Danzo: You Wouldn't Want...

Once the examination was over, he walked out of the examination room.

Someone had apparently been waiting outside for a long time. However, the Third Hokage had instructed them not to disturb him unless it was urgent. Now that he was finally free, they could report to Lord Third.

"Lord Third, Orochimaru asks that you come over."

"Is it urgent?"

"Well..."

Orochimaru did not look particularly urgent, nor had he said what it was about.

Seeing the man drenched in sweat, the Third Hokage did not make things difficult for him.

"I'll go over."

The man was immediately granted a reprieve.

"Lord Third, please follow me."

Thus, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi left Konoha Hospital.

As for Yakushi Tenshin—also known as Yakushi Nonō—after the Third Hokage left, she went to look at the foster son who was likewise busy with medical work.

He was a child she had found during the Battle of Kikyo Pass, suffering from amnesia. She had taken him to the Orphanage she founded, adopted him, given him her Yakushi surname, and named him Kabuto.

He was a highly talented child who had learned Medical Ninjutsu quite well.

After living through the Nine-Tails' Rampage, Konoha Hospital was now badly in need of medical personnel for treatment and nursing. Since training in Medical Ninjutsu also required ample clinical practice, she had brought Kabuto to intern at Konoha Hospital during this period.

Before long, she saw Kabuto treating a patient. He was serious, absorbed, and focused, without making any mistakes.

Yakushi Tenshin could not help smiling with gratification.

At last, when Kabuto finished his work and was drenched in sweat—

A handkerchief reached over from the side and began wiping his forehead.

He froze for a moment, then imitated Tenshin's gentle smile. With obvious affection, he called out, "Director."

He wore glasses very similar to Tenshin's, a gift she had given him when he was younger.

Of course, that was also because Kabuto had poor eyesight to begin with.

A while later, mother and son sat on a bench atop the hospital roof, enjoying this moment of leisure.

Kabuto could not help asking curiously, "Director, I heard Lord Third summoned you again."

"That's right." Yakushi Nonō smiled, her eyes narrowing.

"Then why did Lord Third summon you?"

Yakushi Nonō raised a finger and tapped his forehead.

"Secret," she said with a smile.

Kabuto gave a snort and turned his head away.

"It's not much of a secret. I heard people at the hospital say Lord Third asked you to perform a physical examination, and it took a very long time..."

As he said this, Kabuto seemed to think of something and clenched his fists.

He appeared somewhat unhappy.

Naturally, Nonō knew why Kabuto was upset. Rumors were spreading throughout the hospital that she was having an affair with Lord Third.

After all, Lord Third being lecherous... was hardly a secret.

But was Lord Third really lecherous?

Nonō could not help thinking about her recent interactions with Lord Third. She found that he had been deeply focused on researching human medicine and his own physical condition.

He had not cast any deliberate or furtive glances at her.

He gave the impression of someone wise, sharp, and utterly devoted to whatever he chose to focus on.

Shaking her head, she said to Kabuto, "Don't overthink it. Some things will always invite gossip, but people should not be influenced by words that are not true. Kabuto, Lord Third is a respectable elder. Don't think such disrespectful things, all right?"

"...Phew."

Kabuto let out a breath and nodded.

But soon, Nonō rose to her feet.

"I suddenly remembered something I need to do."

She said it calmly, as if nothing had happened.

Kabuto sensed that something was off. It was still too sudden.

But before long, Nonō had vanished from sight.

Not long afterward, Nonō appeared in a small nearby grove. There, she saw a familiar back.

"Lord Danzo."

"Nonō."

He turned around.

"I heard you've been examining Hiruzen? I want to know the results."

"...Lord Third invited me to serve as his medical advisor."

Danzo frowned.

Then he lowered his voice.

"I have always provided the funds that keep your Orphanage running. You wouldn't want me to withdraw that funding, would you? Without it, your Orphanage will have a hard time staying open."

"..."

"I'll give you some time to think it over, Nonō. I hope you will not disappoint me."

With that, Danzo turned around and vanished into the shadows of the grove.

Nonō silently turned away.

She considered how to break this deadlock.

In a sense, Danzo was the all-powerful shadow of Konoha. At present, only the Third Hokage could restrain him, yet the Third Hokage and Danzo were closely connected.

Would Lord Third be willing to do her a small favor?

Or even if she sought Lord Third's help, would she still have to pay some price?

"..."

Still, it would be better than Danzo.

Though she felt that Lord Third also carried a deep darkness within him, he was, after all, the Hokage representing the village's bright side. He would not act as unscrupulously as Danzo.

Besides, she had already established a connection with Lord Third as his medical advisor.

Perhaps she needed to demonstrate even greater value before Lord Third.

"Orochimaru, what did you need me for?" The Third Hokage entered the Hokage's Office, saw Orochimaru, and asked.

"Teacher, naturally it is something important."

"What important matter?"

"The Uchiha."

The Third Hokage sat down. By now, he had gained a very clear understanding of Konoha's situation, thanks to Hiruzen Sarutobi's memories.

So when discussing such matters, he would not reveal any weakness.

"Do you want to deal with the Uchiha?"

"I should be asking you that, Teacher. Do you want to deal with the Uchiha?"

He did not.

Of course, he could not say that outright. It would be too abrupt, too suspicious.

So he fell silent, as though giving the matter serious thought, before saying, "The Uchiha have always been a difficult problem within the village."

"Then how do you wish to resolve it? Or do you intend to rely on Danzo?"

Naturally, he understood what relying on Danzo meant.

And now he also understood what kind of person Danzo was—and, well, what kind of person his disciple Orochimaru was too.

Danzo was despicable, cruel, vicious, and heartless. He had been deeply twisted by darkness. In a sense, he was indeed a blade, but that blade was too bloody and brutal. Frankly, the current Hiruzen Sarutobi did not like him.

Of course, his disciple did not seem much better. He could be called a mad scientist, immensely talented in research and the most prized disciple of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Now, he was also becoming increasingly cold-blooded.

Still, since he was about to become Hokage, Orochimaru seemed to have reined himself in somewhat as a clever man. His aura was no longer quite so cold and sinister.