"Submit?"
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't yet expressed any objection, but Koharu was the first to frown.
Danzo's appearance here wasn't accidental — she had arranged for him to be summoned.
Koharu had thought it through carefully: with only the two advisor elders, they wouldn't have enough strength to do anything against Orochimaru. Even though Danzo had performed poorly during the Mangekyō Sharingan incident, his influence was still a necessary force at this moment.
And now, her judgment had proven correct.
Through Danzo's methods, they had uncovered the truth behind the so-called "body strengthening surgery" and even found evidence of Orochimaru's human experimentation within the Uchiha clan — a notoriously difficult group to infiltrate.
But now, Danzo's attitude was deeply unsettling. Opposing the destruction of human experimentation data practically bordered on betrayal.
"Don't get me wrong," Danzo said calmly, though he had immediately caught the change in Koharu's expression. A trace of a sneer flashed in his mind, but his face remained serious. "I suggest turning in the data as a last resort."
"Unless Orochimaru is locked away," Danzo continued, "he will inevitably continue conducting human experiments. And besides, even if they call it 'surgery,' if the participants are willing, we won't be able to stop it."
His explanation was well-crafted — analyzing it from the perspective of human nature, perfectly fitting both Orochimaru's disregard for life and the Uchiha's thirst for power.
As expected, the two elder advisors frowned.
Having been at Konoha's top leadership for so long, they had become used to thinking in grand, sweeping terms, preferring to control situations from above rather than handling the messy details. Even after being humiliated twice by Orochimaru's actions, they were too rigid to adapt quickly.
Faced with someone as willful and dangerous as Orochimaru, they found themselves somewhat helpless.
By contrast, Hiruzen and Danzo, who had long ruled the village from the shadows, were far more cunning.
Now, in order to achieve his goal, Danzo spoke seriously, laying out his reasoning:
"Whether you call it surgery or human experimentation, unless you're ready to force Orochimaru into rebellion, you won't be able to stop him. Are you really prepared to make an enemy of him at a time like this?"
This rhetoric was almost identical to Hiruzen's earlier stance — calling for "preserving the bigger picture."
It was a tactic that easily struck at the hearts of the stubborn advisors.
After all, they owed their long-standing positions partly to the political legacy left by the Second Hokage, and partly to their genuine loyalty to the village. If they abandoned that reputation, their authority would crumble.
By contrast, Orochimaru, for all the good he had done during the war, was seen more as a "weapon" — powerful, but never trusted enough to truly enter the highest ranks of Konoha leadership. Unless forced, he could not simply be discarded.
No one wants a selfish man standing above them — that's simply human nature.
After being repeatedly cornered by both the Third Hokage and Danzo, the arrogance of Konoha's two elder advisors had visibly weakened.
Danzo calmly walked to the long table, pulled out a chair, and sat down before continuing,
"In my opinion, the key issue isn't about stopping Orochimaru from performing surgeries. It's about controlling the risks and preventing casualties.
Handing over the research materials serves exactly that purpose."
Koharu frowned, unable to resist emphasizing,
"This isn't just surgery — it's human experimentation."
"If there's no danger involved, then it's surgery — and one that could greatly enhance the strength of our village's shinobi," Danzo replied in his hoarse voice, shaking his head.
"I've heard that Orochimaru has already performed three such procedures. Even the worst case survived, and the other two subjects showed significant improvements in strength."
As he spoke, Danzo's gaze shifted to Shisui.
Although Shisui had little trust in Danzo, he recognized that, at least this time, Danzo seemed to be speaking in favor of both Orochimaru and the Uchiha. He nodded slightly and added,
"Lord Danzo is correct. The clansman who failed the surgery wasn't in life-threatening danger — they just needed two or three months of recovery."
Hearing this, Koharu and Homura exchanged hesitant, thoughtful looks.
Their entire reason for discussing this with the Third Hokage had been to avoid a situation where a botched operation caused casualties, leading to Orochimaru's potential defection.
But if Orochimaru was willing to hand over his research and conduct these operations under official supervision, it seemed like a solution to the problem.
If additional medical-nin participated under the village's oversight, the risks could be minimized even further. Perhaps, they thought, it might actually work — and benefit the entire village.
Including themselves.
With that thought, the two advisors' resistance began to crumble, and faint glimmers of hope appeared in their eyes.
Even Shisui, usually cautious, found himself wondering if Danzo's proposal might not be as bad as he had first assumed. For the first time, he was surprised to find the scheming man beneath the bandages speaking sensibly.
All the while, the Third Hokage sat silently in the main seat, observing everything coldly.
He noticed the subtle changes in everyone's expressions — and sneered inwardly.
Danzo's actions might seem uncharacteristic, but once you understood his true goal — coveting Orochimaru's research — everything made perfect sense.
Still, Hiruzen chose not to intervene.
For one, Danzo had cleverly wrapped himself in the banner of "acting for the good of the village," gaining the support of the advisors.
For another, given Orochimaru's proud nature, the idea of him meekly surrendering his data was laughable. Conflict was inevitable.
The Third Hokage simply needed to wait — to pick the right moment to step in, mediate, and secure the village's interests while keeping Danzo's ambitions in check.
As for Orochimaru himself, he was no longer Hiruzen's concern. His once-prized disciple had long since become powerful enough to survive without protection.
After a moment of silence, Danzo spoke again,
"It seems Hiruzen has no objections. I've already sent word to the Uchiha clan to summon Orochimaru.
But for this matter to go smoothly, teacher, we'll still need you to speak personally."
"Shff..."
Just then, a Genin arrived at the Hokage's office, kneeling respectfully to report,
"Lord Danzo, Lord Hokage — according to Uchiha's patriarch, Lord Orochimaru left the village more than a day ago. Only an assistant remains behind."
The expressions around the room immediately changed.
"You didn't know about this, Hiruzen?"
Koharu frowned, giving Hiruzen a sharp look.
"Orochimaru is out of line."
As a Konoha shinobi, leaving the village without permission — unless on a sanctioned mission — was a serious violation. Even one of the Sannin needed to follow formal procedures.
"And he left behind an assistant?"
Danzo's face darkened.
"That assistant must know how to contact Orochimaru. Why wasn't he brought here?"
The ANBU ninja raised his head, looking awkward.
"Lord Danzo, that assistant refused your summons. He's currently protected by the Uchiha Police Force."
"Tch. Uchiha arrogance..."
Danzo turned to glare at Hiruzen, his face gloomy.
"I'll go deal with it personally."
The two advisors exchanged knowing glances, while suspicion flickered in the Third Hokage's eyes.
As Danzo rose and left the Hokage's office, a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.
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