Fugaku had just finished his shift with the Security Force and stepped onto a street in Konoha when Orochimaru appeared ahead of him.
"It's been a few days, but you're looking as impressive as ever, sir."
Orochimaru smiled faintly. "I can't compare with you. One move from you shocked all of Konoha, even the Land of Fire. Impressive."
"You came here to wait for me, didn't you? Is something important?"
"As a matter of fact. I'm going to Ryūchi Cave to train, and I'm afraid I won't be back for some time. I came to say goodbye."
Fugaku was silent for a moment. "Then I wish you a safe journey. We'll talk at length when you return."
"Good. I won't be at Hatake Sakumo's wedding next month, so wish him a happy marriage for me.
"Of Konoha's generation of mainstays, I never expected him to marry first. I thought someone as aloof as Hatake Sakumo would have a hard time finding a girlfriend."
Fugaku burst out laughing. He had long known Hatake Sakumo would marry within a year or two. After all, Kakashi would be born in just a few years.
Still, after meeting him, Fugaku had wondered why he would be the first of his generation to marry. Then he saw Reiko, and it all made sense.
The world worked in strange ways. Who could predict its endless changes? No one would have guessed that, within a few years, Konoha would lose so many of its strongest people and begin to weaken.
But with him in this world, perhaps things would turn out differently.
Fugaku said goodbye to Orochimaru and watched him disappear from sight, his thoughts churning.
Two of the Three Sannin had now left Konoha, at least for the time being. Perhaps it foreshadowed the day they