Uchiha Unite with Orochimaru? Hiruzen Sarutobi's Decision

In the courtyard next to the Hokage Building.

"Still nothing?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, smoke billowing from his pipe as his expression darkened.

"My apologies, Third..."

The Anbu ninja responsible for the report lowered his head.

"Forget it. This isn't your fault. You may go."

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, dismissing the Anbu, before turning his gaze to Nara Shikaku, who stood nearby.

"Is it truly impossible to conduct a large-scale search? Could we manage it if we allocated more personnel?"

Nara Shikaku thought for a moment, then shook his head. "It would be very difficult."

Feeling those words were insufficient to convey the gravity of the situation, he added, "I don't fully understand the principles behind that technique. I only know that the space is saturated with a massive amount of Yin chakra. I suspect it is a unique ocular technique of the Mangekyo. If that is the case..."

He left the rest unsaid, but the implication was clear.

If it were truly an ocular technique, it wouldn't matter if it were just him; even if the entire Nara Clan were mobilized, or if they doubled the number of clan ninja, finding that space would be impossible.

"In other words, the only reason we were able to find that space before was because the other party allowed it?"

The Third's expression grew even grimmer.

That incident had been a slap in the face—a moment where he had watched his subordinates march to their deaths, powerless to intervene. The fact that it had happened at all was due to his own miscalculation of the risks and his poor judgment.

"That should be the case."

Nara Shikaku's expression was equally sour.

He had spent five full days bedridden after that ordeal, only managing to get back on his feet yesterday, and now they wanted him to do it again? He would rather die than repeat that experience!

Both men fell silent, and the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.

Just then, the door was pushed open with a loud thud.

"Why go through all that trouble? I know where that person is!"

Danzo strode in, a gust of wind trailing behind him.

"Danzo? How did you..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, his instinct to reprimand him flaring.

"Spare me the nonsense, Hiruzen. You can't find him, can you? I know why—because he isn't even in Konoha!"

Danzo didn't give him a chance to speak, cutting straight to the point.

"He isn't in the village? Where did you get this intelligence?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately demanded.

"From my own people, of course. My subordinates haven't stopped searching since that night. I heard about what happened a few days ago; that person possesses space-time ninjutsu, correct? That's it! The space you found in Konoha was nothing more than a trap he left behind intentionally. He left the village long ago, taking the Uchiha survivors he had deliberately left behind with him!"

Danzo stated with absolute certainty.

Nara Shikaku took a half-step back, remaining silent and shifting into spectator mode.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention was entirely captured by Danzo.

"Explain yourself clearly."

"I initially had my men search within the village. I also took note of that strange space in the Uchiha Compound, but since I don't have anyone from the Nara Clan under my command..."

Danzo glanced at Shikaku, who remained quiet, "...I couldn't open that space. So, I had my men search for traces outside the village. Finally, a few days ago, I discovered that person's trail in the Empty District."

"The Empty District? That isn't... wait, are you saying he still has ties to the Ninja Cat Clan?"

Hiruzen immediately connected the clues.

"The Ninja Cat Clan has been an ally of the Uchiha since ancient times; such a connection is not surprising. My men continued to search for leads, but unfortunately, the trail went cold there. After leaving the Empty District, the tracks indicated he was heading toward the Capital of Fire. My men did not follow him inside."

Danzo's expression held a hint of regret.

"That is the Daimyo's territory. Being cautious was the right call."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "So, the trail has gone completely cold?"

"That was the case initially, but three days ago, my men discovered a strange battlefield in the Land of Fields. There were traces of Fire Release and a large number of snake carcasses..."

"What did you say? Snake carcasses?"

"That's right. He went to find Orochimaru."

Danzo said in a low voice.

"Orochimaru... this is troublesome."

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew better than anyone how elusive Orochimaru was. He had once spared the man out of sentiment for their past master-student bond, a decision he had deeply regretted ever since.

Fortunately, Orochimaru had been quiet for years. While he was undoubtedly plotting something, as long as it didn't threaten Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi could afford to turn a blind eye.

But now, that unknown Uchiha and Orochimaru had joined forces; the situation was clearly spiraling out of control.

"Should we go after Orochimaru?" Nara Shikaku asked.

"Let me think... let me think some more..." Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled to make a decision.

"What are you still hesitating for, Hiruzen! That is Orochimaru! Once he establishes a partnership with the Uchiha, given the Uchiha's hatred for Konoha, they will only throw the village into chaos! Whether it is Orochimaru or the Uchiha, as long as they threaten Konoha, they must be eradicated! Do you want to see Konoha destroyed?"

What Danzo could stand the least was his old friend's indecisive nature.

At a time like this, he was still considering the bonds of master and student.

"I know all of that, it's just..." Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped mid-sentence, unable to bring himself to order Orochimaru's execution.

An Uchiha possessing space-time ninjutsu was far too difficult to capture; Minato Namikaze was the best example of that.

Therefore, the only breakthrough remained Orochimaru.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly and closed his eyes.

"Then let's do it..."

The bond between master and student could not outweigh the stability of Konoha, just like that parting years ago; now, it was merely making that separation more absolute.

"Do you need to mobilize the village's personnel? There are currently thirteen jonin available for deployment." Nara Shikaku asked.

If the opponent was Orochimaru, ordinary squads would be useless; it had to be jonin, and multiple jonin would have to be deployed simultaneously.

"No, have the Anbu move out first. Lock onto Orochimaru's exact location, especially his current lair; we must take him down in one go. Danzo, have your Root move out as well. Coordinate with the Anbu to find Orochimaru's position."

"Understood." Danzo nodded and turned to walk out.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Nara Shikaku again.

"Shikaku, you are responsible for coordinating the personnel. As soon as the Anbu finds a trail of Orochimaru, act immediately."

"Yes." Nara Shikaku accepted the order and left.

Only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained in the room. He looked at the photo of himself and his student on the desk for a long time before finally reaching out to turn it face down.