Orochimaru's Attention

"Fugaku, you need to pay more attention to the movements of important ninjas within the village... Orochimaru is researching First Hokage Cells, a project that was originally studied by the Second Hokage during his lifetime."

Uchiha Setsuna glanced at Fugaku, explaining with a hint of dissatisfaction.

He was somewhat disappointed in Fugaku as the clan head.

"And you—Ao, how did you come to know about this matter?"

Setsuna did not easily believe Uchiha Ao's words; instead, he grew even more suspicious.

A flash of killing intent flickered in his eyes.

How could a child who had just graduated know about a secret that the Uchiha had spent years trying to uncover?

Who was behind him!?

Setsuna calmly scanned all the high-ranking Uchiha members present; he did not believe that a ten-year-old child like Uchiha Ao could grasp such important classified information.

And successfully gain Orochimaru's trust.

"As long as one has value to be utilized, one can gain the other party's attention."

Uchiha Ao answered nonchalantly.

Clearly.

These words did not gain the approval of the clan's high-ranking officials.

"Since you refuse to honestly state your true intentions, I will see for myself!"

The Third Elder was a man of quick temper. Seeing that he couldn't get anything out of him, his eyes transformed into a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and he directly cast a genjutsu.

He attempted to extract the secrets hidden within Uchiha Ao's heart through the genjutsu.

But after the genjutsu was cast, the Third Elder's spirit passed through Ao's mind.

Yet, he did not discover anything unusual.

Ao had no secrets hidden in the depths of his heart.

How is this possible!?

He widened his eyes, his pupils constricting.

This child was only twelve years old; even a genius like Shisui could not escape his genjutsu interrogation.

After a long while.

Under the gaze of the many elders, the Third Elder shook his head slightly and replied, "There is no problem."

He said this with great hesitation, lacking any confidence; he even suspected that his genjutsu interrogation had failed.

"Since that is the case, let him go and try!"

Seeing this, Uchiha Fugaku spoke immediately.

After speaking, he looked at the Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna, the person with the most influence in the clan.

Setsuna kept his eyes closed, holding his teacup and taking a light sip.

He enjoyed the attention of everyone present.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Take precautions against his betrayal."

His eyes glanced at the door without leaving a trace.

A heart-palpitating fluctuation of Chakra was coming from there.

Subsequently.

Uchiha Ao was tossed out of the shrine like a dead dog, fainting in the front courtyard.

Shisui's figure emerged from the shadows.

"Did he pass the review? He didn't die... It seems the elders didn't find any problems."

This guy didn't betray the clan.

Shisui crouched down and extended two fingers to check under Ao's nose.

In an instant.

Ao's eyes snapped open.

He looked at the slightly hesitant expression in Shisui's eyes.

He slowly stood up, and two words spilled from his lips: "Thank you."

"Why are you trying to get close to Orochimaru?"

Shisui's eyes revealed a trace of confusion as he asked.

Although Orochimaru was a disciple of the Third Hokage, he had completely distanced himself from the village's core decision-making circle after losing the last election for the Fourth Hokage.

Becoming his disciple offered no benefits and would only offend the hawks within the clan.

He could not understand Ao's actions.

He also didn't understand why Orochimaru would take in an outcast of the Uchiha clan.

Although Orochimaru had drifted away from the core of decision-making, he was, after all, one of the legendary Sannin, and his strength was unfathomable.

Becoming his disciple meant that, at the very least, one could become a Jonin in the future.

And squeeze into the clan's decision-making circle.

"The Uchiha have nothing that can attract me."

Ao glanced at him, his black pupils filled with determination, and he spoke in a calm tone.

"What can Orochimaru give you?"

Shisui asked curiously.

Ao gave him a special feeling, as if his thoughts were completely different from those of the other clansmen.

Everyone else was working hard on their training to improve their strength.

"Truth."

Ao said calmly. He stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and walked out of the shrine without looking back.

Shisui watched his back as he left without a hint of attachment, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes.

Why could he leave so nonchalantly?

If it were any other clansman facing an investigation by the clan's high-ranking officials, they would likely have been scared out of their wits long ago.

Truth?

What is truth!?

Shisui didn't understand.

