Naruto: The Rise Of Uchiha

More than ten minutes later, Orochimaru's disappearance was discovered, and the entire Konoha Prison—and even all of Konoha—was thrown into alarm.

They mobilized swiftly, sealed off the village, and launched a manhunt for Orochimaru.

Naturally, they found nothing.

Against two individuals who had vanished using space-time ninjutsu, no tracking method was effective.

With no results from the search, the Third Hokage, Uchiha Fugaku, and several clan heads gathered at Konoha Prison to investigate how Orochimaru had escaped.

"Strange. The prison's barrier wasn't damaged, and the cell shows no signs of destruction. How did Orochimaru escape?"

After examining the maximum-security cell, Yamanaka Inoichi, head of the Yamanaka clan, was puzzled.

"It's Orochimaru, after all. Maybe he's developed some secret technique that allowed him to bypass the barrier."

Akimichi Choza, head of the Akimichi clan, speculated.

"I recommended executing Orochimaru earlier. Unfortunately, the Hokage rejected it."

Hyuga Hiashi, the Hyuga clan head, glanced at the Third Hokage as he spoke.

"Although Orochimaru is an S-rank missing-nin, he once held an exceptional status and still has many loyal subordinates. Executing him outright could have stirred their resentment."

The Third Hokage shot Hiashi a cold look. The Hyuga clan had clearly begun to defy him openly.

"What Hokage-sama said is reasonable. The feelings of Orochimaru's former subordinates can't be ignored."

Nara Shikaku, head of the Nara clan, chimed in.

"And yet, the result is that Orochimaru, who was captured at great effort, is now gone."

Hyuga Hiashi chuckled.

"This was unexpected. No one thought someone like Orochimaru could break out of Konoha's maximum-security prison."

Yamanaka Inoichi said.

"But how did he escape? Even with a secret technique, he shouldn't have vanished without leaving any trace."

Hatake Nobuhiro, current head of the Hatake clan, frowned.

"Indeed. There's not even the slightest hint of how he vanished."

The Aburame clan head's voice was calm but filled with doubt.

"Maybe Orochimaru didn't escape alone. Someone could've helped him."

"He's tied to the Wood Release user—the one with space-time jutsu. That could explain how Orochimaru was extracted without damaging the prison."

Nara Shikaku offered his theory.

"The Wood Release ninja?"

Many of the clan leaders frowned at that.

If a Wood Release user with space-time ninjutsu intervened, that would explain everything.

"It would mean Orochimaru really is connected to the Wood Release ninja."

Yamanaka Ino said.

"There's another possibility."

Uchiha Fugaku, who had been silent, finally spoke. The clan heads instantly turned their attention to him.

Now recognized as the strongest figure in Konoha, anything he said carried weight.

"What does Clan Head Fugaku mean?"

Hyuga Hiashi asked, cooperating smoothly.

"Perhaps the barrier wasn't broken because Orochimaru didn't escape on his own... but was allowed to leave."

Uchiha Fugaku stated.

"He was allowed to leave?!"

"Who would do that? One of his old subordinates?"

The clan heads began murmuring.

No damage to the cell or barrier—there was a possibility someone intentionally released him.

But until now, they'd subconsciously ruled it out.

"Konoha's high-security prison is guarded around the clock. No one could approach undetected."

Nara Shikaku shook his head, doubting the likelihood.

"I heard that during Orochimaru's original defection, Hokage-sama had a chance to stop him but chose not to. Is that true?"

Uchiha Fugaku looked at the Third Hokage with a mocking tone.

An ordinary person couldn't possibly gain access to Konoha's most secure prison. But someone like the Third Hokage—who holds complete authority over it—certainly could.

"Nonsense! Why would I deliberately let Orochimaru go?"

The Third Hokage snapped, glaring at Fugaku.

"Ah, so it was a rumor after all."

Uchiha Fugaku said mildly.

The tension between Fugaku and the Third Hokage silenced the room. While the other clan leaders pretended not to hear, inwardly, they were stirred.

They had all heard the rumor. And from what they knew, it was likely true.

Now that Fugaku had brought it up again, they had to wonder: did the Third Hokage really allow Orochimaru to escape—again?

Eventually, when no leads were found, the clan leaders left Konoha Prison. But Fugaku's words lingered in their minds.

With all the recent incidents, their impression of the Third Hokage had deteriorated.

The once-revered Hokage didn't seem so righteous anymore.

...

After leaving Konoha Prison, Uchiha Fugaku walked the streets of Konoha.

With his sharp senses, he could hear conversations from far away.

Many were discussing his false accusation and the Hyuga clan's tragedy.

And many who once revered the Third Hokage now spoke of him with disdain.

Fugaku smiled slightly.

The plan was working. The Third Hokage's image had taken a heavy hit.

If there were approval polls in this world, the Third Hokage's support rate would've plummeted.

"Still not enough... not enough to force him to abdicate."

Fugaku muttered.

Though the Hokage's reputation was damaged, it wasn't enough to rally the village into demanding his resignation.

"We need one more scandal—something explosive enough to destroy his image completely."

Fugaku pondered.

"The death of White Fang?"

He thought of the tragic suicide of Hatake Sakumo, caused by public opinion the Third Hokage manipulated. But he dismissed the idea.

Though the Hatake clan might cooperate, there was no concrete evidence, and the Hokage could easily deny it.

"I've got it."

He suddenly thought of another incident.

The treatment of Uzumaki Naruto—the Fourth Hokage's son—was entirely the Third Hokage's doing.

If that truth were exposed, it would destroy the Hokage's image.

Amid public outrage, the Third Hokage might no longer be able to hold onto power.

(End of this chapter)