Changing Tides (2)

In the deepest conference room of the Hokage Building, the air was so heavy it seemed you could wring water out of it. Around the rectangular conference table, seven high-backed chairs held the seven core figures of Konoha's power: Tsunade sat at the head of the table, with Shikaku Nara and Kakashi Hatake to her left, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to her right, and opposite them, Inoichi Yamanaka and Hyuga Hiashi. In a corner of the room sat a middle-aged man in magnificent robes and a tall crown— the Land of Fire's daimyo envoy, Ukyo Tachibana.

The conference room had no windows, and portraits of the Hokage of each generation hung on the walls. Hiruzen Sarutobi's portrait faced the conference table, his kind yet dignified eyes seemingly watching the debate that would determine the future of Konoha.

"I strongly object!" Utatane Koharu's voice boomed in the conference room. Her aged hand slammed heavily on the table, making the teacup jump. "Who is Orochimaru? A traitor who murdered his master and betrayed the village! The mastermind Konoha Crush Plan! The Third died at his hands!"

Her face flushed with excitement, and her wrinkles appeared even deeper under the light. Beside her, Mitokado Homura took off her glasses and slowly wiped the lenses with a cloth. Her movements seemed calm, but the coldness in her eyes behind the lenses almost froze the air.

"Koharu is right." Mitokado Homura put his glasses back on, his voice low but clear. "Revoke the list of missing-nin? What about the sacrifice of the Third? What about the dignity of Konoha? If even the crime of killing one's teacher can be forgiven, the ninja way of Konoha will be destroyed."

Tsunade a deep breath, her hands clenching into fists under the table. She knew it would be a tough battle, but she hadn't expected the two advisors to react so fiercely.

"My two seniors," Shikaku Nara began, his voice calm and restrained, "I understand your feelings. The Third is my senior, and someone I respect. But what we are discussing now is not forgiveness, but a strategic consideration for the future of Konoha."

He opened the folder in front of him and pulled out a document. "According to the latest assessment from the intelligence department, Orochimaru's current mastery of biotechnology, forbidden techniques research, and Senjutsu data is at least twenty years ahead of Konoha's current level. The Fourth Shinobi World War has already proven the limitations of the traditional Ninjutsu system when facing Six Paths Tier enemies."

"So you're going to make a deal with the devil?" Utatane Koharu sneered. "Shikaku, if your father were still alive, what would he think if he heard you say something like that?"

These words carried weight. Shikaku's eyes darkened, but he did not back down. "My father taught me that a ninja should prioritize the interests of the village. Emotionally, I wish I could personally convict Orochimaru. But rationally, I must admit—his value is crucial to Konoha right now."

Kakashi picked up the conversation, his voice gentler than Shikaku's, but also more direct. "Moreover, Neji Hyuga vouched for this."

The name silenced the meeting room for a moment.

"A guarantee from Six Paths Tier expert," Kakashi continued, "Means that even if Orochimaru makes any further moves, we have absolute control. This is an insurance policy that other ninja villages would kill for."

"Neji? That Hyuga Clan kid?" Mitokado Homura narrowed his eyes. "How old is he? Even if he has power, what can he guarantee? Does he know anything about the traditions of a ninja village? Does he know anything about the bond between master and disciple?"

Tsunade felt a wave of exhaustion. She knew that this argument had fallen into a vicious cycle of emotion and reason.

Just then, the daimyo's envoy, Tachibana Ukyo Tachibana, who had been silent all along, cleared his throat. All eyes turned to him.

"From the Land of Fire's perspective," Ukyo Tachibana's voice was smooth and worldly, "Orochimaru, as S-Rank Missing-nin during the Third Hokage's era, launched the Konoha Crush Plan, causing immense damage to Konoha. If we easily revoke his missing-nin status, how will the other four great nations view the Land of Fire? They will say that the Land of Fire can abandon even the most basic morality for the sake of power."

He paused, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip. "Of course, if Lord Neji could personally explain to the daimyo... perhaps there's still room for negotiation."

This was a clever way of putting it—it expressed opposition while leaving a loophole, passing the buck to Neji wasn't even there.

Inoichi Yamanaka and Hyuga Hiashi exchanged a glance. Inoichi shook his head slightly, while Hiashi picked up his teacup, his gaze lowered. As newly appointed elders, they chose silence—not as a sign of weakness, but as a display of political wisdom. In an uncertain situation, it would be foolish to rashly take sides.

Tsunade, observing this scene, understood. She raised her hand to stop Shikaku, who still wanted to continue the debate, "It seems we need more time to consider the Orochimaru issue. Let's set it aside for now and move on to the next topic: reforming the Hokage succession system."

The atmosphere in the meeting room has changed.

When Shikaku explained the new election system in detail—abolishing the appointment of Hokage, with village elections accounting for 50%, Elder Council' nominations for 30%, and the daimyo's opinion for 20%—the opposition from Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura noticeably weakened.

They quickly calculated the numbers: their power hadn't been diminished; on the contrary, due to the expansion of the Elder Council, each elder's personal influence might have even increased. As for the Daimyo...

The two old advisors looked at Ukyo Tachibana simultaneously. The daimyo's envoy's expression had turned quite grim.

"This... this is utterly revolutionary!" Ukyo Tachibana stood up, his voice sharp. "The power to appoint the Hokage has always belonged to the Daimyo! A 50% village election? What do those commoners know about governing a village? They're just blinded by temporary prestige!"

