Orochimaru's Defection

Early spring, Konoha Year 51.

There had been absolutely no follow-up on Konoha's missing-persons case.

Even the Anbu and the Uchiha Clan working together had failed to find those missing people in Konoha.

But Orochimaru, who had gone a long time without being able to conduct human experiments, was already on the verge of losing patience.

Because of the Anbu and Uchiha searches during this period, he could only carry out experiments outside the village, which greatly delayed his research progress.

He felt he was only one step away from getting results, and so he made his move.

After luring a four-man Anbu squad and a four-man Uchiha squad into a trap he had set up, he first killed the six who entered the trap, then knocked out the two people outside it.

Eight people in total, four of them Kekkei Genkai Ninja. This let Orochimaru fully enter the world of science in one stroke, sinking into experimentation until he could no longer pull himself out.

By the time Danzo received the Root Ninja's report, he felt his entire world go wrong.

He could no longer cover for Orochimaru's actions this time. Knowing the matter had blown up, he immediately began cutting ties with Orochimaru.

"Notify the Hokage. We've found intelligence on the missing people."

After giving orders to a Root Ninja, he began clearing out the laboratory in Root.

Those research results needed to be gathered up, and the experimental equipment needed to be preserved.

At that moment, in the Hokage Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was lecturing Jiraiya.

Because he had once again discovered Jiraiya lurking outside the Women's Bath, blocking the view of his Telescope Technique.

But from Jiraiya's completely indifferent expression, it was clear he had no interest in Sarutobi Hiruzen's preaching.

"All right, old man. I didn't come back to listen to you lecture me. If there's something you need, just say it."

Sarutobi Hiruzen coughed softly. "It's like this, Jiraiya. Recently, a series of missing-persons cases has occurred in Konoha. Have you heard about it?"

"I've heard a little. I also heard the Uchiha Clan is planning to disband the Military Police Force."

Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt somewhat uncomfortable as well. He had clearly issued a strict order forbidding Danzo from spreading rumors about the Uchiha disbanding the Military Police Force, yet Danzo had still let the word get out.

When questioned, Danzo refused to admit it and insisted it had been spread by other ninja clans.

Did he not know who had spread it? It was just that he had intended to suppress the Uchiha Clan anyway, so although Danzo's methods were rather aggressive, he had merely reprimanded him.

"That's exactly why. The Anbu I sent out have been investigating for nearly three months, and they still haven't found any information about the missing people."

"You mean?"

"I need your assistance."

Jiraiya sank into thought. He really did not want to get involved in this.

The conflict between the Uchiha and the Hokage faction had grown deeper and deeper, to the point that they were already forcing the Uchiha to hand over power. Calling him in now was nothing more than another step in striking at the Uchiha Clan.

"Old man, you should know I don't want to get dragged into this, right?"

"Yes, but I need the missing-persons case resolved completely. Konoha cannot continue in chaos. Recently, both Cloud Ninja Village and Stone Ninja Village have had unusual activity around their borders. Stabilizing Konoha as soon as possible is good for everyone."

"Fine." Just after Jiraiya agreed, an Anbu ninja arrived at the door.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in." Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the ninja, only then realizing he was a Root Ninja.

"Lord Hokage, according to our investigation, we've already obtained intelligence regarding the missing-persons case."

"Where? Who did it? Danzo?"

Jiraiya immediately threw out three questions.

"Inside Death Forest. Orochimaru. It was not Lord Danzo."

"What?!" x2

Both of them were filled with shock.

From this Root Ninja's mouth, they had heard something they simply could not believe.

The Uchiha Clan.

Uchiha Fugaku's home.

Kushina and Fugaku sat on opposite sides of the same table.

"Kushina, you've really made things miserable for me. Now the rumor that the Uchiha Clan is going to disband the Military Police Force to take responsibility for the missing-persons case has already begun spreading on a large scale. If the culprit isn't found in the end, my Uchiha Clan will become the scapegoat."

Kushina, who had just been sitting with her eyes closed in contemplation, opened them as well.

"Clan Leader Fugaku, why do you think Konoha wouldn't have the ability to find the culprit? What illusion makes you think the culprit won't strike again?"

Inside Kushina's Sealing Space, Minato Namikaze was also extremely saddened.

Something like this had happened in Konoha, but he was powerless to do anything.

Anju, at the side, was making plans and offering strategies to Kushina.

Since Kushina was already going to be tied together with the Uchiha Clan, persuading her to help the Uchiha through this crisis was also a key step in deepening cooperation between both sides.

"Anju, will the killer really keep striking? What if the killer gets scared?"

Minato Namikaze still did not understand why Anju kept stressing that the killer would continue. Three months had already passed, and the killer had not struck in Konoha again.

"Minato, what is the killer's purpose in abducting people?"

"I don't know."

"You've really failed as Hokage. Did you know the Hokage faction has a tradition of researching First Generation Cells?"

"You mean..."

"Human experiments."

After Anju said that, he fell silent.

And Kushina's conversation with Fugaku had also reached this subject.

"Clan Head Fugaku, in order to continue his research, the killer will definitely strike again. Martial law in Konoha can only force the killer into hiding. But martial law can effectively limit further crimes. It only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. Sooner or later, the killer will strike again."

Just then, a ninja from the Uchiha Military Police Force arrived at Fugaku's home.

After seeing Fugaku, the ninja stated his purpose very directly.

"Clan Head Fugaku, the squad led by Ono hasn't reported its position for two hours."

Fugaku looked back at Kushina, who was also in the room.

Kushina secretly breathed a sigh of relief as well. "Let's go, Clan Head Fugaku. The killer has struck."

"Which area was Ono's squad patrolling?"

"Death Forest."

"Gather everyone. We're going to Death Forest!" Fugaku said, then headed out.

As for Kushina, she had no desire to show herself in front of the Third Hokage and the others.

She turned and went to find Mikoto Uchiha.

Fugaku did not dwell on that either. In any case, Kushina already had one foot in the Uchiha camp now.

Outside Death Forest, Fugaku saw the Anbu guards.

The Anbu would not allow anyone from the Military Police Force to enter Death Forest at all.

That nearly made Fugaku lose control and unleash his Susanoo, but he quickly calmed down again.

The Third Hokage's vigilance over the missing-persons case only proved that it had something to do with him.

In that case...

"All Uchiha Clan members, enter Death Forest and find our clansmen!"

Fugaku had several Uchiha Clan members hold back the Anbu while he led the others straight into Death Forest.

The furious Uchihas followed Fugaku into Death Forest without hesitation.

"You dare defy Lord Hokage's orders? Are you trying to rebel?"

The Anbu squad leader guarding the entrance could not stop more than a hundred Uchiha at all, so all he could do was threaten them.

If it had been the old Fugaku, he might have hesitated here, might have grown uneasy, might have stopped in his tracks. But now, Fugaku was not panicking at all, because his clansmen were also inside Death Forest, their fate unknown.

Inside Death Forest, Orochimaru had already escaped the Third Hokage's pursuit and was now fleeing Jiraiya's pursuit.

Only two Uchiha Clan members had been rescued, which made Sarutobi Hiruzen feel somewhat pained. After all, four Anbu and four Elite Chunin had died.

Danzo wanted to have all these Uchiha killed, but unfortunately, there were too many Anbu present, making it difficult to act.

For the sake of appearances, the Third Hokage could not make a move openly either. Besides, Orochimaru's defection had already greatly damaged his prestige.

And Fugaku arriving with his people made the Third Hokage lose face completely.