Being Hokage really was a lonely existence

"Don't you dare lie to me!"

The Third Generation knocked his pipe against the lab table, scattering ash across it.

Orochimaru watched in horror.

Oh, my dear teacher...

Gua already said this laboratory needed to be sterile!

We needed to control the variables in here.

We couldn't just bring any old thing into this laboratory.

And you came in and dumped a pile of tobacco ash on me...

Orochimaru suffered in silence.

After all, when he had gone to his teacher over his death sentence, his teacher had reclassified his actions as "heroic intervention" and even arranged for him to become chief scientist.

What more could he ask of their bond as teacher and student?

If his teacher wanted to flick some ash around, so be it. However much it pained him, he had to endure it. He was a ninja, after all.

"I'm not lying to you, teacher. I only brought Gua here to discuss science. Why won't you believe me?"

Orochimaru desperately tried to explain himself to his teacher.

Unfortunately, his teacher didn't believe a word of it.

"When Clan Head Fugaku caught you before, you were also shouting that you'd kidnapped Gua for science! Don't you think that excuse is ridiculous? What could a child like him know about science?"

The Third Generation was furious.

Even now, his student was still lying to him!

"I admit that the first time I caught Gua, I thought he wouldn't attract much attention, so I wanted to take him away, draw some blood, and study the Uchiha bloodline.

But afterward, Gua's knowledge won me over!

I discovered that Gua was the one who truly understood science! That's why I went to see him alone this time, to discuss science!"

Every word Orochimaru spoke was sincere.

He had all but torn his heart out to show his teacher, yet his teacher still wouldn't believe him!

"Teacher, you're the person I respect most. How could I lie to you?"

The Third Generation studied Orochimaru. His expression really didn't seem feigned. After thinking for a moment, he finally asked, "Really? It was for science?"

Seeing that his teacher was beginning to believe him, Orochimaru nodded emphatically.

"I wouldn't dare deceive you, teacher. Gua is a scientific genius!"

The Third Generation fell into thought.

This Gua...

He was becoming harder and harder to understand.

A genius at Taijutsu, a genius at ninjutsu, a genius at science, a genius at hard work...

They might well have another Madara Uchiha on their hands...

The Third Generation stood in Orochimaru's laboratory, smoking for ages without saying a word.

Orochimaru: !!!

My Hashirama Cells! You have to hold on!

My precious little darlings in the culture dishes, don't die on me either!

The two tubes of blood I just drew-hang in there! Don't spoil!

"Teacher, why don't we talk outside?"

Orochimaru had no idea what to do with his teacher anymore.

The Third Generation glared, took a hard drag on his pipe, and blew out a great cloud of smoke.

Whoosh!

He pulled open the Alloy Gate and left!

Smoke drifted through the laboratory. Standing in the secondhand smoke, Orochimaru stamped his feet.

"Oh, teacher, why won't you leave your poor student alone?"

Orochimaru genuinely wondered whether he had offended his teacher.

Otherwise, why would he come all the way to his laboratory just to smoke?

The moment the Third Generation left, Orochimaru hurried to inspect his experimental materials.

He couldn't tell much from a quick inspection. All he could do was pray that nothing went wrong with the experiment.

If something did go wrong!

Then he would!

Then he would!!

Repeat the experiment!!!

The Third Generation left.

He went home.

He returned to his lonely home, desolation filling every room. Biwako had long since departed from his life.

"Being Hokage really is a lonely existence."

Sitting in the courtyard, the Third Generation sighed, then began thinking about the Uchiha again.

The Uchiha believed he was targeting them, while Danzo and the others believed he was far too friendly toward the Uchiha...

In truth, they were all wrong.

"The village and the Uchiha... teacher must have wanted them to coexist peacefully. Danzo, you've misunderstood teacher's intentions all along."

Perhaps that was precisely why his teacher had chosen him to inherit the title of Hokage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had only come to understand that later.

But he no longer had any way to confirm it. His teacher was long gone.

There was no one left to answer his questions. What should he do about the village? What should he do about the Uchiha?

Only he, the Hokage, remained by candlelight, pondering night after night.

"Teacher, if you saw a genius like Gua emerge among the Uchiha, what would you do?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed up at the starry sky, where he could faintly make out the Second Generation's figure. He slipped into a daze. He was too old. He had nothing left, save a little conviction that still burned.

"Useless fools!!"

"A whole pack of useless fools!!"

Beneath Konoha.

In the dark, damp surroundings, Danzo's furious voice thundered. The two masked Root members before him kept their heads lowered, not daring to meet his eyes.

"You're telling me you can't find those two missing Root members?"

"Then what do I keep you around for?"

Danzo shot up from his seat and stared straight at the two Root members below.

"Lord Danzo, we really did search, but we couldn't find the bodies. We did, however, find a large pit that had been dug up and filled in again.

At first, we suspected bodies were buried inside, but when we dug it up, we discovered... there weren't any bodies.

There was a smell of blood, though.

I suspect those two Root members have already been killed, and someone most likely dug up their bodies and took them away."

The Root member finished cautiously, then held his breath and waited for Danzo to speak.

Danzo was silent for a long while.

Then something suddenly occurred to him.

"I understand. You're dismissed!"

"Yes, sir!"

The two Anbu left side by side.

Danzo's gaze darkened. "Orochimaru..."

"Orochimaru!!"

Danzo pushed open the laboratory door.

Orochimaru, who had been dozing while watching over his experiment, jolted awake and immediately looked toward the entrance.

When he saw Danzo, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Lord Danzo, can I help you?"

Danzo strode furiously into the laboratory. "Are my two missing Root members in your laboratory?!"

Orochimaru shook his head. "You and I stopped being in the same boat long ago. Why are you coming to me with this? I just want to work on science in peace."

Danzo: !!!

"Who else in all of Konoha likes digging up corpses besides you?!"

Orochimaru's eyes turned cold.

"Lord Danzo, this is my laboratory! It answers directly to the Third Generation. If you have no business here, I'll have to ask you to leave!"

Danzo glared at Orochimaru, practically steaming with rage.

Forcing down his anger, Danzo said,

"Give me the bodies. We can use this to bring down the Uchiha."

Orochimaru shook his head.

"Lord Danzo, I don't know what's gotten into you. I'm just a scientist. Please leave."

Orochimaru stood up, ready to show him out.

Danzo stared at Orochimaru with icy eyes.

"Orochimaru, you'll regret this! This is our best chance to bring down the Uchiha!"

Orochimaru said, "No need to concern yourself."

"You're just like that damned teacher of yours! Stubborn to the bitter end!"

With that parting insult, Danzo left, cursing all the way.

Standing in the laboratory, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly and looked through the open Alloy Gate into the night outside.

"Gua-kun, I'm putting so much faith in you~"

"Konoha's future will turn out differently in your hands, won't it?"

"I'm looking forward to it~"