"I'll distract him. You take the opportunity to search thoroughly."
Danzō Shimura raised his cane and stepped into Orochimaru's courtyard.
Yūhi Mado nodded and vanished in an instant.
Entering the main hall, Danzō narrowed his eyes.
Orochimaru seemed to have been expecting him, seated high on his throne-like chair, waiting.
But his current state was visibly weakened.
Danzō's eyebrow twitched—so it's true.
"Orochimaru, how did you get injured?"
No pleasantries. Straight to the point.
"It's nothing."
Naturally, Orochimaru wouldn't reveal the truth.
Danzō, with the full force of ROOT, could potentially kill Shisui Uchiha.
And Orochimaru had no intention of handing the Mangekyō Sharingan to someone else.
Even if he couldn't obtain it now, in his mind, those eyes were already his.
Danzō's displeasure grew.
He was curious about how Orochimaru had been wounded.
But if the man refused to talk, there was little he could do—for now. He wasn't ready to sever ties.
Yet just then, Orochimaru spoke again:
"No need to send Mado snooping around. I took 'Alpha.'"
"What did you say?"
Danzō's face darkened.
"Just an experiment subject. No need to be so stingy."
Orochimaru smirked coldly. "Besides, I haven't even held you accountable for deceiving me yet."
"Return Alpha. Now."
Danzō's voice was steel. "Unless you wish to sever our alliance."
"I despise threats."
Orochimaru coughed, wiping blood from his lips, his grin serpentine. "Are you certain you want this, Danzō?"
Danzō froze.
Orochimaru had no loyalty to Konoha. He could vanish at any moment.
But Danzō?
If the Wood Release experiments were exposed, his chance at the Hokage seat would vanish forever.
That was a loss he could not afford.
His expression flickered between rage and calculation.
Finally, he chose to yield.
Yamato had been in ROOT for ten years, his body thoroughly studied.
Losing him wasn't unbearable—just a waste of a Wood Release user.
"The Fourth is dead. The Third has reclaimed his seat, but he won't hold it for long."
Orochimaru's tone suddenly softened. "The Fifth Hokage selection will begin soon."
"What's your point?"
Danzō's voice was icy. The Hokage topic was a sore spot.
"Who do you think will take the title?"
"You want to be Hokage?"
Danzō's face twisted briefly before settling. "Impossible. You've lost Hiruzen's trust."
During the Fourth's selection, Orochimaru and Minato had been the top candidates.
Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, had years of achievements and supporters.
Minato, the "Yellow Flash," had turned the tide in the Third War, earning equal fame.
On paper, they were evenly matched.
But Hiruzen had deemed Orochimaru unfit, all but handing the title to Minato.
"I know I can't win."
Orochimaru conceded. "But my supporters remain. I can ensure you take the seat."
The casual statement made Danzō's eyes widen.
Am I hearing things?
This man would sooner kill me than help me.
"Your price?"
Danzō forced his composure back, voice low.
"Hashirama Senju's corpse. Cover for me—no one can know."
Orochimaru paused. "And Alpha is mine."
"Have you lost your mind?!"
Danzō's face paled. "Stealing the First Hokage's body?! A few cells are one thing, but this—if discovered, there's no coming back!"
"I'm aware."
Orochimaru waved impatiently. "Do we have a deal or not?"
"..."
Danzō gritted his teeth.
A corpse was just a corpse. A fake could be placed in the coffin.
No one would dare disturb Hashirama's resting place.
"Fine."
Danzō's voice dripped venom. "But betray me, Orochimaru, and you'll regret it."
Orochimaru smirked, unfazed. "Now take your little insect and leave."
The "insect" was Yūhi Mado.
Though his estate seemed unguarded, snakes lurked everywhere.
No intruder went unnoticed.
"Hmph. Don't make choices you'll rue."
With a final threat, Danzō turned and left.
Orochimaru licked his lips, anticipation burning in his chest.
He couldn't wait to see Sasame again.
So many questions demanded answers.
Southwest Konoha
The Uchiha's New Compound
Though larger, the Uchiha's new lands were farther from the village center.
The proud clan seethed at the slight.
But their indecisive leader, Fugaku Uchiha, had suppressed all dissent.
Behind the compound, by a roaring waterfall, Shisui Uchiha stared at the rushing water, lost in thought.
His battle with Orochimaru that morning haunted him.
In his heart, Konoha's leaders—Hiruzen, Danzō, the Sannin—stood as pillars of the Will of Fire.
So why had Orochimaru attacked him?
Was it on Hiruzen's orders?
"No. Impossible."
Shisui refused to dwell on it. That would mean the Will of Fire itself was flawed.
But another realization troubled him:
Orochimaru had come for his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Did the village elders already know about these eyes?
Would their stance toward the Uchiha change?
The thoughts churned relentlessly in his mind.
"Shisui Uchiha."
An ANBU agent materialized. "The Hokage summons you."
Shisui's heart lurched, but his face remained calm. "I'll go at once."
With heavy steps, he entered the Hokage's office.
"Shisui."
Hiruzen set down a document, his tone warm. "Sit. Make yourself at home."
Shisui exhaled inwardly.
I was wrong to doubt him.
"I called you here for a mission."
Hiruzen sighed. "With Minato's death, Kumogakure has seized the chance to attack. We must respond."
"I won't fail you, Hokage-sama!"
Shisui straightened.
"I've always trusted you. You carry Kagami's blood—and his will."
Hiruzen's expression turned nostalgic. "Kagami was like a brother to me. Seeing you reminds me of him."
Kagami Uchiha had been one of Tobirama's students, a model shinobi who embodied the Will of Fire.
And Shisui was his descendant.
"We planned to hold Jonin promotions, but recent events delayed them."
Hiruzen stood, placing a hand on Shisui's shoulder. "Your skills surpass Chunin. For this mission, you'll have Jonin authority."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
Gratitude swelled in Shisui's chest.
Jonin were Konoha's elite. This was a clear sign of the Hokage's trust.
"Do well, and upon your return, I'll induct you into ANBU."
Hiruzen smiled.
This was how an Uchiha should be.
Most shinobi didn't warrant a personal audience.
But Shisui was different.
His Uchiha name was key.
Bringing him into ANBU would grant Hiruzen both a prodigy and a bridge to the clan—one growing ever more restless.
He needed eyes inside.
As for Shisui?
This meeting confirmed Orochimaru's attack was personal—not the village's will.