Naruto Birdcage

At the exam venue.

"Lord Third Hokage."

A member of the Sarutobi clan quietly approached Sarutobi Hiruzen and whispered something in his ear.

"Is that true?" Hiruzen's expression changed dramatically upon hearing the news.

The clan member simply nodded silently.

Hiruzen's face shifted between green and white.

He gazed toward the position of the Fourth Hokage from afar, his eyes filled with anger and frustration.

"Third Hokage, what's going on?" a minister seated next to Hiruzen asked.

"..."

Hiruzen slowly stood up and forced a smile as he excused himself.

He made his way from the back of the venue toward the Fourth Hokage's location, but on his way, he happened to encounter Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's clothes were slightly torn, looking as though he had just been through a battle.

"Sarutobi-sensei," Orochimaru called out.

Hiruzen scoffed coldly. "I don't dare to claim that title. Orochimaru, am I next?"

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly. "What do you mean by that, Sarutobi-sensei?"

Aside from the two of them, the only ones present were Orochimaru's personal Anbu and Hiruzen's attendants, each loyal to their respective masters.

Hiruzen's face darkened as he spoke directly, "Orochimaru, I've given you what you wanted. Even then, are you still unwilling to spare Danzo?"

"Why be so ruthless? He has watched you grow all this time."

Orochimaru's expression remained calm.

"Danzo colluded with foreign enemies and plotted rebellion. I have undeniable evidence. I plan to address this matter in the upcoming meeting. Sarutobi-sensei, you're welcome to join."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen felt a chill run through him.

After Orochimaru took the Hokage position, he had once believed the man would work hard to hold it.

For that reason, he had made concessions and never sabotaged him.

After all, Orochimaru had once been his beloved disciple.

If he truly succeeded in achieving greatness for Konoha, Hiruzen would have been happy for him.

"Orochimaru..."

"Sarutobi-sensei," Orochimaru suddenly interrupted him.

"I actually have a question," he continued.

Hiruzen coldly stared at him.

Orochimaru then asked, "If Minato had succeeded as the Fourth Hokage, how would things be different between us?"

Hiruzen sneered and immediately showed no mercy, saying, "Minato would have loved the people as his own children and devoted everything to Konoha."

Orochimaru looked puzzled and asked, "Is there anything wrong with Konoha under my leadership?"

Hiruzen was momentarily speechless.

If he had to admit it, Konoha had recovered even faster than he had anticipated, largely due to the support of the feudal lords behind them.

But there was no denying that the village was being governed with meticulous care.

Orochimaru pressed on, "Is there something wrong with the way I've treated the villagers?"

Hiruzen growled, "You harm your own comrades, and you're still talking?"

Orochimaru calmly replied, "Sarutobi-sensei, I've already told you. Danzo plotted a rebellion. I have undeniable evidence. Can he still be considered a comrade? Or are you going to cover for him?"

Hiruzen stood there, trembling with anger.

Orochimaru had spun Danzo's death into such a righteous narrative, but Hiruzen would never believe the absurd reasoning Orochimaru provided.

Having dealt with Danzo for a lifetime, Hiruzen knew the man's nature all too well.

Orochimaru continued, "If Minato had succeeded as Hokage, and someone tried to wrest power from him, what would you have done, Sarutobi-sensei?"

He grinned and said, "I suppose you would have cleared those obstacles for him, wouldn't you? After all, you adored him so much, didn't you?"

"..."

"And what did you leave me, aside from the Hokage title? A broken village? People trying to put me to death? Am I supposed to just sit there and let them slaughter me without fighting back?"

"After all, there's no one helping me clear obstacles."

Hiruzen looked at Orochimaru with a blank expression.

"So, is that what you think, Orochimaru? You resent me, don't you?"

But Orochimaru suddenly shook his head. "No, I misspoke."

Then, under Hiruzen's gaze, he said, enunciating each word:

"The Hokage title wasn't something you left for me. It's something I fought for myself."

He curled his lips into a cold smile. "I don't care for anything handed to me by others. I will clear every obstacle myself."

"From now on, this is my Konoha, and no one will be allowed to interfere."

After saying this, he stepped past Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The entire time, Hakumen, who had been listening with growing unease, hurried to follow.

The sound of their footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Hiruzen remained standing there, motionless.

One of the Sarutobi clan attendants, standing nearby, cautiously called out, "Lord Third Hokage?"

Hiruzen, who had kept his expression cold and rigid, suddenly stumbled.

The attendant was startled and rushed forward to support him. "Lord Third Hokage!"

Hiruzen steadied himself, exhaling a long breath.

His old and weathered face relaxed, revealing a faintly eerie calm.

"Dead... he's dead..."

"Good riddance!"

"Danzo, you should have died long ago!"

He muttered as if speaking to himself.

Suddenly, a burst of cheers erupted from within the high walls—a match in the Chunin Exams had just concluded.

But Hiruzen's face twisted with pain.

His hunched figure swayed as he walked away, step by step, disappearing into the distance.

.........

The Chunin Exams concluded successfully.

Under the gaze of countless spectators, both Konoha and Sunagakure saw groups of Genin successfully promoted to Chunin, with outstanding performances from both sides.

The results left both villages delighted.

Makoto exchanged a few polite words with Pakura.

Seeing the villagers in the audience gradually dispersing, he instructed the Anbu to notify the heads of the major clans, as well as some high-ranking Jonin, to convene in the Hokage Building's conference room.

Returning alone to the lounge behind the arena, Makoto saw Hakumen standing at the door.

Makoto knocked lightly.

"Come in."

He pushed the door open and entered, finding Orochimaru sitting alone on the sofa, holding a teacup.

"Lord Hokage seems to have plenty of leisure time," Makoto said as he closed the door.

He dispelled his Transformation Jutsu and removed the Hokage robe.

"With Kumogakure about to attack our doorstep, you still have the leisure to drink tea."

Orochimaru chuckled softly at this. "Aren't you even more relaxed than I am? You still had time to watch a bunch of Genin fight."

Makoto sat down on the sofa opposite him and replied, "This is a necessary way to strengthen ties between Konoha and Sunagakure. Who knows, in the upcoming battle with Kumogakure, we might even need Sunagakure's help."

Orochimaru didn't respond, his gaze lowered to the teacup in his hands, seemingly distracted.

Seeing him in this state, Makoto thought for a moment and decided to bring up the matter at hand.

"Lord Hokage, preparations for this war need to begin soon."

Orochimaru, appearing indifferent, directly asked, "Who will lead?"

As Hokage, he wouldn't step onto the front lines unless absolutely necessary.

Makoto replied, "That depends on your decision."

Orochimaru glanced at him. "Why not just say what you're thinking?"

"Minato. He's very suitable."

"Mm."

"I also want to go."

"Alright."

Orochimaru continued to rub the tea cup in his hands, nodding to everything Makoto said without hesitation.

Makoto finally asked, "Lord Hokage, is something on your mind?"

Orochimaru looked at him calmly and slowly asked, "Makoto, if someone has no one they can trust by their side, does that make them a pitiful person?"

Makoto chuckled. "Lord Hokage, when did you become so sentimental?"

Orochimaru didn't respond directly. "I'm not a god, after all."

Makoto replied slowly, "It's just loneliness. Aren't all strong people lonely?"

Orochimaru gave a faint smile.

"Then it seems both you and I qualify as strong."

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