Ryoma smiled faintly.
"Don't believe me if you don't want to."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes at him.
"Are you mocking me? The God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama, was known as the Legendary Ninja. And you're saying… Uchiha Madara?"
Before Ryoma could answer, Orochimaru shook his head in disbelief.
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Uchiha Madara died long ago at the hands of the First Hokage…"
Yet his voice trailed off. A half-buried memory clawed at the back of his mind.
He recalled a piece of forbidden history few ever learned.
After the Valley of the End battle, Tobirama had secretly taken Madara's body and hidden it deep in an underground chamber. But when he returned later… the body was gone.
Orochimaru had seen this with his own eyes, documented in one of Tobirama's final records.
A chill ran through him. His throat tightened as he whispered,
"No… it's been decades. The First and Second Hokage are long dead. Could Madara… still be alive?"
His golden eyes flickered back to Ryoma. Who exactly is he? How does he know so much? Orochimaru even wondered if Ryoma was some kind of spy…
At this point, Orochimaru had already strayed far into dangerous research. His ambition was undeniable. But deep down, he had not yet turned against Konoha.
"By the way, Ryoma," Orochimaru said suddenly. "There's something you might find… interesting."
He pulled out a thick folder and handed it over.
Ryoma skimmed through the pages, and his eyes glimmered.
It was a detailed report on the Shimura clan and their allies—the Koharu family and the Mito line. It documented how they had stolen other shinobi's battle merits, impersonated missions, and even bribed officials to falsify records.
With these tactics, they had managed to climb from Genin to Jōnin in less than five years.
Ryoma thought to himself: No wonder so many of Konoha's Jōnin are uneven in strength. Some actually cheated their way to the top.
The unfairness was staggering. Talented shinobi from common families had their missions hijacked, their achievements stolen. Squad results were often monopolized by these clans.
Even the Academy graduation exam and the Chūnin Exams had been tampered with.
The numbers didn't lie. The Shimura, Koharu, and Mito clans had a first-attempt pass rate of over 90%, while ordinary families averaged around 40%. Many common-born shinobi needed two or three tries before advancing.
Complaints had been raised before, but every time, the clans simply paid people off.
Now, all the evidence—dates, records, testimonies—lay in Ryoma's hands.
He smirked. Orochimaru not only watched Danzo for me, but he's handed me a gift as well.
If this evidence were made public, it would shake Konoha to its core.
The entire shinobi system depended on fairness. From Genin to Chūnin to Jōnin, missions were both honor and livelihood. For veterans, completed missions were their retirement guarantee.
But these clans had corrupted the system. This proof could nail them forever to Konoha's pillar of shame.
...
The Next Morning – Ninja Academy
"Sensei Ryoma!" Obito shouted, glaring. "Don't tell me this is just a shadow clone again!"
Ryoma's clone blinked, a bit surprised. "Oh? How'd you figure it out?"
"You never take us seriously!" Obito barked.
Rin pressed her lips together, clearly displeased as well.
Kakashi, however, remained calm. He knew Jōnin were always busy—especially strong ones. His own father often had just a single day at home before leaving on missions again. At least Ryoma left behind a clone for them.
"If it weren't for your clone dispelling yesterday, we wouldn't have noticed!" Obito complained.
Ryoma flicked Obito on the forehead. "What's wrong with a clone? Did it eat your rice?"
"If you're not here in person, then I'm not learning!" Obito declared.
Rin nodded in agreement.
The clone sighed and grabbed Obito by the collar. "You? With your weak little self? You've got no right to complain. If you can beat me, I'll summon the real me."
Obito kicked his legs wildly, shouting, "Then I, Uchiha Obito, swear I'll defeat you!"
...
One Hour Later
Obito was buried in the ground up to his neck, looking miserable.
Ryoma squatted over him. "Didn't you say you'd defeat me?"
A kunai suddenly flew toward him.
"Hmph."
Ryoma's clone smirked and vanished with the Body Flicker Technique, dodging Rin's throw.
Kakashi had already anticipated where Ryoma would reappear. His hand crackled with lightning.
"Chidori!"
Since it was only a shadow clone, Kakashi didn't hold back.
Obito's face lit up in triumph. Finally, Kakashi got him!
But then his smile froze.
Kakashi's Chidori pierced through an afterimage—Ryoma was simply too fast. In the same instant, the clone appeared at Kakashi's back and seized him.
Kakashi twisted, lightning still sparking, and stabbed backward.
Bang!
The shadow clone vanished in smoke.
"Nice!" Team Minato cheered. Rin's eyes sparkled as she looked at Kakashi.
"Kakashi, that was amazing!"
Obito scowled. "Tch. I distracted the teacher first!"
Kakashi just lay there quietly, smiling beneath his mask.
But suddenly—
A hand shot up from the ground, yanking Kakashi down so only his head stuck out.
Rin screamed.
The clone emerged, grinning.
"Sensei Ryoma, that's cheating!" Obito yelled.
"Cheating? That was just a substitution jutsu."
"Unfair!" Obito groaned.
The clone chuckled. "Don't be sore. You've all improved a lot. Even some Jōnin wouldn't have landed a hit on me."
He pulled Kakashi and Obito free from the dirt.
"Sensei, you used Earth Release just now!" Kakashi pointed out.
Ryoma only smiled, secretly pleased. Their dissatisfaction with his clone only pushed them to grow stronger. Their progress in just a few days had exceeded his expectations.
...
Meanwhile – Hokage's Office
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned at the three men before him: Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Koharu Utatane's relative, Masao.
