The Vortex of Power

"Mr. Lu Yang, do you need me to help you choose?"

As soon as the Shadow arrived, Uchiha Yue felt a chill run down his spine and said expressionlessly, "Actually, Mr. Lu Yang, you already have the answer in your heart. {} You can't accept Lord Orochimaru's research into forbidden techniques, so you plan to report this to the Third Hokage. However, Mr. Lu Yang, there's something I need to advise you. Your direct superior is Lord Danzo now, and when you report this matter, you also need to go through Lord Danzo, understand?"

"Moon Lord, thank you for reminding me!"

As a cousin of Shikaku Nara, the Shadow's intelligence is also above that of ordinary people, so he can naturally understand the meaning behind Uchiha Yue's words.

Sometimes, even Uchiha Yue felt strange, wondering if the Nara Clan members had undergone a genetic mutation or possessed a hidden Kekkei Genkai. It seemed that all members of the Nara Clan were far more intelligent than ordinary people, and this inherited intelligence truly made Uchiha Yue envious. However, at this moment, Uchiha Yue wasn't thinking about the Nara Clan's superhuman intelligence, but rather was secretly pondering the relationship between Orochimaru, the Third Hokage, Shimura Danzō.

Uchiha Yue, who was very familiar with the original plot, knew very well that Orochimaru failed to obtain the position of Fourth Hokage because of his human experimentation.

In the original story, the Third Hokage was preparing to pass the Hokage position to his disciple, Orochimaru. However, just as Orochimaru was about to succeed the Fourth Hokage, the Third Hokage suddenly learned that Orochimaru was conducting human experiments to research forbidden techniques. The Third Hokage then rejected Orochimaru's idea of becoming Hokage and even led his Anbu to eliminate Orochimaru. However, ultimately, the Third Hokage, considering his master-disciple relationship with Orochimaru, failed to eliminate Orochimaru, instead creating a formidable enemy for Konoha.

While Uchiha Yue was deep in thought, he analyzed the relationship between the Third Hokage and Orochimaru, drawing on events from the original story.

From the Shadow, Uchiha Yue learned that the Third Hokage had been keeping an eye on Orochimaru, testing Orochimaru to see if he was fit to become Hokage. However, although the Shadow was the Third Hokage's spy planted within Orochimaru's ranks, even the Shadow himself didn't know that his true allegiance was actually to Shimura Danzō, not the Third Hokage. Therefore, the incident involving the Third Hokage and Orochimaru implicated a schemer from Konoha — Shimura Danzō, an elder of Konoha.

With Shimura Danzō involved, the situation involving the Third Hokage and Orochimaru is probably not so simple.

If the Shadow had indeed reported Orochimaru's activities to the Third Hokage, the Third Hokage might have stopped his beloved student before Orochimaru began conducting human experiments. However, if the Shadow wanted to pass on the information, he would have had to go through Shimura Danzō. Therefore, according to Uchiha Yue's analysis, Shimura Danzō likely did something dishonorable. That is, Shimura Danzō concealed the news of Orochimaru's human experiments and even secretly encouraged Orochimaru to do so.

In this way, Orochimaru believed that the Third Hokage had given his permission to conduct human experiments.

Therefore, according to Uchiha Yue's deduction, it was Shimura Danzō manipulated the relationship between the Third Hokage and Orochimaru, causing a misunderstanding Orochimaru them.

Furthermore, even if Orochimaru later finds out that it was Shimura Danzō behind it, so what?

Orochimaru is an arrogant person and it's impossible for him to admit his mistakes in front of the Third Hokage.

It was Orochimaru's arrogant personality that led him further and further astray, resulting in ideological clashes with the Third Hokage.

Even if Orochimaru knew that his human experiments might displease the Third Hokage, he wouldn't be able to stop then.

"Shimura Danzō, what a terrifying schemer!"

Having secretly analyzed the crux of the matter, Uchiha Yue speculated about Shimura Danzō's methods and couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

"Shimura Danzō to great lengths to vie for the Hokage position!"

"First, use a conspiracy, then a legitimate strategy, to force Orochimaru and the Third Hokage to disagree, and finally squeeze out Orochimaru, who had the ability to compete for the Hokage."

"For power, there's probably nothing Shimura Danzō wouldn't do."

"What's even more unbelievable is that it seems Shimura Danzō isn't just trying to drag Orochimaru down with him, but also the entire Nara Clan!"

"And it seems like I'm also caught in the crossfire!"

Lost in thought, a bitter smile appeared on Uchiha Yue's face, clearly lamenting his Uchiha Yue situation.

Because, in Shimura Danzō's conspiracy, the Nara Clan's Shadow also played a dishonorable role. Once Shimura Danzō's plan succeeded, the Third Hokage would no longer trust the Shadow, and the entire Nara Clan Orochimaru be implicated. Uchiha Yue was caught in the crossfire because he had gone on a mission with the Shadow. Uchiha Yue may have intended to mentor Uchiha Yue, giving him time to gain experience. However, Orochimaru never imagined that sending Uchiha Yue a mission would instead harm him.

After becoming Tsunade's disciple, Uchiha Yue finally gained the Third Hokage's trust.

But what will the Third Hokage when he learns that Uchiha Yue also worked for Orochimaru, helping Orochimaru conduct human experiments?

Therefore, Uchiha Yue, who was inexplicably caught in the crossfire, felt bitter inside.

Moreover, Uchiha Yue could only keep these things to herself, and couldn't even tell the Shadow in front of her.

After all, the Shadow also didn't know about Shimura Danzō's plan. If he got some information from Uchiha Yue, Konoha would really be in chaos.

Shimura Danzō was an elder of Konoha, and the power he wielded was beyond Uchiha Yue's comprehension. Therefore, if Shimura Danzō's plan were exposed, Orochimaru, the Third Hokage, and Shimura Danzō would have to fight each other within Konoha. Moreover, if Orochimaru, the Third Hokage, and Shimura Danzō did indeed begin fighting within Konoha, the consequences for Uchiha Yue would be far more severe. Therefore, for his own safety, Uchiha Yue had no choice but to conceal the truth.

Right now, what Uchiha Yue wants to do most is to escape the vortex of power struggles as soon as possible.

Only in this way can Uchiha Yue grow in peace and accumulate his own strength.

Then, Uchiha Yue, preoccupied with his thoughts, spent the night hidden in the cave with his Shadow.

The next morning, Uchiha Yue and his Shadow continued their journey to complete the mission assigned by Orochimaru.

However, after thinking about it all night, Uchiha Yue had come up with a way to break free from the vortex of power.

Uchiha Yue's solution was to leave Orochimaru's side as soon as possible and accumulate his own strength under someone else's protection!