Ever since Yuzuru took Minato, Kushina, and the Nine-Tails from Konoha, Konoha's strength has been in decline.
The Tailed Beast are gone, the Jinchūriki are gone, and the Hokage is gone.
That's not the most crucial point. The crucial point is that Yuzuru also took away many young people from Konoha, as well as several Jonin, causing Konoha to truly fall into a situation of generational transition.
Konoha is now at its most submissive, fearing another war.
This isn't something that can be recovered from in a year or two; after all, it's impossible to cultivate so many talents in just one or two years.
Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no choice but to inform Tsunade and Jiraiya.
Upon learning of everything Yuzuru had done, Tsunade, who was outside, felt a long-lost surge of anger.
"What is that little bastard up to?"
" Yuzuru- kun has always hated ninjas, as you know, Lady Tsunade."
Shizune whispered, holding Tonton in her arms.
"So, is Lady Tsunade going back to the village? After all, the situation in the village is very dangerous right now."
Upon hearing this, Tsunade's expression became somewhat uncertain.
The loss of the Tailed Beast in Konoha was witnessed by many spies that night. Even though the Anbu took immediate action to eliminate the spies they had already identified, some still managed to slip through the net and bring the news back to their villages, making it common knowledge throughout the Shinobi World.
The Land of Waterfalls was thus eager to try its luck.
Aside from the Five Great Nations, the Land of Waterfalls is the strongest, possessing its own Tailed Beast and Jinchūriki.
Now that Konoha has lost its Tailed Beast as weapons of war, the Land of Waterfalls says that its sword is not necessarily at a disadvantage, given its status as one of the Five Great Nations.
Although Tsunade is not in Konoha, she still Senju surname. No matter how bad Konoha is, it is still a place she deeply loves, a place that her great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather protected throughout their lives.
" Shizune, pack your luggage."
Without saying much, Tsunade ultimately decided to return to Konoha.
As for Jiraiya, who was traveling abroad, he was an expert in intelligence gathering and knew everything about what Yuzuru had done in Konoha. He had already returned to Konoha without stopping.
In a secret underground laboratory, Orochimaru was conducting an experiment. In front of him was a man who had long since died. His body had been injected with some kind of special drug, and in a short while, he had completely turned into wood.
"Did it fail again?"
Orochimaru wasn't surprised; after all, he had failed so many times that he had gotten used to it.
Another reason is what Yuzuru mentioned about the special relationship between Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
"Are they the reincarnations of the Sage of Six Paths' two sons?"
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with intense fervor at the thought of the secrets that Yuzuru knew.
In particular, he secretly studied and compared Hashirama Cells with Tsunade's cells that he had secretly preserved.
The astonishing vitality was unimaginable, and Orochimaru actually discovered something special.
It's hard to imagine that the cells of a dead person can still divide and proliferate, and even more dramatically than those of a living person. Perhaps it's because without the control of the brain, these cells are practically like cancer cells, able to divide extremely quickly as long as they have enough nutrients.
Just then, his laboratory door was broken into. Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with his Anbu and saw the people who had died because of human experimentation.
At first, he didn't think much of it, but the fact that Orochimaru used the villagers for experiments was something that Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't accept.
Orochimaru wasn't surprised; after all, he had always expected that one day he would be sold out by Danzo, given his cooperation with him.
Orochimaru, do you know what you're doing?
"Certainly."
Why use villagers as subjects for experiments?
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Orochimaru in front of him, his eyes filled with pain and regret.
"Teacher, you should be able to guess where these people got here, right? Shouldn't we be looking for the person behind them? I'm just doing an experiment."
Orochimaru stuck out his tongue, a signature cold smile appearing on his face.
"Shut up, Orochimaru! You still dare to argue even now? Your evil deeds have been recorded. Surrender now!"
A member of the "Anbu" (Anbu ) immediately spoke up.
"Hehe, teacher, I really feel sorry for you now."
Orochimaru paid no attention to the henchmen's words, but instead looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with obvious disappointment.
Danzo's position was bestowed upon him by his teacher, and now he was also constrained by it.
His teacher, Shinobi Hero, has completely disappeared.
"It seems that my apprentice and I will have to resort to force today."
Orochimaru licked his lips, said nothing, and took the initiative to attack.
" Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
" Summoning Technique, Enma!"
"Has Sarutobi finally come to this?"
When the Enma appeared, he was not surprised at all by watching the master and disciple who were locked in a fierce confrontation.
After all, he had already told Sarutobi that Orochimaru's inner darkness was something Sarutobi had been indulging in all along.
When Orochimaru saw the Enma before him, a serious expression finally appeared on his face.
As Summoning capable of defeating the Nine-Tails, Enma's strength is beyond doubt, and it is definitely one of the strongest Summoning, whether in terms of its own combat power or its transformation into the Adamantine Staff form.
Without any unnecessary words, Orochimaru Summoning Manda directly.
Despite Manda's clamor, Orochimaru readily agreed, and the great battle was fully triggered.
