The Uchiha Who Slacked Off

"I never expected Sunagakure to betray Konoha and collaborate with someone like you," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, looking at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru sneered and replied, "Teacher, after being the Hokage for a lifetime, do you still not realize that sometimes, so-called treaties are no different from a piece of waste paper?"

With that, Orochimaru raised a kunai high and, with a flash of white light, drove it into the palm of his hand.

Blood flowed down his hand, the kunai still embedded in his palm.

He used his other, uninjured hand to stifle a yawn.

"I'm truly sleepy. I need to liven things up."

As his voice trailed off, he used the Body Flicker Technique to instantly transport himself and Sarutobi Hiruzen to the rooftop.

The Third Hokage had been nonchalant until then, but his expression shifted the moment Orochimaru's subordinates appeared.

The Anbu member tasked with protecting the Third Hokage reacted instantly.

He shouted to his subordinates, "Protect the Hokage! Watch out for traps!"

"Yes!"

At that moment, the four subordinates of Orochimaru simultaneously formed hand seals.

"Ninjutsu: Four Violet Flames Formation!"

The other three Anbu reacted in an instant, performing a strange maneuver in mid-air to disperse their momentum.

Only one unlucky soul failed to dodge in time; he brushed against the barrier and was instantly engulfed in flames.

He didn't even have time to scream before being repelled by the barrier and landing behind his comrades.

A scent of charred flesh filled the air.

Yet, the other three Anbu paid it no mind.

As the department with the highest casualty rate, their teammates were replaced almost every month.

Naturally, there was no room for sentiment.

Though, perhaps they had already become truly qualified ninja tools.

On the other side, far away in the spectator stands, Kakashi watched the scene and muttered to himself, "So this is a barrier ninjutsu? They move so quickly; the Anbu over there are helpless."

At that moment, Might Guy, who had been chatting with Kakashi, said passionately, "Kakashi, shouldn't we go help the Hokage?"

As he spoke, he prepared to rush over to assist the Hokage.

Kakashi reached out and blocked him.

Might Guy looked at him with confusion.

Kakashi merely said with profound meaning, "Guy, we must trust the Hokage. He is, after all, the strongest Hokage in history."

Seeing the show begin, Uchiha Yan curled his lips into an excited smile.

"It's finally started." He shifted his gaze to the others and said, "Do your best."

With that, he picked a jonin from Sunagakure who had a decent reputation and the two began to "fiercely" clash.

The Sunagakure ninja had initially felt uneasy seeing Uchiha Yan.

But today, he felt his state was inexplicably better than usual.

He didn't know if it was just an extraordinary performance.

He was actually managing to fight the famous Scorch Release user, Uchiha Yan of Konoha, to a draw.

The other members of the Hawk Faction also picked their respective opponents, slacking off and going through the motions as they saw fit.

Meanwhile, Guy and Kakashi looked at the few Sunagakure ninja before them.

Might Guy spoke first, "Kakashi, let this be our fifty-first duel."

Kakashi's dead-fish eyes revealed a hint of helplessness. "Guy, is this really necessary?"

Might Guy ignored Kakashi's protest and shouted, "Kakashi, I'm coming for you!"

A resigned Kakashi had no choice but to follow.

They began their so-called fifty-first duel.

At this time, on the outskirts of Konoha.

The Summoning Beasts brought by Sunagakure were wantonly destroying the houses of Konoha.

The Anbu were launching various ninjutsu to attack these beasts, attempting to stop the destruction.

Just then, a man and a toad suddenly appeared out of thin air, immediately suppressing the Summoning Beast before them.

On the rooftop.

Orochimaru and the Third Hokage stood facing each other.

Orochimaru looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with a sinister smile.

"Teacher, I never expected us to meet in this fashion."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Orochimaru, a flicker of regret crossing his eyes.

"Orochimaru, I shouldn't have been soft-hearted back then."

Orochimaru chuckled, his tone chilling as he replied, "Teacher, it is too late for regrets now."

"The windmill that is Konoha has not turned for far too long. Now, I intend to use the Konoha Crush Plan to set this windmill in motion."

He turned his head, his golden snake-like pupils fixed on Sarutobi Hiruzen. "After all, no matter how beautiful something is, wouldn't you grow weary of it remaining motionless for so many years? Teacher."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head helplessly. "Orochimaru, you really haven't changed at all."

As his voice fell, his gaze sharpened, and he stomped his foot.

"Tile Shuriken!"

The roof tiles transformed into shuriken, hurtling toward Orochimaru.

Orochimaru watched the tiles flying toward him and merely shook his head. "Am I being underestimated?"

With that, he easily dodged the tiles and immediately formed hand seals.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."

He opened his mouth, and his tongue transformed into a snake, which lunged straight for Sarutobi Hiruzen under his control.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, unable to dodge in time, was tightly coiled by the snake.

A hint of joy appeared in Orochimaru's eyes, but as Sarutobi Hiruzen gradually dissolved into a pile of mud, he realized what had happened.

He shook his head and muttered to himself, "Body Replacement Technique, is it?"

He then retracted his tongue.

At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly appeared behind Orochimaru.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow River."

Orochimaru immediately felt a sense of weightlessness as the ground beneath his feet turned into shifting mud.

Orochimaru looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and taunted, "Teacher, is this all you can do?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen continued to form hand seals with practiced ease.

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet."

A mud dragon immediately manifested beside Sarutobi Hiruzen, spitting earth bullets at Orochimaru.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen utilized Fire Release, breathing fire from his mouth to perfectly combine the fire and earth techniques.

Meanwhile, the few Anbu members who were not providing support elsewhere continued to act as VIP spectators and commentators.

"As expected of the Hokage, to be able to use Fire Release and Earth Release with such proficiency."

The other two Anbu members looked at their leader, their eyes revealing a hint of confusion.

Isn't it only natural that the Hokage, as the strongest of all generations, can do these things?

Why the need for such praise?

At this moment, inside the barrier.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the screaming Orochimaru, his expression blank. "Orochimaru, stop putting on a pathetic act."

"Heh, you saw through it." Orochimaru emerged eerily from the roof tiles.

He looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and said, "Teacher, this is not the Ninja Academy. Put away your tedious probing."

Sarutobi Hiruzen snorted coldly. "Orochimaru, that is exactly what I intended."

As he spoke, he cast aside his Hokage hat and donned his Hokage Cloak.