"No problem..."
Orochimaru shrugged, licked his lips with his snake-like tongue, and said coldly, "I want to conduct human experiments."
"Can't you wait a little longer?"
BANG!!
The moment Orochimaru mentioned human experimentation, Shimura Danzo stood up, his face serious. "The Konoha leadership is already deep in discussions about the Fourth Hokage selection. I'm doing everything I can to secure that position for you. You must be cautious."
"I can't wait..."
Orochimaru's expression darkened. "My research has reached a bottleneck. I need to capture lower and middle-ranking shinobi for experimentation."
"And what do you think your chances are of becoming Hokage?"
"About fifty percent."
Danzo hesitated before speaking. "The momentum behind Minato Namikaze is overwhelming. His prestige and battlefield achievements have made him a prime candidate."
"Heh..."
Orochimaru sneered, stretching out his tongue. "Sarutobi-sensei thinks he has everything under control, but he doesn't realize I've already seen through his schemes."
He wasn't a fool.
Ever since the victory at the Battle of Kikyo Pass, Hiruzen Sarutobi had subtly sidelined the Three Sannin from the war effort, giving Minato the chance to shine. It was clear he was grooming him for the Hokage position.
"And yet, you still plan to contest for the Fourth Hokage title?"
Danzo studied Orochimaru carefully.
"Of course..."
Orochimaru grinned, his eyes filled with malice. "I want to see Sarutobi-sensei's expression when he realizes his carefully laid plans will crumble."
"Fine."
Danzo nodded in approval.
"Now, back to my experiments. I need test subjects."
Orochimaru brought the conversation back to the matter at hand.
"Are you sure this can't wait?"
Danzo frowned, visibly conflicted. The Third Shinobi War had just ended. If Root operatives began abducting ninjas now, it could easily draw unwanted attention. The consequences would be severe.
"I'm sure."
Orochimaru's voice was firm. "This experiment is crucial. It will determine the feasibility of transplanting Wood Release cells."
Hearing this, Danzo's expression hardened.
The thought of acquiring Hashirama Senju's legendary Wood Release was too tempting. If successful, it would allow him to wield the power of the First Hokage himself.
"Fine."
Danzo nodded. "But I can't supply test subjects from outside the village right now."
"Then use Konoha's own shinobi."
Orochimaru's tone was disturbingly casual.
Danzo's eyes narrowed. He had his limits, but at the same time, he knew he needed Orochimaru's research.
"You're ruthless..."
Danzo sighed, acknowledging Orochimaru's unwavering determination. He gave a silent nod, effectively granting permission.
"Good. I'll take my leave now."
With a puff of smoke, Orochimaru transformed into a small white snake and disappeared.
Danzo watched the spot where he had stood, his expression unreadable. "One day, I will sit in the Hokage's chair..."
---
Meanwhile, in the Uchiha clan compound—
The news of Uchiha Yuta's promotion to Elite Jōnin through taijutsu alone sent shockwaves throughout the clan. Many Uchiha, upon hearing it, were left stunned. Some, especially those who prided themselves on their Sharingan, were outright furious.
To the Uchiha, their bloodline was everything. The Sharingan was their pride, their legacy. And now, an Uchiha who had not relied on the Sharingan had surpassed them. Was this some kind of joke? Was the Konoha leadership mocking them?
At the center of the clan estate, within a quiet pavilion, Uchiha Fugaku sat with a cup of tea, deep in thought.
"Something troubling you again?"
A gentle voice broke the silence as a woman entered the room.
It was Mikoto Uchiha, her lower abdomen slightly swollen—evidence of her pregnancy. She approached him with a soft smile.
"The Uchiha clan has a new Elite Jōnin..."
Fugaku sighed, rubbing his temple.
"Then shouldn't you be happy?" Mikoto tilted her head. "An Elite Jōnin is a valuable asset to the clan."
"He specializes in taijutsu."
Fugaku shook his head. "This has never happened before in our clan's history. The Sharingan is our pride, our strength. Yet now, an Uchiha who relies solely on taijutsu has surpassed many who possess the Sharingan."
"That could be a problem..."
Mikoto's brows furrowed in thought.
She understood. There were extremists in the Uchiha clan—those who viewed the Sharingan as an absolute necessity. For them, Yuta's success could be seen as an affront to their beliefs.
"The elders won't take this lightly."
Fugaku sighed again, feeling the weight of leadership. "We need to convene a clan meeting. Yuta's rise has opened a new path for our clan."
He looked out the window, his expression firm.
"The Sharingan is powerful, but it comes with great risks. If taijutsu can be another path to strength, we should not reject it outright."
Mikoto smiled gently. "Perhaps this is a good thing, after all."
Fugaku said nothing, but deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that Yuta's rise would have consequences—for better or worse.
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