Uchiha Fugaku looked calmly at the young man before him and said, "Sir, Shimura Danzō died a long time ago."
Orochimaru's expression, which had remained composed all this time, finally showed a ripple of surprise.
"Shimura Danzō… is dead?" Orochimaru muttered, his snake-like eyes narrowing.
He stared deeply into Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, trying to discern whether he was lying. But Fugaku's gaze remained steady—there was no deception in his words.
Uchiha Fugaku nodded. "Yes, Shimura Danzō is dead. He was killed by my son with his own hands. The entire Uchiha clan witnessed it. If you don't believe me, I can call someone to verify it."
For reasons he couldn't fully explain, Fugaku felt an intense pressure from the white-robed young man standing before him. Deep inside, he knew—his strength was inferior to Orochimaru's.
That's why he had shown him such respect. If it had been anyone else trespassing into his office, he would have slapped them to death by now.
Orochimaru rubbed his chin, sinking into deep thought. The intelligence he'd received clearly didn't match reality. It appeared White Zetsu's information network wasn't as reliable as he once thought.
If Shimura Danzō was already dead, then the culprit who had killed his own mentor must have been someone else.
And now, standing before him was Uchiha Fugaku—Hokage of the Leaf Village. A man with power and motive.
Even though Fugaku had become Hokage, the presence of Sarutobi Hiruzen would always pose a lingering threat to his rule. Naturally, eliminating that threat would be a logical move.
With that thought, Orochimaru's gaze turned colder as he asked, "Were you involved in the death of Sarutobi Hiruzen?"
Though his tone sounded like a question, he already had his own conclusions.
Uchiha Fugaku was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Orochimaru to bring up Sarutobi Hiruzen so suddenly. His expression shifted subtly, but he managed a calm smile and replied, "No. I didn't do anything to the Third Hokage."
Technically, Fugaku hadn't laid a finger on Sarutobi. Instead, he had ordered Shisui and Obito to carry out the task.
Besides, he knew that Hiruzen wasn't dead—just imprisoned in the Sand Village. If the old man died there, well… that would be Sand's problem, not his.
Still, Fugaku quickly picked up on the subtle emotional change in Orochimaru's demeanor.
There was clearly a connection between him and Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Which meant… denying everything was the only safe course of action.
---
"It seems you're not willing to tell the truth," Orochimaru said coldly. "Then I'll beat the truth out of you."
His voice was cold, devoid of emotion. He had lost all patience.
Orochimaru stepped forward.
Uchiha Fugaku's expression shifted from restraint to fury.
"I was courteous enough not to punish you for breaking into my office," he said through gritted teeth. "I even answered your questions with patience. But you refuse to appreciate my generosity. You really think I'm afraid of you?"
As his voice fell, a pitch-black skeletal frame emerged around his body. The form solidified, radiating immense pressure—it was the terrifying Susanoo.
Fugaku charged forward with overwhelming momentum.
Orochimaru smirked. "Perfect. Just what I wanted—to test my current strength."
His words oozed confidence and bloodlust.
The two clashed immediately.
Fugaku, encased in his skeletal Susanoo, unleashed a flurry of crushing strikes, each one strong enough to level buildings. Orochimaru, with snake-like agility, dodged each attack with eerie ease, countering swiftly.
The Hokage's office trembled violently from their blows. Cracks split across the walls and floor, and dust billowed from the shaking foundation.
Moments later, the entire Hokage building collapsed, unable to withstand the sheer ferocity of the battle.
The rumbling drew the attention of nearby shinobi, who quickly gathered around to witness the epic clash.
---
Uchiha Fugaku was inwardly shaken. Despite the protective strength of his Susanoo, the young man's speed and physical strength were astonishing. Even now, they were at a stalemate.
He quickly put some distance between them, then glared at Orochimaru and said coldly, "Your strength is impressive, but this childish game is over!"
Blood seeped from his eyes as his Mangekyō Sharingan activated fully. Behind him, a half-body Susanoo, nearly three meters tall, took form. Its power surged into the surroundings like a tidal wave.
Orochimaru's eyes widened in awe. "So this… is the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan. Amazing."
The interest in his eyes was obvious—and dangerous. He was already calculating the best way to harvest Fugaku's eyes.
The towering black Susanoo drew a massive black machete and swung it downward at Orochimaru with blinding speed.
A sonic boom followed. The air itself split from the sheer velocity of the blade.
Orochimaru's pupils shrank. "So fast!"
He had no time to dodge.
Thinking quickly, he opened his mouth and expelled the Kusanagi Sword, gripping the hilt with both hands and positioning it defensively across his chest.
Clang!
The weapons collided.
A massive shockwave erupted.
Orochimaru was blown away like a rag doll, his body sent flying through the air before smashing into a nearby building.
The watching shinobi gasped in unison.
"Holy sh*t… That's Hokage-sama's true power?"
"The Mangekyō Sharingan is insane!"
"This power… it's beyond anything we could resist."
"I'd rather face a Tailed Beast than that monster…"
Uchiha Fugaku looked coldly in Orochimaru's direction.
He raised his hand and said flatly, "Despair. This is the power of Uchiha Fugaku—the power of God."
For the first time in a while, he felt unbeatable.
---
Orochimaru slowly sat up from the ruins, blood pouring from a long gash across his chest. He clutched the wound, breathing heavily.
His eyes burned with surprise—and awe.
"I underestimated him…" he muttered. "The power of the Mangekyō Sharingan... and Susanoo... It's more terrifying than I imagined."
He knew it now. He couldn't win—not in his current state.
"Maybe… once I reach Foundation Level Five… only then will I have a chance."
---
Fugaku's voice rang out again. "You've lost. Prepare to die."
His eyes gleamed with killing intent.
Orochimaru could not be allowed to leave alive.
Fugaku raised his Susanoo again and began marching forward with a murderous aura.
Orochimaru coughed, blood staining his lips. "Agh… You think it's that easy to kill me?"
With shaking hands, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a green bean—a Senzu Bean, purchased from Peter's mysterious store. He had only two.
He wouldn't have used one unless absolutely necessary.
But just as he was about to consume it, something unexpected happened.
---
Boom!
A black iron rod flew at blinding speed and embedded itself into the ground just inches from Fugaku's feet, leaving a deep gouge.
Everyone turned in shock toward the direction the rod came from.
There, standing calmly in the shadows, was a man in a black robe embroidered with red clouds. His face was obscured by darkness, but the overwhelming aura he exuded made even elite shinobi shiver.
Orochimaru's face lit up. "Chief!"
Without another word, he slipped the Senzu Bean back into his pocket.
---
The battlefield fell silent.
Who was this terrifying figure?
Was he a member of Akatsuki?
Uchiha Fugaku narrowed his eyes. This new presence… felt even more dangerous than Orochimaru.
And deep inside, he felt something he hadn't experienced in a long time:
A hint of fear.
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