Chapter 23: Shouting Slogans Is My Specialty! The Master and Student Finally Meet!
The poor ventilation filled the air with a nauseating stench.
"This is what it means to be a true ninja," Kazuya thought with a hint of admiration.
He could barely stand being here for ten minutes, but Orochimaru had spent years conducting experiments in these conditions.
Not your average person, that's for sure.
Orochimaru had always shown a certain degree of kindness to Konoha's ninja. As long as they didn't interfere with his experiments, he rarely went too far.
Otherwise, even the Third Hokage wouldn't have dared to split up his ANBU forces.
After all, Orochimaru was one of the legendary Sannin.
A Kage-level ninja!
If an ANBU agent encountered him alone, they'd be dead within seconds.
Below ground...
This was a mid-sized experimental base.
As soon as they entered, they were greeted by the sight of two human experimentation labs.
On the left, dozens of containers held human bodies, though it was impossible to tell what kind of experiments were being conducted. The scene was eerie, to say the least.
On the right, it was even worse.
The lab was massive, filled with large vats, each containing grotesque creatures with snake heads and human bodies or vice versa.
Some of the specimens were still alive, writhing in agony and letting out guttural wails from within the tanks.
A few researchers were present, and upon seeing the Third Hokage, they fell to their knees in terror, trembling uncontrollably.
"What the hell!"
Kazuya was shocked.
Seriously?!
He knew Orochimaru was a mad scientist, but he had no idea his methods were this extreme.
He felt sick.
Looking at these mutated abominations reminded him of Shou Tucker from Fullmetal Alchemist—the man who fused his daughter with his dog to create a chimera.
It was a childhood trauma for Kazuya!
For context, Shou Tucker had been voted as a villain even more hated than Danzo—five times over!
Regular villains just couldn't compare!
"Alright then..."
Kazuya sighed inwardly.
He retracted his earlier thoughts. Orochimaru didn't have any sense of humanity left.
At this point, he was nothing more than a monster in human skin.
Even the Third Hokage, who had seen countless horrors in his lifetime, was momentarily stunned by the sight.
"Orochimaru!!!"
The Third Hokage ground his teeth.
It seemed his once-favored student had fully transformed into a demon.
If the atrocities in this lab were ever made public, the political backlash alone could force the Third Hokage to step down as Hokage.
While the Third Hokage was still grappling with his rage and uncertainty...
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
Suddenly, a sea of flames surged from behind him, swallowing the grotesque lab in an instant.
It was Kazuya!
Kazuya had made his move!
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, and Elephant all turned to look.
"Apologies."
Kazuya's voice was calm. "One of Orochimaru's subordinates tried to attack, so I dealt with it."
Not that it mattered.
Those people were ashes now, so whatever he said was the truth as far as anyone knew.
The Third Hokage's expression shifted slightly. The anger on his face eased a little, and he said, "Well done, Kazuya. These traitors who've fallen into darkness are beyond redemption. They deserve to be executed on the spot."
In simpler terms...
That was a cover-up!
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Both Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Elephant nodded in agreement.
"Kazuya!"
For the first time since entering, the Third Hokage's furious expression softened as he looked at Kazuya. "I knew I wasn't wrong about you. You're truly a ninja who can carry on the Will of Fire!"
"Everything for the village! Everything for the Hokage!"
Kazuya shouted the slogan with practiced enthusiasm.
Of course, he didn't believe a word of it, but whoever wanted to buy into it could.
"Yes, everything we do is for the village!"
The Third Hokage's gaze toward Kazuya grew even more appreciative.
What a talent!
This is exactly the kind of person the village needs!
"Orochimaru!"
Suddenly, as if sensing something, the Third Hokage's face darkened once more.
In an instant, he vanished, his Body Flicker Technique leaving nothing but a gust of wind in his place.
"Kazuya, what should we do now...?"
Even Sarutobi Shinnosuke was now looking to Kazuya for leadership.
"You two deal with those who have fallen into darkness," Kazuya said calmly. "I'll go assist the Hokage."
"But..." Shinnosuke hesitated, visibly shaken. The battlefield between his father and Orochimaru was a clash of Kage-level powerhouses. Even an elite Jōnin stepping in would be risking certain death.
And yet...
Kazuya, without hesitation, rushed forward! Just as he had when Jiraiya fought the Fourth Raikage!
Such courage! Such unwavering conviction!
Beside them, Elephant spoke up, "Shinnosuke, you take control of the underground lab. I'll go assist the Hokage with Captain Kazuya! That's an order!"
"Yes, Vice-Captain!" Shinnosuke didn't hesitate any longer and immediately used Body Flicker to vanish. His task now was to take control of the underground base and then assist his father as quickly as possible.
"Kazuya, shall we?"
"Let's go!" Kazuya could hardly wait.
The upcoming battle between the Third Hokage and Orochimaru was something he absolutely couldn't miss.
Two top-tier Kage-level ninjas, perhaps even surpassing that rank—it was bound to yield valuable gains!
In the later stages of the story, when god-like abilities ran rampant, the Third Hokage might have seemed unimpressive. But among the current Five Kage, he was undoubtedly the strongest.
Sure, he probably couldn't beat monsters like the Third Raikage or Hanzo the Salamander, but keeping someone like the Fourth Raikage or the Third Tsuchikage Onoki in check? No problem!
The two quickly made their way to the battlefield.
"Vice-Captain..." Kazuya's eyes occasionally flickered over to Elephant, his companion.
After the sacrifice of the ANBU Captain during the Nine-Tails attack, the position had remained vacant, and this "narrator" Elephant was currently the highest-ranking ANBU officer. His power was comparable to that of Shikaku Nara, the head of the Jōnin Council.
These were the people who could influence the selection of the next Hokage.
"Orochimaru!"
"I am so disappointed in you!"
Inside a small laboratory, the Third Hokage glanced at the corpses hanging on the walls and said darkly, "You've completely forgotten the Will of Fire and fallen into evil!"
Among the corpses were members of the Uchiha clan and a missing ANBU ninja.
It was clear now that his prized student had started targeting the village's ninja.
This was unforgivable!
"Heh..." Orochimaru's pale face twisted into a strange, sinister smile. He sneered, "Oh, my dear teacher, the so-called Will of Fire is just a meaningless concept!"
"In this world... the only thing worth pursuing is immortality!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"The Will of Fire... When death comes knocking, will it save you from the Reaper's grasp?!"
The Third Hokage's expression grew increasingly grim.
It seemed... his disciple was truly beyond saving.