For the past few days, Kakashi had been visibly distracted, lost in thought.
Even when Kiyosuke and the others invited him out for dinner, he was still preoccupied, his mind clearly elsewhere.
After they ate, the two of them walked down the road together. Suddenly, Kakashi asked:
"Kiyosuke... do you think Minato-sensei's death was because of the Third-sama?"
Kiyosuke glanced at him.
"Hm? What brought this on? Did Danzo approach you?"
"How did you know?"
"You think Minato's death was part of the Third-sama's plan?" Kiyosuke asked, rubbing his chin.
"Yes. Danzo-sama said it was all orchestrated by the Third-sama, so he could reclaim the Hokage seat," Kakashi said. "I know it's hard to believe, but..."
"But the more you think about it, the more it makes sense—because the younger generation wasn't allowed to intervene."
"Exactly." Kakashi nodded.
"But think about it. Among the younger generation, I'm the only one who could've withstood the Nine-Tails. Anyone else would've just been throwing their life away," Kiyosuke said, looking at him in confusion.
"You're usually pretty sharp. Why are you letting Danzo's words shake you like this?"
"I just..."
Because he still couldn't accept his teacher's death...
Kiyosuke could see it clearly and said:
"Danzo's not someone to be trusted. Don't let yourself be deceived by him."
"I know. I've just been tired lately." Kakashi shook his head. "Looks like I need a vacation."
"You should've taken one a long time ago. Look at me—I haven't even been active in the Anbu."
He'd joined the Anbu, but aside from the mission to protect Kushina, he hadn't participated in anything else.
He was just a freeloader with an Anbu title!
Kakashi gave him a deadpan look.
"You've got some nerve saying that. Since the founding of the Anbu, no one like you has ever existed—getting paid to do nothing."
"Hahaha. I'll go to the Third-sama in a few days and resign."
Even though the Anbu salary was decent, it wasn't worth it to him.
Right now, money wasn't something he lacked at all.
"By the way, do you know if anyone besides the First-sama could use Wood Release?"
As Orochimaru's student, Kiyosuke might know things Kakashi didn't.
Hm? Did he run into Yamato?
Kiyosuke replied:
"Well, the First-sama's Wood Release was unique in the ninja world—no one else has ever managed to learn it. It was a secret technique exclusive to him. Konoha did conduct some shady experiments trying to control that power. What? Did you run into one of the test subjects?"
"I don't know. But when I went to Root, I encountered a boy who could use Wood Release."
"Oh? Looks like Danzo really wants to obtain the power to control tailed beasts."
Not just Wood Release—Sharingan too. Danzo's ambitions weren't small.
"How old?"
"About ten."
Kiyosuke fell silent for a moment.
Yamato—currently a Root member known as Tenzo—was one of Orochimaru's failed experiments. Or at least, Orochimaru thought it was a failure. Danzo had ended up benefiting from it.
Orochimaru had seriously lost out on that one.
Come to think of it, lately a number of Genin and Chūnin had started disappearing—over sixty of them. It was likely that Danzo and Orochimaru had abducted them for their experiments.
It looked like the time of Orochimaru's defection was drawing near.
"This can wait. More importantly—why did you go looking for Danzo in the first place?"
Kakashi hesitated, then made sure no one was nearby before saying:
"I gave Danzo the Third-sama's schedule."
"..."
You idiot. You basically just handed Sarutobi Hiruzen over for assassination!
Then again... it's not like Danzo will succeed.
"You... Whatever. Handle it yourself."
"Aren't you afraid Danzo might actually succeed?" Kakashi asked.
Kiyosuke looked at him and said:
"Kakashi. The reason the Third-sama became Hokage wasn't because he had a good temper."
The Third wasn't someone to be underestimated.
"I get it." Kakashi nodded, finally understanding. He said his goodbyes to Kiyosuke and left. Who knew what he would do next?
...
Kiyosuke didn't go home. Instead, he headed to Orochimaru's lab.
Anko had already gone home to sleep. Kiyosuke pushed open the door.
Inside, Orochimaru—who he hadn't seen in a while—was deeply engrossed in his latest experiment.
Under the bright surgical light, he was carefully dissecting a newly acquired specimen.
"Oh my, if it isn't my adorable disciple. What brings you here today?" Orochimaru asked without turning around, his voice magnetic and smooth as ever.
"I figured I should check in on you, sensei. What kind of trouble are you up to this time?"He walked over.
"Sensei, the people disappearing in the village—that's your doing, isn't it?"
"They make excellent test subjects," Orochimaru replied calmly.
"Sensei... working with Danzo..... The moment something goes wrong, he won't hesitate to throw you away."
"I know. I understand that man completely. Kiyosuke—so, once again, I'll ask you... Will you come with me?"
"I refuse. I'm a shinobi of Konoha, sensei. Besides, it's not time yet, is it?"
Kiyosuke sat down. "If you pin everything on Danzo and leave, it's not impossible."
"I could. But it's unnecessary."
Orochimaru shook his head.
"There are too many limitations in this village. Sooner or later, I'll leave of my own accord."
To him, the village had become an obstacle on his path to truth. Once his experiments were complete, he'd leave Konoha of his own volition.
"I see... But sensei, I still hope you'll remain in Konoha as one of the Sannin."
"Kiyosuke-kun... your vision is still too small. With your special constitution, you shouldn't confine yourself to just one village. You should be looking at the entire world. You could pursue far greater power."
Orochimaru's serpentine eyes gleamed with intensity, his voice tinged with temptation.
Kiyosuke asked:
"Sensei, maybe my vision is small. I can't see the world you do, and I have no desire to chase some abstract 'truth.' Immortality would only drain me of everything I am. I just want to live as a human... and die as a human. And when I die, I want my family around me. That's all I ask."
"That's the life you long for?" Orochimaru chuckled softly.
"In that case, I understand, Kiyosuke-kun. From now on, don't come here anymore. Distance yourself from me. It's for your own good."
"I understand, sensei. I wish you success."
Kiyosuke's expression didn't change.
Orochimaru had chosen to cut ties with him.
He knew that once his crimes were exposed, it would bring trouble to Kiyosuke. So, he would make that trouble a little smaller in advance.
...
Kiyosuke walked out of Orochimaru's lab, bidding farewell to the teacher who had looked after him for so many years.
Orochimaru would defect—of that, he was sure.
Even if he didn't defect, he would eventually leave Konoha on his own.
His eyes no longer saw just one village, or even one country.
They were fixed solely on the truth.
And for that truth... he would pay any price.
Even if it meant sacrificing himself.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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