool.

And besides...

Does it even matter whether it's true or false?

Kakashi's objective wouldn't change because of it.

No matter what you've done, the outcome won't change. I will personally take what you value most and make sure you die in regret.

Hiruzen Sarutobi!

Danzo Shimura!

Our game is about to enter the next round!

...

"Here we go again," Itsuki thought, speechless.

Kumo (Hidden Cloud) was back!

This time, it was for revenge!

Without warning, they launched an attack on Konoha!

A short time ago, Kumo had suffered thousands of losses in Konoha, completely losing face. This time, they were out to recover everything in one go.

"These muscleheads—ugh, I mean, big muscles—can they ever just sit still?" Itsuki grumbled to himself in Hidden Fire Village, irritated.

He had just been trying to catch a break for the past few days.

There were issues with Kirigakure (Hidden Mist), issues with Amegakure (Hidden Rain), and the combined operations of several ninja villages.

On top of that, he was still searching for Obito, tracking Nagato, and trying to dig up Uchiha Madara…

Life really wasn't easy!

And now, another fight was about to break out.

At that moment, all Itsuki wanted was to die in Tsunade's embrace.

Don't ask why—because it would just feel right!

"Lord Hokage, should we step in to help?" asked Yūgao Uzuki, unable to hold back.

"You want to help?" Kakashi responded.

"No, but with Kumo deploying 5,000 shinobi, Konoha can barely hold its own. If Iwagakure (Hidden Stone) makes a move too, things might go south fast."

Yūgao continued, "If Konoha is destroyed, it won't be good for us."

"You're right," Kakashi acknowledged. "So, let Suna (Hidden Sand) keep an eye on Iwagakure. If Iwa makes any moves, let Suna handle it."

"5,000 shinobi… if Suna deploys 5,000 as well, it should be enough to keep Iwa at bay."

"That old Onoki, huh," Itsuki scoffed.

He's strong!

But he also has his weaknesses.

Crafty and opportunistic, always trying to gain the upper hand.

Once you understand people like him, they become much less interesting.

"No one could have predicted that Konoha would one day need help from its enemies," Itsuki sighed.

Konoha couldn't be allowed to be destroyed, but it also couldn't be allowed to become too strong.

Half-dead and half-alive!

That's the perfect state for Konoha!

Of course, if Hashirama Senju or Tobirama Senju were around to see this, they'd round up the entire leadership and wipe them out!

What a disgrace!

"And what about Danzo?" Yūgao asked.

"That's not our concern. Don't worry, he won't be a problem for us!" Itsuki waved his hand dismissively. "Trust me, Kakashi won't let him live for long. In fact, Danzo's escape might have been part of Kakashi's plan all along."

Kakashi, you really are full of surprises this time.

You set up such a massive scheme, and the way it's unfolding is fascinating.

As an outsider, Itsuki could see it clearly.

He was curious!

Did the people involved in Konoha see it too?

Even if they did now, there probably wasn't much they could do about it.

Kakashi held all the cards.

"I'm looking forward to the day you come to Hidden Fire Village, Kakashi!"

...

"The forbidden experiments were real," Shikaku reported to Kakashi.

On Kakashi's left and right sat two people each.

On his right: Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

On his left: Jiraiya and Torifu Akimichi.

One side consisted of the two weakest, most ineffective people.

The other had two of Konoha's strongest.

Kakashi's gaze swept past Jiraiya.

This guy—once he enters Sage Mode, he should be able to defeat Torifu Akimichi, right?

After all…

Torifu's old!

So Jiraiya was now the strongest fighter Konoha had?

Good!

Having someone like that loyal to him was a great asset.

Even though Jiraiya had his own perspective, there was still plenty of room to use him.

"There was also collaboration with rogue ninjas from various places, and that's true too," Shikaku continued.

"They've assassinated several nobles—also true."

"They've sabotaged many of Konoha's top shinobi—that's true too."

"Stop!"

Kakashi interrupted, "Shikaku, just tell me which parts aren't true."

He had already gone through the scroll. There were countless accusations, and it was clear that most were probably true.

No surprise there!

That's how confident they were about Danzo!

They believed that most of the contents in the scroll were likely true.

