Konohagakure, Hokage Building, Conference Hall.
"Hmph, Hiruzen, you actually let Orochimaru defect. You know how important he was to the village—he knows countless secrets."
"Letting him escape just like that... what if he turns against the village? What will you do then?"
"I suggest we send the ANBU to hunt him down. He must be eliminated!"
Danzō leaned back in his chair, his voice cold and full of hatred toward Orochimaru. All because of some brat, Orochimaru had rejected his proposal. Hmph, if he wouldn't join him, then he had to be removed. And that brat, too...
"At the same time, I propose we place Kazuyama Gekkō, Orochimaru's disciple, under surveillance."
"Have ANBU interrogate him. Maybe we can get some intel on Orochimaru."
The room fell silent. The veteran councilors said nothing, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened like the bottom of a pot. He never imagined Orochimaru would be so alert—escaping swiftly and without any sign beforehand. It felt almost premeditated. But he had taken every precaution... how had the information leaked?
As for Kazuyama, Hiruzen had no intention of acting against him. The name "Konoha's Twin Stars" was shining brightly now. Making a move without cause would stir up backlash among the villagers. Even if Kazuyama was Orochimaru's disciple, it didn't necessarily mean they were colluding.
"Orochimaru is Orochimaru. Kazuyama Gekkō is Kazuyama Gekkō. Danzō, don't confuse the two."
"Besides, ANBU has already gone to the front lines to bring them back. We'll know more when they arrive."
Danzō didn't respond. Orochimaru's defection was already fact. As long as he could seize control of the situation, that was enough.
As for Kazuyama Gekkō—without Orochimaru's protection, bringing him into Root would be a piece of cake.
"Lord Hokage, Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze, Kazuyama Gekkō have returned."
An ANBU operative suddenly entered the room, reporting the trio's return.
Hiruzen nodded and allowed them in.
Jiraiya, already impatient, was the first to speak as he entered:
"Old man, did Orochimaru really defect?"
"Could the intel be wrong?"
"There's no way I'd believe Orochimaru would betray the village!"
Jiraiya's face was filled with emotion. Despite his rocky relationship with Orochimaru, they had been comrades and teammates for years. Sure, his teammate had tried to kill him more than once…
But that was no reason for him to defect.
"Watch your tone, Jiraiya. Remember where you are."
"Stand down. You were called back to help in the pursuit."
"Orochimaru's defection is confirmed. There's no room for doubt."
Danzō's harsh reprimand caught even Hiruzen by surprise.
Oh man, seriously—who's the real Hokage here? Danzō clearly backed off half a step, and now he's trying to act like he owns the place.
"Danzō, that's enough. I'm the Hokage. If you have something to say, wait your turn."
"Jiraiya, calm down. This has already been verified. Orochimaru has indeed left the village."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was in a foul mood. He shot Danzō a fierce glare, but the man acted like he didn't even notice, just leaned back in his chair, unbothered. Watching Jiraiya's still-agitated expression, Hiruzen sighed quietly.
Jiraiya was his student. So was Orochimaru. If he had a choice, he wouldn't want to believe Orochimaru had abandoned the village. If it were just a matter of not wanting to be a ninja anymore, fine. But that string of forbidden research...
Orochimaru, how could you be so reckless...
"This was something I meant to inform all of you about. Orochimaru's research crossed a line—it violated the village's bottom line."
"We were going to hold him accountable after the war, but he must've caught wind of it and prepared his escape ahead of time."
"This isn't just leaving the village anymore. It's defection."
The three immediately showed signs of shock—even Kazuyama, who had been playing it cool. His panicked eyes darted back and forth, completely selling the look. Everyone in the room paused, thinking:
Looks like the kid really didn't know what his teacher was up to.
Well, not everyone believed that. Danzō certainly didn't. He took one look at Kazuyama's jaw practically on the floor and sneered inwardly.
"Kazuyama, as Orochimaru's student, are you seriously telling me you didn't know what he was doing?"
"From what I've heard, you even acted as his research assistant."
"Don't bother pretending. I'm not buying it."
That immediately turned all attention toward Kazuyama.
He threw on a face like he'd just been deeply wronged.
"I swear I'm innocent, Lord Hokage, respected advisors, Clan Heads."
"I'm Kazuyama Gekkō, current head of the Gekkō Clan. Sure, it's just me and my little brother now—"
"But I fully intend to keep the family line going!"
"Yes, Orochimaru was my sensei, and I did help him out once or twice, but you all know I've never been into research."
"As for being his assistant—well, if causing destruction counts, then yeah, guilty as charged."
As he spoke, he started pulling things out of his robe.
One scroll after another.
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
"I'm telling the truth! All I did was take a bunch of stuff from his lab!"
"This one's medicine. These are weapons I took."
"These here? Sellable medicinal herbs."
"Because of all this, Orochimaru almost killed me!"
He was bawling now—genuinely bawling!
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but twitch at the corners of his mouth, staring at the mountain of stuff on the table.
What a devoted student... Did he think his teacher was some kind of sugar daddy?
"Ahem, I think I can back him up."
"When Kazuyama first became Orochimaru's student, he even asked for a formal gift..."
"And it wasn't just once that we saw Orochimaru getting annoyed with him..."
Now that was an assist—Minato's words were the ultimate save. But he wasn't wrong. Back when Kazuyama had just started helping with the research, Orochimaru chased him out constantly. And since he kept swiping lab materials, Orochimaru had pulled a blade on him more than once.
"Ahem, Kazuyama, let's put all that stuff away for now."
"You've made it clear that you're not... Ahem, that you really had no idea what was going on."
Hiruzen almost slipped, but truthfully, everyone else felt the same.
With a student like this, any teacher would lose ten years of their life.