Chapter 154

"Hehe… It seems the old man was truly rattled by Kirito some time ago," Orochimaru mused, a disdainful smile spreading across his pale face. "He's sending Jiraiya out to find reinforcements, but if he thinks that's enough to stop me, then he's more naive than I thought."

"Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto interjected, adjusting his glasses, "I'm afraid things aren't as simple as you think. From what I've gathered, this situation might have more to do with Lord Kirito."

"Kirito?" Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, a flicker of intrigue gleaming in their serpentine depths. "Now this is interesting. Kirito never plays by the rules. Tell me, Kabuto, what has he done this time?"

Kabuto's expression shifted into one of admiration as he began, "The night before Jiraiya left the village, the Third Hokage summoned the two advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mito Kado En. Even Danzo, who's been under effective house arrest for years, was summoned to the Hokage building. This seemed to be in response to Kirito's open dissemination of scandals targeting Konoha's leadership."

"But," Kabuto continued, a sinister grin forming, "things took an unexpected turn. An Anbu ninja, acting without direct orders from the Third Hokage, invited Jiraiya and the leaders of Konoha's major clans to the Hokage building."

"And what happened next?" Orochimaru asked, clearly intrigued.

"Something extraordinary," Kabuto said, his smile growing wider. "Once the clan leaders arrived at the Hokage's office, they waited outside for nearly half an hour, hesitant to enter. They only dared to step inside after Jiraiya arrived. What they saw… well, you wouldn't believe it."

Orochimaru's eyes glinted. "Were the four elders killed?"

"No," Kabuto replied, a low chuckle escaping his lips. "If that were the case, the news would've spread like wildfire. Instead… they walked in on a 'celebration.' Those four elders were drugged and indulging in a… party within the Hokage's office."

Kabuto couldn't contain his laughter anymore. "And it gets better—Danzo's secrets were laid bare. The First Hokage's cells and the numerous Sharingan he had transplanted into his arm were exposed for all to see. The entire spectacle left Konoha's leadership humiliated beyond repair."

Even Orochimaru, usually composed and calculated, found his lips twitching in amusement. "Only Kirito could orchestrate something so audacious. It seems this time my dear teacher, Sarutobi-sensei, truly has no face left to be Hokage. It's no surprise he's stepping down and asking Tsunade to take his place."

"Indeed," Kabuto agreed, finally regaining his composure. "The rumors in Konoha suggest that the Third Hokage is preparing to retire. So, Lord Orochimaru, what will you do? Should we stop Jiraiya from finding Tsunade?"

Orochimaru waved his hand dismissively. "There's no need to go chasing after him. Instead, we'll push Konoha to accelerate the Chunin Exam finals. I'll proceed under the guise of the Kazekage."

"Accelerate?" Kabuto's brows furrowed in confusion. "But Lord Orochimaru, we haven't had enough time to fully prepare. Wouldn't that be too risky?"

Orochimaru's grin widened. "It doesn't matter. My true objective isn't to destroy Konoha entirely. I only wish to kill my dear sensei, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Besides, thanks to Kirito, Konoha's strongest jonin have already been severely weakened. Any resistance they offer won't significantly impact our plans."

"But," Kabuto hesitated, "won't this sudden move make Sunagakure suspicious? And what if Konoha rejects the proposal?"

"Konoha will agree—at least, the old man will," Orochimaru said confidently.

Orochimaru's sinister grin never faltered. In truth, his plan to accelerate the Chunin Exams wasn't just about convenience; it was about salvaging Sarutobi Hiruzen's legacy. After Kirito's revelations, the Third Hokage's reputation had been shattered. Danzo's secrets about the First Hokage's cells and his armful of Sharingan had ignited widespread suspicion about the Uchiha clan's massacre. The scandal had touched a nerve in every major clan in Konoha.

Orochimaru understood that if things continued to spiral out of control, Sarutobi Hiruzen's reputation as Hokage would be irreparably tarnished. If Tsunade succeeded him, the people would no longer see Hiruzen as a hero but as a fallen leader mired in darkness.

The solution? Ensure Sarutobi Hiruzen died a heroic death—defending Konoha from Orochimaru himself.

In Orochimaru's twisted mind, he wasn't merely seeking revenge; he was giving his former master one last, respectable curtain call.

"Keep a close eye on Jiraiya," Orochimaru instructed Kabuto. "As soon as he finds Tsunade, notify me immediately. We'll launch the Konoha Collapse Plan then."

Kabuto nodded, finally understanding Orochimaru's intent. "I'll ensure everything is in place, Lord Orochimaru."

Meanwhile, back in Konoha, three days had passed since the catastrophic revelation in the Hokage's office. Danzo had gone into hiding, too ashamed to show his face. Utatane Koharu and Mito Kado En retreated to their respective homes, leaving Sarutobi Hiruzen to shoulder the fallout alone.

The once-formidable "Konoha F4" had crumbled under the weight of their exposed secrets.

For the first time in his long career, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt powerless to stabilize the chaos that engulfed the village. The clans of Konoha were seething, their trust in the village leadership shaken to its core.

When Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, sent a proposal to advance the Chunin Exams, Sarutobi Hiruzen saw an opportunity. Without consulting his advisors, he made a decision that could spell doom for Konoha.

He agreed.

(End of Chapter)

Want to read 70 more chapters check out my patreon!!!

https://www.patreon.com/john_smith_

Every 300 Power Stones+1 (5 ⭐ Review) = 1 Chapter+1Chapter