Finally managed to get rid of Tobirama and Sarutobi. They really love running around everywhere... what a hassle...
Now it's time to retrieve the Nine-Tails."
The First Hokage slowly stepped out from the cavern and walked toward Orochimaru.
This area had been completely destroyed. The remains of the Second Hokage and the Third Hokage hung like slabs of pork meat somewhere in the corner... Even with their Impure World Reincarnation bodies, there were limits to their recovery within this timeframe. After getting severely beaten, both the Second Hokage and the Third Hokage were temporarily unable to regenerate.
That was quite a feat—lifting the Impure World Reincarnation Technique with brute force alone.
"I still have one final question. If convenient, may I ask why you collected the Tailed Beasts, Lord First? Although I've done some research and developed certain theories over the years, I still want to hear the correct answer firsthand before it ends."
Sweat slid down Orochimaru's cheek, yet he remained remarkably composed... After repeatedly attempting to break free from the Torii Seal without success, Orochimaru could only "accept his fate."
The First Hokage's pupils slightly narrowed. "Seems like you really do know something about this plan..."
Orochimaru said "collected the Tailed Beasts" rather than "seized the Nine-Tails." That distinction alone implied a great deal.
"Nothing more than vague guesses. Just pieced together a few scattered rumors, that's all."
"Sorry, but I can't satisfy your curiosity."
Even when trapped in an impossible situation, Orochimaru gave off an odd vibe—he seemed to still have ulterior motives. The First Hokage, often relying on instinct for survival, possessed highly accurate intuitions.
Therefore, he wouldn't disclose any information to Orochimaru, not even for the dead—for instance, the current condition of his unfortunate younger brother, Tobirama Senju.
Tell a dying man the truth? Not even death can loosen a ninja's lips.
Hashirama Senju placed his right hand on Orochimaru's shoulder, and immediately afterward, the Nine-Tails' seal binding Orochimaru dissolved.
All Orochimaru felt was a gradual removal of the immense burden pressing down on him. Of course, along with that pressure, his life force also began draining away.
When the Nine-Tails fully emerged, Orochimaru crumbled to the ground like a boneless snake.
Death is a sorrowful matter, but for some reason, it looked comically fitting on Orochimaru.
The First Hokage raised his right hand to shield his eyes while gazing upward at the colossal golden form of the Nine-Tails.
"Nine-Tails, long time no see.
Hey, did you slim down or something? Or just… bleached your fur?"
Uh...
Still blurting out inconvenient truths, huh?
In the Land of Fire, Konoha.
Haseo still showed full respect to Itachi Uchiha. Since extracting information directly from him proved difficult, he stopped expecting to learn anything else from his words... Better to act decisively when doing things.
"Lord Haseo."
A light drizzle started as an Anbu squad arrived beside Haseo.
"There were two intruders who entered Konoha. One has already fled, and the other was killed by you, Lord Haseo. Next..."
Haseo waved his hand, interrupting the Anbu squad leader. "At a time like this, is this really the kind of issue you should be reporting to me? Only reporting issues to me? That's rather pathetic, don't you think?"
"..."
The squad leader opened his mouth but remained speechless.
Konoha's administrative structure had long stopped relying on Haseo. The upper echelons designed it that way intentionally. 'Haseo-removal' was indeed a correct decision. Yet at the most critical moment, Konoha's people still relied on him.
Well, human emotional tendencies are just like that. And Haseo had always been an exceptionally prominent individual.
People naturally gathered around him, countless eyes locked on him.
Haseo sighed inwardly. After all, one person can't sever himself from everything entirely.
"In recent years, the Uchiha clan has continuously weakened, and there aren't many Mangekyo Sharingan users left... Do you think there are still many people who can recognize a technique like Susanoo nowadays?"
After Haseo finished speaking, except for the Anbu commander showing some reaction to the word "Susanoo," the other three looked utterly confused.
"I see. Then let's conceal the identity of the intruder... Blame it on Kumo or Iwagakure's invasion, or label it as international terrorist activity by an extremist group. Ultimately, attribute the intrusion to external forces."
Haseo hadn't expected that practically nobody in Konoha could recognize Susanoo anymore. But perhaps it made sense—after all, such an advanced level of Ninjutsu wasn't something many people could master, and even fewer ever got to witness it firsthand.
While speaking, Haseo took off his outer garment and covered the corpse beneath his feet with it.
"Why are we doing this, Lord Haseo?"
"Don't you understand framing someone yet? Even if it triggers another war, external conflicts are still better than internal collapse... If you think the Uchiha clan is still worth preserving, then you'd best listen carefully to my suggestion."
The Uchiha had just experienced internal chaos not long ago. If they caused destruction again now, they'd surely attract too much hatred—at this point, another annihilation would be almost inevitable. Not taking action against them would seem unreasonable.
Powerful indeed, but the stronger they become, the more problems arise. The benefits and drawbacks of the Uchiha clan to Konoha were once balanced fifty-fifty... No, looking at the current situation, it's probably already a forty-sixty split, with sixty percent being the disadvantages and only forty percent advantages remaining.
Because once these people get strange ideas and take actions harming Konoha, all their previous contributions would pale in comparison—to put it simply, the marginal utility of the Uchiha clan has dropped so low that they've become more trouble than they're worth—like a chicken rib.
The Anbu ninja exchanged glances before the squad leader finally spoke, "We ordinary ninja aren't qualified to make judgments about such large-scale strategic considerations. However, since The Fifth Hokage isn't in the village right now, naturally all decisions must rest with The Fourth."
Haseo didn't have to do anything himself. Once Konoha fell into a state of "leaderlessness," those below naturally looked to his "presence" to ease their anxieties.
"Then notify Clan Leader Fugaku Uchiha. We'll leave this matter to him. As for tasks like sealing off information, creating false appearances, or framing others, Konoha still has many professionals capable of handling these—like Homura Mitokado."
It doesn't matter why Itachi Uchiha became an intruder—the truth is, he really is one now. With the damage he's done, even his father Fugaku Uchiha wouldn't have a word to say if he died here… Actually, Haseo already did them a big favor by returning the body to the Uchiha clan.
...
Now, symbolic events have occurred both in Konoha and the Land of Water, although news hasn't spread between them yet.
In short, neither side has a clue what's going on with the other—like ships passing in the night, unaware of each other's course.
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