The world is impermanent, and no plan ever survives unchanged.
A flicker of regret passed through Orochimaru's heart—but he brushed it aside and focused on his next move. Despite everything, he still had the upper hand. Most importantly, he had direct communication with Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, a major advantage.
"It seems I'll have to move the plan forward," Orochimaru murmured, pulling out a metal ring. A faint glint flickered in his eyes.
This was the item handed to him by Jigen—it served as a communication tool.
Just then, Yakushi Kabuto stepped forward. "Lord Orochimaru, I have something to report."
Orochimaru looked at him with amusement. "You're not even trying to hide anymore. Coming forward so openly… do you really think I won't act against you?"
Although his current relationship with Nagato was relatively stable, Kabuto's role as a double agent remained valuable. Orochimaru's words were half a test, half genuine curiosity—what exactly did Kabuto intend to reveal now?
Hearing the exchange, Nagato stood up from beside Konan. "Let him speak," he said. "There's no harm in hearing what he has to say."
Nagato was grateful to Kabuto. In their darkest moment, Kabuto had risked himself to help. Without the preserved tissue samples of Konan that Kabuto had kept, the rescue might've failed entirely.
Orochimaru gave a noncommittal glance before nodding. "Very well. Speak."
Kabuto knelt and opened a scroll, summoning four bodies that landed heavily on the tower's platform. "These are the jōnin who restrained Konan. Their deaths were attributed to explosive tags, but the true cause was the backlash from the collapsed barrier. Their corpses are mostly intact."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed as he studied the bodies. Something about them felt… familiar.
Kabuto crouched beside one corpse, opened its mouth, and revealed a tongue tattooed with black curse marks. "This is the 'Tongue Eradication Seal.' These men were from Root. Only Danzo could have planted a curse like this."
His voice was calm, but his intent was pointed. Kabuto had suspected Obito's ploy from the start—it was too convenient. Still, he had chosen to reveal this now. Partly out of long-standing resentment, and partly because Root's betrayal could no longer be tolerated.
Nagato and Konan's expressions darkened. They turned to Orochimaru for an explanation.
Years ago, Danzo and Hanzō had conspired to crush the Akatsuki in its infancy. At the time, it was just politics. But now, Akatsuki was Konoha's ally—this was nothing less than betrayal.
Orochimaru's gaze cooled. "It could be a setup... but I doubt it. This is exactly the kind of thing Danzo would do."
He sighed, expression turning cold.
"I was hoping to delay things. But it seems I'll have to act now."
Without hesitation, he wrote a letter, handed it to a summoned viper, and sent it off in a puff of smoke.
Turning back to Nagato, he said, "If we're lucky, we'll have results before nightfall. You should contact Konoha as well."
He then sent a mental message to the floating spirit nearby:
"You said you found Jigen's location. Where is it?"
---
Konoha
After receiving Orochimaru's message, Jiraiya rushed to the Hokage's office and reported everything to the Third Hokage.
"Maybe Obito set it up…" Hiruzen muttered. But his grip on his pipe weakened. His expression was grim.
He'd long known of Danzo's obsession with becoming Hokage—bordering on madness. But with Orochimaru's influence dismantling Root and centralizing power, Danzo's options had grown limited. It wasn't impossible that he'd make a deal with Obito.
"I've suspected his dealings with Grass Village for some time," Hiruzen admitted, "but I never found hard evidence…"
"Then don't hesitate now," Jiraiya said firmly. "Don't go soft. This can't be ignored."
He knew the truth about Yahiko's death—and that Danzo had played a key role in instigating it. Without that interference, Akatsuki and Konoha might never have clashed.
"I know how serious this is."
Hiruzen took a long breath and called for the Shadow Guard.
"Summon the council—especially Elder Danzo. I have urgent matters to discuss."
The guards obeyed. Not long after, Koharu and Homura arrived.
When they heard the accusations, they paled.
"You'd accuse a Konoha elder based only on suspicious corpses?" Homura asked sharply. "That's a grave decision."
"We must be cautious, Hiruzen," Koharu added.
But Hiruzen didn't respond. He just sat there, silently smoking his pipe.
Danzo still hadn't shown up.
Moments later, a Shadow Guard returned.
"Hokage-sama, Elder Danzo is not in the village."
"Not… in the village?"
Homura stood abruptly. "Without permission? That's a direct violation!"
But the damage was done. Hiruzen closed his eyes. When he opened them again, all hesitation was gone.
"Bring Uchiha Fugaku and Hyūga Hiashi. I have a mission for them."
The Uchiha and Hyūga clans—long opposed to Danzo—were Konoha's best tracking forces.
"Jiraiya," Hiruzen said, "take two teams of Anbu and assist them."
"Understood." Jiraiya left at once.
In the silence that followed, Hiruzen took another deep draw of his pipe.
---
Land of Fire Forest
"Damn it… damn it all!"
A gaunt figure leapt from tree to tree, cursing furiously—Danzo.
He was furious. For all his years working in the shadows, now he was running like a criminal, all because of a single exposed secret.
"Damn you, Obito! Damn Madara!"
Though he saw no pursuers, Danzo knew they were coming. He could feel it.
Zetsu's voice echoed from a nearby tree. White heads emerged from the bark.
"You're being hunted, Danzo. Jiraiya, Uchiha Shisui, and several Uchiha teams are on your tail. Better run faster."
"Why haven't you sent backup?" Danzo snarled.
"You've been exposed. We can't afford to act too obviously."
Danzo lunged, grabbed Zetsu by the neck, and hissed, "Then get Obito here, or I'll go to Orochimaru and expose everything!"
Zetsu gagged, but kept smiling. "Then run toward the border of the Land of Hot Water. Obito will meet you—maybe."
Danzo threw him aside, a cold glint in his eyes. He said nothing more and vanished into the trees.
---
Barren Hills
Far from any village or patrol routes, Orochimaru stood atop a desolate ridge.
"Good," he muttered. "Even if a fight breaks out, no one will notice."
He pulled out the metal ring and channeled chakra into it. A moment later, a projection appeared—Jigen, dressed in pale warrior robes.
"Orochimaru," Jigen said, "have you decided?"
"Such a convenient technique," Orochimaru noted. "Very similar to Nagato's 'Demonic Statue Projection'... Is this a Rinnegan ability?"
Jigen's eyes narrowed. "You didn't summon me just to ramble, did you?"
"No," Orochimaru said, licking his lips. "I want to make a deal."
"Then where's the Gedo Statue?"
"Let's discuss that later," Orochimaru said with a sly smile. He raised something from his hand. "This item… contains enormous natural energy. Enough to evolve a juvenile Ten-Tails into a full Sacred Tree."
Jigen's gaze locked onto the object.
"You'd better not be lying."
"Of course not," Orochimaru replied, eyes glittering. "I'm very eager to make this trade."
_____________________
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