Orochimaru's Deranged Excitement

"Still, we should avoid pointless conflict. Coexistence is best."

But Fugaku still spoke up to rein everyone in, lest his clansmen get carried away and cause trouble.

Uchiha Gin said nothing. Revealing his Mangekyō Sharingan this time was meant not only to intimidate, but also to bolster the clan's confidence and unity.

After all, Fugaku was so spineless. He wasn't the only one in the Uchiha Clan, and plenty of people supported him.

"Exactly. Konoha was founded by the Uchiha and the Senju. Destroying it would hurt us too, but some self-protection is necessary."

"I suggest lifting the forbidden-technique restrictions on Izanagi and letting every clan member with Three Tomoe learn it. That would improve our ability to protect ourselves."

Uchiha Gin didn't disagree with Fugaku. He simply added that half of Konoha had belonged to the Uchiha since ancient times, urging the clan not to be spineless.

That brought them to the core issue of the meeting: lifting the ban on Izanagi.

Everyone present felt a jolt.

Ordinary clan members weren't allowed to learn the forbidden technique, yet Danzo, an outsider, had used Sharingan as if they were disposable crystals. Uchiha Gin couldn't tolerate that.

They might as well make sure every Uchiha who could learn it did!

[According to the manga, Obito said that using Izanagi required both Senju and Uchiha blood. But Madara had no First Hokage Cells when he used the technique, and Itachi's recollection of Izanagi didn't include that requirement either. So I'm going with the version that doesn't require First Hokage Cells.]

Chapter 14: Orochimaru's Deranged Excitement

"Are we preparing to fight to the death?"

Fugaku thought Uchiha Gin wanted every clan member with Three Tomoe to learn Izanagi because he was preparing to risk everything.

After all, Izanagi really could change—or even reverse—the tide of battle.

Lifting the ban on the technique would certainly cause trouble, but there was no doubt it was a powerful trump card that could put pressure on Konoha.

After much hesitation, he decided not to stop it.

A few elders nearby exchanged glances. Some of them were Doves, but after Konoha's persecution of the clan following the Nine-Tails Incident, even they couldn't bear it anymore.

Not one of them stood up to oppose Uchiha Gin's proposal.

They were angry at Konoha, of course, but more importantly, the proposal came from Uchiha Gin, the new generation's leader and a Mangekyō Sharingan wielder. It was his first suggestion, so few people were willing to reject it.

"Raise your hands if you agree."

As he spoke, Uchiha Gin raised his right hand first.

He looked over the clan members below, checking their expressions.

After all, Uchiha Gin didn't believe there were no spies in the clan. Aside from Itachi in the future, there were surely others who had been secretly bought off by Sarutobi Hiruzen.

They might not defect to Danzo, but there was a good chance they would side with Sarutobi Hiruzen. The Uchiha Clan really wasn't the brightest, and that was a fact.

Fugaku raised his hand without hesitation.

Seeing their clan leader do so, the others stopped hesitating and raised their hands in agreement.

Every hand was raised!

Even those with reservations knew learning Izanagi would benefit them. There was no harm in learning it.

The hastily convened meeting soon came to an end.

Aside from the clan members who stayed behind at the Konoha High-Security Interrogation Unit and the Military Police Force, every clan member with Three Tomoe had received the Izanami technique.

As they left, everyone wore relaxed smiles.

"Why the long face? Worried a civil war will break out?"

Uchiha Gin used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside Shisui.

The two stood on the branch of a large tree, more than ten meters tall, beside the shrine. Shisui watched the clan members leave, his face full of worry.

"Yeah."

Shisui didn't hide it from Uchiha Gin.

But Uchiha Gin's next words left him stunned.

"Tell the Third Hokage what happened today."

"But wouldn't that make them—!"

Shisui didn't understand.

Wouldn't telling the Hokage make him even more wary of the Uchiha?

"Some trump cards work better when people know about them."

"They can't change what's already happened. Until they find a solution, they won't move against the Uchiha. They'll be more wary of us, and the clan will face less pressure. That could ease tensions between both sides."

Uchiha Gin explained.

The truly important matters weren't discussed at meetings.

"I understand."

After hearing Uchiha Gin's explanation, Shisui seemed to get it. He nodded and agreed.

Shisui left as well. Uchiha Gin calmly watched him disappear from view.

He wouldn't put his complete trust in Shisui. He hadn't told him a single thing about the core of his plans.

He couldn't even trust the Uchiha's judgment.

"Here so soon?"

"Then again, Danzo should be working late at the Hokage Building right now."

Uchiha Gin received a message from the Shadow Clone that had just dispersed at home.

Orochimaru had arrived.

