Unaware that a minor cannon-fodder character in the village was talking about him, Orochimaru walked toward his residence beneath the dim lights. However, two figures soon blocked his path.
"Ribbit!"
"Hissss!"
A man-sized frog faced off against the giant python Orochimaru had arranged to guard his residence in the middle of the road. Both stared fixedly at each other, their bodies poised to strike, as if they were about to collide the next second.
Orochimaru was stunned when he saw this scene. He had not expected to meet both of his close friends one after another today.
"Yo, Orochimaru. Long time no see. I heard Tsunade beat you up. How is it? Are you all right?"
Jiraiya, with white hair and dressed in a light-green shirt and trousers beneath a red cloak, leaned against an inconspicuous patch of shadow. His tone was as carefree as ever.
Orochimaru did not respond to Jiraiya right away. Instead, he walked straight through the gap between the frog and the python and opened his front door.
"Are you going to keep hiding in the corner and crying over Minato Namikaze, or are you coming in for a drink and a chat, Jiraiya?"
His hoarse voice drifted through the empty street, but there was no response for a long while. Only after Orochimaru's figure disappeared behind the door did Jiraiya step out of the shadows, wooden sandals tapping against the ground, a faint sadness still lingering in his eyes.
"You're still as calm as ever, Orochimaru. After experiencing the Nine-Tails' Rampage, you should be able to answer the doubts in my heart."
Senba had miscalculated once again. He had originally thought that after Tsunade vouched for his existence, the main family would quickly summon him for an audience. He had not expected that more than half a month would pass without any news.
Just as he had decided that his plan had failed, a letter from the main family concerning the clan's Soul Requiem Festival was delivered into his hands.
"Cough, cough, cough. Senba, many people in the clan lost their lives in this disaster, so the main family organized this gathering to comfort everyone and purify the disaster. Cough, cough, cough."
Miki, who was bedridden and unable to rise, held Senba's hand and gazed at his face with cloudy eyes as he spoke softly. "This is something I should have attended myself. After all, once we die, the clan will no longer exist."
"But I can no longer move. And, cough, cough!"
"Grandpa, don't worry. Rest assured, I won't bring shame upon the family." Senba gently patted the old man's back and softly comforted him, though this was also what he himself hoped for.
Miki's aged hand clutched Senba's arm. His cloudy eyes seemed to brighten considerably in that instant. As he looked at his grandson's familiar yet slightly unfamiliar face, a glimmer of tears seemed to pass through the corner of his eye.
"Senba, go and meet them. Meet them and let them know that even though the Senju Clan is gone, the bond of blood still remains. You are the best proof. Cough, cough, cough..."
Seeing his grandfather coughing incessantly from excitement, Senba hurriedly soothed him. Only after watching him slowly fall asleep did he quietly lift his feet and leave.
When he reached the courtyard, he raised his head and looked at the clear sky, unable to stop himself from letting out a long breath. The day had finally come. If this still failed, he would probably have no choice but to defect from Konoha in the future. Otherwise, the secret of his body would be discovered sooner or later.
Thinking of this, Senba rolled up his right sleeve and looked at the inside of his small forearm. While clearing away obstacles yesterday, he had accidentally been cut by a sharp object, leaving a long, narrow wound. At the time, the flesh had already turned outward slightly, but now only a faint mark remained. If Danzo found out about this, the consequences would be unimaginable.
While Senba was thinking about the Senju Clan's Soul Requiem Festival, a legless, haggard-looking Ninja on a hospital bed in Konoha Hospital reached out with both hands and tremblingly lifted a beast-shaped mask. It represented his hope of becoming a Ninja again.
"Your past self is already dead. Think of a codename for yourself. It will make things easier to address you."
"Bitter Ape. My codename will be Bitter Ape."
"Whatever."
The Hokage's Office was still dimly lit. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the grim-faced Shimura Danzō before him, his brows deeply furrowed. He was already exhausted from dealing with the aftermath of the disaster in the village and truly did not want to see Danzō again.
But he could not refuse to see him. Whenever this old friend was left unwatched, he did things no one could anticipate. Just now, the Anbu had reported discovering members of Root in the hospital.
"So, Danzō, I have already approved your recruitment of personnel in the hospital. Is there anything else?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a moment to light the tobacco in his pipe and asked while smoking.
"Hiruzen!"
"Danzō!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Danzō with eyes as sharp as an eagle's. Under the latter's bewildered gaze, he pointed at the Hokage hat resting on the table beside him and said solemnly:
"In formal settings, you should address me as Lord Hokage."
Fury and disbelief mingled in Danzō's single eye. Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi had ascended to the position of Hokage, Danzō had always addressed him directly by name. Why was he putting on airs now?
Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally understood Danzō's look. However, having ascended to the Hokage's position for the second time, he was no longer young and vigorous. Combined with the current extraordinary circumstances, he had to give everyone the impression that he treated them equally and reassure them so they would continue to trust him.
As for people like Danzō, Koharu, and Mito, who usually stood on equal footing with him by virtue of their qualifications, he had to make his attitude clear for everyone to see. Moreover, according to the Anbu's report, some bad news was now spreading quietly throughout Konoha.
Enraged by Hiruzen's attitude, Danzō glared with his bloodshot left eye, his chest heaving constantly. After several minutes of composing himself, he gritted his teeth and asked fiercely:
"Lord Hokage, do you know that the Senju clan members intend to hold a clan gathering? What are they trying to do at a time like this? Could it be that they have some ideas now that Tsunade has returned? I propose sending people to monitor the clan members' movements."
"There is no need."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's casual yet unquestionable tone only intensified the anger in Danzō's heart. He slammed his hand on the table. "How can you be sure they aren't a problem? If there is a problem, it will be too late. Konoha cannot endure another upheaval now."
"I said there is no need, naturally because I have my reasons. Lady Momoka has already invited me to attend their clan gathering at the Senju Ancestral Home tomorrow. If anything happens, we can discover it on the spot, so there is no need for covert surveillance."
"What? Why didn't I know about this?"
Seeing the confusion in Danzō's eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing. He merely cast a light glance at the Hokage hat beside him. The meaning was self-evident.
For Danzō, the mockery in this scene was devastating.
"Bang!"
Watching Danzō slam the door as he left and listening to his furious footsteps, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, smoked his pipe, and continued handling the documents. It would be another sleepless night.
Before you continue