Chapter 132 Sarutobi Orochimaru

The eldest son died in the second shinobi war, the second son had been kidnapped by his student, and now even his wife is killed by his friend. Sarutobi Hiruzen believed that happiness was no longer within his reach.

In his old age, he spent his days like any ordinary elderly man, finding solace in tea ceremonies, bonsai plants, and chess. Yet, he also sent his clan members to search for traces of Orochimaru, hoping to bring back his youngest son, Asuma.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had sought help from Tsunade, requesting her to send a team of ninjas to find Orochimaru. He had hoped that she, with her authority as the current Hokage, would understand the urgency and personal circumstances of his request. However, Tsunade's response was blunt and unsympathetic: "No need to talk about this to me. You can directly post the mission about it yourself!"

Her words hit him like a cold wind, a stark reminder of the shift in their positions and the reality of his current status. She continued, her tone unyielding, "When you were Hokage, you used Konoha's resources to send a team after your son, and I couldn't stop it. Those days are over. Now, You're no longer Hokage. Want to find your son? Pay for it yourself!"

Tsunade's eyes were hard as she spoke, reflecting the burdens and responsibilities she now carried. "As a former Hokage, do you think the village's resources should be used for personal matters? Especially when there are countless other urgent missions and crises(Nine-Tails) I need to address. The priority now is the safety and well-being of the entire village, not individual pursuits."

Hiruzen's heart ached at her words, but he knew she was right. The village faced many threats, and her responsibilities were immense. Tsunade's refusal wasn't out of spite but a necessity dictated by her role. He had once held that very position, understanding the weight of every decision and the balance required to maintain the village's stability.

Yet, her words carried an underlying message: his time had passed. The respect and authority he once commanded were no longer his to wield. If he wanted to find Orochimaru and bring Asuma back, he would have to do it like any other villager—by posting a mission and paying the required fees.

As he left Tsunade's office, Hiruzen couldn't help but reflect on the irony of his situation. Once the most powerful and respected man in the village, now just another worried father desperate to save his son. The reality of his diminished influence weighed heavily on him, but his determination remained unbroken. He would do whatever it took to bring Asuma back, even if it meant humbling himself to seek help in a way he never had before.

Tracking an S-class traitor like Orochimaru, even if only to follow his trail, is a daunting task worthy of an A-rank evaluation. Only Jōnin would have the skills to undertake it, but who among them would willingly take on such a thankless and perilous mission?

Everyone knew the strained relationship between Sarutobi Hiruzen, the former Hokage, and the current Hokage. The idea of helping Hiruzen, especially when it could potentially annoy the current Hokage, was far from appealing. Who would risk their standing and peace of mind for such a mission?

Even when Sarutobi Hiruzen offered an S-rank reward for an A-rank task, no one was willing to step forward. In his desperation, Hiruzen turned to Jiraiya, the only person with a semblance of loyalty and mentorship towards him. Jiraiya, recognizing the importance of the matter, at least verbally agreed to help. After all, he too was interested in finding Orochimaru. However, Jiraiya's efforts yielded no news for over two years, and he seemed preoccupied with writing his infamous novel' Icha Icha'.

Frustration gnawed at Hiruzen. He questioned whether Jiraiya was truly committed to the search or simply distracted by his other interests. "Is he even taking this seriously?" he wondered in exasperation.

As Hiruzen continued tending to his beloved Bonsai plants, a sense of unease began to creep in. The silence around him was oddly unsettling. Though he had suffered an attack from Danzo the previous year and had lost some of his clan's strength, the Sarutobi clan remained one of Konoha's foremost shinobi clans. The pervasive quiet seemed out of place and foreboding.

His heart raced with growing anxiety as the silence deepened, an unsettling contrast to the usual bustle of his surroundings. The restlessness in his chest grew stronger, signaling that something was amiss, and his worries about the safety of his home intensified.

Sarutobi Hiruzen set aside the scissors and walked out of the garden. However, as he stepped through the main entrance, he was stunned by the sight before him.