When he got home, Orochimaru was sitting in the living room, waiting for him.

The maid and an elderly woman in the house had already gone to bed and hadn't been woken.

"I've been waiting for you for quite some time. You seem to have had a busy day."

Orochimaru's hoarse voice was especially unpleasant to hear.

But he looked at Uchiha Gin as if he were a perfect work of art.

When the skeleton had suddenly appeared on Uchiha Gin earlier that day, Orochimaru hadn't recognized what it was. His nerves had been taut, so he hadn't given it much thought. Only after Danzo returned did he learn that Uchiha Gin had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

The same eyes possessed by Uchiha Madara!

"To change this slow-moving world, I have to work hard."

Uchiha Gin smiled, then pulled out a chair and sat across from Orochimaru.

"Then let's talk about this idea of changing the world."

After Uchiha Gin left, Orochimaru had been unable to calm down.

Imagining the world transformed, he believed many of his ideas could finally be realized perfectly.

"Here are some plans I put together. We can start implementing them once you become Hokage."

Uchiha Gin stood up and fetched the Konoha Five-Year Scientific Development Plan he had already written.

It focused mainly on modernization and scientific reform, all intended to bring about changes in the way ninjutsu worked, including the scientific ninja tools that would appear later.

Orochimaru studied it intently, then spent a long time mulling it over.

"Not bad. Some parts are rather rough, but the ideas are good."

Orochimaru gave his verdict.

Inwardly, though, he wanted to get started at once. He wanted to cultivate an environment for science so his research could proceed smoothly.

This was the kind of world that ought to exist in the future. Konoha was far too rotten as it was. It was time to nourish new growth.

Uchiha Gin was speechless. Could Orochimaru put down the plans before saying that?

"But the most important question is how I, Orochimaru, can become the Fifth Hokage."

Orochimaru was clearheaded, too.

He had too much blood on his hands to wash clean, and he knew exactly what Danzo was thinking.

If he went after the Hokage position, Danzo would undoubtedly stab him in the back first. He would pin all the human experimentation on Orochimaru.

And with his ties to the Uchiha, Orochimaru would make the perfect scapegoat.

He didn't believe Danzo wouldn't be tempted!

"Most people just go with the flow and are easily swayed. We only need to present evidence that you're the only possible choice for the next Hokage. That will be enough."

Uchiha Gin smiled faintly.

"What evidence?"

Orochimaru had no idea he had anything of the sort, and asked in confusion.

"Lift the restrictions on ninjutsu, so ordinary people can learn it freely."

Uchiha Gin answered directly.

"Impossible. That would be tantamount to making enemies of every major clan in Konoha."

Orochimaru rejected the idea outright.

"Are we not already making enemies of them with what we're doing?"

"Besides, we'd only be opening up techniques below B-rank. High-level techniques wouldn't be made freely available."

Uchiha Gin went straight to the heart of the issue.

The Uchiha were already at odds with all of Konoha. What did they have to fear?

"Even the Third Hokage wouldn't approve of opening up B-rank techniques."

"That would undermine the very foundations of the ninja system and trigger a civil war."

Orochimaru analyzed the situation calmly.

His teacher wasn't exactly a gentle soul.

"We can't make it free from the start. We can gradually make it easier for civilian ninja to obtain techniques, charging them only half—or even a third—of what they've had to pay before."

"We can gradually win people over while showing off the power of science and gaining more support. We only need a solid base to have a chance of winning."

"Besides, giving civilians opportunities is exactly what the Third Hokage has always stood for. As long as we don't go too far, he won't be able to ban it outright. If the other clans cause trouble, the Uchiha will deal with them."

"If B-rank techniques are out of the question, then start with C-rank. The important thing is to open the door. Once it's open, it'll be hard to control what comes through."

Uchiha Gin spoke in a coaxing tone.

Orochimaru's eyes flickered.

"What else?"

Orochimaru didn't fall for it so easily.

"Three Uchiha with the Mangekyō Sharingan support you becoming Hokage."

Uchiha Gin said it outright.

Orochimaru's eyes widened.

"Hahaha, how interesting!"

Orochimaru's smile grew more and more deranged.

He didn't know whether the Uchiha meant to use him, or to use his reputation as cover for a coup. But if they truly supported him with everything they had, then perhaps he really could claim the Hokage position.

Uchiha Gin smiled too.

"I was only saying it. You believe anything!"

"Even if it got out, it would only put more pressure on Konoha. In the end, the only trump card you can truly rely on is your own strength."

Uchiha Gin believed that his own strength was the only thing he could truly count on.

Orochimaru was a lunatic, too. He couldn't speak to him sincerely; it was too much trouble. But he had to do it anyway!