Chapter 201

The cleverest of them all was Orochimaru. Upon hearing the news that Tsunade had returned, he immediately packed his things and prepared to flee.

He had revealed Tsunade's hemophobia to his dear partner Danzo. Although the assassination attempt was Danzo's own doing, it still had a slight connection to him.

Not to mention the human experiments he conducted with Danzo. If those were to be discovered, he would undoubtedly be finished. The Third Hokage would have no trouble killing him now.

In a hidden underground lab in the back hills, Orochimaru was waiting for news. When he noticed the reaction from the contact snakes he had placed in Danzo's house and at the Root base, he quickly packed everything he could into a snakeskin bag and fled.

It was too late! This time, he truly couldn't make it in time!

Danzo was under house arrest by the Third Hokage and was being monitored. The ANBU had already reached the Root base, so it wouldn't be long before they found the experimental records there.

There was no other option but to escape quickly!

"Tsunade's hemophobia has been cured..."

After much thought, Orochimaru concluded that the reason for his exposure was Tsunade.

She must have dealt with all the assassins and found out the mastermind behind it. There was no other possibility!

...

"Orochimaru-sama, are you on a mission?"

The gate guard ninja respectfully greeted Orochimaru, who was in a hurry.

"Hmm..."

Orochimaru nodded, then walked out of Konoha's gates without looking back.

One Third Hokage was already a handful. Adding Tsunade, who seemed to have overcome her hemophobia, left him with no choice but to flee!

...

The next day, in a small meeting room for Konoha's top officials.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado all sat with their heads down, saying nothing. The result of yesterday's thunderous action was a thick stack of Root's secrets on the table and the news that Orochimaru had secretly defected the day before, anticipating his exposure.

Hiruzen felt deeply guilty. With his tacit approval, his old comrade had committed so many atrocities: secret human experiments with Orochimaru, collaboration with Hanzo to kill Jiraiya's student...

The crimes were countless and unspeakable!

Hiruzen knew that without his approval, Danzo couldn't have been so reckless. If Danzo was guilty, then he wasn't much better.

"It seems..." Hiruzen sighed with a bitter smile, his face aging ten years in an instant, "I'm not fit to be Hokage. Koharu, Homura, from today, disband my direct ANBU unit. I will step down from Konoha's highest decision-making body..."

At this, Koharu instantly objected, sternly rebuking, "No! Only a few of us know about Danzo's deeds, but the impact is far too serious! You can't step down now! You must take full responsibility!"

Trying to run now? Too late! Clean up your own mess!

Knock, knock, knock!

"Come in."

"Hokage-sama, the Uchiha clan has gathered in front of the Hokage Tower, demanding to confront Danzo!"

The three top officials of Konoha looked at each other in shock. How did the Uchiha know?!

After questioning, they learned that the letter Tsunade had delivered at the gate yesterday had been discovered by the ninja in charge of disposal that night. The contents of the letter had spread throughout Konoha overnight with terrifying efficiency!

The three exchanged worried glances. They hadn't expected any evidence to be left behind! The body had more than one copy of the letter!

"Hiruzen, this is really troublesome."

"Indeed, to be caught by the Uchiha at such a critical moment..."

The two advisors sighed deeply, while Hiruzen pondered in silence. After a long time, he lifted his head, determination shining in his eyes.

"Leave it to me. I'll talk to Danzo. You two go and calm the Uchiha."

With that, Hiruzen stood up and slowly walked out of the meeting room. He had made up his mind. With Tsunade back and having stayed in Konoha overnight, perhaps this was a golden opportunity—to cleanse Konoha of its darkness!

Where there is light, there are shadows. But his light had grown too weak, while the shadows had become overwhelmingly dark in comparison!

The Fourth Hokage, in whom he had placed great hope, had died in the Nine-Tails incident. To turn this situation around and let Konoha be reborn from the ashes, only someone with a brighter light than his could take over as Hokage!

At this moment, Hiruzen no longer hesitated. With Orochimaru on the run, Danzo exposed, and Tsunade's return (albeit tentatively), this was Konoha's one chance to let the light outshine the darkness!

...

Today was Koyuki Chloe's fifth birthday. As the director of the orphanage, Nonō Yakushi had used the orphanage's limited funds to buy a small birthday cake for her.

Seeing Chloe share the small cake with every child, including herself, Nonō nodded frequently, thinking this little one truly had a kind heart.

After dinner, Chloe asked Nonō if she could go out to play with Kabuto. Seeing Chloe's maturity, Nonō gladly agreed and secretly gave the two friends a bit of pocket money.

Kabuto was a prodigious genius. Black Zetsu, with his millennia of experience, had seen this within days. Such a person had to be controlled to ensure future loyalty!

To Kabuto, this new friend had a quality that none of the others possessed: an overwhelming brightness!

This friend always smiled with a big, toothy grin, a sunshine that could illuminate the entire orphanage, including himself!

...

Yesterday, Tsunade had planned to leave Konoha with Shizune immediately after delivering the letter, but for some reason, she hesitated at the last moment.

For the first time in years, Tsunade stayed in Konoha for more than a day. She wasn't sure why, perhaps she was just avoiding something.