"Lord Hokage," Danzo said coldly, "what do you plan to do about Ryoma?"
"The Mist mission clearly created hostility against Konoha. Does he want to shatter the hard-won peace and plunge the world back into war?"
"And," another added, "Elder Koharu's death is highly suspicious."
Hiruzen exhaled a long stream of smoke. "I will handle this matter. You may leave."
But Homura stepped forward. "Hokage-sama, Ryoma killed Mito Ryosuke last night. That is murder."
"And not only Koharu," Masao added, "but Shun Shinto too. Ryoma crippled him—Tsunade says his legs are beyond saving!"
Sarutobi's gaze turned sharp and cold. "Enough. I was there yesterday. The incident was caused by the Mist shinobi. Mito Ryosuke and Shun Shinto fell as sacrifices… for Konoha."
Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Masao Utatane all widened their eyes at Hiruzen Sarutobi's words. Each of them harbored different thoughts, but all understood one thing: the Third Hokage was clearly protecting Ryoma.
"Perhaps you aren't aware of the results of yesterday's negotiations," Sarutobi said, "but it was precisely because of the sacrifices of those like Mito's heir and Shun clan's representative that Ryoma took the lead in dealing with the Mist delegation. In the end, we secured terms favorable to Konoha."
He let out a weary sigh. Ryoma had acted recklessly, yet here he was, cleaning up the mess again. Being Hokage was a burden that left him exhausted.
Homura and Masao exchanged troubled glances. Sacrificing one's life for the village was, after all, the purest embodiment of the Will of Fire. How could they openly oppose that?
Danzo's expression hardened.
"Sarutobi, think carefully. Is it worth alienating our clans for the sake of Ryoma?"
Just then, the wooden door creaked open.
"Enter," Sarutobi said.
Ryoma stepped inside with Uzumaki Mito. Sarutobi's eyelid twitched—an ominous premonition.
Danzo, Homura, and Masao all scowled at the sight of Ryoma.
Ryoma himself looked momentarily surprised, then offered a faint smile.
"Mito-sama, Ryoma-kun," Sarutobi said evenly, though inwardly he cursed, Don't stir up more trouble. If this continues, the great clans will revolt, and Konoha will fracture from within.
Ryoma's gaze lingered on Danzo but he said nothing.
"Danzo, Homura, Masao," Sarutobi ordered firmly, "leave us. I will address your concerns in due time. You have no need to worry."
"Hmph. Very well," Danzo sneered, casting a cold look at Ryoma before sweeping out of the office.
Homura and Masao followed, ignoring both Ryoma and Mito. From that day on, their clans' relationship with Uzumaki Mito soured completely.
Outside the Hokage building, Homura muttered, "Danzo… must we really wait until the Chūnin Exams?"
Danzo's lips curled in a cruel smile. "Chūnin Exams? They think we'll wait? No—I intend to act sooner. Once the envoy from Kumogakure arrives, Konoha's guard will be focused entirely on them. That will be our moment."
Homura blinked. "Kumo is sending an embassy?"
Danzo chuckled darkly. "The Two-Tails and the Amber Sealing Pot are still here in Konoha. Kumogakure won't stomach that humiliation. They'll come soon enough… and that will be our chance."
Masao frowned. "But can we really risk it?"
Danzo answered coldly, "Homura, you are a Jinchūriki, and we have supporters backing us. The time is nearly ripe."
...
Back Inside the Office
Sarutobi rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Mito-sama, Ryoma-kun… what brings you here?"
Ryoma handed him a stack of documents compiled by Orochimaru, along with additional records pulled from the administration bureau.
"Hokage-sama, these are files on the Shimura, Mitokado, and Utatane clans—evidence of widespread cheating during the academy exams and ninja promotion trials."
Sarutobi froze, then opened the dossier. With every page, his face grew darker.
"Outrageous!" he roared, slamming the desk. His shoulders trembled with anger. He had suspected corruption in the selection process, but not on this scale—stealing missions, falsifying achievements, even buying and selling assignments?
"Who gave them the audacity to manipulate the system like this?!"
Just moments ago, he had contemplated appeasing the three families. Now he realized such thoughts were useless. If this ever spread, their reputations would be utterly destroyed.
Uzumaki Mito fixed him with a stern gaze. "Sarutobi, all of this is backed by evidence. But what about the deeds still hidden in the shadows? Who bears responsibility for the rot that has gone unchecked?"
Her words cut like a blade. "If this continues, will Konoha even remain Konoha? How do you intend to act?"
Under her piercing stare, Sarutobi's body shook. He turned to Ryoma and spoke with heavy resolve.
"With Sakumo absent, Ryoma—you will handle this matter. If anyone dares obstruct you… there will be no mercy."
From his robes, he produced a seal—an emblem of supreme authority over the ANBU.
...
When Ryoma left the office, the ANBU leapt into action.
Minato Namikaze vanished from the Academy, leaving behind only a shadow clone as his real body rushed out.
From the shadows, the hidden Senju and Uzumaki clans—long concealed under false names—also began to reveal themselves.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, along with their respective teams, positioned themselves near the territories of the Shimura, Mitokado, and Utatane clans.
Even Danzo and Homura, who had just returned home, felt unease in the air.
"What is Sarutobi planning?!"
"Does he truly intend to force us into defection?!"
"What game is Hokage-sama playing?!"
The great families were convinced it was Sarutobi's doing.
But in truth, empowered by Uzumaki Mito and the Senju, Ryoma now wielded ANBU authority nearly equal to the Hokage himself.
This day, Konoha would not know peace.
...
TN:
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