In a dim basement.
This was the original experimental base of Konoha's Root. Due to Danzo's death and the dispersal of the Root ninjas, Konoha had completely abandoned the location.
A pair of snake-like pupils lit up in the darkness. Orochimaru had reoccupied the space, quietly using it as his secret stronghold in Konoha. It was a boldness born of immense skill; no one would have thought he would dare to return here.
A golden light flashed, and a man wearing the Hokage's robe appeared in the base. His face had crooked whisker marks, and his eyes were dim and lifeless. It was Minato Namikaze, resurrected by the Impure World Reincarnation.
Orochimaru laughed sinisterly. "Fourth Hokage, how does it feel to see your own child become a renowned Hokage in the ninja world?"
"..."
Minato Namikaze slowly raised his head, trying hard to regain control of his body. He ultimately lowered his head helplessly and said in a low voice, "Senior Orochimaru, the current Konoha is very strong. You won't be able to hide for long..."
After a moment of silence, Orochimaru suddenly remarked, "Minato, you're already dead. Why do you still care about so many meddlesome things?"
Minato Namikaze said nothing.
Over a month ago, Orochimaru had undone the Dead Demon Consuming Seal at the former site of the Land of Whirlpools and resurrected him. Since then, they had been on the run. With the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique, Orochimaru moved like a fish in water. At the very least, he didn't have to worry about his safety.
Whenever he was in danger of being exposed, Orochimaru would have Minato teleport him away instantly, avoiding any confrontation. Feeling secure, Orochimaru once again got the idea of obtaining Sasuke's body, which led him to hide in Konoha—the most dangerous, and therefore safest, place.
Of course, with Naruto Uzumaki's return, Konoha had become more dangerous again. That kid's sensory ability was a bit too outstanding. The most troublesome thing, however, was that Kabuto Yakushi was also showing signs of betrayal. Orochimaru had repeatedly asked Kabuto to help him obtain Sasuke's body, but Kabuto argued that Sasuke's strength was too great and hoped Orochimaru would choose someone else.
But wasn't that the whole reason Orochimaru had his eyes on Sasuke's body? Precisely because his strength could make him even stronger?
Orochimaru sighed faintly. He waved his hand, storing the bottles and jars on the experimental table into a scroll, and said softly, "That fellow Kabuto can't be relied on anymore. Your son has returned to the village. It looks like we have to leave today."
"Senior Orochimaru, we might not be able to leave..."
Minato Namikaze hesitantly raised his head, a trace of astonishment on his face. He continued in a deep voice, "Several chakras have just arrived here!"
A few of them were quite familiar—probably Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kushina. But there were two other very powerful chakras, surpassing anyone Minato had ever sensed before.
Orochimaru also quickly sensed their arrival, but he didn't panic. He just chuckled lightly. "You have the Flying Thunder God Technique..."
Before he could finish, his expression suddenly changed.
"Ninja Art: Four Red Yang Formation!"
Outside the underground base, four loud shouts were heard.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kushina, and Mei Terumi each stood on one side, jointly erecting the powerful Four Red Yang Formation barrier. In the current Konoha, it wasn't too difficult to find four experts with Kage-level chakra. Mei Terumi had just arrived in the village and was immediately dispatched to help capture Orochimaru. They were responsible for setting up the barrier to trap him.
Just as Minato appeared by Orochimaru's side, grabbing him to escape with the Flying Thunder God Technique, a purple chakra arrow suddenly shot through Minato's body, pinning him to the ground. The arrow seemed to ignore distance, appearing directly in front of them in an instant.
"If the Fourth Hokage wants to escape, that's no problem..." a clear voice entered the base. It was Sasuke Uchiha. He added lightly, "But if you want to take Mr. Orochimaru with you, that's probably not possible, is it?"
He had just used his Mangekyo's visual prowess to manipulate the distance, separating Orochimaru and Minato in the nick of time.
"Kabuto was right. Orochimaru really is hiding in the village." Naruto Uzumaki smiled, his full head of red hair flying in the wind. It was he who had sensed Orochimaru's location with Sage Mode.
Late one night, the young Hokage went to see Kabuto Yakushi. After the director of the Konoha Orphanage received Naruto's promise that he would spare Orochimaru, he shared his intel. For example, that Orochimaru had resurrected the Fourth Hokage, and that he might be hiding in Konoha.
Naruto didn't hesitate. He immediately called Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kushina from the hospital, and also sent for Mei and Sasuke. Such a luxurious lineup was assembled for the sole purpose of surrounding and capturing Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze.
Sasuke looked at the red light barrier and said in a deep voice, "Using the Four Red Yang Formation can seal Orochimaru... but inside the barrier, it's still up to the two of us to deal with them. We absolutely cannot let them get together!"
This was very difficult. It required him to concentrate fully, ready to interrupt them at any moment with his Mangekyo.
"...Should be no problem, right?" Hearing Sasuke's words, Naruto subconsciously scratched his head. Why did it sound like they were at a disadvantage? He now had Kurama Sage Mode, the chakra of four Tailed Beasts, and the Tenseigan. Sasuke had the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, a complete Susanoo, and could also use the Flying Thunder God Technique.
With this lineup against Orochimaru and the Fourth Hokage, how could they possibly lose? If they did, it would definitely be Sasuke's fault...
While maintaining the formation, Kushina Uzumaki shouted, "Hey, Naruto, don't underestimate your father! He is the strongest Hokage in Konoha's history!"
Naruto was baffled. "...What kind of saying is that?" He had never heard that before. He'd heard that the Third Hokage was called the strongest, but later that was clarified to mean only the strongest in Fire Style, because the other Hokage weren't very good at it.
Tsunade slapped her forehead. "Hey, Kushina, no one has ever said that! The strongest Hokage in Konoha's history is your son, not your husband!"
"..." Kushina sullenly shut her mouth.
Sasuke, however, nodded seriously. "I've heard Kakashi-sensei mention the Fourth Hokage's strength. He said that before the Fourth's kunai lands, it's impossible to sense his position... Here it comes!"
Two flying shuriken shot out, one towards Naruto and the other towards Sasuke. Sasuke's face changed. He swung his sword to block the attack, but in the next moment, the air was filled with a dizzying number of projectiles.
"Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Two different voices shouted at the same time. Both Orochimaru and Minato had learned the Third Hokage's technique.
"Spiral Shockwave!" A blue chakra light burst from Naruto's palm, and the countless shuriken were swept away by the force. When the projectiles dispersed, two figures stood before them: Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze.
"What a grand lineup..." Orochimaru's lips curled into a faint smile as he scanned the people present: Tsunade, Jiraiya, Mei Terumi, Kushina Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto Uzumaki.
As he looked at them all... he felt the urge to curse.
-----
Bonus:
Orochimaru: "Gentlemen, are you off to pacify the Cloud Village, or to eliminate the Akatsuki?"
Naruto: "We're here to capture you!"
Orochimaru: "...There's no need to send so many people just to capture me."
Naruto: "When catching a snake, how can you not send more people?"
Orochimaru: "Lord Hokage is only worried about me. Today, I am willing to surrender..."
Naruto: "Kabuto Yakushi, what do you think!"
Orochimaru: (Phew, I can live...)
Kabuto: "Lord Hokage, have you forgotten what happened with Hiruzen Sarutobi and Pain in the past?"
Naruto: "..."
Orochimaru: "Kabuto Yakushi, you white-haired traitor! Have you forgotten that I saved you from Danzo's clutches back then?"
---From "The Tale of the Snake Catcher in the Romance of the Hokage"