Orochimaru doesn't have as many ways to protect himself right now, but he's still incredibly powerful, after all, it's his own body.
However, Sarutobi is not as old as he will be twelve years later, and he is still stronger than Orochimaru now.
Therefore, after a while, Orochimaru began to feel the strain. After all, the title of "Shinobi Hero" was not just for show. Hiruzen Sarutobi had mastered five Chakra Nature Transformation and hundreds of Ninjutsu, and could use various combinations of Ninjutsu with ease.
In contrast, Orochimaru at this point in his life had not yet fully mastered the Eight Branches Technique, nor had he mastered many other functional Ninjutsu. He was far less outrageous than the later Orochimaru.
However, perhaps out of guilt towards his disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi softened and let Orochimaru go.
The next day, news of Orochimaru becoming missing-nin spread throughout Konoha, and his atrocities of human experimentation were exposed.
Orochimaru, now heavily injured, is slowly approaching the Land of Water.
He passed by Kikyo Mountain and the various battlefields where he had fought. Familiar memories flooded his mind, but at this moment, Orochimaru only felt sorrow.
With a cold laugh, Orochimaru took out the ninja headband that symbolized his Konoha identity and threw it away without a second thought.
" Yuzuru- kun, let me see what you call the new era."
A hoarse voice rose from his throat. Orochimaru had no time to rest; all he wanted now was to reach the Land of Water as quickly as possible.
When Tsunade and Jiraiya returned to Konoha, half a month had passed. Upon learning of Orochimaru's betrayal, their expressions differed.
There was regret, remorse, anger, and helplessness.
The three fought side by side for so long, their bond was exceptionally deep, but now they have gone their separate ways.
Arriving at the Hokage's office, Tsunade skillfully kicked open the door and went inside.
"Old man, you look quite disheveled."
Hearing Tsunade's words, Jiraiya behind her gave a wry smile. " Tsunade, don't rub salt into the wound. Yuzuru is your student; can't you try to persuade him?"
"Ha, when have my words ever been of any use?"
Tsunade gave a cold laugh.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and looked at the two of them, saying, "Now that Minato has been taken away by Yuzuru, Konoha cannot be without Hokage for even a day. I am only temporarily Hokage. The reason I called you back is to make one of you the Fifth Hokage, and also to show the Shinobi World that even without the Tailed Beast, Konoha is still powerful."
After Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Jiraiya expectantly.
Jiraiya quickly waved his hand, "I'll pass, old man. You know me, my personality is simply not suited to be Hokage. You should give it to Tsunade."
" Hokage? Hah, let whoever wants to be it, I'm not doing it."
Just then, Danzo arrived at the office. Upon learning that Tsunade and Jiraiya had returned, he couldn't sit still, especially since the two had come to the Hokage's office. He rushed over immediately.
Before he even entered the room, he overheard Jiraiya and Tsunade saying that neither of them wanted to become Hokage.
Although he still maintained a blank expression, he couldn't contain his inner elation, and even walking felt effortless.
" Tsunade, Jiraiya, when did you get back?"
Danzo feigned surprise as he looked at the two of them.
Tsunade scoffed, too lazy to pay him any attention.
Jiraiya even gave a brief reply.
" Hiruzen, Konoha cannot be without Hokage for even a day. The Fourth Hokage has already passed away, and what we need to do is to select a Fifth Hokage as soon as possible. In my opinion, Tsunade and Jiraiya very suitable."
Danzo said, feigning seriousness.
"That's true, but these two, sigh, can't you give this old man a break?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed as he looked at his two students.
"Since they are unwilling, we will have to choose another person from among those who are renowned and have made significant contributions."
"No need for that trouble, the old man isn't dead yet."
Tsunade immediately interrupted him.
"Furthermore, even if they choose Shikaku, they wouldn't choose you. You're practically halfway to your coffin; you should go back and rest. Konoha needs young people to become the new Hokage, not old fogies like you."
Tsunade used foul language and showed Danzo no kindness whatsoever.
Upon hearing this, Danzo's expression immediately darkened.
Just then, the other two advisors entered the office. Jiraiya after the other, but Tsunade completely ignored them.
" Hiruzen, the most urgent thing is for someone to step forward. Minato has disappeared, so you, the Third, should take office again. It's not too late to retire when a suitable replacement is found."
Danzo immediately panicked. He had thought his chance had come, but unexpectedly, it had come full circle back to Sarutobi.
"Isn't it inappropriate for a retired Hokage to return to office?"
Danzo couldn't help but say.
"Then what do you suggest? In terms of strength and reputation, is there anyone better than Hiruzen? Tsunade and Jiraiya are possibilities, but you've seen their attitudes."
Danzo's heart was screaming wildly: Me! Me! Me! Look at me! I can still shine and give off heat!
Even though he was almost driven to the point of psychological distortion by his desire, he still had to appear very calm so that no one could tell.
But in reality, everyone present knew what he was really thinking.