Could truth be more important than the glory of the Uchiha, enough to make him willingly abandon the pride of the Uchiha and lower his head to take an ordinary commoner ninja as his teacher?

Orochimaru was, after all, the village's recognized madman.

For the sake of some inexplicable research, he had given up the chance to become the Hokage.

"What are you looking at?"

Fugaku appeared beside Shisui, patted him on the shoulder, and asked with concern.

He had sensed the confusion in Shisui's eyes.

"Ao, why was he valued by Orochimaru? That man has very high standards! For so many years, only Anko has been able to enter his field of vision..."

Shisui said with doubt.

He hid the tiny bit of jealousy in his heart; he was clearly the most talented member of the Uchiha, yet he hadn't been able to gain the attention of Konoha's high-ranking officials.

Uchiha Ao was just an ordinary clansman, yet he had become a disciple under Orochimaru.

"Because he wants to become the Hokage. Currently, the Third Hokage is acting as the Hokage, but he is old and won't last much longer; the Fifth Hokage will have to be chosen in the future."

"Orochimaru remains one of the strongest contenders."

"With Tsunade and Jiraiya away, he is even the only candidate."

"Once Orochimaru takes office, Ao will be the disciple of the Hokage, possessing the qualifications to succeed as the Hokage."

Fugaku said softly, his gaze deep, as if he had seen through Uchiha Ao's little trick.

A cold sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

A naive brat.

This was the consensus among the clan's high-ranking officials.

It was precisely because of this speculation that they had spared the life of Ao, who had betrayed the clan.

Otherwise, he would have long since been executed on the spot by the Council of Elders, just like those who had betrayed the Uchiha in the past.

Shisui understood what Fugaku meant, and his eyes lit up.

If one becomes the Hokage, can they break free from the clan?

His confused gaze brightened slightly.

His eyes involuntarily turned toward the statue of the First Hokage at the Valley of the End in the distance.

"Shisui, don't learn from him..."

Fugaku reminded him softly.

"You are the genius of the clan; in the future, all of the clan's resources will be invested in you. You are not like him!"

He was worried that Shisui would go astray.

By leaning toward the high-ranking officials of Konoha.

Currently, Shisui was only nine years old, yet he had already graduated from the ninja academy and become a Genin.

Judging by the clan's assessments, he possessed at least the strength of a Chunin.

After two years of experience, he would be able to easily promote to Jonin.

Shisui nodded, lost in thought.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his neck.

Before he could even react, his vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground.

The next moment, the figure of Orochimaru slowly emerged in the spot where he had been standing.

He stared at Uchiha Fugaku, who was on high alert, with a sinister gaze.

He cast a glance at the fallen Shisui.

Orochimaru said in a threatening tone:

"Ao is my disciple; it would be best if you Uchiha never repeat today's actions again."

He had been keeping a close watch on Ao's movements.

Upon noticing the Uchiha's actions, he had followed them immediately.

He had struck directly at Shisui, the most talented member of the Uchiha clan.

He did this to intimidate the entire Uchiha clan.

Then, under Uchiha Fugaku's horrified gaze, he vanished like a blurred shadow.

On the other side.

Uchiha Ao had just left Kaga Shrine when he encountered Orochimaru, who was also leaving the shrine, halfway along the path.

"Are you alright?"

Orochimaru asked in a flat tone, though a hint of concern leaked through his eyes.

He swept his gaze over him, and only after confirming that there were no issues with Ao did he look away.

To be able to retreat unscathed from the Uchiha clan's shrine.

This assistant's methods were decent.

He was worthy of being someone he valued.

"I'm fine, Orochimaru-senpai. Why are you here?"

Ao replied, quite surprised by Orochimaru's appearance.

"Call me teacher."

"I have already spoken with the Third Hokage; from now on, you are my second personal disciple."

"I came to find you this time because I have found everything you mentioned earlier. Come with me..."

Orochimaru nodded and stated the purpose of his visit.

Among the materials he had shown Ao previously, the most critical was the Spirit Transformation Technique. He had managed to collect every secret technique related to the soul within the village in less than an afternoon.

He was waiting for Ao to come over so they could begin further research together.