"Ah! Ah! Ah! What a headache! I didn't expect that the great Jiraiya would be reduced to this!" Jiraiya lay sprawled across the desk in the Hokage's office, his expression dejected. Before him sat an intimidatingly thick stack of documents—missions, reports, petitions, and complaints—all waiting for immediate review.
The war had only just ended, and the transition into peace was far from simple. Namikaze Minato had ascended to the position of Fourth Hokage, but the sheer flood of affairs that needed attention daily was overwhelming. Reconstruction efforts, resource allocation, reparations, the grieving families of fallen shinobi, all demanded the Hokage's hand. Minato, brilliant though he was, still lacked the administrative experience necessary to manage the endless tide of problems.
Thus, the old guard remained at his side. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and his disciple Jiraiya, took on part of the burden, guiding Minato through this difficult process. It was both a test and a support, a way for Minato to learn the crushing responsibility that came with the Hokage's hat.
The Third Hokage straightened his back with a pained groan, his hand pressing against his stiff waist. His voice carried both weariness and authority. "Jiraiya, hurry up. The affairs of the village are too heavy for us to slack off."
Minato's face reflected deep guilt. He bowed his head slightly toward his teacher and mentor. "Sensei, Third Hokage-sama, I truly apologize… I didn't realize the Hokage's duties would be this overwhelming. You both haven't slept for two days because of me."
Jiraiya let out a long, dramatic sigh, scratching at his wild white hair. "Minato, you've got no idea. Fighting in a war was easier than this paperwork. At least out there, I could hit something with my fists. Here, the only thing I'm hitting is ink and parchment."
Despite his grumbling, he reached for the top document, breaking the seal and scanning the contents. The sound of his sighs echoed through the room like background noise.
*Ding! Ding!*
The crisp chime of the office bell broke the monotony.
"Please, come in." Minato called out, straightening in his chair.
With a low creak, the door swung open. A masked Anbu operative entered, dropped to one knee, and saluted respectfully. His voice was low and steady, but the weight of his words instantly froze the atmosphere. "Third Hokage-sama, Fourth Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sama—while inspecting Orochimaru-sama's residence, we discovered numerous corpses of Konoha shinobi… and the remains of many infants."
The words struck like thunder.
"What?" Hiruzen's face hardened immediately, his usually kind expression twisting into grim severity. He pushed himself to his feet, a dark shadow falling across his features.
There was no escaping it anymore. The truth of Orochimaru's sins was about to be revealed.
"I'll go take a look myself. Jiraiya, Minato—hold things here." the Third Hokage ordered without hesitation.
Jiraiya frowned, his voice dropping to a grave tone. "Old man, be careful."
As Hiruzen left with the Anbu, Jiraiya exchanged a tense glance with Minato. Both were thinking the same thing. 'What in the world have you done, Orochimaru?'
—
The Third Hokage followed the Anbu deep into Orochimaru's hidden residence. When he entered the underground chamber, his breath caught in his throat.
Rows upon rows of incubators lined the dimly lit basement, each one filled with small, fragile bodies. Infants, no older than a few months. Children, barely able to walk. Their tiny frames floated lifelessly in a viscous liquid, like grotesque specimens. Some were still alive, their weak movements a heartbreaking reminder of their suffering.
In another section of the room lay preserved adult bodies, suspended in glass as if frozen in the final moments of life. Their faces remained disturbingly vivid, their expressions frozen between agony and serenity.
Hiruzen's hands trembled. Tears welled in his aged eyes. "Orochimaru… what have you done… to these children?"
He had known for years that Orochimaru dabbled in forbidden techniques, but he had believed them to be extensions of his thirst for knowledge—dangerous, yes, but manageable. It wasn't until the recent disappearances of shinobi that Hiruzen began to sense something was terribly wrong. Even then, he never imagined it would descend into such monstrous acts.
If he had known sooner… he never would have let it reach this point.
'I was too naive… too blind.'
His grief hardened into fury. He turned sharply to the Anbu. "Gather the bodies of these children. Any survivors are to be sent to Konoha Hospital immediately. Have Senmei Asahi conduct thorough examinations. Do not delay!"
"Yes, Third Hokage-sama!" The Anbu saluted before swiftly setting the plan into motion.
Not long after, the two village advisors—Homura and Koharu—arrived at the site. Their eyes widened in horror at the sight before them.
"Hiruzen… what is the meaning of this?" Koharu demanded, her voice shaking. "These experiments… could they truly be Orochimaru's doing?"
Before Hiruzen could answer, a new voice cut in.
"Leave it to me."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed as he turned. Shimura Danzo stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable, flanked by members of Root.
"Danzo…" Hiruzen's tone was laced with suspicion. He remembered the whispers uncovered by Anbu—that Danzo and Orochimaru had some connection. Was Danzo complicit in these horrors?
Danzo's voice was calm, almost cold. "Orochimaru has destroyed Konoha's very foundation with these acts. This is beyond redemption."
"Danzo, I know what must be done." Hiruzen replied sternly, his voice heavy. "Since he is my disciple, I will personally take responsibility for this."
Danzo's lips curved into the faintest of smirks. He inclined his head. "Very well. If the reports are correct, Orochimaru is currently conducting experiments in a secret chamber beneath the prison. Since he is your disciple, I'll step back and allow you to handle it."
With that, he turned to leave, his cloak swaying as he disappeared into the shadows.
Hiruzen's face tightened. He gave a curt order to his Anbu. "Move out!" His Hokage robe flared as he revealed the combat gear hidden beneath, his body tense for battle.
From the darkness, Danzo lingered with his Root shinobi, his eyes glinting coldly. "Are you prepared?" he asked one of them.
"Yes, Danzo-sama." came the quiet reply.
"Good." Danzo said with a cruel smile. "If both Hiruzen and Orochimaru are wounded, strike immediately. Ensure neither walks away unscathed."
For Danzo, this was opportunity. Orochimaru's exposure was shocking, but it created the perfect storm. If Hiruzen and Orochimaru destroyed each other, Danzo's path to the Hokage's chair would open wide. The only obstacles left would be Minato and Jiraiya. Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique was troublesome, but Danzo had already prepared countermeasures like the Self Cursing Seal. A sudden strike might be enough to topple even the Yellow Flash.
No matter how the confrontation ended, Danzo would benefit.
…
At the outskirts of Konoha Prison, the Third Hokage and his Anbu moved cautiously. A sensory-type shinobi halted, pressing his hand against the ground. After a moment, he dispelled a genjutsu cloaking a cave entrance.
"Third Hokage-sama, we've found it." the shinobi announced.
Hiruzen's gaze hardened. Without hesitation, he led his forces inside.
…
Meanwhile, in Konoha Hospital, Asahi sat silently in his office, staring at the ticking hands of the clock. Each second brought him closer to the moment he had been preparing for. His plans were set in motion, and now he waited for the right time.
*Bang!*
The office door flew open. A medical-nin stumbled inside, his face pale and voice panicked. "Asahi-sama! The Third Hokage has sent a group of children—he requests that you examine them immediately!"
Asahi's eyes sharpened. He rose calmly, concealing the storm brewing within. "I understand."
As he followed the medic through the halls, he encountered an Anbu who explained in hurried whispers. "These are children rescued from Orochimaru's laboratory… their conditions are critical."
Asahi's mind raced even as his tone remained composed. "Send them to the intensive care unit. Summon additional medical teams at once. Every second counts."
*****
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