"It is precisely to prevent being misled that the Elder Council ' 30% voting power is needed," Shikaku calmly replied. "Furthermore, the daimyo's 20% opinion-sharing power remains important; this is a matter of respect for tradition."

"20%?" Ukyo Tachibana almost laughed out loud. "From one-third of the decision-making power to one-fifth? This is your so-called 'respect'?"

Utatane Koharu suddenly spoke up, "Your Excellency, I believe this ratio is reasonable."

Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement. "The villagers are the foundation of Konoha, and their voices deserve to be heard. The Elder Council's recommendation ensures the qualifications and abilities of the candidates."

A dramatic shift occurred. The two old advisors who had just been vehemently opposing the Orochimaru issue now sided with the reformists. The reason was simple—under the new system, their power was not only unaffected, but in fact, by weakening the daimyo's influence, Konoha's autonomy was indirectly strengthened.

As for those "politicians who only know how to eat, drink, and have fun" (this is Utatane Koharu's original thought), their opinions should not have influenced the selection of the Hokage.

Ukyo Tachibana's face turned from red to white, then from white to green. He stood there helplessly, looking at the six elders of Konoha and the Hokage —they might have disagreements on other issues, but on this one, they had formed a tacit alliance.

"Are you... are you planning a rebellion?" His voice trembled.

"This is for a better future for Konoha," Tsunade said solemnly. "Please convey our decision to the Daimyo in its entirety, Your Excellency. Konoha will always be the Konoha of the Land of Fire, and that will never change."

His words were polite, but his attitude was resolute. Ukyo Tachibana slumped down, knowing that all was lost.

The next discussion concerned the term of office for the Hokage. After a "heated and thorough" discussion—actually a compromise among all parties—four years was deemed too frequent, and it was finally decided that the term would be six years, with the possibility of one re-election, for a maximum of twelve years.

By the time the meeting ended, it was already dark outside the window. Ukyo Tachibana was the first to get up and leave without even saying goodbye. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura followed, the two old men talking quietly to each other, their faces revealing neither joy nor anger.

"The first step can be considered a success." Tsunade leaned back in her chair and rubbed her temples.

Shikaku tidied the documents and said softly, "It's just the election system. The Orochimaru issue still has a long way to go."

"At least it proves that reform can be promoted," Kakashi said.

Inoichi and Hiashi finally spoke. Inoichi smiled and said, "A very insightful meeting." Hiashi then stated succinctly, "The Hyuga Clan will support the reforms."

Tsunade nodded and dragged her tired body back to the Hokage Office.

At the same time, deep within the Sound Village Underground Base.

In the pure white laboratory, Neji, shirtless, stood inside a cylindrical, transparent testing chamber. Countless tiny probes clung to his skin, emitting a pale blue glow. Outside the chamber, Orochimaru stood before the control panel, his golden snake eyes fixed intently on the scrolling data stream on the screen.

"Chakra density... unbelievable," Orochimaru muttered to himself. "Seven hundred and sixty-three times that of an ordinary Kage Level. Cell activity... immortal level. Natural Energy affinity...100%."

The numbers on the screen were jumping wildly, with some indicators even exceeding the instrument's measurement limits.

"Lord Orochimaru, is this data meaningful?" Neji's voice came through the communicator, calm and unwavering.

"Of course it's meaningful." Orochimaru's lips curled into a smile. "The Six Paths Tier is not the end, but a new beginning. I need to know the specific parameters of this 'beginning' in order to plan the next research path."

The test lasted a full three hours. When Neji stepped out of the testing chamber and put his clothes back on, Orochimaru was still repeatedly checking the data.

"Oh, right," Neji said, fastening his collar, "Konoha is discussing getting you into the Elder Council."

Orochimaru didn't even look up. "Oh? And the result?"

"We encountered some resistance. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura strongly opposed it."

"As expected," Orochimaru chuckled. "Those two old folks have very deep feelings for Teacher Sarutobi."

There was no sarcasm or remorse in his tone; it was as if he were stating an objective fact.

"Do I need to personally intervene?" Neji asked.

"No need." Orochimaru finally looked up from the data screen. "Let them play their political games. I have more important things to do."

He pointed to the other side of the laboratory, where dozens of culture tanks were placed, containing various biological tissue samples.

"Systematic training in Senjutsu is my next focus." Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with the fervor characteristic of a scientist. "If ordinary ninjas can safely train in Senjutsu, their individual strength will undergo a qualitative leap."

Neji nodded and said no more. He understood Orochimaru —for a true researcher, power and status are merely tools, not ends.

When Neji returned to Konoha using Space-Time Ninjutsu, it was already late at night. He stood at the window of his house, gazing at the silent village.

He could sense the direction of the Hokage Building; the meeting had just ended. He could sense the emotions in everyone's hearts: Tsunade's exhaustion and determination, Shikaku's calculation and responsibility, Kakashi's pragmatism and worry, Inoichi's observation, Hiashi's weighing of options, the complex feelings of the two old advisors, and the Daimyo's envoy's anger and helplessness.

The gears of change have begun to turn. Some things are going smoothly, some are going difficult, but they are definitely moving.

Neji drew the curtains, shutting out the outside world's disturbances. In the study, a desk lamp cast a warm glow. He picked up "Make-Out Paradise," a book he had found at a flea market, and opened its pages.

The Konoha outside the window are quiet, but beneath this silence, a profound change is taking place, like a seed buried deep in the ground, quietly sprouting.