[Konoha Village]
[Hokage's Office]
Sarutobi Ishishu had already returned to Konoha Village a step ahead of Kakashi.
And he had given a detailed report of this mission.
"There's actually such a powerful person?", The Third Hokage, upon hearing of Monk Senku's appearance, also showed great interest.
Sarutobi Ishishu had clearly investigated Senku, but the intel he obtained could only be deduced from Senku's abilities, "Yes, the sealing technique that this Senku uses is completely unlike anything we've seen before."
"He shouldn't be someone from the ninja world. Otherwise, this kind of sealing jutsu would have already been famous."
The Third Hokage said in a deep voice, "We can try making contact with Akatsuki."
"This time, when the elite class of the ninja academy graduated, Rengoku already placed the One-Tail Jinchuriki, Gaara, into our Konoha squad."
"It looks like the Jinchuriki has already been brainwashed by Rengoku."
"We must, before the Jinchuriki fully develops into combat strength, send him back to Sunagakure as soon as possible."
Ishishu hesitated a bit, "Akatsuki has cooperated with Uchiha before. Contacting them is very risky."
The Third Hokage's gaze was profound, "A mercenary organization like Akatsuki never has a clear stance."
"Even if they've had dealings with Uchiha, we still need to give it a try."
"Now that both Jinchuriki are in Rengoku's hands, we don't have many chances left…"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Suddenly, knocking came at the door.
"Hokage-sama, Asuma has arrived."
At this moment, Ishishu's figure gradually faded, leaving only a sentence, "Asuma and his two teammates spoke with Monk Senku. But I was afraid of being discovered, so I didn't go closer."
The Third Hokage nodded to show he understood, "Let him in."
Very soon, Asuma walked in.
"Old man, I'm back."
The Third Hokage took a drag on his pipe, pointed to the seat beside him, meaning for Asuma to sit.
Asuma didn't hold back, plopping straight down onto the sofa.
Although he used to be a rebellious youth, careless and lazy, he was somewhat more mature now.
He knew his situation wasn't good, so he had run back from the daimyo's mansion.
"You met Monk Senku in the end?"
Asuma froze for a moment, then showed some dissatisfaction, "You had Uncle Ishishu follow me again?"
The Third Hokage tapped the table with his pipe, "You're overthinking it. Ishishu was also there to gather intel."
Asuma couldn't tell whether the Third was telling the truth, but since he was no longer that rebellious youth, he didn't argue too much.
"Mm, we spoke a bit with Senku…"
Knowing what the Third Hokage would ask, Asuma truthfully recounted their conversation with Senku in full detail.
Hearing it, the Third Hokage's mind immediately became active.
It seemed, Sunagakure could be the ones to test it.
———
[Uchiha Compound]
[Orochimaru's Laboratory]
"Impure World Reincarnation!"
Orochimaru formed hand seals and slapped his palm on the ground, the array lighting up.
Talisman papers quickly wrapped around a sacrifice.
Then, appearing before Orochimaru and Rengoku, Shimura Danzo!
Orochimaru had already fully controlled Danzo.
The once ruthless and cunning Danzo now just stood there blankly like a fool.
Since Rengoku was preparing to act, naturally it was necessary to increase his own cards or remove the opponent's.
The Third Hokage had few cards left. The only one that could threaten Rengoku's claim to the Hokage position was Tsunade.
But that card wasn't firmly in the Third's grasp.
Rengoku summoned Danzo precisely to steal away Tsunade as that card.
Orochimaru looked at Danzo, the corner of his lips curling in a cold smile, "I've imagined countless ways for Danzo to die, but he chose one I could never have guessed."
Rengoku spread his hands, "Honestly, I didn't expect that this schemer would one day trip over his own game."
Over these years of working with Rengoku, Orochimaru's perspective had gradually expanded.
All of Danzo's past schemes and tricks were now just petty and shallow to him.
But there was one matter still very important.
"Nawaki's death, was it related to you?", Orochimaru formed seals with his hands.
Danzo, like a puppet on strings, slowly opened his mouth, "Yes."
Orochimaru's eyes flashed with cold light.
The shift in his thinking, his deep contemplation on the meaning of life, all began because of that matter.
Nawaki's sudden death made Orochimaru realize the fragility and impermanence of life.
This was the crucial turning point that led him down the path of researching eternal life.
Now, learning that Danzo truly had a hand in it, Orochimaru was visibly angered.
"Explain clearly the cause and effect of Nawaki's death."
Danzo, mechanical and vacant, replied, "Although the teacher had died, the Senju clan was still strong."
"Hiruzen said, if it continued like this, the next Hokage would again be a Senju."
"Better to eliminate Nawaki and Kato Dan."
"Hiruzen urged Nawaki on, encouraging him to want to head to the battlefield alone."
"I leaked Nawaki's movements in advance, letting the enemy set a trap."
"In the end, the explosion killed Nawaki."
Rengoku listened with great interest. So it seemed, right after Senju Tobirama died, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately wanted to purge the opposition.
Whether because he had been suppressed under Tobirama for too long, or because gaining the Hokage seat all of a sudden inflated his heart.
Rengoku asked, "How was Kato Dan killed by you all?"
Under Orochimaru's control, Danzo continued in his dull tone, "Knowing he used the Spirit Transformation Technique to kill enemies, I had people recommend him several places that were convenient for hiding."
"Then I leaked those places to the enemy."
Rengoku clapped his hands, "Brilliant, truly brilliant."
"And Hatake Sakumo's cause and effect?"
Danzo went on, "Hatake Sakumo's prestige was too high, too easily making him the next Hokage candidate."
"Hiruzen knew Hatake Sakumo had a strong sense of pride, so he had me send large numbers of ANBU to spread rumors against Sakumo."
"In the end, it drove Sakumo to suicide."
As for the Wood Release experiments, Orochimaru didn't need to ask, because he himself was the one involved.
He knew that the conditions for Wood Release human experiments were impossible to meet. Those Senju clan members back then had been sent to die.
Orochimaru signaled with his eyes to Rengoku, as if asking, 'Do you have anything else you want to ask?'
Rengoku lowered his head, thought for a moment, then asked, "Why did you study the secret techniques of the Tsuchigumo clan?"
"To speed up research into the Gozu Tenno(Gyuttenko) Project."
"Gozu Tenno?", Rengoku took in a breath.
'That is something from Boruto's era.'
Kakei Sumire's father, Shigaraki Tanuki, as one of Root's remnants, spent over ten years developing it.
He created a summoned beast called Nue, which could absorb chakra to grow larger, then explode.
That, in itself, wasn't much.
What mattered was that Nue's explosion eventually caused subspace to shatter.
This led Kinshiki to discover that the Otsutsuki on the ninja star had already betrayed them.
So he came to investigate.
At present, for the ninja star to deal with the Otsutsuki was still very difficult.
Fortunately, Danzo had blundered and blown up all of Root.
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