Chapter 174: Orochimaru’s Defection, The Plan Unfolds Smoothly!

Chapter 174: Orochimaru's Defection, The Plan Unfolds Smoothly!

Haneda's eyes glowed, revealing a sun-like pattern—the Mangekyou Sharingan!

Even Yashiro, who had heard rumors of Haneda possessing the Mangekyou Sharingan, was silently astounded upon seeing those eyes. Such chakra, such ocular power—it far surpassed his own three-tomoe Sharingan. A single genjutsu could likely incapacitate him in an instant.

Haneda gave an order:

"Continue to lie low in the Anbu and gather intelligence on Root and anything related to Orochimaru."

He turned away, a mysterious yet confident expression on his face.

"Before the Jonin assembly's vote, something big is bound to happen."

---

The Jonin assembly's vote was scheduled for a month later. During this time, the candidates—Minato and Orochimaru—visited various clans, campaigning and sharing their political ideals. Surprisingly, Minato was actively engaged in promoting himself, while Orochimaru had seemingly vanished.

Minato's warm, generous personality, along with his bright and gentle demeanor, attracted considerable support from many mid- and lower-ranked shinobi. Even some Jonin who were neutral or previously aligned with Orochimaru began supporting Minato.

Then, on the night before the assembly's vote, shocking news reached the Hokage building: Orochimaru had conducted live experiments on fellow villagers and shinobi, including reviving the experiment with Hashirama's cells! The Third Hokage immediately ordered the Anbu to seal this intelligence, forbidding it from leaving the building. He then gathered a team of Anbu and headed towards Orochimaru's hidden laboratory in the Forest of Death.

Meanwhile, a crow quietly landed on a worn, two-story building. Haneda untied the note from its leg, glanced at it, and smiled slightly. This was his opportunity to secure the location of Ryuchi Cave and Hashirama's cells!

The full moon shone brightly in the sky, casting its pale light over the ominous Forest of Death. Beneath one of the pathways lay Orochimaru's hidden laboratory, where he stood with a scalpel in hand, conducting an experiment on a live Konoha shinobi.

Coldly, Orochimaru glanced at his subject, calculating the time. In his mind, he saw flashes of Nawaki, Dan, and fallen comrades from the war. His memory finally settled on a young boy with a striking bowl cut.

"Life is so fragile," he murmured. "Interesting things are always fleeting and meaningless. Only immortality can allow one to witness more."

After a moment, he sighed.

"It's time… time to leave this decrepit windmill."

By then, the Third Hokage and the Anbu had surrounded Orochimaru's lab. The Anbu members positioned themselves and broke in, with the Third Hokage entering shortly afterward. The moment he noticed Orochimaru and the lab's bloody smell, his expression turned somber.

"It seems I've been discovered," Orochimaru said with a cold smile. "How unfortunate."

Without pausing, he continued his experiment, barely turning his head.

"Why… why would you do this?" demanded the Third Hokage.

Orochimaru responded indifferently, "Perhaps I should just kill you too."

The Third Hokage gave him one last chance.

"Orochimaru, did you do this? Tell me, what are you doing here!"

Orochimaru shrugged. "Now that I've been discovered, there's no point pretending. And as for why I did this… Ha! I simply wish to master all ninjutsu and understand every truth in this world."

He released his chakra, producing two colors—blue and yellow—surrounding him.

"Like mixing blue and yellow to create green," he continued. "If blue represents chakra, and yellow represents seals, then green is ninjutsu. The possibilities are endless."

A yin-yang pattern appeared behind him, as he added, "There are tens of thousands of jutsu, and even more yet undiscovered. To master all of them requires an eternity. Only one who has lived long enough to understand everything can be called the ultimate being!"

The Third Hokage listened in silence, his voice heavy as he finally commanded,

"Seize him!"

As the Third Hokage spoke, a hint of sorrow flickered in Orochimaru's eyes.

---

Shortly after Orochimaru escaped the lab, Jiraiya intercepted him, and the two exchanged words before engaging in a brief skirmish. Jiraiya fell, and Orochimaru gazed back at him, laughing bitterly before continuing his flight. But after only a few more steps, another figure blocked his path.

"It's been a while, Orochimaru," said Haneda, who had been waiting for him.

"You came too, Haneda," Orochimaru sneered, noticing Haneda's Sharingan. "After two battles, even you must be worn out by now. You're no match for me."

Haneda's eyes shifted, revealing the sun-patterned Mangekyou Sharingan.

"With or without these eyes, you're no match for me now," Haneda replied calmly.

Orochimaru, sweating slightly, questioned him, "Do you plan to drag me back to Konoha?"

Realizing his chakra reserves were low and with his escape support from Danzo too far away, he knew he couldn't win against Haneda in his current condition.

"There are no eternal friends or enemies, only lasting interests," Haneda remarked, unsheathing his sword, which glowed silver under the moonlight.

Orochimaru smirked. "You're an interesting person, Haneda. What do you want from me?"

"Ryuchi Cave's summoning contract and its location," Haneda replied. "And the First Hokage's cells. You should have both, right?"

"Fine."

Orochimaru didn't hesitate. He spit out a scroll from his mouth, which displayed his own and previous Ryuchi Cave summoners' names. Haneda signed it with his blood and summoned a snake to confirm its authenticity. Returning the contract, he reminded Orochimaru,

"And the First Hokage's cells."

With a wry smile, Orochimaru placed a test tube filled with a pale green liquid on the ground.

"I'll share a piece of information with you, Haneda: the Sharingan can suppress Hashirama's cells. Maybe the Uchiha and Senju clans share a common ancestor."

With those words, Orochimaru left.

Haneda felt a familiar energy as he held the vial. Hashirama's cells, no doubt.

"It's all in my hands," he murmured with a satisfied smile, departing the scene. His plan had gone smoothly.