CHAPTER 30

Recently, something strange had been happening among the high-level officials of Konoha. Orochimaru, who had long been at odds with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had suddenly started to show unusual concern for his former teacher.

This development immediately caught the attention of several well-informed Konoha executives, who exchanged confused looks, unable to comprehend what was going on. After all, the relationship between Hiruzen and his disciple, Orochimaru, was far from amicable. In fact, it was known to be a bitter rivalry. It was said to be as incompatible as fire and water—one of grudges, misunderstandings, and deepening resentment.

The tension between them had only worsened after the Fourth Hokage was chosen. Everyone could clearly see that Orochimaru had become something of a stranger to his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Some clan leaders even worried that Orochimaru, the legendary Sannin who had once shaken the very foundations of the ninja world, might defect from the village. Given Orochimaru's temperament, it seemed a very real possibility.

But recently, for reasons no one could understand, Orochimaru had begun sending high-quality tobacco to Hiruzen, occasionally going so far as to personally escort him to a store to buy it. This kind of attention was completely out of character for the former student.

Though Hiruzen was no longer considered a prime fighter in the eyes of some, his long years of political experience had made him highly suspicious of any sudden changes. Despite his wariness, he found that the tobacco Orochimaru sent appeared perfectly normal. There was nothing wrong with it—just very high-quality tobacco.

There was even one time when Orochimaru himself accompanied Hiruzen to purchase the tobacco, seemingly eager to demonstrate that his intentions were genuine.

Aware of the rumors spreading about his actions, Orochimaru, perhaps trying to clear his name, often smoked with Hiruzen. For a while, smoke filled the old Hokage's home. Sarutobi Biwako, Hiruzen's wife, had privately grumbled countless times about the constant cloud of smoke.

Despite all this, the changes in Orochimaru were undeniable. Gradually, rumors about him "reforming" and "respecting his teacher" began to spread. Hiruzen Sarutobi, ever perceptive, immediately recognized the hand behind these rumors. It was most likely Danzo's doing, trying to manipulate the situation to his advantage.

"Heh, trying to make me look bad," Hiruzen muttered, an unamused look on his face as he took another drag from his cigarette.

"Third Hokage, perhaps Orochimaru has really had a change of heart. Isn't that a good thing?" Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, said with a wry smile, massaging his brow. Minato was genuinely perplexed by the situation.

Though Minato had recently been appointed as the Fourth Hokage, the elders, including Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, had no intention of stepping aside fully. They continued to offer their advice and sometimes visited the Hokage office, as if still trying to control things from behind the scenes. Danzo, in particular, often whispered in Minato's ear about the "rebellious" Uchiha clan, warning that they would one day pose a threat to the village.

This constant interference left Minato feeling conflicted, even beginning to question whether Hiruzen had chosen him as Hokage because he lacked the strong connections and reputation of someone like Orochimaru—making him easier to control.

Still, Minato knew that Hiruzen had a deep respect for him, despite his occasional tendency to remind Minato of his own vast experience in dealing with village affairs. It was a relationship filled with both learning and frustration, but Minato appreciated it nonetheless.

Hiruzen took another drag from his cigarette, his gaze distant. "Orochimaru... he could have been an exceptional ninja," Hiruzen said quietly, though there was something guarded in his tone.

Although Orochimaru had been sending his mentor high-quality tobacco, Hiruzen had not touched any of it. Despite the outward signs of goodwill, the Third Hokage had grown increasingly suspicious of his former student's true motives. There was something more to Orochimaru's actions, though Hiruzen couldn't yet determine what it was.

Minato glanced at Hiruzen. "Could have been?" Minato thought to himself, sensing an underlying tension in the Third Hokage's words. He was no fool, after all. He had been Hokage long enough to understand that there was more to the story, but Hiruzen wasn't willing to share his thoughts just yet. Minato knew better than to press further.

"By the way, Fourth Hokage," Hiruzen's voice became more serious, his eyes growing steely. "Your wife's due date is still a month away, right? Keep the news under wraps for now. You can't afford any leaks during this time."

Minato nodded, his expression turning grave. He knew the gravity of the situation. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's safety was paramount—anything that compromised her security would have devastating consequences for the entire village.

"I know, and I'll be relying on you, Third Hokage," Minato said, his voice steady and firm.

Hiruzen gave a brief nod, taking one last puff from his cigarette as he settled into a contemplative silence. He was no longer in charge, but his loyalty to Konoha—and to Minato—remained as strong as ever.

Kushina Uzumaki was Konoha's Jinchuriki, a title that brought both great responsibility and grave danger. Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, had often wished that his wife wasn't a Jinchuriki, especially as she neared the time of her delivery.

The Jinchuriki was a pillar of the village, but a Jinchuriki who was about to give birth was extremely vulnerable. At this point, they were at their weakest and most defenseless. If an enemy were to attack the Jinchuriki during labor, the consequences would be catastrophic.

But Minato's greatest fear was the safety of his wife and unborn child. If something were to happen to them... he couldn't bear the thought of it.

Minato shook his head vigorously, trying to shake off the fear. It was unlikely. Even Danzo, the Konoha elder who frequently opposed him, understood the importance of the Jinchuriki. Kushina would be fine, he told himself.

Meanwhile, in a hidden laboratory, Orochimaru was overseeing one of his experiments. His pupil, Ryujin Kenichi, was extracting data for his teacher, who was examining the lifeless body of the failed subject lying before them. The First Hokage's cells had passed the initial rejection test, but complications had arisen after the transplant. The subject was now dying.

"Mm," Orochimaru muttered, wiping his hands clean. He had expected this result. The subject was doomed, as he had anticipated. His experiments had given him plenty of experience in such matters.

Orochimaru could only imagine how desperate Danzo must be to acquire the First Hokage's cells. The power of Wood Release was highly coveted, and Orochimaru knew that Danzo had likely hoped to harness this ability for himself. Wood Release had a legendary status in Konoha, and it was no surprise that Danzo had taken the previous successful experiment away for further cultivation.

Ryujin Kenichi glanced at his teacher. He had noticed Orochimaru had been smoking more often lately. Kenichi also suspected that cancerous cells had already formed in Orochimaru's lungs. However, they were swiftly eliminated through his sense of immortality.

Kenichi didn't harbor any malicious thoughts toward his teacher. He understood that even if Orochimaru were to reach the terminal stages of illness, he could always use the Impure World Reincarnation technique to transfer his soul into a new body.

"The more normal it is, the more abnormal it becomes," Orochimaru remarked, a wicked smile spreading across his face. "Counting the days, it's almost time."