Chapter 283: A Hidden Card
On the way back, Orochimaru's expression was grim.
His Wood Release wasn't nearly as powerful as he had imagined.
He had fantasized about using Wood Golems to grab Tailed Beast Bombs with bare hands and crush the Nine Tails like a chick—yet none of that came to pass.
On the contrary, his Deep Forest Emergence was effortlessly sliced through by that brat's Iron Sand Thunder Realm.
This made Orochimaru realize that even with the same Wood Release, its power varied drastically depending on the user.
Right now, not only could he not perform the First Hokage's Wooden Golem Technique, he couldn't even use the Wood Dragon Technique.
If he wanted to enhance his Wood Release, he had to find that person suspected of being the mysterious Explosion Release ninja—track down the subject they had taken.
"I heard that mysterious Explosion Release ninja attacked Sunagakure a year ago and was killed by the Fourth Kazekage. I wonder if that's true."
Orochimaru's eyes flashed with contemplation. The reason he had rushed to the Land of Rivers when Sunagakure launched their attack was because he wanted to personally confirm that ninja's life or death in Sunagakure.
Initially, Orochimaru didn't believe the Fourth Kazekage could kill such a powerful ninja. But after fighting that red-haired brat, he wasn't so sure anymore.
Sunagakure wasn't the same as before.
Forget the Scorch Release user Pakura —the strength of that red-haired brat alone made it hard for Orochimaru to think of anyone in Konoha who could beat him. Perhaps only the combined efforts of the three Sannin would be enough to take him down.
By himself… just thinking about it made Orochimaru shake his head.
"Forget it, no point overthinking."
"I'd better consider how I'm going to explain to Danzo and sensei that I've awakened Wood Release."
Back then, the original cell solution from that test subject was highly corrosive—completely unusable, and impossible to cultivate.
In the end, Orochimaru had used his own cells to experiment, producing an adaptive factor that could fuse with his own body. But it only worked on him—no one else could use it.
And now that adaptive factor was gone. Facing Danzo with empty hands wouldn't be easy.
The thought of Danzo's grim face gave Orochimaru a headache.
He wasn't afraid Danzo would threaten his life.
Even if this Wood Release wasn't as powerful as he had imagined, the sheer chakra boost from the transplant had elevated his strength drastically.
Orochimaru was confident—no one in the ninja world could kill him now.
So he didn't fear for his life. What he feared was losing the support of Danzo and Hiruzen. Without them, he couldn't continue his research within Konoha. His experiments would stall.
No one trusts a man who hoards results for himself.
Danzo must've been furious when he found out Orochimaru had Wood Release.
Bang!!
CRASH…!
Orochimaru was right. Days later, when Danzo received the intel from the Land of Rivers, he exploded in rage, smashing his entire desk to pieces in his Root office.
"Orochimaru!!!"
"And that old monkey, Hiruzen!!!"
Danzo's chest heaved, his eyes bloodshot.
The master and student had colluded to deceive him—secretly researching Wood Release transplantation without sharing the results.
He was the one who first developed the adaptive factor.
He was the one who made the initial breakthrough toward transplanting Wood Release cells.
He was the one who made the entire procedure possible.
And yet, Hiruzen and Orochimaru had hidden it from him.
"Unforgivable!"
"Hiruzen, you owe me an explanation!"
Danzo immediately stormed out of Root HQ, ignoring the fact it was 2–3 AM, and banged on Hiruzen Sarutobi's door.
Contrary to what Orochimaru had thought—imagining all Danzo's fury aimed at him—Danzo actually saw Hiruzen as the main culprit.
As Orochimaru's sensei, there was no way Orochimaru would hide something this big without Hiruzen's blessing.
But when the Third Hokage heard Danzo say Orochimaru could use Wood Release, he was visibly shaken.
As a skilled politician, Hiruzen reacted quickly.
He immediately realized that Danzo also didn't know about Orochimaru's successful transplant.
But then… neither did he!
"You… you didn't know either?" Danzo suddenly froze. His towering fury settled into a strange calm—and he even let out a dry laugh.
The Third Hokage, who spent his life preaching the Will of Fire, had been deceived by his own prized student.
Clearly, Orochimaru didn't trust Hiruzen as much as Hiruzen had thought.
"Orochimaru…"
Hiruzen's expression darkened. Memories of a cold, detached youth from years ago flashed through his mind.
He had believed himself to be the only pillar in the life of this orphaned disciple.
Yet something as critical as the success of Wood Release transplantation… Orochimaru hadn't told him.
Had the red-haired boy not forced Orochimaru to expose it in battle, Hiruzen might never have known.
His student had grown up—and formed thoughts of his own.
"Hiruzen, bring Orochimaru back immediately. You know how important Wood Release is. We can't let him fall into enemy hands."
Danzo's voice was grave. "The enemy's not stupid. They'll know Orochimaru didn't gain Wood Release naturally. If he's captured, the technique will definitely be exposed. And then—"
Who knew what would happen? In any case, Orochimaru needed to return immediately.
Danzo had yearned for Wood Release far too long. He wouldn't wait any longer.
"No."
Hiruzen immediately shook his head and rejected Danzo's proposal. "Orochimaru cannot return yet."
Danzo snapped, "Why not? Don't you care what happens to him?"
Hiruzen glanced at Danzo, a glint of wariness flashing through his eyes. "Wait."
Wait for what?
For the ANBU to report in, of course.
News that Orochimaru had Wood Release was too important. No matter how late, ANBU would always inform him.
Now that Danzo had gotten the intel before ANBU… it meant Root had grown beyond Hiruzen's control.
"You—" Danzo wanted to press further, but when he saw the caution in Hiruzen's eyes, he stiffened. Something clicked in his mind, and he fell silent.
Soon after, the ANBU arrived with the full report from the Land of Rivers.
"Orochimaru… sigh."
Reading the report, Hiruzen felt a pang of disappointment. Orochimaru had made no effort to report back after exposing his Wood Release. That stung.
But there was nothing Hiruzen could do about it.
This was the downside of letting Orochimaru join the Wood Release replication experiments.
From the shadows, Orochimaru had surely seen hints of Hiruzen's two-faced nature—and had begun to hold back.
Hiruzen had expected this.
Still, seeing Orochimaru act on it was painful to accept.
But like it or not, there was no going back.
"It seems Orochimaru can no longer be considered for the next Hokage."
So Hiruzen concluded silently.
"That's enough, Hiruzen," Danzo said. "You've seen the report. Now order Orochimaru to return."
"No."
Hiruzen refused again. His eyes fell on another part of the report, and he frowned.
"Orochimaru can't come back yet. Sunagakure has produced a new threat—Sasori of the Red Sand. He inherited the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release: Iron Sand techniques, and has innovated beyond them, developing a powerful combination of Magnet Release and Lightning Release."
"His strength forced even Orochimaru—wielder of Wood Release—to retreat."
Hiruzen said gravely, "That man is too dangerous. Right now, only Orochimaru can hold him back. To ensure the Land of Rivers doesn't fall, Orochimaru must remain."
"But—!" Danzo protested.
"No buts," Hiruzen said firmly. "Konoha's interests come first. We cannot allow the Land of Rivers to collapse and let the war reach the Land of Fire."
(END CHAPTER)
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