Orochimaru's Defection

Xuandou felt a chill run through his heart after hearing this.

Even though he knew how the plot would unfold and had provided spoilers to the Konoha high-ranking officials in advance, they simply did not take it seriously.

He had said so much and laid so much groundwork, yet in the end, he had failed to change anything.

He looked at Hiruzen, at Mitokado Homura, at Utatane Koharu, and at Danzo, taking in every nuance of their expressions.

There was perfunctoriness, there was disdain, and there was indifference.

Not a single one of them truly took his words to heart.

If they couldn't even pass an open-book exam, what could he possibly do?

He had tried to help Konoha avoid the tragedy of that night.

But reality told him—it was useless.

They simply wouldn't listen.

Watching the situation once again veer toward the direction of the original story, Xuandou felt utterly helpless.

But regardless of anything else, Kushina could not die.

He would have to think of another way.

Furthermore, if the Konoha high-ranking officials didn't take this seriously, the Uchiha staying in Konoha would be in great danger.

He had to complete the relocation of the Uchiha clansmen before the Nine-Tails Incident.

Thinking of this, Xuandou stood up immediately and said:

"Since that is the case, I shall take my leave."

He turned and walked toward the door.

"Xuandou."

Hiruzen's voice came from behind him.

Xuandou stopped, not turning back.

"There is one more thing."

Hiruzen said slowly.

"My term has expired, and the list of Hokage candidates has been submitted to the Daimyo. The Daimyo has ultimately selected Minato as the Fourth Hokage."

"The inauguration ceremony will be held in five days. At that time, please represent the Uchiha in attendance."

Xuandou was silent.

As expected!

Even though he had already exerted a certain influence on the development of the world.

The position of the Fourth Hokage had still fallen into Minato's hands.

A deep sense of helplessness washed over him.

A moment later, he nodded slightly.

"Understood."

He pushed the door open and stepped out.

Given the current attitude of the Konoha high-ranking officials, the Nine-Tails Incident one month from now was bound to break out.

When the time came and Kushina faced danger, Danzo's Root would have long since vanished.

Since Danzo and the Third could not be relied upon, he had to come up with a way to save Kushina before then.

After Xuandou left, the people in the Hokage Office dispersed one after another.

Danzo walked out of the office building, but instead of returning to the Root base, he took two Root subordinates and headed straight for the Forest of Death.

The three of them stopped beside a large boulder.

Danzo performed hand seals, and the stone slowly shifted aside, revealing a pitch-black tunnel entrance.

Without a word, he took the lead and walked inside.

The tunnel extended downward, becoming more ominous the further they went.

The air was filled with the pungent scent of chemicals.

As they ventured deeper, experimental equipment became more frequent.

Test tube racks, petri dishes, and precision instruments were piled on stone platforms, with tubes connected to glass jars where the curled-up silhouettes of human figures could be vaguely seen.

Danzo walked past these with an expressionless face, the two Root ninja following closely behind.

He did not stop until he reached a large laboratory at the very end.

Orochimaru was standing with his back to the door, facing an experimental table filled with glassware.

He wore a white robe and held a test tube in his hand, the liquid inside glowing with a faint green light.

"Danzo, what wind has blown you here?"

Orochimaru didn't even turn his head, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.

Danzo let out a cold snort:

"The candidate for Hokage has been decided. It is Namikaze Minato."

He paused, then added:

"This plays right into Hiruzen Sarutobi's hands."

Orochimaru's hand paused in its movements.

He gently placed the test tube back on the rack, turned around, and fixed his narrow eyes on Danzo:

"The old man's intention is to use Namikaze Minato as a puppet, so the two of them can control Konoha together."

Danzo said in a gloomy tone:

"At this rate, Konoha has no future."

Orochimaru laughed sinisterly:

"It is not yet time to give up. My research on transplanting Hashirama Cells is about to have another breakthrough."

"As long as this experiment succeeds, seizing power over Konoha will be as easy as turning over one's hand!"

"In order to seize power, it is not impossible to prepare some forceful measures!"

Upon hearing this, Danzo's eyes gleamed.

"Once the timing is ripe, we will stop at nothing!"

"However, it is not yet time..."

Having said that, Danzo turned and left with his two subordinates.

All the way back to the Root base, Danzo stopped at the entrance and waved his hand:

"You two, withdraw."

"Yes! Lord Danzo!"

Two figures retreated rapidly.

After one of the Root ninjas left the base, he did not head home.

He circled through the darkness a few times, confirmed no one was following, then flashed his figure and entered the Hokage Office directly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was sitting behind his desk smoking. Seeing him enter, there was not a hint of surprise on his face as he exhaled a puff of smoke:

"Hmm... more intelligence?"

The ninja nodded and knelt on one knee.

"Lord Hokage, Danzo has met with Orochimaru again!"

Following that, he recounted the conversation between Danzo and Orochimaru word for word.

Hiruzen listened calmly at first, but the moment he heard the words "transplanting Hashirama Cells," his expression changed instantly.

His pupils shrank sharply, and the hand holding his pipe stiffened.

"Hashirama Cells... too dangerous..."

He muttered to himself.

"I absolutely cannot let Orochimaru complete this research!"

He stood up abruptly and paced back and forth in the office.

After circling several times, he finally stopped and waved his hand at the ninja:

"I understand. You may go. If there are any other important developments, report to me immediately!"

"Yes! Lord Hokage!"

The ninja acknowledged the order, his figure flickered, and he vanished from the spot.

Hiruzen turned around, gazing at the darkening sky outside the window, and took deep puffs of his pipe. Clouds of smoke rose, obscuring his face.

After a long while, he sighed:

"Sigh... Orochimaru..."

After another long silence, he finally made up his mind and waved his hand behind him without looking back:

"Someone come!"

Two figures appeared instantly behind him, wearing animal masks and kneeling on one knee:

"Lord Hokage!"

Hiruzen did not turn around:

"Immediately assemble a team of Anbu members. Tonight... we capture Orochimaru!"

On the other side, Xuandou was walking on his way home.

The sky had already darkened, and the streets were sparse with pedestrians.

Suddenly, a system notification chimed in his mind:

[Ding! Host has triggered a side quest.]

[Side quest issued: Orochimaru's defection!]

[Quest description: The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, has finally decided to move against Orochimaru, and it happens tonight! You may assist Hiruzen Sarutobi in capturing Orochimaru, or choose to help Orochimaru complete his escape.]

[Quest reward: S-rank ninjutsu, Flying Thunder God.]

Xuandou was stunned, then immediately grew excited.

This was the first time he had triggered a side quest.

And... the plot of Orochimaru's defection was starting so soon?

He looked at the quest details, his eyes brightening.

Flying Thunder God!

That was a space-time ninjutsu, allowing one to come and go as they pleased.

As for who to help?

Xuandou barely hesitated before choosing to help Orochimaru.

It had nothing to do with his cooperation with Orochimaru; he simply couldn't stand the Third Hokage.

He looked up at the sky, where the night had already descended.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's capture operation was about to begin, and he had to hurry.

Without further thought, Xuandou immediately changed direction and dashed toward the Forest of Death.