Fourth Hokage: Orochimaru Ran Away, Danzo, You Explain This to Me Clearly!

Sunagakure, Kazekage's office.

Rosha sat behind his desk, clutching the document from Kirigakure Village, his expression as dark as a gathering storm.

"Fourth Mizukage Kisame Hoshigaki... I have never heard this name before."

He looked up at the advisor, Grandma Chiyo, who stood across from him.

Grandma Chiyo's face was etched with deep wrinkles, which were currently twisted into a tight knot.

"Something major has happened in Kirigakure. The Third Mizukage suddenly abdicated, and the newly appointed Fourth is some unknown brat who has openly allied with a rogue ninja organization... The waters run far too deep here."

Rosha was silent for a moment before suddenly speaking: "Advisor Chiyo, do you think... could this be an opportunity?"

"An opportunity?" Chiyo narrowed her eyes.

"Exactly." Rosha stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the vast yellow sand outside. "For years, Sunagakure has been suppressed by Konoha. If Kirigakure has truly allied with Akatsuki, the landscape of the Ninja World will inevitably shift. Perhaps we could..."

"Fish in troubled waters?" Chiyo sneered. "You are too naive, Rosha. If Kirigakure dares to do this, they are either insane or possess absolute confidence. Either way, it is not something we can easily interfere with."

Rosha turned around, a flicker of resentment in his eyes.

"Are we just going to sit here and watch?"

Chiyo did not answer, merely sighing.

She thought of her grandson, Scorpion.

That child had been missing for some time, and according to intelligence regarding Akatsuki's missions across various nations, he had likely joined that rogue organization.

If this situation escalated, would Scorpion be dragged into it as well?

The air in the office seemed to freeze the moment Sarutobi Hiruzen's question left his lips.

Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato both looked toward the shadows in the corner; the atmosphere was stifling to the point of suffocation.

"Danzo, answer me." Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was hoarse, carrying a tremor that was difficult to detect.

Danzo slowly stood up from the shadows. His exposed eye held no ripples, only a cold, biting mockery.

"Hiruzen, are you questioning me? Questioning why I brought the heinous crimes committed by your most beloved disciple into the light?"

"I..." Sarutobi Hiruzen was momentarily speechless.

"Hmph." Danzo let out a cold laugh. It was not loud, yet it pierced the hearts of everyone present like a needle. "If I hadn't been watching him in secret, if I hadn't waited until the evidence was ironclad before reporting it, were you planning to continue deceiving yourself?"

He took a step forward, staring down Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Or do you think that with Orochimaru's cunning, if I had alerted him too early, he would have obediently stayed in the village waiting for your 'sermons'? Hiruzen, your woman's benevolence is on the verge of destroying Konoha!"

Every word of this was a strike to the heart.

The blood drained from Sarutobi Hiruzen's aged face; his lips trembled, but he could not utter a single word.

It was true. Given his bias toward Orochimaru, if Danzo had only brought forward unsubstantiated suspicions, he likely would have chosen to suppress the matter and speak with Orochimaru in private.

And that result would only have led to Orochimaru vanishing without a trace.

"Enough!"

Namikaze Minato spoke in a low, sharp tone, cutting off the confrontation.

His golden hair fluttered slightly, and his azure eyes were cold as frost.

"This is not the time to assign blame. Third Lord, Teacher, Advisor Danzo, Orochimaru's betrayal is now a fact. As Hokage, I declare that Orochimaru is immediately classified as an S-rank rogue ninja, to be pursued with the highest level of priority!"

Just then!

"BOOM--!!!"

A violent explosion erupted from the south side of the village, causing the windows of the Hokage building to hum.

An Anbu ninja appeared instantly in the center of the office, his voice urgent.

"Lord Hokage, it's bad! In the direction of the Death Forest, Orochimaru's Secret Research Facility has suffered a massive explosion. The flames are reaching the sky!"

A step too late!

Minato's expression sank completely.

"He is destroying all evidence before defecting!"

"I won't let him get away!" Jiraiya roared, his Chakra surging. "That bastard!"

"Go!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Minato took Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen, and with a flash, they vanished from the spot.

Only Danzo remained, standing in the empty office, the corner of his mouth slowly curling into a smile that no one noticed.

Deep within the Death Forest, the entrance to the once-hidden Underground Laboratory was now a sea of flames.

Blazing fire and thick smoke billowed into the sky, staining the heavens an ominous dark red.

Three figures appeared at the edge of the inferno like ghosts.

It was Minato, Jiraiya, and Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had arrived via the Flying Raijin Technique.

And there, in the center of the burning ruins, a slender figure was walking out, unhurried and composed.

He wore a plain research robe, his golden vertical pupils appearing exceptionally eerie under the reflection of the flames.

It was Orochimaru.

He did not even glance at the three who had arrived, merely extending his long tongue to lick the corner of his mouth with a look of morbid satisfaction, as if admiring his own masterpiece.

"Orochimaru!"

Seeing his once most prized student in such a state, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt his heart twist with agony, his voice trembling, "Why would you do this!"

Orochimaru finally turned his head slowly to look at his Teacher.

There was not a shred of guilt on his face; instead, there was a scholarly sense of inquiry and pity.

"Teacher, you still do not understand."

His voice was hoarse and magnetic, "Life itself is fragile and imperfect. A ninja's life is even more ridiculously short. What I pursue is the truth that exhausts all ninjutsu, and eternal life. For this goal, what does it matter if a few fragile 'vessels' are sacrificed?"

"You lunatic!" Jiraiya was trembling with rage, "Those were all comrades from the village!"

