"Why is there no sound of battle inside?"
Outside the Forest of Death, squad leaders from various Hidden Villages waited anxiously.
Just moments ago, the forest had fallen eerily silent—no clashing, no explosions, nothing. The unsettling quiet gnawed at them. What happened inside? How could there be no sign of combat at all?
"Someone's coming out!"
A sharp-eared shinobi caught the sound of approaching footsteps, prompting everyone to turn toward the noise.
Following his gaze, they soon spotted several figures emerging from the trees. They recognized them instantly—these were the ninja who had entered earlier under the Third Hokage's orders to hunt down Orochimaru.
"What happened in there? Why are they back so soon?"
Confusion and unease spread. None of them knew the situation inside or what unexpected turn of events had forced this early return.
"Clan Head Fugaku is holding someone... Who is that?"
One observer noted Uchiha Fugaku carrying a man effortlessly in one hand, curiosity sharpening their voice.
"That's… Orochimaru? How is that… possible?"
"Impossible! Even Fugaku shouldn't be able to—"
Every gaze locked on the figure dangling from Fugaku's grip. Among the crowd were Konoha shinobi, and when they got a good look, some had their pupils shrink in shock, while others rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
If they weren't mistaken, that man was none other than the S-rank rogue ninja, Orochimaru.
But how could that be? Orochimaru, a legendary Kage-level shinobi, might lose to Fugaku, but to be captured outright? That defied belief.
"That's the S-rank criminal Orochimaru?!"
The words, spoken in disbelief by a Leaf ninja, made squad leaders from other villages widen their eyes.
Orochimaru—captured.
If Fugaku could take down even an S-rank like him, then the Uchiha Clan Head's power was far more terrifying than they had imagined.
Carrying Orochimaru in one hand, Fugaku strode out of the forest. The squad leaders guarding the perimeter stepped back respectfully, parting to clear his path.
Without hesitation, Fugaku walked straight toward where the Third Hokage stood.
"Orochimaru's been captured?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi had already noticed the commotion. When he saw Fugaku approaching with Orochimaru in tow, his feelings were… complicated.
By all rights, the capture of an S-rank criminal should have been cause for celebration. But the man who had done it was Uchiha Fugaku—someone whose growing influence already threatened to overshadow him.
He could already see it: after today, Fugaku's prestige in the village would reach unprecedented heights.
Hiruzen was beginning to regret sending Fugaku after Orochimaru at all. His plan had been for the two to weaken each other—not for Fugaku to return victorious with Orochimaru as a prisoner. This was the last outcome he had wanted.
Stopping before the Hokage, Fugaku tossed Orochimaru onto the ground at his feet.
"Lord Hokage, inside the Forest of Death were Orochimaru and the Mist rogue ninja Jūzō Biwa. Jūzō was killed on the spot, and Orochimaru has been captured."
"…Well done," Hiruzen said stiffly, the words feeling forced.
His gaze shifted to Orochimaru, his eyes full of conflicting emotions.
"Orochimaru…"
Years ago, in order to secure his position, Hiruzen had resorted to less-than-honorable means. Because of that, his three disciples had all grown distant—Orochimaru most of all, after delving into forbidden experiments. Never did he expect to meet again under these circumstances.
"Sensei… it's been a while. No—more accurately, we saw each other just a few months ago, though that was only a shadow clone," Orochimaru said lightly, greeting him as if he weren't a prisoner.
He didn't act like one, either—there was no fear in his voice, no concern for his current situation.
"Why did you infiltrate the Forest of Death and disrupt the Chūnin Exams?"
Suppressing his emotions, Hiruzen's voice was sharp. There was a scheme here, he could feel it—and he didn't like the feeling building in his gut.
"Disrupt the Chūnin Exams? I had no interest in that. I only entered the forest to create chaos."
"Chaos?"
Hiruzen's unease deepened.
"What are you really after?"
"Nothing at all. I was simply hired to cause a disturbance in Konoha at this precise time," Orochimaru said with a crooked smile.
"Who hired you?!"
Alarm jolted through Hiruzen. Stepping forward, he seized Orochimaru by the collar.
Orochimaru only shook his head, smiling faintly. Akatsuki's rules were clear—never reveal the client's identity.
"Tell me! Who was it?!"
Before Orochimaru could answer, a masked ANBU appeared in a blur.
"Lord Hokage! We've found the bodies of the ANBU assigned to guard the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. The jinchūriki is missing!"
"What?!"
Hiruzen's face went ashen.
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—his ultimate trump card—gone.
And now he understood: the ones who had hired Orochimaru only wanted him to draw Konoha's forces away… so they could abduct the jinchūriki.
"Which group could have done this?!" he growled, eyes blazing.
"The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki… kidnapped?!" Fugaku said with feigned surprise.
"Lord Hokage, I told you before—your methods of guarding the jinchūriki risked exposing their identity. And now… it seems I was right."
"Enough of your cold remarks, Fugaku! This isn't good for you, either!" Hiruzen shot back, glaring at him.
"What matters most now is finding and rescuing the jinchūriki."
"Agreed," Fugaku said with a nod.
"Also, Hokage-sama, I recommend detaining all Iwagakure shinobi immediately."
"The Iwa-nin?"
Hiruzen blinked, scanning the squads from the other villages, then realized what Fugaku meant.
The five squad leaders from Iwagakure were missing. It was highly likely they were the ones who had taken the jinchūriki.
"How dare they! Don't they care about the twenty or so genin they sent for the exams?!"
"Compared to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, what are twenty genin worth?" Fugaku said with a thin smile.
"Damn them!"
Hiruzen's fists clenched, veins bulging. Forcing down his rage, he barked orders to the ANBU and the clans—Uchiha included. For now, he couldn't afford to dwell on old grudges. Every capable shinobi needed to help recover the jinchūriki.
As Hiruzen's orders rang out, a faint, almost unnoticeable smile touched Fugaku's lips.
With a flicker, he and the others vanished beyond the village walls.
The perfect opportunity to raise his prestige—had just arrived.