The night was clear, the moon hanging high in the sky.
Inside the Hokage's office, another meeting was about to begin.
The attendees hadn't changed much—members of the Hokage's advisory council, the various clan heads seated below, and the two famous Sannin, who, despite their titles, held little real authority in the village.
Compared to the last meeting, however, the atmosphere was noticeably lighter.
During the chaos of the Nine-Tails' attack, much of the suspicion directed toward the Uchiha clan had been lifted. On top of that, the threat from the Hidden Cloud Village had been successfully repelled. With no immediate threats looming from within or outside, the village could finally enjoy a period of peace.
Even before the meeting started, many of the clan heads were seen chatting casually—discussing everything from child-rearing to potential business ventures.
Of course, two names dominated the conversation: Orochimaru, who had earned great merit during the battle against the Hidden Cloud... and the Uchiha clan.
Orochimaru hadn't arrived yet, so naturally, attention shifted to the Uchiha clan head who was already present—Fugaku.
From time to time, clan leaders cast complicated glances at him. Some were respectful, others curious, and a few even carried a hint of pity.
—After all, it was Shisui who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—those cursed, legendary eyes that once stood against the First Hokage himself.
For someone so young to achieve such a feat... and then throw it all away in sacrifice?
Even if the intention was to clear the Uchiha of suspicion, wasn't the price too high?
Everyone had their own thoughts. But on one point, all silently agreed: the one who controlled the Nine-Tails that night was not acting on behalf of the Uchiha clan. If anything, it had been an individual.
That alone brought some relief.
Though the Uchiha had borne the brunt of suspicion after the Nine-Tails Rebellion and felt wronged, those who had suspected them hadn't been comfortable either. The unease lingered.
After all, enemies are meant to be fought. Allies are meant to be trusted. But when you don't know who's friend or foe—that's the most unsettling feeling of all.
On the battlefield, there's no time to overanalyze. Thinking in black and white is easier, more comforting. It's the kind of mindset that suits warriors who live on the edge of life and death.
But in the village, during times of peace, ambition begins to stir again—and the struggle for power and influence resumes.
Fugaku understood this well. And yet, for both himself and the Uchiha clan, this situation was already far better than before.
They were finally being treated as equals. The Uchiha had begun a new chapter in Konoha.
Thinking this, Fugaku—who had been wearing a cold, stern expression—allowed himself a faint, restrained smile.
The Senju clan had long since dissolved after the founding of the village. Under fair competition, which clan could now truly rival the Uchiha?
The Hyuga? Just glorified housekeepers. Could they really compare to the might of the Sharingan?
Besides…
Fugaku's eyes drifted to the empty seat near the end of the long table. His hand casually rested on the scroll at his waist.
He was eager. Eager to act.
Click.
The door creaked open.
The man Fugaku had been waiting for strode in confidently, wearing his usual easygoing smile.
"Apologies for the delay," Orochimaru said with a casual grin.
He made his way to the seat at the Hokage's left hand, taking it unhurriedly, then turned with clear interest to greet Jiraiya beside him.
He was late—but it wasn't just this meeting he had been late for.
As per tradition, a smaller, private meeting always takes place before the main assembly with the village's clan heads—one reserved for the Hokage and his closest circle. This time, Jiraiya was present as well.
Last time, Orochimaru hadn't even been invited. This time, he was invited—but chose not to attend.
He didn't need to be told why he was being summoned. He already knew. And since he had no intention of agreeing to whatever was being asked, there was no point in wasting his time.
Still, Orochimaru wasn't reckless. He knew he'd need something from the Third Hokage later. So rather than refuse outright—especially after playing a key role in repelling the Hidden Cloud forces—he offered a polite excuse to save face.
His reason?
His disciple, Mitarai Anko, had fallen into a coma due to a mishap during training.
Whether it was true or not didn't really matter. What mattered was that he gave a reason—and it checked out. After all, Anbu did confirm that Anko was indeed unconscious.
With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi had nothing left to say.
Konoha may have a reputation for saying, "my students are my students, but their students are their own problem," but technically, Anko was part of the Third's extended lineage. It would've looked bad to push the issue any further.
Once Orochimaru finally arrived and took his seat, the room fell quiet. The casual atmosphere disappeared, and everyone straightened up.
Danzo, as always, took the lead in explaining Konoha's next moves.
His logic was sharp and precise. Though he hadn't become Hokage, he made the most of every opportunity to assert his influence.
And no one dared underestimate him. During the conflict with the Hidden Cloud, Danzo had deployed Root to fortify Konoha's western flank, deterring any potential opportunism from the Hidden Stone. His contributions were substantial.
As soon as he began to speak, the conference room fell silent, his hoarse voice filling the space.
The content of the meeting was largely a continuation of the previous one. Aside from officially canceling the proposal to relocate the Uchiha clan—since the damage had been addressed—there were few major changes.
Still, Danzo repeated everything in great detail, dragging out a meeting that could've been short. It wasn't until the moon rose high outside that the discussion finally came to a close.
The clan heads left quietly, though most of them were grumbling inwardly. They didn't bother voicing complaints—not because of Danzo himself, but because with the village at peace, these matters weren't worth making a fuss over.
Once the last of them had gone, only six people remained in the vast Hokage meeting room.
Now, the real meeting began.
"Heh… what are you all looking at me for?" Orochimaru said, scanning the room before turning back to Jiraiya, as he had done during the earlier meeting.
If his guess was correct, Jiraiya had already begun practicing the breathing techniques—and had even made real progress with them.
Tsk tsk… How irritating.
Orochimaru licked his lips.
Without forcibly triggering the power of the Lamp Spirit, he still couldn't enter the Striped State on his own. Yet Jiraiya—who had learned of the technique later—had already surpassed him.
He knew Jiraiya had already mastered Sage Mode and had a solid foundation. But still... it stung.
As Orochimaru continued ignoring the rest of the room, Koharu Utatane frowned in frustration.
"Orochimaru, don't play dumb. You know why we've called you here."
"In the end, it's about Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan."
Orochimaru smiled faintly. Reaching into his scroll, he pulled out a small nutrient tank and set it calmly on the table.
"My elders, go ahead. Do whatever you please. I won't stop you."
"In fact, I'll even speak on your behalf... here in Konoha."
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