'Teacher is finally no longer an unmoving windmill, how interesting.'
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, I will use death row inmates from the prison as sacrifices," Being teased by his own student, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a little embarrassed.
"A teacher who knows how to adapt, I like that."
Orochimaru also wanted to figure out what kind of forbidden jutsu it would be to predict the future, so he quickly summoned Senju Tobirama.
But unfortunately…
"No reaction? What kind of ninjutsu did that masked Uchiha use? A sealing technique?", Seeing the unresponsive sacrifice, Orochimaru felt a little puzzled and uncertain.
"Sealing? That guy Uchiha Obito even mastered sealing techniques. But why would he specifically seal the Second Hokage? No... maybe it's just a coincidence."
Because they couldn't summon Senju Tobirama, Sarutobi Hiruzen also became more suspicious.
But once he thought about Uchiha Obito's personality, he wasn't so suspicious anymore.
Back then, Uchiha Obito was just like Naruto is now, both known as the number one unpredictable ninja.
It wouldn't be surprising no matter what he did.
"Obito?", Orochimaru had heard of the name Uchiha Obito, because of that decisive battle on the Kannabi Bridge.
But that was all.
"Actually, this ability to predict the future, I've heard of it in other places too."
It was only now that Orochimaru recalled the priestess from the Land of Demons.
Before, he had always scoffed at things like predicting the future, thinking it was all just fantasies of ordinary people and exaggerated rumors.
But now it seems, maybe there's a small chance it's real.
After all, even Sarutobi Hiruzen had obtained intelligence about the future.
"Land of Demons?", Sarutobi Hiruzen remembered that this country had a fairly decent relationship with the Land of Fire.
"When there's time in the future, send someone to investigate."
As for now...
"Speak, teacher. Why are you telling me all this, what's your goal?"
Surely it couldn't just be to invite him to the Hokage office for tea, right?
Orochimaru looked at this once very familiar, but now rather foreign office, and couldn't help but sigh at the wonder of fate.
Who could have imagined, the master and student who had once fought to the death would now sit together drinking tea again?
"I want to do everything I can to have Konoha annex the other four major ninja villages. From then on, the ninja world will belong to Konoha alone. Orochimaru, are you willing to help me?", Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't hide his ambition in the slightest.
Because he knew only this way could he earn Orochimaru's trust, or even unexpectedly match his desires.
"You want to collect the tailed beasts to gain immortality. This is your chance."
"I see, no wonder you sent Jiraiya to try to persuade me to return to the village."
Annex the other four major ninja villages?
Now that ambition of the teacher finally lives up to the title of ninja world's great hero.
Originally, Orochimaru had scoffed at Sarutobi Hiruzen's recruitment efforts, but if it's for such an exciting grand plan…
He really didn't have a reason to refuse.
"So? Do you dare to gamble with me, Orochimaru?"
To be able to shine again in front of his most favored former student, and to see the other's shocked expression at his plan, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt as if he had returned to decades ago.
This feeling intoxicated him.
"Teacher, are you underestimating me?"
'Using provocation now? Looks like the old man really does need me.'
Orochimaru also recalled the times he led troops into battle under Sarutobi Hiruzen.
However, before long, he also recalled that evening in the hidden chamber of Konoha's forbidden techniques, how Sarutobi Hiruzen almost wiped him out completely.
"But, teacher, how are you going to explain to the rest of Konoha the return of a rogue ninja like me?"
"I plan to have Danzo take the blame for your past crimes. At that time, I'll clarify to everyone that it was my misunderstanding back then, Danzo was the one who did human experiments."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had long since thought of a way to clear Orochimaru's name.
Originally, this plan was meant to clear Uchiha Itachi's name, but now it's being used for Orochimaru...
When the time comes, clearing Itachi's name will just have to rely on some random excuse.
But it didn't matter, Uchiha Itachi was never very trustworthy anyway. That blade could be used while it was useful, and thrown away if not.
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't care much.
Right now, getting Orochimaru and his improved Edo Tensei was the top priority.
"Is that so? Then I really must apologize, on Danzo's behalf," Hearing this arrangement, Orochimaru couldn't help but chuckle lightly.
'Teacher really has become interesting.'
One could imagine, if Danzo heard about Sarutobi Hiruzen's decision, even leaning on a cane, he would definitely jump up in fury.
"It's fine. This is also for the sake of Konoha. I think he wouldn't mind," Sarutobi Hiruzen, for once, shared a joke with Orochimaru.
———
"See? Naruto really is more awesome!"
