After hearing this, Xuandou felt ice-cold inside.
Although he knew how the plot would unfold and had given Konoha High Command advance spoilers, they simply would not take it seriously.
He had said so much and laid so much groundwork, yet in the end, he still had not managed to change anything.
He looked at Hiruzen, then Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Danzo, taking in all their expressions.
There was perfunctoriness, disdain, and indifference.
Not one of them truly took his words seriously.
If they could not even pass an open-book exam, what could he do?
He had tried to help Konoha avoid that night's tragedy.
But reality told him-it was useless.
They simply would not listen.
Watching events head toward the original storyline once again, Xuandou felt utterly helpless.
But no matter what, Kushina could not die.
He could only find another way.
Besides, if Konoha High Command would not take this seriously, staying in Konoha would be extremely dangerous for the Uchiha as well.
He had to finish relocating the Uchiha clan members before the Nine-Tails' Catastrophe.
At that thought, Xuandou immediately stood and said:
"In that case, I'll take my leave."
He turned and walked toward the door.
"Xuandou."
Hiruzen's voice came from behind him.
Xuandou stopped without turning around.
"There's one more thing."
Hiruzen spoke slowly.
"My term has ended. The list of Hokage candidates was submitted to the daimyo, and he ultimately selected Minato Namikaze as the Fourth Hokage."
"The inauguration will be held in five days. Please attend as the Uchiha's representative."
Xuandou fell silent.
Just as I thought!
Although he had already had some influence on how this world developed,
the position of Fourth Hokage had still ultimately fallen to Minato.
A deep sense of helplessness settled over him.
After a moment, he nodded lightly.
"Understood."
He pushed the door open and left.
Judging by Konoha High Command's current response, the Nine-Tails' Catastrophe was certain to erupt in a month.
When Kushina faced danger, Danzo's Root would have long since vanished.
Since neither Danzo nor the Third could be relied on, he had to find a way to save Kushina before then.
After Xuandou left, the people in the Hokage's Office gradually dispersed as well.
Danzo left the office building, but instead of returning to the Root Base, he took two Root subordinates straight to the Forest of Death.
The three stopped beside a large rock.
Danzo formed hand seals, and the rock slowly shifted aside, revealing a pitch-black tunnel entrance.
Without a word, he led the way inside.
The tunnel extended downward, growing more sinister the farther they went.
The air was filled with the pungent smell of chemicals.
Farther inside, laboratory equipment became more plentiful.
Test tube racks, culture dishes, and precision instruments crowded the stone tables. Tubes connected glass tanks, inside which curled-up human silhouettes were faintly visible.
Danzo walked past all of this without expression, the two Root ninja following closely behind.
Only when he reached a large laboratory in the deepest section did he stop.
Orochimaru stood with his back to the entrance, facing a workbench covered in vessels.
He wore a long white robe and held a test tube containing liquid that glowed faintly green.
"Danzo, what brings you here?"
Orochimaru did not even turn his head, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Danzo snorted.
"The Hokage has been chosen. It's Minato Namikaze."
He paused, then added:
"Now Hiruzen has exactly what he wanted."
Orochimaru's hands paused.
He gently returned the test tube to its rack, then turned around, his narrow eyes fixed on Danzo.
"The old man's intention is to make Minato his puppet, with the two of them controlling Konoha together."
Danzo said darkly:
"Konoha has no future with him doing things this way."
Orochimaru gave a sinister smile.
"It's not time to give up yet. My research into Hashirama cells transplantation is about to make another breakthrough."
"Once this experiment succeeds, seizing control of Konoha's power will be child's play!"
"To gain power, there's no reason we can't prepare some forceful measures!"
A sharp gleam appeared in Danzo's eyes at those words.
"Once the time is ripe, we will use any means necessary!"
"But now isn't the time yet..."
With that, Danzo turned and left with his two subordinates.
After returning to the Root Base, Danzo stopped at the entrance and waved a hand.
"You two, you're dismissed."
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
The two figures swiftly withdrew.
After leaving the base, one of the Root ninja did not head home.
He circled through the darkness several times, making sure no one was following him, before his figure flashed away and he entered the Hokage's Office directly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat smoking behind his desk. There was not a trace of surprise on his face when he saw him enter, and he exhaled a mouthful of smoke.
"Hmm... more intelligence?"
The ninja nodded and dropped to one knee.
"Lord Hokage, Danzo met with Orochimaru again!"
He then repeated Danzo and Orochimaru's conversation word for word.
Hiruzen initially listened calmly, but the moment he heard the words "Hashirama cells transplantation," his expression changed.
His pupils abruptly contracted, and the hand holding his pipe went rigid.
"Hashirama cells... far too dangerous..."
He muttered to himself.
"Orochimaru absolutely cannot be allowed to finish this research!"
He sprang to his feet and paced back and forth across the office.
Only after several circuits did he stop and wave at the ninja.
"Understood. You're dismissed. Report to me immediately if anything else important happens!"
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
The ninja answered, and with a flicker, vanished on the spot.
Hiruzen turned and gazed out the window at the gradually darkening sky, taking deep drags on his pipe. Clouds of smoke rose, obscuring his face.
After a long while, he sighed.
"Ah... Orochimaru..."
After another long silence, he finally made up his mind and waved behind him without turning his head.
"Guards!"
Two figures instantly appeared behind him, wearing animal masks and kneeling on one knee.
"Lord Hokage!"
Hiruzen did not turn around.
"Assemble a group of Anbu immediately. Tonight... we will arrest Orochimaru!"
Meanwhile, Xuandou was on his way home.
The sky had already darkened, and few pedestrians remained on the streets.
Suddenly, a system notification sounded in his mind.
[Ding! The host has triggered a side quest.] [Side quest issued: Orochimaru's Defection!] [Quest description: Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi has finally decided to move against Orochimaru, tonight! You may help Hiruzen capture Orochimaru, or choose to help Orochimaru escape.] [Quest reward: S-rank ninjutsu, Flying Thunder God.]
Xuandou froze, then grew a little excited.
This was the first time he had triggered a side quest.
And... the Orochimaru's Defection storyline was about to begin already?
His eyes lit up as he read the quest details.
Flying Thunder God!
That was space-time ninjutsu-he could come and go at will.
As for whom to help?
Almost without hesitation, Xuandou chose to help Orochimaru.
It had nothing to do with his cooperation with Orochimaru. He simply could not stand the Third Hokage.
He looked up at the sky. Night had already fallen.
Hiruzen's arrest operation was about to begin. He had to hurry.
Without another thought, Xuandou immediately changed direction and raced toward the Forest of Death.