"Yes, sir!"

Shikaku immediately listed the things that hadn't been verified yet.

But he emphasized that just because they weren't verified didn't mean they hadn't happened.

Everyone present could feel the tension rising as their veins throbbed.

"In addition, there's no confirmation regarding the plot to split Konoha," Shikaku concluded.

The room fell into silence.

"Has Danzo completely lost his mind?" one of them muttered.

Just the crimes that had been confirmed were enough to have him executed a hundred times over.

Kakashi, however, didn't seem too affected by this. He simply gave the order: "Release the Third Hokage from confinement and order him to take his people to the border to fight off Kumo."

Jiraiya looked surprised. "Kakashi, are you…?"

Kakashi shook his head. "No matter what, the Third Hokage privately initiated such a large ninja conflict, seriously disrupting Konoha's order. And because of this conflict, Kumo launched their invasion. So, it's only fitting that he handles the Kumo situation."

This was also a form of atonement.

"Understood!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Jiraiya let out a long sigh of relief. "Kakashi, thank you!"

"No need," Kakashi said indifferently. "Tell the Third Hokage that all he needs to do is handle Kumo's invasion and not meddle in anything else. Right now, the village's opinion of him is at an all-time low because of this mess."

"If he makes another mistake, don't blame me for not showing him mercy!"

"I understand," Jiraiya replied with a bitter smile.

Leading over 2,000 people to attack another ninja clan without permission, and yet Kakashi still allowed him to redeem himself. That was already giving the Third Hokage a lot of face.

If Tobirama were in charge, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have been executed on the spot.

At the very least, he would've been imprisoned for life.

...

The message quickly reached Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The Third Hokage was stunned.

"What's wrong, old man?" Jiraiya asked with a frown. "You're not blaming Kakashi, are you? He's giving you a lot of face. If you throw a tantrum now, you'll only look ungrateful."

Hiruzen shot Jiraiya a glare. "With you around, how could I dare blame Kakashi?"

"You…"

Hiruzen let out a long sigh. "On the contrary, I think Kakashi…"

He couldn't finish the thought.

In his heart, he had only one thing to say: Kakashi is too forgiving!

After everything Hiruzen had done, practically delivering a reason for Kakashi to imprison the longest-serving Hokage in history, he had expected Kakashi to lock him away immediately.

After all, in Kakashi's eyes, he was nothing but a thorn in his side.

But who would've thought?

Kakashi actually gave him a chance to redeem himself.

What a good man!

And not only that!

It was so convenient!

Hiruzen Sarutobi had been looking for an opportunity to go out and kill Danzo.

Yes!

He was going to kill Danzo, and no one could stop him.

He was the Hokage, after all.

Danzo had too much dirt on him.

If it ever got out, the public persona that the Third Hokage had carefully crafted would be completely destroyed.

Danzo, for the sake of the Leaf Village, you must die!

A cold, murderous intent flashed in Hiruzen's eyes.

The next day, the Third Hokage set out with a group of people.

Their destination: the outskirts of the Leaf Village.

However, on the way, Hiruzen quietly left the main group with a small team of loyal subordinates.

A cunning rabbit has three burrows!

And how many hiding places did Danzo have? More than three, to say the least.

He had over a hundred hideouts, both inside and outside the village!

Most of them were well-stocked with resources, enough for him to survive and regroup.

The place Danzo was headed now was one of his larger hideouts.

Not only was it hidden, but it had a large stockpile of food and training resources, enough for him to live there for three months.

In addition, it had equipment for him to conduct forbidden research.

Yes!

He was going to continue his forbidden experiments.

At nearly seventy years old, his power had long started to decline.

But he couldn't accept that!

He hadn't become Hokage yet!

He wanted to change the entire shinobi world.

But!

At his age, simply staying alive was already an achievement.

At least in the ninja world, he was considered elderly.

Unless he found another path, he had no way of gaining more power.

"How's everything going, Orochimaru?"

On the road!

Danzo's expression was calm as he stared at a screen in front of him.

There, a twisted figure appeared faintly.

Orochimaru Cold King!

"Heh heh!"

