Fishing in Troubled Waters

"Teacher Sarutobi!"

Orochimaru said leisurely, "I came here only to take back what belongs to me. I have no intention of starting a war, so I didn't kill those Anbu. Besides..."

He stuck out his tongue and licked the corner of his mouth.

"Teacher Sarutobi, there's nothing left in Konoha that can attract me."

Orochimaru!

Sarutobi Hiruzen said calmly, "It's been so many years, but it seems you still haven't changed that cold-blooded nature of yours."

He tapped his pipe firmly and continued, "You didn't spare them out of mercy. You simply couldn't be bothered. That's just like you, a murderous fiend."

Back when Orochimaru had been researching forbidden texts, he'd gone on a killing spree in Konoha. Many ninja had disappeared, becoming Orochimaru's test subjects.

Orochimaru burst into laughter.

"Teacher Sarutobi, that's what set us apart. You mastered every kind of ninjutsu, yet you focused your attention on ordinary people. You wasted the title of Professor of Ninjas."

His smile froze, and he continued, "I'm not like you. My passion is mastering every ninjutsu in the world and becoming the Sage of Six Paths. As for ordinary people, they're nothing but stepping stones."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "Orochimaru, I never thought you still wouldn't understand the meaning of being a ninja. It seems my decision back then was a mistake."

As he spoke, he put away his pipe.

Back when Orochimaru had been assassinating Konoha ninja, Sarutobi Hiruzen could have killed him, but had secretly let him go.

Orochimaru smiled. "Teacher Sarutobi, you're old now. You're nothing like you were in your prime. I don't want to kill you right now."

"How dare you!"

An Anbu stepped forward and sneered. "Orochimaru, what an arrogant thing to say!"

Orochimaru's pupils contracted. He gave the Anbu a cold, appraising look.

"Kakashi Hatake? I never thought the brat from back then would have grown into this."

With his identity exposed, the Anbu removed his mask, revealing a young face. It was Kakashi Hatake.

He formed several hand seals, and lightning appeared in his hand: the signature Chidori of Kakashi, the Copy Ninja.

Another Anbu brought his hands together, ready to back Kakashi up at any moment.

A Wood Release ninja?

Orochimaru glanced sidelong at him and smiled. "Teacher Sarutobi, isn't Konoha enjoying the fruits of my work, too? This child must be one of the forty from back then. I never thought anyone would actually survive. The Wood Release legacy has a successor. I doubt even Lord Hashirama, the First, expected that."

He suddenly let out several wild laughs. "That's the beauty of experimentation!"

Learning that his experiment hadn't been a complete failure made Orochimaru's expression suddenly turn manic.

The other Anbu was Yamato, a Wood Release ninja and a survivor of Orochimaru's experiments. Orochimaru was the nightmare in Yamato's heart; even after all these years, the sight of him still filled him with dread.

You two!

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly said, "Leave!"

"What?"

The two stared at the Third in confusion.

The corner of Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth twitched. "Leave. I'll handle this."

They exchanged a look, then slowly left the Hokage Secret Chamber.

Orochimaru!

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at him coldly.

Orochimaru glanced sidelong at him and smiled. "What, teacher? Are you going to fight me yourself?"

He licked his lips. "It's been a long time since I fought you. Just thinking about it gets me excited."

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly formed a hand seal.

The door to the Hokage Secret Chamber opened.

Sarutobi Hiruzen went inside and took out a sword. "Take your things and go."

Orochimaru paused and stared at the Third, puzzled.

After a long moment, he reached out and took back the Kusanagi Sword.

"Even though I'm touched by your gesture, teacher, I still won't go easy on you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at Orochimaru for a long while before sighing. "Orochimaru, I watched you grow up. I understand your ambition very well. In a time of war, you'd be a gifted ninja. But in a time of peace, you're a dangerous bomb."

He suddenly clasped his hands behind his back.

"I had my reasons for not killing you back then. I won't kill you today, either. Go. The farther away, the better."

Orochimaru's smile froze. He sneered. "Teacher, the more you treat me this way, the more I hate you. One day, I'll destroy Konoha."

With that, he vanished from the Hokage Secret Chamber.

Though the Third was old, Orochimaru still didn't dare let his guard down. Besides, this was the heart of Konoha. If he were surrounded, he'd be doomed.

Orochimaru was gone, and Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened again.

He was reminded of their time together in the past.

A series of knocks sounded.

Danzo slowly walked in.

"Hiruzen!"

He said coolly, "You're still as softhearted as ever."

Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent.

He had always treated Orochimaru like his own child, placing his hopes in him.

Though Orochimaru had strayed from the right path, like any parent, he still hoped that one day Orochimaru would change his ways.

Orochimaru was a fanatic researcher of ninjutsu, and his research had the potential to benefit all of humanity.

Medical Ninjutsu, for example, and Wood Release ninjas. Wood Release ninjas were of immense importance to Konoha.

Though it was cruel of Orochimaru to abduct forty children for his experiments, he had successfully produced Konoha's only Wood Release ninja.

In that respect, Orochimaru had still rendered a service to Konoha.

That was why Sarutobi Hiruzen felt so conflicted about him. On one hand, he valued Orochimaru's talents; on the other, he feared his ambition.

Danzo rapped his cane against the floor and sneered. "I don't want to say much about your choices, but I'll remind you of one thing: you're raising a tiger to threaten yourself!"

He slowly left the room.

Since Sarutobi Hiruzen had no intention of killing Orochimaru, Danzo was happy to take it easy and make a few sarcastic remarks.

Orochimaru!

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed again.

He truly was conflicted about his former student.

Something's wrong!

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly sensed something amiss and hurried into the Hokage Secret Chamber.

At the same time, a shadow disguised as an Anbu slipped away.

After exchanging a few blows with the Anbu standing guard nearby, he vanished into the darkness.

"Lord Hokage, what happened?"

Kakashi and Yamato hurried to the Hokage Secret Chamber.

The Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen, looked grim. He said each word carefully: "The Thunder God Sword and the Sealing Scroll have been stolen."

"What?"

Kakashi and Yamato nearly fainted.

The Thunder God Sword had belonged to the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. Though powerful, it was still only a weapon. But the Sealing Scroll was different. It contained Konoha's high-level forbidden techniques, and if it fell into the wrong hands, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly raised his head and barked, "Level One Alert! No one is to leave Konoha. We absolutely cannot let those two items leave the village!"