Walking along the familiar yet unfamiliar streets of Konoha, listening to the ninja gossiping about how Danzo might be the culprit behind the Fourth Hokage's death, Tsunade felt an uncontrollable urge to confront the Third Hokage. But she ultimately refrained, thinking it had little to do with her.

Feeling conflicted, Tsunade wandered towards the quieter riverside of Konoha.

"Don't move! Your wound will reopen! Idiot!"

"Sorry, sorry, hehe..."

Tsunade's thoughts were interrupted by the voices of two ordinary-looking children on the grassy bank—Kabuto and Chloe. She then noticed the bespectacled boy using medical ninjutsu to treat a wound on the gray-green-haired boy, likely from playing.

He's a genius! Tsunade instantly recognized the obvious talent.

"So, Tsunade, are you interested in taking him as a student?"

"No thanks, too troublesome." Tsunade smirked, not surprised by the sudden appearance of the Third Hokage beside her.

"Hehehe..."

Having spent the morning in secret talks with Danzo and reaching some undisclosed agreement, the Third Hokage stroked his beard and laughed. Though slightly disappointed, he still memorized the face of this little genius, thinking he might be Konoha's future.

"Tsunade, let's talk."

Seeing Hiruzen, who seemed to have aged years overnight, Tsunade felt torn. After a long internal struggle, she finally conceded to herself.

"Alright, I have something to discuss with the old man too. See you tonight."

There's hope!

Watching Tsunade walk away, Hiruzen felt a surge of joy. This long-absent princess still had the Will of Fire deep in her heart!

Otherwise, she wouldn't have returned and stayed in the village for more than a day!

...

At the Hokage Tower, facing the Uchiha clan, Danzo slowly unwrapped the bandages around his nearly blind right eye.

"Uchiha clan members, the mission letter is just an enemy's ploy to sow discord within Konoha. Keep your eyes open!"

Koharu spoke up timely, with Homura chiming in, "Indeed, Konoha is everyone's village. We wouldn't do anything to harm the Uchiha!"

"How do we know he hasn't replaced his eye again!"

An Uchiha jonin shouted but was calmed by the stoic Fugaku, who replied calmly.

"As the Uchiha Police Force, we will investigate and clear up the rumors in the village. Today, we just wanted to confirm things with our own eyes."

Homura acted as a mediator, "Since the truth is out, the Uchiha can return to their duties. After the Nine-Tails' attack, there are many spies to root out."

"Understood." Fugaku nodded slightly, then added, "But before that, as the clan head, I must bring up the Uchiha's request regarding our new clan grounds."

This was a clever way of saying, 'I'm pressured by my clan to bring this up, so please consider it.'

Danzo, realizing they didn't want to relocate, angrily retorted, "The location of clan grounds concerns all Konoha ninja. We can't make exceptions for the Uchiha!"

Using all Konoha's ninja to pressure the Uchiha in return, he continued, "Rebuilding on ruins is different from building on new land. Plus, we've lived there for decades. Our clan has deep ties to the land."

"Of course, if Elder Danzo is willing to fund our move, we can relocate."

One Uchiha spoke up, "Yes, ten million ryo should suffice."

"Surely Elder Danzo can afford that?"

The Uchiha chimed in, clearly mocking Danzo. The assassination contract was worth only ten million ryo!

Danzo was furious, recognizing the mockery. He wondered who had betrayed him and was infuriated that the bounty on him was so low. He vowed to find out and take revenge.

At this point, Hiruzen intervened, "Fugaku, the planning of the clan grounds involves all major clans. Submit your request, and we will consider it."

Seeing Hiruzen's amiable approach, Fugaku decided to leave it at that, knowing there was hope, and led the somewhat dissatisfied Uchiha away.

With Tsunade back and Jiraiya possibly returning soon, Konoha with all three Sannin was something the Uchiha couldn't easily challenge. At this moment, no one outside the top four in Konoha knew Orochimaru had defected.

"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!"

With that, Danzo stormed off.

...

Outside Konoha, at the Uzumaki clan's shrine.

Not knowing which mask was the Reaper Death Seal mask, Shinji had stored them all in his system space.

Each might harbor a strange god or demon, so he planned to study them thoroughly. They might come in handy in future battles, shocking his companions.

Looking at Konoha, calm but with underlying turmoil, Shinji decided against entering for ramen. With Black Zetsu inside, it was enough.

In these two months, disguised as a new identity, Black Zetsu had sent White Zetsu to investigate the never-before-heard organization called "Kara" and the ancient name "Angolmois."

Having found some clues, Black Zetsu now had greater faith in the system given to him. As long as he kept an eye on those Rinnegan, his mother's resurrection was assured in a few years.

At dusk, lying on the grassy bank with Kabuto, Chloe looked at the Fourth Hokage's face on the monument, feeling a bit wistful.

If she had obtained the system earlier, recruiting the Fourth Hokage would have been great. He was strong, handsome, and smart—qualities she needed in a subordinate!

"Chloe, do you want to become Hokage?" Kabuto asked, misunderstanding her thoughts.

Chloe imagined herself as Hokage, leading all the ninja in the village to protect her mother and fight against the Otsutsuki and Angolmois. She couldn't understand why this vision stirred something within her.