Chaos Begins

Inside the Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked at Orochimaru, who had returned to report on his assignment. In his hands was a detailed list of supplies and armaments, one and a half times the originally agreed amount.

"You've worked hard, Orochimaru."

Dressed in a green combat uniform, Orochimaru merely chuckled at Sarutobi's concern. "I only delivered some things. If one has nothing to do for too long, one starts to grow moldy."

Sarutobi said, "Didn't you accomplish something rather significant this time?"

"Since I happened upon it, I naturally couldn't stand by and do nothing."

Sarutobi glanced up at Orochimaru and gestured with a letter in his hand. "The daimyo sent a letter. Most of it is praise for you, saying that with Konoha making use of a talent like you, the war will surely be won soon."

Orochimaru's expression remained unchanged. "I met Minato at the front lines. His influence is formidable. Only with him can Konoha be led to victory."

Sarutobi smiled. "You think so highly of him?"

"Jiraiya truly took in an excellent student."

Sarutobi's gaze shifted slightly. Looking at Orochimaru, he suddenly asked, "Then what do you think of Minato becoming the Fourth Hokage?"

Orochimaru remained impassive. "The war has yet to end, and you're already thinking of stepping down?"

"One must always consider the future. The daimyo thinks so highly of you, and you think so highly of Minato. How could this war possibly not be won?"

"The position of Hokage belongs to the capable. Minato does indeed possess that capability."

Sarutobi had been watching Orochimaru's eyes all along. Yet even after he said those words, the serpent-like eyes still conveyed none of the emotion Sarutobi had expected.

He slowly said, "Orochimaru, you once had a student like that as well. If you put yourself in his shoes, he should be very happy too."

Orochimaru's gaze turned cold. "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving."

After Orochimaru left, the office fell quiet again.

Sarutobi felt around beneath his desk for a while and took out a smoking pipe. As he lit it, he caught sight of the daimyo's letter on the desk again.

Besides its excessive praise for Orochimaru, the daimyo had also expressed dissatisfaction with Konoha's border defenses. How could they have allowed a Stone Ninja squad to infiltrate so easily?

Yet the moment Sarutobi had learned of the incident, he had sent people to investigate all entry and exit records along the Land of Fire's borders. With the war ongoing, the Land of Fire and Konoha maintained extremely strict control over border security, and the report he received was that nothing unusual had occurred at the border.

Sarutobi sensed that something was wrong, but then felt there was no point in pursuing it further. Even if the investigation uncovered something bad, he could not report it to the daimyo. Was he supposed to tell the daimyo that Konoha was currently fighting for power over the position of Hokage?

Orochimaru... I still underestimated your ruthlessness and ambition...

Sarutobi exhaled a mouthful of smoke, so thick that it lingered before his eyes.

The first thing Orochimaru did upon returning to his residence was send Anko to fetch Shinichi.

After Anko ran off, he calmed down again and sat motionless in the living room by himself.

How pathetic, Orochimaru. Even now, you cannot cast aside such useless emotions?

After sitting with his eyes closed for a long while, a ninja dressed as an Anbu suddenly appeared in the living room using the Body Flicker Technique. Wearing a patterned mask, he dropped to one knee.

"Lord Orochimaru." He offered a scroll with both hands.

Orochimaru seemed not to hear him. He remained seated without even lifting his eyelids. A python slowly crawled out from his sleeve, slithered before the Anbu, and opened its mouth to take the scroll between its fangs.

"Lord Danzo sends his regards."

After bowing his head and speaking, the Anbu vanished from the spot with the Body Flicker Technique.

A full half hour passed before Anko finally returned with Shinichi.

The instant Shinichi stepped into the living room, he immediately sensed the cold aura around Orochimaru.

Anko, however, seemed not to notice. She skipped over to Orochimaru's side and eagerly claimed credit. "Lord Orochimaru, I brought Shinichi."

Orochimaru smiled faintly and patted her little head. "Shinichi and I have something to discuss. Go out and play for a while first."

"Huh?" Anko's little face filled with confusion. She turned to look at Shinichi, wondering when he had become so close to Lord Orochimaru.

In Anko's memory, she only needed to avoid Lord Orochimaru when he was speaking with other adults, and she had always sensibly refrained from disturbing them.

But what could they possibly need to discuss without her...

"Okay." Anko still obediently left, though she could not help glancing at Shinichi again before she went.

Shinichi did not ask why Orochimaru seemed somewhat off. Instead, he said, "For the past two days, everyone in the village has been talking about how Lord Orochimaru saved the daimyo."

Orochimaru did not respond. He merely tossed a scroll to him over his shoulder.

Shinichi opened it. Its contents were records of communications with certain royal ministers of the Land of Fire. In essence, those ministers had all accepted benefits sent by Root.

Those ministers could not possibly all be fools. Since they had dared accept such bribes, Root's offerings were likely not made entirely with goodwill.

Though the contents were shocking, Shinichi remained calm. He merely said, "The war is nearing its end."

Orochimaru shot him a glance. "How do you know?"

"Konoha can no longer afford to keep fighting, and neither can Iwagakure."

"Even so, what does that change? Do you think Iwagakure will stop?"

The war between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth had been incredibly brutal. By now, it had nearly lost its original purpose. Most of those on the battlefield were fighting out of hatred.

"So there needs to be an opportunity for the two nations to agree to a truce. When that happens, Konoha will offer a peace treaty."

Orochimaru frowned slightly. "Wouldn't that be no different from losing the war?"

"It only needs some embellishment. The villagers will not see it that way. Then the Hokage can use the opportunity to resign and accept responsibility, while supporting the Fourth Hokage's succession."

Orochimaru's eyes flickered as he continued asking, "What opportunity are you referring to?"

"Has Lord Orochimaru forgotten what caused this great ninja war?"

Orochimaru's thoughts raced. "Sunagakure!"

Shinichi continued, "The Fourth Kazekage has been in office for so long that Sunagakure's internal affairs should have stabilized by now. If we gain their alliance, Iwagakure will certainly stop."

"Would Sunagakure be willing?"

"Sunagakure is also in desperate need of peace. They will not allow the three nations of Fire, Earth, and Wind to fall out of balance."

Orochimaru said nothing more and sat there in contemplation.

"Lord Orochimaru needs to go to the Land of Wind and secure this ally for Konoha."

"No!" Orochimaru suddenly interrupted Shinichi.

"That alone is not enough!"

Shinichi was slightly startled, only to see Orochimaru sneer. "Only by appearing with reinforcements when Konoha stands at the brink of destruction can I gain enough prestige."

Shinichi's expression gradually calmed. "At present, Iwagakure likely does not have the strength to push Konoha that far."

"If Iwagakure lacks the ability, then we give them that ability!"

"Lord Orochimaru, if you become Hokage, all those ninja on the front lines will be your family."

Orochimaru remained unmoved. "They want to support another Hokage. Does that count as betraying me?"

He had already understood. In such a short time, the hearts of those ninja could never turn toward him, no matter what he did.

So he had to forge a path soaked in blood.

"If you do this, Konoha and the entire Land of Fire will be thrown into chaos," Shinichi continued.

Orochimaru calmed down as well, his voice hoarse as he spoke. "Chaos is a ladder!"

A ladder that swept aside everything and led to the summit!

Was Mikoto from my previous book really that unforgettable? Why is everyone bringing her up the moment Ayano appears?