The instant his shadow clone was engulfed by the explosion, Naruto, standing at his window, knew exactly what had happened in the Forest of Death. He gazed at the distant glow, sensing two chakras vanish in succession.
The Third Hokage and Enma, the Monkey King. They had escaped with Reverse Summoning.
Orochimaru's chakra remained, but Naruto felt him burrowing deep underground, fleeing with uncanny speed, almost at the edge of the forest's barrier already.
So that is the bond of master and disciple.
Naruto also understood that the Great Spiral Abyss his clone unleashed, though fast, had not been wide in range. A clone had only so much chakra. Against veterans like Orochimaru and Sarutobi, quick reflexes were enough to survive.
But even so, he had not expected Orochimaru of all people to appear here.
Wasn't this man already tied to Akatsuki? Why return suddenly to Konoha?
Naruto shook the thought away. Someone who sought immortality and pursued forbidden knowledge would never stoop to being a simple spy. Even when Pain forced him into Akatsuki, Orochimaru had only been after the Rinnegan.
Then his target tonight could not have been the Hokage. If Hiruzen had gone to capture him, the true meeting was likely with someone else.
Naruto's mind conjured an image.
Danzo.
Yes. It had to be Danzo. Orochimaru's dealings with him stretched even into the Shippuden era, down to that grotesque arm lined with Sharingan.
But the timing was strange. The Uchiha massacre had not even happened yet.
Naruto gave one last sweep of the village with his senses. Shinobi were still scrambling across the streets in alarm. He closed the window and turned away. Tonight, he would rest.
Before dawn, the Hokage's office still glowed with light. A lone figure entered, his cane tapping as his shadow stretched long across the floor.
"Hiruzen, I am here."
"You have something to explain, don't you, Counselor Danzo?"
The Third Hokage sat at the head of the council table, armored from battle, eyes as sharp as ever. At his sides sat the other two advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
Danzo Shimura took his seat in silence, ignoring their stares. His voice came level and cold.
"Orochimaru requires no explanation. What I did is no different than what you yourself have always done. Everything was for Konoha."
Hiruzen's jaw tightened. "Then from this moment, I strip you of your post as advisor. Root will be disbanded."
But before his words could fall fully, the other two advisors spoke at once.
"This requires further discussion."
"Fire Lord, Root cannot be dissolved now. Their work is crucial. Their service to Konoha is undeniable."
"You oppose me?" Hiruzen's gaze sharpened.
Homura calmly laid a scroll before him. Hiruzen opened it, his face darkening. "Is this confirmed?"
"My information does not err," Danzo said, eyes cold. "These are the records written personally by Uchiha Shisui. Their clan has been holding secret gatherings ever since you left the village."
Hiruzen scanned the scroll, his frown easing slightly. Still, his tone stayed stern. "I will handle this. But you will explain your dealings with Orochimaru."
Danzo's expression hardened, his single eye glinting. "Only a transaction. I received intelligence from beyond Fire Country."
"What transaction? What intelligence?" Hiruzen pressed.
Danzo smirked faintly. "He was your disciple. Surely you can guess the price. As for the intelligence, it concerns the so-called Akatsuki of the Rain."
Anger flared in Hiruzen's chest. He knew what Orochimaru had given. Yet his face stayed impassive. "I thought you said Hanzo annihilated them long ago."
Danzo shook his head. "Not completely. Now the whole of the Rain lies under Akatsuki's rule. Its members are all S-rank missing-nin. Orochimaru himself is among them."
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "Do you have details?"
"No," Danzo said flatly.
Without a word, Hiruzen strode to the desk, scribbled quickly on a blank scroll, and summoned an ANBU.
"Deliver this to Jiraiya by raven."
The ANBU vanished into the shadows with the message.
Returning to the table, Hiruzen's face was grim. "Then let us discuss the Uchiha situation."
Danzo's lips curled ever so slightly, his heart already alight with dark delight.
At sunrise, Naruto walked toward the Hokage's office. The streets were oddly empty, the village shaken from last night's alarms. His senses brushed over hidden ninja lying in wait behind every wall and corner.
"Naruto, are you sure you want to see the Hokage now?"
"Why not, Father?"
"It is only… you saw him fighting Orochimaru in the Forest of Death."
Naruto's lips quirked. "Exactly why I will go. To set him at ease, and keep him busy."
The streets grew narrower. His ears caught a commotion from an alley.
"Please, sir, spare me! It was only once!"
"Silence. Do you think my Sharingan lies? You stole from many houses."
"You dared steal in the chaos? You are coming with us to the Police Department."
"No, I beg you, my children needed"
"Release him. He is pitiful."
"Yes, let him go."
Naruto turned the corner. Uchiha in their police uniforms strode tall, dragging a trembling villager down the street.
"Hmph. The Uchiha think themselves mighty for catching a petty thief."
"They abuse their position, seizing whoever they want."
"Did you not hear? The man claimed innocence."
"Look at their arrogance, their eyes to the sky."
Naruto ignored the whispers and walked on.
In the seal space, Minato sighed softly.
"What is it, Father? Do you pity the thief as well?"
Minato shook his head. "No. But the villagers' words sting. The Police exist to preserve order. Those Uchiha were only doing their duty. It should not be twisted into hatred of a clan."
Naruto's gaze fixed on the looming Hokage building. "Whether harsh or fair, words do not matter. Those who act will always be judged by those who do not. That is the only difference between doing and not doing."
_____________________________________________
If you're enjoying this story and want to read more advanced chapters, you can support me on Patreon: patreon.com/PurgatorialPoet. Your support helps keep the translations coming faster.