Ōnoki admitted it.
He really wanted to run.
"Kamizuki, don't misunderstand."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "The only thing you and that man have in common is your strength."
"What happened back then was complicated. If you want to know, I can tell you about it."
Madara Uchiha's departure was no ordinary defection. At first, he had simply left over a difference in ideals. The First had never called him a rogue ninja.
Even when Madara later attacked Konoha with the Nine-Tails, effectively turning against the village, Hashirama Senju still had not declared him a rogue ninja.
Not long after the battle, Hashirama even had statues carved in the Valley of the End.
He said they were meant to warn future generations not to repeat their mistakes. But what had he truly wanted? Perhaps he had hoped the world would never forget that Madara Uchiha had existed.
Because Madara had died, his records were never amended. Konoha's official records still listed him as a "co-ruler at Konoha's founding"—in practice, the village's second-in-command before its hierarchy had taken shape.
"That's a pathetic look, Ōnoki."
Orochimaru sneered, addressing Ōnoki by name. "We've all seen how much Kamizuki has accomplished on the battlefield."
"He's merely dealing with a defeated enemy, and you're trying to turn Konoha's ninja against him."
"So much for Ōnoki of Both Scales. You're nothing but a despicable schemer who sows discord!"
It was no wonder Orochimaru was worked up.
In his eyes, Kamizuki was the best candidate to become Hokage. Any association with Madara Uchiha would be politically disastrous for him, making it hard to earn the trust of the jōnin.
Orochimaru had warned Kamizuki not to show the Flame Fan, too...
Forget it. A teacher had to clean up the trouble his student caused.
Orochimaru turned to Sarutobi