A Fine Tale of Master and Disciple

Early spring in Konoha always evokes images of dawn and dew.

As the silvery-gray twilight enveloped the jungle, the golden sunlight slowly rose, bringing a touch of gentleness and dispelling the lingering chill.

Orochimaru was dressed differently than usual, wearing a plain kimono with only a light purple sash tied around his neck. He simply stood quietly on a treetop far from the main city of Konoha.

The gentle sunlight shone on his face, his pale skin seemingly casting a faint glow. A breeze from the jungle drifted in from afar, carrying a few tender leaves, lifting his hair and gently brushing his cheeks.

I've lived on this land for over thirty years, and now it seems it's time to say goodbye.

"Has this finally come to this day...?"

The intense heat of the sun seemed to make the vertical pupils shrink even more. But when they actually reached this point, everything seemed to have calmed down, without joy or sorrow, just like going out to buy some meatballs.

"Hiss..."

A slender white snake slowly emerged from the sleeve, a glint of wisdom in its eyes, before vanishing into thin air.

Orochimaru's lips gradually curled into a smile. The boy who once trembled under his command had now taken this step even earlier than him.

"Xu-jun, is the fledgling eagle truly ready to spread its wings and fly?"

He chuckled softly, glancing one last time at Konoha, but his gaze fell upon the Hokage Rock ahead, and memories of the past flooded his mind.

His teacher who taught him ninjutsu, the Third who became Hokage, the good helper who indulged Danzo, the nearly broken master-disciple relationship—the last old man on the Hokage Rock —seemed to be increasingly blurred in his eyes, leaving only a cruel and complex gaze.

"Konoha, what a wonderful place..."

The faint smile on his face slowly faded, and with slow, deliberate steps, he stepped into the depths of the forest and disappeared from sight.

A blue phoenix leans against the verdant hills, the mountains and rivers remain as beautiful as ever, the clouds float in the bright sun, and the world is as stunning as ever. From that moment on, she departs, never to return...

"Reporting to the Lord Hokage! A secret letter from Minato Namikaze Jonin from the Sand Shinobi Battlefield..."

Inside the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was buried in his desk, slowly raised his head. He didn't look at the masked Anbu Ninja, but instead looked at the scroll presented in his hand, and frowned slightly.

For Konoha, which has the Yamanaka Clan, ordinary battle reports would naturally be quickly relayed back to Konoha through the Yamanaka Clan. Only when something major happened, or some secret events that could not be known to others, would commanders such as Minato Namikaze personally write and transmit secret scrolls.

Could it be Tsunade's illness...?

Slightly surprised, Hiruzen Sarutobi quickened his pace as he took the scroll. The current situation was very favorable for Konoha. Although Konoha had suffered heavy casualties in the war over the past few years, especially among the Genin, as long as they defeated the Sand Shinobi, Konoha would be the ultimate victor.

"Minato Namikaze's subordinate, Orochimaru's disciple, Kato Osamu...?"

It wasn't as he expected, but it seemed even worse than he imagined. Minato Namikaze's former subordinate, Orochimaru's disciple, who had killed the Mizukage and earned considerable fame, and who was now the last Jonin of the Kato Clan capable of using the Spirit Transformation Technique, had defected...

However, this scroll made Hiruzen Sarutobi frown even deeper. Minato Namikaze hoped that Konoha could use the excuse of an outing to carry out a mission to not pursue Kato Osamu and not list him as a rogue ninja.

Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated for only a moment before preparing to refuse. Konoha was on the verge of victory and had weathered the most difficult moment. Moreover, even if Kato Osamu was indeed outstanding in battle, defecting from the village was something that could not be tolerated. This door could not be opened.

"Minato Namikaze is still too young. Doesn't he realize the enormous impact this kind of thing can have?"

Thinking about this, he seemed to understand. Minato Namikaze couldn't possibly be unaware, but even if he did, he still presented him with the secret scroll, which showed his attitude. Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his beard lightly and pondered.

He was old, long past his prime as a ninja, and the next Hokage was practically a foregone conclusion. After defeating the Sand Shinobi Village, Minato Namikaze would be the most suitable successor. He couldn't help but consider Minato Namikaze's attitude, as he was the successor he was most satisfied with.

After a moment's thought, an aged voice suddenly echoed in the office.

"Go and invite Elder Danzo to a meeting..."

Minato Namikaze didn't hide anything about the Root's attack in the scroll, and even clearly wrote down information about breaking the Flying Thunder God Cursed Seal. This was why Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't directly refuse.

After all, Minato Namikaze still trusted him so much.

"Yes!"

With a soft sigh, Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his pipe. Even someone like him, who had been immersed in the power center of Konoha for over thirty years, sometimes hesitated.

Sometimes I wish Minato Namikaze could understand his methods, and I also wish he were more shrewd. Only a leader like that could become a qualified Hokage.

But sometimes he also hoped that Minato Namikaze would maintain his trust in him and continue to be as trustworthy as ever, even though in the eyes of a politician like him, such a person becoming a leader would not be a good thing for Konoha, which was in a state of chaos.

Fortunately, he was still there...

"If only Minato Namikaze's personality could be somewhat balanced with Orochimaru's..."

Orochimaru has become increasingly perplexing to him these past few years. Without him even realizing it, he and his once closest disciple seem to have drifted further and further apart...

Thinking of something, he gently picked up the scroll in his hand and read it again. He seemed to understand Minato Namikaze's thoughts— Minato Namikaze's subordinate Kato Osamu and his disciple Orochimaru, what a similar scene...

Orochimaru...

For some reason, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply, as if he had overlooked something.

It seems like it's been a long time since he last saw Orochimaru. Since returning to Konoha from the Mist Shinobi battlefield, he's only seen Orochimaru once, in the triumphant army. Orochimaru seems to be growing increasingly cold...

"He was also Orochimaru's disciple..."

"Go, summon Orochimaru to join the meeting as well..."

"Yes..."

Before the Anbu Ninja had been lurking in the shadows, could finish speaking, the door to the Hokage's office suddenly opened, and Shimura Danzō's hoarse voice echoed throughout the office.

"No need to go and invite them..."

"Hiruzen... your disciple Orochimaru has defected!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened suddenly, his sharp gaze fixed on Danzo as he slowly walked into the office. However, Danzo seemed to be used to it and paid no attention to him.

"What? Danzo, do you know what you're saying?"

"Hmph, Hiruzen, Orochimaru is secretly conducting human experiments, Root has already located his laboratory..."

"What you probably don't know is that there were also ninjas from the village among them..."

With no expression on his face, as if he were just a walking corpse, Danzo's voice made Sarutobi Nichijo's pupils shrink slightly. He couldn't help but narrow his eyes and stare intently at Danzo, his tone quite cold.

"Danzo! Are you sure you're telling the truth...?"

"Hmph, I wouldn't stoop to lying..."

If Hiruzen Sarutobi were to say that he knew absolutely nothing about human experimentation, probably no one in Konoha would believe it. Root did keep many things from him, and he certainly hadn't interfered too much, but he still vaguely knew most of it.

Looking at his old teammate with whom he had worked for most of his life, Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long breath and gave him a deep look.

Having dealt with him for half his life, he was quite familiar with his methods. Moreover, the contents of the scroll made him wonder if Danzo had orchestrated this whole affair...

Slowly rising to his feet, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions—a mixture of anger and rage, whether directed at Orochimaru or Shimura Danzō...

"Take me!"

P. S.: Finally, 400,000 words! Let me be awesome for a bit!