Two Chūnin guards, who were supposed to be stationed at his house's door, lay on the ground with purple-tinged faces, their bodies contorted in agony. A massive snake was coiled around them, its forked tongue flickering menacingly as it hissed at him.

Hiruzen's shock was brief but intense. He gritted his teeth and roared, "Orochimaru!!!" His voice carried a mix of struggle, anger, and an unexpected edge of excitement. The elusive target he had been searching for years had come to him— there was finally hope for news about his son.

From behind the snake, a familiar, taunting voice emerged. "Hehe, Sarutobi-sensei, when did you become so impulsive and irritable? This is not the demeanor expected of a mature and stable politician~"

The face that appeared was unchanged from Hiruzen's memories, despite the passage of years. Orochimaru stood before him, clad in his classic gray and white robe, the rope tied around his waist a hallmark of his dark, enigmatic chakra.

"You dare to come back to Konoha!?" Hiruzen's eyes were bloodshot, a fury so intense it seemed poised to ignite at any moment.

"Hehe, why wouldn't I dare to come back to Konoha? I haven't committed any crimes. My actions were carried out under the orders of you, The Hokage of Konoha, and Hokage Assistant Danzo. If I were a criminal, wouldn't that make you the same?" Orochimaru said cheerfully. "So much has happened while I was away. The four of you, the highest authorities in Konoha, fought amongst yourselves until only one remained… Hehe, it's a pity I wasn't there to witness it."

As Orochimaru spoke, the presence of Sarutobi and Shimura ninjas began to be felt around the mansion. The Sarutobi and Shimura clans, separated by only half a street, were already mobilizing. Despite Orochimaru's quiet entry into Konoha, facilitated by Tatsuya's and Tsunade's privileges, his intrusion into the Sarutobi compound was met with growing alarm.

At this point, the Otonin had not yet been established, and Orochimaru's forces were still limited, far from the comprehensive Konoha collapse plan. Nevertheless, his presence was enough to cause significant concern.

"Is that… Orochimaru?!" exclaimed Sarutobi Haruto, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Why is he back?" asked Shimura Kaito, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern.

"Quick, call for reinforcements!" ordered Sarutobi Yuki, urgency evident in her tone.

"No way, most of the ninjas in the village are out on guard duty right now," responded Sarutobi Mei, frustration clear in her voice.

When Sarutobi and Shimura ninjas arrived and saw Orochimaru, they were stunned. In their haste to call for reinforcements, they suddenly remembered Tsunade's orders: all available ninjas had been sent to the outer defense lines of the village.

"Where is Asuma?!" Sarutobi Hiruzen demanded his focus solely on finding his youngest son. The old grudges and trivial matters were irrelevant to him now; he was desperate to know the whereabouts of Asuma, who had been missing for five years. Was his son still alive?

Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Hehe, since you're so eager to see him, I'll let you meet him."

Hiruzen's heart leaped with hope at the thought that his son might still be alive. But Orochimaru's next actions quickly dashed those hopes. He covered his face with his right hand and then, with a swift motion, tore away his disguise.

The faces of nearly a hundred Sarutobi and Shimura ninjas, including Hiruzen's, went slack with shock. Underneath the disguise was a remarkably young face, barely fifteen years old. It bore a striking resemblance to a young Sarutobi Hiruzen, about 50% similar.

"You… you…" Hiruzen stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief. He was utterly stunned.

"Why, what's wrong? His face..." murmured Sarutobi Riku, bewildered.

"He looks like he bit like someone from our Sarutobi clan," said Sarutobi Aiko, her voice filled with astonishment.

"Could it be Asuma?" wondered Sarutobi Daichi, struggling to understand.

"How is that possible? What did you do?!" exclaimed Sarutobi Hana, her panic evident.

At that moment, the realization hit everyone like a thunderclap. The young face was unmistakably connected to Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Orochimaru's new body revelation was both shocking and incomprehensible to the current shinobi. Only Hiruzen had a small inkling as former Hokage, Orochimaru's new body hinted at the use of the Dead Reincarnation Jutsu, a forbidden technique that transfers souls into new bodies. An ingenious way of Immortality.

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