"Comrades?" Orochimaru chuckled, the sound grating and harsh amidst the fire, "Jiraiya, you are still so naive. So-called bonds are nothing more than delusions used by the weak to keep each other warm. Only power and immortality are the only truths in this world worth pursuing."

"Enough."

Namikaze Minato's voice was as cold as ice.

He was already gripping a special kunai in his hand.

"Orochimaru, in the name of the Fourth Hokage, I sentence you for the crime of betraying the village. Surrender now, and perhaps you might be left with an intact corpse."

"Hehehe... Fourth Hokage?" Orochimaru extended his tongue to lick a scroll in his hand, "Just the three of you, thinking you can keep me here?"

Before the words had even faded, the ground beneath his feet exploded!

"Shadow Snake Hand!"

Dozens of hideous venomous snakes lunged from the ground, swarming toward the three like a tidal wave!

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bomb!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen reacted with lightning speed, weaving signs to spew a violent inferno that, like a raging dragon, instantly incinerated the swarm of snakes into charred remains.

But the moment the flames erupted, Orochimaru's figure had already vanished from his spot.

"Don't think you can escape!"

Jiraiya slammed his palms onto the ground!

"Summoning Technique: Toad Mouth Binding!"

The ground instantly transformed into a soft, fleshy wall, forming a massive toad esophagus that enveloped a hundred-meter radius, attempting to trap Orochimaru inside!

"Useless."

From within the fleshy walls came Orochimaru's disdainful sneer.

"Slash!"

A sharp flash of sword light flickered, and the resilient toad stomach wall was forcibly sliced open, creating a massive gap!

Wielding the Kusanagi Sword, Orochimaru leaped out from the opening!

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

He opened his mouth to spew a hurricane, scattering the flames and smoke as he shot toward the depths of the forest like a bolt of lightning.

"You're too naive, Orochimaru!"

A golden flash appeared without warning on his escape route.

It was Namikaze Minato!

"Rasengan!"

A blue sphere of Chakra rotated at high speed in Minato's palm, carrying the momentum to tear through everything as he slammed it toward Orochimaru's chest!

Facing this attack that was fast to the extreme, Orochimaru's pupils constricted sharply.

In the blink of an eye, his neck elongated at an impossible angle, and his body twisted like a boneless snake, narrowly dodging the direct hit of the Rasengan!

However, the Rasengan grazed his shoulder, instantly shredding half of his clothing and flesh!

"Ugh!"

Orochimaru let out a muffled groan as the immense force sent him flying, crashing through several large trees.

"It's over!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's figure appeared above him, his hands already formed into seals.

"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bomb!"

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bomb!"

The earth dragon and fire dragon intertwined, transforming into a torrent of molten lava that roared toward the fallen Orochimaru, sealing off all his paths of retreat!

This was the peak technique of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the "Professor of Ninjutsu"—a composite ninjutsu!

"Teacher... you are still... so soft-hearted..."

Just as the lava was about to swallow Orochimaru, a bizarre smile spread across his blood-stained face.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart skipped a beat!

From Orochimaru's sleeve, a tiny, slender snake shot out like lightning, aiming for none other than Sarutobi Hiruzen in mid-air!

The distance was too close, the speed too fast!

"Watch out!" Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato shouted in unison.

"Puchi!"

The sound of fangs piercing flesh echoed.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt his arm go numb, and he plummeted from the sky.

"Teacher!"

Jiraiya rushed over to catch him.

It was in that brief moment of distraction!

"Earth Style: Subterranean Mirror Fish Technique!"

"Bang!"

By diving into the ground, Orochimaru had evaded the impact of the lava torrent.

Taking advantage of the time gained by dodging the lava, Orochimaru's figure vanished completely into the darkness of the forest.

"Damn it!" Jiraiya punched the ground, filled with frustration.

Namikaze Minato checked Sarutobi Hiruzen's injuries, his expression grave: "It's a specialized neurotoxin; we must return to the village for treatment immediately!"

He glanced at the direction where Orochimaru had disappeared, but ultimately chose to prioritize protecting his Teacher. Being cautious, he had managed to leave a Flying Raijin Mark on Orochimaru.

With a flash of golden light, the three of them vanished from the burning scene.

In the Land of Fields, within a dark and damp underground base.

Orochimaru stumbled inside, half of his body a bloody mess, his aura withered to the extreme.

"Cough, cough... Namikaze Minato... Jiraiya... and Teacher..."

He leaned against the cold stone wall, gasping for air, his eyes filled with malice and resentment.

"One day, I will make you understand that everything you protect is worthless compared to the immortality I pursue!"

He pulled several vials from his robes, preparing to inject himself.

Just then.

A ghostly voice echoed through the empty base without warning.

"Pursuing immortality... a very fine ideal."

"Who is it?!"

Every hair on Orochimaru's body stood on end, his golden pupils shrinking to pinpricks!

He jerked his head up, looking toward the source of the voice.

In the shadows of the base, a bizarre, half-black and half-white Pitcher Plant-like Creature was slowly rising from the ground.

"However, your methods are not yet perfect."

Black and White Zetsu spoke slowly, using its unique tone that blended two different voices.

"My master is very interested in you."

"He says he can grant you true immortality, as well as... the secrets to mastering all ninjutsu."

Orochimaru's breathing stalled at that moment.

He stared fixedly at Black and White Zetsu, speaking in a hoarse voice.

"Your master... who is he?"

Black and White Zetsu grinned, revealing a sinister smile.

"Uchiha... Madara."