Hiruzen, You'll Regret This

Orochimaru accepted the reason.

So the next day, he went to the Hokage Building and accepted a mission from the Third.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had a pipe clenched between his lips. He rested his hands on the desk and propped his chin on them, watching Orochimaru through the smoke. His aged face was hidden in the haze.

After a long while, he sighed. "I thought you'd refuse the village's missions again, like you did the last few times."

Orochimaru was one of Konoha's top shinobi. Though he was Hiruzen's student, even Hiruzen couldn't force him to take on a mission.

Now, his most promising student was finally willing to help shoulder the burden.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was deeply gratified.

Orochimaru smiled but said nothing.

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head. "In that case, set out at once and head toward the Land of Wind. You'll take command there!"

Orochimaru nodded and prepared to leave.

"Bang!"

The Hokage's office door was suddenly shoved open. Shimura Danzō strode in, leaning on his cane, and shouted angrily, "Hiruzen, I heard you're planning to send Orochimaru to the battlefield?"

"That's right, and Orochimaru has already agreed." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, beaming.

"No!"

Danzō slammed his cane down. "Orochimaru absolutely cannot leave the village!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked astonished. "Why not?"

With the village in such danger, surely Orochimaru agreeing to take a mission was a good thing.

Why was Danzō so angry?

"Because..." Shimura Danzō started, but suddenly couldn't continue.

"Danzō, you know we're already stretched thin fighting on three fronts. Now Kirigakure is making a move as well..." Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head. "Give me a reason that can convince me. Otherwise, Orochimaru must go to the battlefield. The village needs him."

Shimura Danzō fell silent.

A reason?

Of course he had one!

For example, Orochimaru was secretly conducting human experiments with his support.

Orochimaru was calculating and no longer had the village in his heart. Danzō couldn't let him slip out of his control!

But he couldn't say any of that aloud. If he did, he'd be the first to suffer the consequences.

He turned his head and saw Orochimaru smiling at him, watching the show as if he had nothing to fear.

That only made Danzō angrier. He said firmly, "In any case, Orochimaru absolutely cannot leave the village!"

Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen slapped the desk and snapped, "Danzō, control yourself! I don't know what issues you have with Orochimaru, but right now, winning the war is what matters!"

Danzō gritted his teeth in fury.

You damn monkey, what do you know?

You don't understand a thing, so stop getting in the way!

He cursed inwardly, ready to pick a fight with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Just then, Orochimaru, who had been watching the whole time, spoke up.

"Actually, I'm not that eager to go to the battlefield either. If you don't want me to go, then why not send Lord Danzō instead?"

Orochimaru looked at Shimura Danzō, his smile full of meaning. "I assume that's the real reason you're stopping me, since you're the Hokage's assistant?"

"Is that so?" Sarutobi Hiruzen paused, then looked at Shimura Danzō with a pleased expression.

"I..." Shimura Danzō's lips moved, but he couldn't bring himself to agree.

He couldn't leave the village.

He was Konoha's Root. His primary duty was to protect Konoha from the shadows. How could he casually go to the battlefield?

But if he refused, Orochimaru would slip out of his control.

Watching Orochimaru's calm and composed expression, Shimura Danzō suddenly thought of someone.

The most important subject in the Wood Release experiments!

That kid was Orochimaru's most important test subject. If Danzō could get his hands on him, then Orochimaru wouldn't dare escape his control!

At that thought, Shimura Danzō gave a cold snort. "I don't mind you going to the battlefield. But that kid has to be handed over to me!"

Orochimaru's expression darkened, and he smiled coldly. "That won't do."

"Orochimaru!"

Shimura Danzō roared, his eyes full of menace. "Don't push this too far!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched them, bewildered.

What were the two of them talking about?

What were they hiding from him? Why didn't he know anything?

And who was the person they were fighting over?

Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart tightened. He had the feeling that things were slipping out of his control.

As Hokage, that was what he could least accept.

"The kid you're talking about... must be young. Who is he?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked quietly, lowering his head.

Shimura Danzō said nothing, only looking at Orochimaru with a cold smile.

He refused to believe Orochimaru would dare reveal that kid's existence.

But then Orochimaru spoke, and his words changed both Shimura Danzō's and Sarutobi Hiruzen's expressions.

"He's my new student. He's in poor health, so I've been trying to find a way to treat him. Senri... he's a good boy." Orochimaru smiled.

"What?" Shimura Danzō's eyes widened, shock and fury in them.

Orochimaru, how dare you!

Sarutobi Hiruzen, meanwhile, was delighted.

He hadn't failed to notice some of Orochimaru's unusual behavior.

Ever since the last Shinobi World War, when Orochimaru had watched his student die, he had started to seem like a different person.

Hiruzen had been worried all along that Orochimaru might lose his way because of it.

But he hadn't expected Orochimaru to take on another student!

"That boy has always been kind. This time, when he heard about the village's predicament, he asked me to take him to the battlefield so he could do his part for the village." A smile touched Orochimaru's lips, as if he'd recalled something, but it soon faded.

"Unfortunately, Senri's body won't hold out much longer. That's why he wants to burn himself for the village before he dies."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes lit up. He sighed with feeling. "I never expected a child to have such a steadfast Will of Fire!"

"Orochimaru, you've taken on a fine student." He praised Orochimaru, then asked with a frown, "Is the child really..."

"Yes." Orochimaru nodded.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "Is there any hope?"

"I've thought of a few ways, but the methods are somewhat difficult to accept," Orochimaru said slowly.

At that, Danzō glared at Orochimaru.

Do you know what you're saying?

How could you let Sarutobi Hiruzen know about something like this!

Sarutobi Hiruzen smoked in silence, not answering immediately.

He liked the child Orochimaru spoke of very much, especially that resolve to burn himself for the village.

And bonds were important to shinobi.

From the look of Orochimaru, he had clearly found a new bond. As long as that child was still around, Orochimaru wouldn't go astray.

With that in mind, he said, "Do everything you can to save him."

Shimura Danzō thought he'd misheard. "Hiruzen, you..."

"Bang!"

Before he could finish, Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his palm on the desk and looked sharply at Orochimaru. "But remember, you must never harm the village's comrades!"

That was the limit of what he would allow Orochimaru to do in order to save the child.

"Of course." Orochimaru smiled and nodded.

He was in a very good mood.

He knew all too well what his teacher was thinking and what mattered most to him.

Watching the two of them make a decision in just a few words, Shimura Danzō grew frantic. "Hiruzen..."

"That's enough!" Sarutobi Hiruzen warned him. "Danzō, you're not to lay a hand on that child again!"

"I won't accept this!" Danzō was furious too. "Everything I do is for the village. That child can only realize his full value in my hands!"

"I've already made my decision!" Sarutobi Hiruzen said firmly. "And I'm the Hokage!"

Danzō's face turned livid with rage.

It had come to this. He could no longer stop them.

"Hmph! Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

With those words, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.