Teacher, You're Already Old

"Rest assured, there absolutely won't be any mistakes in this matter."

Once Hyuga Hiashi saw Orochimaru arrive in person, the weight in his heart finally settled.

Cooperating with the Uchiha Clan was no different from seeking the hide of a tiger.

Now that the Hyuga Clan had no other options left, Hyuga Hiashi could only follow this path to the bitter end.

With Orochimaru joining them, they had gained several more chances of standing against Konoha's higher-ups.

Orochimaru said in surprise, "I never expected you to win over even the Hyuga Clan."

Uchiha Kyu curled his lips into a smug smile. "The people's hearts are with me, not Konoha."

Orochimaru's eyes flickered with shrewdness, and a smile appeared on his pale, sinister face.

"Heh heh, with Danzo's personality, there's an eighty percent chance he'll personally go to the laboratory to ensure the Wood Release test subject's safety."

"Wood Release?" Hyuga Hiashi stared at the two of them in shock.

Uchiha Kyu looked at Hyuga Hiashi strangely. "Don't tell me you don't know that Danzo covets Kekkei Genkai more than anything?"

"That arm he keeps wrapped in bandages is covered in the Three-Tomoe Sharingan of my Uchiha Clan."

"If the Hyuga Clan's main family hadn't rarely left its compound, and the branch family's Byakugan hadn't been controlled by the Caged Bird, Danzo probably wouldn't have spared the Byakugan either."

"The Root Organization under his command is filled with former genius ninja from various clans. Unfortunately, they were all brainwashed by Danzo and even branded with the Tongue Root Eradication Seal, making them unable to reveal any of Danzo's information or secrets."

"Y-You... How did you know all this?" Hyuga Hiashi felt as if he had lived all these years in vain, having never discovered any of it.

Uchiha Kyu's icy voice brimmed with killing intent.

"If you don't want people to know, don't do it. No matter what, Danzo will die today."

Elsewhere, after receiving news that Orochimaru's Wood Release test subject had succeeded, Danzo immediately gathered his subordinates and headed for Orochimaru's laboratory.

No matter how covert Danzo's group was, they could not evade the surveillance of the Byakugan more than a hundred meters away.

Hizashi Hyuga did not leave immediately. Only after confirming that it was Danzo himself did he depart.

Orochimaru had not deceived Danzo. There truly was an extremely unstable Wood Release test subject still alive inside a container.

At the same time, the Anbu also reported Danzo's trip to Orochimaru's laboratory.

The Anbu were far stronger than the Root Organization. Danzo had never escaped Hiruzen Sarutobi's control because the Anbu had always been able to keep track of him.

Even when Danzo had attempted to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi years ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi had received intelligence in advance and had even used it as bait to make the troubled youth Kakashi truly devote himself to Konoha.

Minato Namikaze did not dare conceal the matter and promptly sent someone to notify the Third Hokage.

If Lord Danzo acted on his own and attacked Orochimaru, things would become serious.

After receiving the news, Hiruzen Sarutobi became even more worried for his disciple's safety. Given Danzo's temperament, he truly might do such a thing.

Especially since he had brought so many elite subordinates, the possibility was even greater.

Worried that things would spiral out of control, Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly changed into his combat uniform and ordered the Anbu to bring men along with him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was not only worried about his disciple Orochimaru's safety. If this matter was exposed, he might lose his reputation in his old age.

"According to the news we just received, Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi have both set out according to our plan."

Hyuga Hiashi sat formally on his knees in Uchiha Kyu's courtyard and placed the message his younger brother had just delivered on the tea table.

Uchiha Kyu looked toward Uchiha Ying beside him. "Make sure the camera can be used at the first opportunity."

It had to be said that certain things in this ninja world closely resembled the modern age—a ninja world where backwardness and advancement had merged together.

Carrying the camera on his shoulder, Uchiha Ying promptly assured him, "Rest assured, Clan Head. The camera can start recording at any time."

Uchiha Kyu set his teacup down on the tea table. "Gentlemen, the fish has taken the bait. It's time to reel in the line."

Hyuga Hiashi and Orochimaru both looked at the kunai engraved with a Flying Thunder God Mark on the tea table, then grabbed it the next second.

Whoosh!!!

All four vanished from the courtyard at once.

Bang!

The two of Danzo's subordinates guarding the laboratory entrance collapsed to the ground without any ability to resist.

Two venomous snakes coiled around the corpses, slowly slithering across them.

"Retreat!!!"

Uchiha Kyu immediately led the other three away from the scene.

The timing was perfectly staggered, allowing Hiruzen Sarutobi to arrive just then. When he saw the venomous snakes on the corpses outside the laboratory, he rushed inside with his team without the slightest doubt.

"Seeing your teacher care so much about you, aren't you a little moved?"

The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi entered, Uchiha Kyu, Orochimaru, and the others appeared behind him.

There was not the slightest emotional ripple in Orochimaru's cold snake eyes.

"He is already old. He is no longer the Ninja Hero he was back then. If I get the chance, I'll deal with him personally."

Uchiha Kyu narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a smile of unclear meaning.

If Orochimaru simply wanted to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi, Uchiha Kyu truly did not believe it.

In the original story, that tear had been shed when Orochimaru stood opposed to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Moreover, killing Hiruzen Sarutobi was also meant to give him a fitting end.

At the very least, he would not die of illness or old age, but perish heroically in battle against an enemy while protecting Konoha.

Orochimaru's laboratory was remote and hidden. Even if a major battle broke out, no one would discover it anytime soon.

A conflict had already erupted inside the laboratory. After Hiruzen Sarutobi rushed in, he did not find Orochimaru. Instead, he saw Danzo moving a piece of equipment.

Danzo did not want Hiruzen Sarutobi to notice anything suspicious. He only wanted to take the item away as quickly as possible.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi was no fool. A test subject Danzo valued so highly absolutely could not be handed over to him.

The argument between them grew increasingly heated, until both men were red in the face.

"What a lively scene. I could hear you two arguing from far away."

Uchiha Kyu walked in while clapping, with Orochimaru and Hyuga Hiashi beside him, as well as Uchiha Ying, who was responsible for recording.

"Yet the former Hokage and the current Hokage's advisor are secretly conducting disgraceful human experiments."

Uchiha Kyu shook his head in disappointment. His expression gradually turned solemn as he thundered in a resounding voice.

"You have truly disappointed everyone. I strongly suspect that the missing clan ninja were abducted by you."

"As captain of the Hidden Leaf Police Force, I, Uchiha Kyu, have the authority to search you. I suspect that your actions have already endangered Konoha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo exchanged glances. Why did that excuse sound so familiar?

Seeing Orochimaru standing beside Uchiha Kyu, a trace of disappointment appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face. "Orochimaru, you have truly disappointed me."

Danzo struck first, saying with a cold gaze, "Sarutobi, this is the fine disciple you taught."

Orochimaru instinctively licked his lips, a kunai in his hand. "Teacher, you're already old."