Even through remote communication, Orochimaru's cold voice sent shivers down Danzo's spine, as if a venomous snake was lurking nearby.

"Danzo, do you really think you're in a position to make a deal with me right now?"

"Why not?"

"Oh? What do you even have to offer?"

Orochimaru's voice was dripping with scorn.

Danzo, driven out of the Leaf like a stray dog, wasn't even worth Orochimaru's attention.

"Orochimaru!"

Danzo coldly retorted, "Don't forget, when you first fled the village, it was me who helped you. Without me, could you have established a foothold in the ninja world? Could you have escaped the Leaf's pursuit? Could you have built the Sound Village?"

He was getting increasingly agitated.

Danzo hadn't even known Sound Village belonged to Orochimaru back then.

He had thought Orochimaru and Sound Village were just closely allied.

If he had known earlier, he would've acted differently.

"Don't make it sound so noble!"

Orochimaru's voice was calm as he said, "You wouldn't have dared let me get captured, Danzo. The things I know could've easily gotten you killed. And don't forget, you helped me, but I repaid you."

Orochimaru's gaze landed on Danzo's rewrapped arm.

Hashirama's cells!

Uchiha's Sharingan!

These were all thanks to Orochimaru.

Danzo could've never researched a way to use both powers together on his own.

Only Orochimaru!

One of the most insane scientists in the ninja world!

Danzo fell silent.

So did Orochimaru. He didn't cut the connection, confident that Danzo would eventually offer something of value.

"I have something you want," Danzo finally spoke slowly.

"What is it?" Orochimaru asked.

Danzo whispered a few words.

Orochimaru shook his head. "Sorry, I'm not interested in blackmailing the Third Hokage. If you bring me his head, I might be willing to pay something."

Blackmail?

Orochimaru didn't even want to step foot in the Leaf anymore.

The village had lost its original spirit.

The only thing on Orochimaru's mind now was to destroy it!

Completely obliterate it!

Using dirt on Hiruzen would only make an already disgusting Leaf even more repulsive.

Danzo's face darkened, and he muttered a few more words.

"Oh?"

Orochimaru's expression changed. "How do you have those things? And how do you have that much money?"

Danzo hesitated for a moment. "I don't. I didn't take anything when I fled. But just because I don't have it doesn't mean others don't."

"Who?"

"Your former disciple."

Orochimaru paused. "Uchiha Kazuki?"

He had many disciples, but the one who stood out the most was definitely Uchiha Kazuki.

The man who made the entire ninja world tremble.

Orochimaru's masterpiece.

Even though they had fallen out, Orochimaru still saw him as a source of pride.

The strongest shinobi in the world!

Second only to Uchiha Madara!

If he could get his hands on Kazuki's body...

Orochimaru's breathing quickened.

But, unfortunately!

It wasn't possible!

Kazuki was far stronger than him, by a wide margin.

Orochimaru had already suffered countless defeats at his hands.

"Yes, him!" Danzo said coldly. "He's very interested in blackmail against Hiruzen."

Orochimaru was speechless.

Was Danzo really going to keep pushing Hiruzen? Even though the Leaf Village was already falling apart?

Would he only be satisfied when the first Hidden Village was completely ruined?

No, wait!

Wouldn't a broken, crippled Leaf standing as a target for other villages benefit the Hidden Fire Village more?

"Alright then!"

Orochimaru finally said, "If you have those things, we can work together. Where shall we meet?"

Danzo threw down a final remark: "I'll contact you."

Then, he cut the connection.

No way!

That was Orochimaru, one of the most ruthless and cold-blooded individuals around.

Dealing with him required meticulous preparation; otherwise, you'd end up dead.

"Lord Danzo!"

A nearby guard spoke in a low voice.

"Don't worry," Danzo said calmly. "I still have a chance. A chance to turn things around."

"Let's go. Hopefully, everything is ready there."

"Yes, sir!"

The three of them moved forward again.

Soon!

One of the safe houses Danzo had set up in the past appeared before them.

But!

The moment Danzo stepped inside, his entire body froze in place.

An elderly figure slowly turned around, gazing at him.

The figure smiled and said, "Old friend, where do you think you're going?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi!

(End of chapter)