The Uchiha clan had money, and in the end, ninjas were nothing more than hired mercenaries. Renji once again reached out to his old partner - Kakuzu. Without hesitation, he threw down five hundred million, buying two months where Danzo could not return to the village. How Kakuzu handled it didn't matter. The money was there, the task was his.
The moment Kakuzu saw the mission, he accepted without question. This kid just keeps getting bolder. Not killing him back then was the smartest decision I ever made. He's basically my personal treasure chest now.
Renji then contacted the Xuanyuan and Pojun groups, paying each two hundred million to stir up chaos along the borders of the Land of Earth. Any method was fine, just delay Orochimaru's return.
This wasn't embezzlement, it was the collective will of the people of Konoha. After all, Orochimaru and Danzo would only ruin their happiness. They were a threat that needed to be isolated. Let them play outside the village on their own.
Renji also asked Chōmei, the Seven-Tails, to occasionally show himself in the shinobi world. Such a delicious cake, sitting right there. Tempting, isn't it? Want it? Then come and take it.
Three whole months passed this way. Danzo finally trudged back into the village, with Orochimaru arriving almost at the same time. The world had become a frenzy of treasure-hunting parties. Between the chaos and deliberate interference, both men were frustrated to the extreme.
During these three months, Hiruzen Sarutobi's hair had practically fallen out from stress. He'd tried small tricks to probe the Uchiha, but every attempt had been beaten back. Finally, his two reinforcements returned a trusted old comrade to shoulder the blame, and a disciple to inherit the future.
Danzo sat there, his face dark as coal, listening to Hiruzen recite intelligence he'd already known for ages. He wanted to curse aloud. For this? For this, you dragged me back? I was this close to capturing a tailed beast! With one in my grasp, the Uchiha would be dust beneath my heel.
And that damned bounty hunter Kakuzu… lurking nearby, trying to profit off his hunt. A rogue like him dares dream of catching a tailed beast? Once this is done, I'll snuff him out.
Danzo seethed. Orochimaru was seething too. Teacher, you're the Hokage, and you drag me back for this? I was already in hell dealing with Iwa, and you pester me daily about sunflowers, about tree planting. What nonsense is this?
I'm a shinobi. My pursuit is immortality. What do sunflowers and tree-planting have to do with me? Because of you, I've abandoned several experiments and will need to start from scratch. Are you paying for the wasted time? Money, money, money, you provide it then! All wasted, just for your sunflower obsession. Useless!
Hiruzen rambled on, but to Orochimaru and Danzo, these matters weren't even worth a mention. Retail shops? Who cared? Planting trees? Who did that harm? Helping orphans? They'd always had orphan programs, and saving money was better. As for old veterans, cripples were cripples. What use were they?
And yet the Hokage had dragged them back urgently for this. Has Sarutobi gone mad? Danzo began to suspect. Is he using this to rein me in, afraid I'll seize a tailed beast?
Orochimaru's thoughts twisted as well. Has he found out about my experiments? Is this just a pretext to keep me under surveillance? To stop me? Teacher, you underestimate my resolve. Immortality is my true path, and I will not be swayed.
Hiruzen watched them fall into silence, mistaking it for thoughtful reflection. Relieved, he pressed no further. The room grew quiet, and the air thickened with awkwardness.
He turned to his disciple with expectant eyes. Orochimaru sighed inwardly. So it's my turn, is it?
"Teacher, I may disappoint you. I can't think of any good solutions. But if you give me orders, I'll carry them out." Orochimaru was pleased with his own answer. I'm your student. If you can't solve it, how could I? Just tell me what to do. I'm obedient, I'm loyal. Who could fault that?
Hiruzen smiled faintly. Orochimaru was still obedient. That was enough. The details didn't matter. Next, he turned his gaze to his old comrade, the eternal "pot-shadow" Danzo.
Danzo spoke coldly. "This matter isn't urgent. I've already located the Seven-Tails. Within a week, I can have it sealed and brought back. Once that's done, we'll wipe out the Uchiha entirely. Leave a few seeds if you want, but the rest will be crushed. With a tailed beast in hand, their petty plans mean nothing. We are shinobi. Shinobi should do what shinobi are meant to do. The Uchiha are obsolete. It's time for them to be eliminated."
Hiruzen's heart was torn between joy and despair. Joy that Danzo was still as stupid as ever—no threat to him, easy to manipulate. And if by some miracle he really did secure the Seven-Tails, then the Uchiha truly wouldn't matter. But despair too: bringing them back had been pointless. If Danzo failed to catch the beast, then what? Just sit and watch the Uchiha rise unchecked?
"Danzo, I'll entrust the Seven-Tails to you. Bring me good news," Hiruzen said.
Danzo nodded and left, cursing inside. You drag me back to lecture me? Sarutobi, you underestimate me. Everything I do is for Konoha!
The Third Hokage turned to his chosen successor. "Orochimaru, let Danzo handle matters outside. You stay in the village and help me with governance."
Unintended words struck a hidden nerve. Orochimaru's gut twisted. So, you really have discovered my experiments. You want me kept under your eye. Monitoring me. Distrusting me. So be it… my path won't change.
"Yes, Lord Sarutobi," Orochimaru answered, his voice tight.
Hiruzen looked out the window at the fading sunset. Drawing on his pipe, he exhaled slowly. "Orochimaru, don't lock yourself in the lab all the time. Look at Konoha, walk among your subordinates. Ninjutsu is endless, but you need balance. Care for yourself. Manage your time wisely. That's all. You may go."
"Yes, Teacher," Orochimaru said, face dark as he turned away.
Hiruzen had only meant to remind his disciple to show himself, to win hearts, to carry some of the Hokage's burden. To reassure the village. But Orochimaru twisted it, as always, into suspicion and disappointment.
Thus, in a single conversation where no one understood the other, the "Hotpot Duo" missed their chance to counter the Uchiha. Worse still, a rift widened between the Third Hokage and his prized disciple.
For the Uchiha, this was an unexpected blessing.
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