34. Scapegoat

When Ayano arrived at Ayari's house, she found two people chatting and laughing on the living room sofa. 

The room briefly fell silent for two seconds after her arrival.

"Sister Ayano," Shinji stood up from the sofa to greet her.

"Shinji, you're here too," Ayano immediately said with a smile.

"I was just about to leave," Shinji said, "Sister Ayano must have something to discuss with Sister Ayari, so I won't intrude."

Seeing this, Ayari pursed her lips with slight disappointment. She didn't say any farewell words to Shinji as she watched him pick up Subi and leave her home.

She then picked up the can of drink on the coffee table, opened it, and took a sip.

"Why are you here?" Ayari asked Ayano.

"To check on you," Ayano replied.

"I'm not sick. There's nothing worth checking on."

Ayari didn't particularly enjoy being with her sister, especially in private when it was just the two of them. Her sister always adopted a lecturing tone, using her status as the elder sister.

"Does he come here often?" Ayano sat down on the sofa and asked.

"Shinji, you mean?"

"Yes."

"I also go to his place," Ayari said.

Ayano couldn't help but say, "Ayari, you're about to get married soon."

Ayari looked indifferent: "I know."

Ayano frowned slightly: "Shinji is still a male."

Ayari found it amusing and thought Ayano was making a big deal out of nothing: "Him? He's just a kid."

Thinking carefully about the times she spent with Shinji, she realized that he didn't actually behave like a child at all.

"He's not that young anymore!" Ayano said, "You need to understand your position."

Ayari retorted: "What position? Aren't we both from the branch family, just like him?"

Ayano immediately replied: "Of course you're different. You're about to become Hizashi's wife, and Hizashi is Hiashi's brother."

Ayari scoffed: "That's still the branch family."

Ayano became somewhat agitated: "Ayari, you..."

Ayari didn't want to argue about these things and cut her off with irritation: "Is this what you came to talk to me about?"

Ayano felt both angry and helpless. It wasn't the first time Ayari had shown her displease in listening to her.

She softened her tone and said: "I came to discuss your marriage to Hizashi. I've had someone select a few auspicious dates for the wedding."

Ayari lay on her side on the sofa, looking down at the drink in her hand.

"I don't care. Choose whatever date you think is best. If Hizashi has any opinions, listen to him."

"What about the wedding kimono? I've ordered the white shiromuku style you like."

"Whatever is fine."

"Ayari."

Ayano called out again, exasperated.

Suddenly, Ayari smiled at her and said: "I'm marrying Hizashi, aren't I? He's not some outsider. It doesn't matter. Don't bother asking me about troublesome things like procedures and wedding attire. Just decide as you see fit."

Hearing this, Ayano was silent for a moment before suddenly asking: "Do you not want to get married?"

Ayari tilted her head: "Did I say that?"

Ayano continued: "Is it that you don't want to get married, or that you don't want to marry Hizashi?"

Ayari replied: "What difference does it make whether I want to or not? Will the outcome be any different?"

She casually tossed the empty drink can into the nearby trash bin and shifted to a more comfortable position on the sofa.

'Will the outcome be any different?'

Ayari's question left Ayano with no answer, as clan decisions were not something Ayari could possibly resist.

"No matter what, I'll end up marrying Hizashi anyway. I don't dislike him, and he doesn't dislike me. If I have to get married, then so be it."

"There's no one more exceptional than Hizashi in the clan," Ayano could only say.

Ayari gave a mischievous smile: "What about Lord Hiashi? Isn't he better?"

Ayano laughed, knowing she was joking, and immediately replied: "If you want to marry him, I can go and convey your wishes to him."

As expected, Ayari pursed her lips and said with her hands behind her head: "Forget it. I'd rather marry Hizashi than that…Lord Hiashi."

As she spoke, her gaze became somewhat unfocused.

Marriage.

Something she had thought completely irrelevant to her was suddenly right before her eyes. She felt completely unprepared.

Reality wasn't giving her any more time to prepare either.

But even if she were prepared, what difference would it make? Wouldn't she still end up marrying Hizashi?

"You mentioned the wedding dress style earlier, right?"

"Yes."

"Did you bring pictures? Let me see what options there are."

…

In a dim underground chamber.

This was a secret research facility located outside of Konoha, a room filled with various strange instruments.

When Danzo arrived, he saw Orochimaru fiddling with something.

"You seem quite at leisure," Danzo said from behind him.

Holding a test tube, Orochimaru responded: "What does Lord Danzo mean by that?"

Danzo said: "Sarutobi is about to track down the person who leaked information to the Iwa ninja. Aren't you afraid of being exposed?"

Orochimaru smiled faintly: "What should I fear? Wasn't all this done by Lord Danzo's Root operatives?"

Danzo sneered: "What, you think you can escape involvement?"

Orochimaru placed the test tube back on the metal rack and turned to face Danzo with a faint smile: "Lord Danzo must be joking. I'm in the same boat as you now. How could I possibly abandon you? Besides, I can't do without you either."

Danzo frowned: "It's good that you understand. What are your plans now?"

Instead, Orochimaru asked in return: "Does Lord Danzo have any good suggestions?"

Danzo said: "Find a scapegoat, push all responsibility onto him. I already have someone in mind."

Orochimaru smiled again: "Lord Danzo's thoughts coincide perfectly with mine. Once this matter is settled, both you and I can rest easy."

Looking at Orochimaru's smile, where truth and falsehood were difficult to distinguish, Danzo considered for a moment before saying: "Neither of us should appear directly in this matter. I will expose this person at an appropriate time."

"Then I'll trouble Lord Danzo."

"However, you should also actively pursue the situation with Kirigakure. Repelling the Kiri ninja will help you ascend to the position of Hokage more smoothly."

Upon hearing this, Orochimaru didn't pursue the topic and instead said: "Actually, I'm not particularly eager for the position of Hokage."

Danzo was stunned for a moment, then frowned deeply: "What do you mean?"

He had done so much just to push the person before him into the Hokage position.

Orochimaru slowly said: "I'm thinking, perhaps I'm not cut out for it. If Lord Danzo were to become Hokage, wouldn't you do even better than Teacher Sarutobi?"

Silence.

Both men stared at each other, though Orochimaru's snake-like eyes made it impossible even for the shrewd Danzo to discern anything.

He said coolly: "This is a critical moment. You'd better not cause any complications, Orochimaru. The position of Hokage belongs to none other than you."