Great Toad Sage

As he absorbed spiritual energy into his body, it was as if dead wood had met spring. Hiruzen Sarutobi could feel his aged body's thirst for spiritual energy.

However, cultivation could not be rushed. Absorbing some spiritual energy now was also preparation for the plans ahead.

At present, the greatest obstacle to fully controlling all of Konoha was Shimura Danzō.

This darkness of the Shinobi World was truly mediocre in strength, barely brushing the edge of Kage Level.

However, Danzo should have already begun human experimentation by now. He had accepted the First Hokage's cells and started transplanting Sharingan into his body.

The Uchiha had not yet rebelled, much less been exterminated. Shisui's eyes had yet to fall into Danzo's hands.

The filial son Itachi Uchiha was still young and posed no threat.

There definitely were not many Sharingan transplanted onto Danzo's body, so he could only use Izanagi a few times.

Danzo and his Root could bully ordinary shinobi, but they had to take a detour when facing true powerhouses.

This was the endpoint for most civilian shinobi, so Danzo believed that the only way to become stronger was by relying on the Uchiha's power.

Danzo hated and feared the Uchiha most, seeing them as a ticking time bomb—a force capable of destroying Konoha at any moment.

In truth, jealousy was at the heart of it. He envied the power of the Uchiha Bloodline.

If he could not have it, he would destroy it, while also claiming the Uchiha's power for himself.

To the current Hiruzen Sarutobi, such behavior was simply far too cowardly.

The Uchiha were Konoha's sharp blade, and calling the Uchiha Clan the "Clan of Love" might have been more fitting.

Although Uchiha consumed by hatred born from love could produce immensely powerful strength, the Uchiha Clan was actually quite pure. It was enough to foster their recognition of and sense of belonging toward the village.

After dealing with Danzo and the other obstacles in the village, taking a child from the Uchiha Clan as a disciple would be a good choice.

Konoha's history showed that the Hokage line had always been passed down in succession. The First and Second Hokage were brothers, the Third Hokage was the Second's disciple, and the Fourth Hokage was the Third's disciple's disciple. All of Konoha's inheritance flowed through direct lines or master-disciple relationships.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi took an Uchiha as his disciple, it would give the Uchiha Clan hope of becoming Hokage. Would he still need to fear the Uchiha rebelling then?

The Uchiha were not that frightening. The Second Hokage had guarded against them so intensely because the Senju and Uchiha were hereditary enemies.

Being friends with an Uchiha was definitely much better than being enemies, because one careless remark might cause an Uchiha to suddenly awaken their power and instantly kill you with an ocular technique.

However, historical baggage and personal prejudice made the Second Hokage's bias against the Uchiha far too severe. Especially after Kagami Uchiha, the mediator, passed away, under Danzo's influence, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Konoha had become far too hostile toward the Uchiha.

Elsewhere, Orochimaru left the Hokage Building in a daze and headed toward his laboratory.

Should he leave, or stay? Could his teacher's words truly be trusted?

Deep down, Orochimaru had already completely trusted Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, but harsh reality forced him to doubt.

What exactly had happened for Hiruzen Sarutobi to undergo such a drastic change?

He had actually resolved to deal with Supreme Danzo, and even wanted him to become the Hokage's advisor and an elder of Konoha.

Perhaps the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and Biwako Sarutobi had dealt too great a blow to his teacher.

Just as he returned to the laboratory, a shinobi appeared beside him.

"Orochimaru, Lord Danzo requests your presence."

At this time, the Third Hokage suddenly wanting to see Orochimaru left Danzo somewhat puzzled.

Human experimentation definitely required materials. Recently, not only had villagers gone missing, but even Chunin and Special Jonin had disappeared. Naturally, this was Danzo's handiwork.

Orochimaru took all the blame, because Danzo knew that if the Third Hokage wanted to step down, Orochimaru would be one of the best candidates. Even the slightest possibility had to be snuffed out.

With just a little trickery, he could leave Orochimaru with no place in Konoha, since Orochimaru himself was far from clean. None of the experiments he had conducted could ever be brought into the light.

Upon hearing that Danzo wanted to see him, Orochimaru revealed an amused smile.

Danzo, you never expected that this time, Teacher had not clung to power or hesitated again, did you?

"I'll go when I have time."

The masked Root shinobi had just been about to flare up when he looked up and saw Orochimaru's eerie golden vertical pupils fixed tightly upon him. The words at his lips immediately caught in his throat.

After glaring fiercely at Orochimaru, he left with the Body Flicker Technique.

Orochimaru paid him no mind. There was no turning back now; he only needed to trust his teacher.

Besides, Orochimaru's combat ability might not have been among the best of Kage Level powerhouses, but his ability to survive was absolutely first-rate.

He only needed to quickly clean up the unforgivable evidence of human experimentation, such as the experiments related to the First Hokage's cells. The corpses of the dead collected for Impure World Reincarnation also needed to be returned to their original places...

At Root headquarters, Danzo did not get angry after learning that Orochimaru had refused to come.

Konoha was at its weakest right now. The war with Kumogakure was nearing its end, and if something happened to Orochimaru at this time, Kumogakure might not let the matter rest so easily.

Hiruzen was old, while he had transplanted the First Hokage's cells. His physical condition was now far better than Hiruzen's.

Even if he had to outlast him, he would outlast Hiruzen to death and ascend to the position of Hokage!

Then, he would no longer be a Root that could only hide beneath the trees, but the rightful Hokage. He would surely lead Konoha to its peak!

Danzo dreamed such dreams almost every day. For the sake of becoming Hokage, he could sacrifice everything—and make everyone else sacrifice everything...

Within a temple deep in Mount Myoboku, the Great Toad Sage jolted awake from his sleep.

Fate had been shattered, and the future of the Shinobi World could no longer be foreseen!

As a monster who had lived for thousands of years, Gamamaru had once fought alongside the Sage of Six Paths. Hamura Ōtsutsuki's resurrection had also come because he offered up Toad Country's greatest treasure, the Sage Talisman.

It could be said that without Gamamaru, the current Shinobi World would still be under Kaguya Otsutsuki's rule.

His proudest ability was foreseeing the future in his dreams.

But just now, everything had been shrouded in mist. The future of the Shinobi World could no longer be foreseen, and the future of the toad clan had also become uncertain.

Gamamaru was at a loss.

No matter how chaotic the Shinobi World became, their Summoning Beast Clan had always remained secure, watching with amusement as those foolish humans slaughtered one another.

But now, the future of this world had become uncertain. He could even sense that some kind of change was taking place in this world.

This made him, who had once controlled everything, begin to panic.

"Quick, bring Jiraiya here!"