[Dream Space]
Kushina looked at the scene where Sasuke collapsed on the ground, while Naruto exploded with Nine-Tails power and struck down Shukaku with a Rasengan infused with tailed beast chakra, and couldn't help but excitedly pat her smooth thigh, then shot a proud look at Mikoto beside her.
"Sasuke contributed a lot too... If he hadn't used Chidori to cut off Shukaku's giant claw, Naruto definitely couldn't have hit Shukaku's vital point on the head. As expected of real brothers, their coordination is impeccable."
Although a little annoyed at Kushina's smug expression, Uchiha Mikoto was still comforted by the scene of Sasuke and Naruto overcoming a strong enemy.
Not only did they defeat that Sand Jonin, they also took down the powerful Shukaku.
'Looks like Kage really taught the kids well.'
"Sasuke just talks big and then gets beaten up,, 'If I feel like it, I could kill you all.' Who did he even learn that from? It's too funny."
"That was at the beginning of the battle, using words to shake the enemy's morale. It's a way to make them underperform, not just bragging."
"Mikoto, your mouth sure is tough."
Seeing her bestie getting serious from her teasing, Kushina couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
"My mouth isn't tough. That was a tactic, only dummies like Kushina wouldn't know."
As Mikoto argued with Kushina, she also looked at the screen with concern, Naruto and Sasuke were now collapsed on the ground after awakening Gaara and defeating Shukaku.
"Damn, that Sand Jonin who got knocked down earlier isn't dead, he actually got up again..."
But having defeated Shukaku and awakened Gaara, Naruto and Sasuke were now completely exhausted on the ground.
"It's fine, hubby must be nearby. And... see? That Jonin got scared and ran."
In the end, the one who appeared next to Gaara was Maki, who didn't touch the collapsed Naruto. Instead, she fled with the equally exhausted Gaara in tow.
"But I wonder how things are going in Konoha... Orochimaru seeking revenge against Sarutobi Hiruzen must be fun. Too bad hubby won't let us see it."
After seeing that Naruto and Sasuke were safe, Kushina quickly switched her focus back to the Chunin Exams and mentioned the appearance of Uchiha Itachi.
"Never thought that Itachi would actually..."
In Kushina's impression, Itachi was just a polite and well-behaved child.
"It's not Mikoto's fault, Itachi must've been led astray by Fugaku."
Seeing Mikoto getting sad over it, Kushina quickly comforted her.
"Maybe my teachings all along had the opposite effect."
She had always tried to steer Uchiha Itachi away from that kind of future, often preaching to him. Maybe that's exactly what triggered a rebellious mindset in him.
"..."
While Mikoto felt sorrowful, Uchiha Izumi, who had already fallen into a gloomy state because of Itachi's appearance, completely sank into depression.
The boy she liked slaughtered her entire clan, all her family, and even herself.
She thought she had forgotten all that, but Uchiha Izumi realized this would forever be her nightmare.
'No, wait, I am already dead. Can I still have a "forever"?'
———
"Gaara and that white-towel Sand ninja ran away. We only brought back this puppet-using guy."
The battle in Konoha reached its end.
After dealing with the "aftermath" of Senju Tobirama, Uchiha Kage returned to Konoha, and soon met up with Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, and Rock Lee's group.
And the person they brought back, tightly bound like a rice dumpling, Kankuro.
"Good work. I will report your contributions to the Hokage-sama."
Although Gaara escaped, with Kankuro and Temari in hand, Uchiha Kage could still report successfully to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Where is Uchiha Itachi now?"
Though they had fought Gaara earlier because of Naruto, Sasuke still couldn't let go of Uchiha Itachi's appearance in the village.
"I don't know either."
Uchiha Kage knew that with Sasuke's personality, once he knew Itachi was around, he wouldn't let it go.
But he couldn't persuade him either.
Although it was true Sasuke couldn't beat Itachi, saying it out loud would only make him more stubborn.
After all, Sasuke still had a child's pride.
'Let's hope Uchiha Itachi avoids Sasuke on his own.'
"Hmph!"
Not getting any information about Uchiha Itachi, Sasuke immediately ran off elsewhere.
"Naruto, Sasuke, he..."
Right now, the only one who could temporarily calm Sasuke's urge for revenge was Naruto.
"Got it. I'll keep an eye on him."
'That Kage guy really knows how to use people. No idea how Mom fell for him...'
'Forget it.'
Naruto muttered a few complaints, gave Uchiha Kage a complicated glance, and quickly followed after Sasuke.
———
"I'm very sorry, Hokage-sama. Among the three Sand siblings, we only captured Kankuro and Temari, and let the last one escape."
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