Uchiha En, the captain of the Uchiha Military Police Force Sixth Squad, had been completely bewildered these past few days. Ever since he helped Orochimaru, the new celebrity disciple of the Third Hokage, and truthfully reported the villagers' reactions, things changed.
The captain of the Police Department, who was also the current head of the Uchiha Clan, not only gave them bonuses but also convened a meeting with the clan elders.
No one knew what the clan head and elders discussed, but the result was that the Uchiha Military Police Force's operating style changed.
What exactly was going on? Why issue such an order?
Are we Uchiha really such a helpful clan?
It had been several days, and Uchiha En still couldn't figure out what was happening.
And the movements of the Uchiha Clan, of course, did not escape the notice of Danzo Shimura, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado, who had always been observing the Uchiha Clan.
Hokage Building, Conference Room.
"Hiruzen, what do you think about the Uchiha Clan's actions?"
Danzo Shimura's gaze swept across Utatane Koharu's and Homura Mitokado's faces, then settled on Hiruzen's face.
"The Uchiha Clan is changing its operating style, becoming more approachable. Isn't that good? Past complaints about them were always because they were too unapproachable."
Hiruzen said with a smile. He was very happy about the Uchiha Clan's change. In his opinion, the Uchiha Clan was also a member of Konoha, and there was no need to constantly watch and be wary of them. Compared to Second Hokage Senju Hashirama's policy, his ideas were clearly more conciliatory.
"Hiruzen, you are too naive!"
Danzo Shimura said forcefully, "The Uchiha Clan's changes might be part of a larger scheme. We cannot lower our guard!"
"That's right. The Second Hokage… Lord Tobirama's vigilance against the Uchiha Clan was precisely to prevent a second Uchiha Madara from appearing."
Utatane Koharu's view was consistent with Danzo Shimura's. She did not believe that the Uchiha Clan's change was out of goodwill; they must be plotting something.
That was the Uchiha Clan, from which a powerhouse like Uchiha Madara had emerged. How could they relax their vigilance against such a clan?
(Senju Tobirama: Exactly!)
"Hiruzen, what are you thinking?"
Homura Mitokado looked at Utatane Koharu beside him, then at Danzo Shimura. He wasn't as aggressive as them and wanted to know Hiruzen's thoughts more.
"I favor the Uchiha's changes. I don't think we need to strengthen our guard against the Uchiha; that would be pushing the Uchiha Clan away. Don't forget that the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan established Konoha.
We can be wary of the Uchiha Clan, but we shouldn't make that wariness public, and certainly shouldn't let the Uchiha Clan know."
Hiruzen couldn't possibly tell his old friends that the Uchiha Clan's change might be related to his disciple, Orochimaru.
The fact that the Uchiha Military Police Force Sixth Squad helped Orochimaru move things was widely rumored among the villagers, and he couldn't possibly be unaware of it.
"Hiruzen, you are always so indecisive. If this continues, you will regret it. You should do as I say and send more Anbu to monitor the Uchiha Clan!"
Danzo Shimura was very displeased with Hiruzen's "everyone gets along" mentality. If this continued, Konoha would eventually be destroyed in his hands!
"Enough, Danzo, this is the Hokage's decision!"
Hiruzen's tone was firm and beyond doubt.
"I hope you don't regret today's decision, Hiruzen!"
Danzo Shimura's expression was somewhat distorted by anger as he stood up and walked out.
Nara Pharmacy
After checking the medicine cabinet, the shop assistant walked to the counter and said apologetically, "Orochimaru, the medicinal herbs you wanted to buy are all sold out. New ones will probably arrive in about three days."
"Eh, you know me?"
Orochimaru looked at the shop assistant in surprise, her gaze falling on the mask and eyes on her face. She had a slight impression of those eyes.
"Shadow Imitation Jutsu!"
The shop assistant made a hand sign, and her tone became more assertive.
Of course, she didn't actually activate the Ninjutsu.
"Nara Matsuka?"
Orochimaru remembered who the shop assistant in front of her was; she had met her before in the Akimichi Clan territory.
"You're the first person I've met who actively asks to be controlled by the Nara Clan's Shadow Imitation Jutsu. You left a very deep impression on me!"
Nara Matsuka took off her gloves, placed her hand on Orochimaru's head, and said with a chuckle, "Your hair quality is really good. I wanted to touch it before."
"Isn't this considered harassing a customer?"
Orochimaru looked at Nara Matsuka speechlessly. She vowed to grow tall in the future, to let these scoundrels who liked to touch other people's heads experience her pain.
"Cough, don't talk nonsense."
Nara Matsuka quickly withdrew her hand, relieved that there were no other customers in the store at the moment.
"Are there really no more of the herbs I want to buy, not even a little stock left?"
Orochimaru asked persistently. One particular herb was indispensable for the skincare product she was researching. It played a miraculous role, neutralizing various conflicting medicinal components to create ingredients that could improve skin.
"There's nothing we can do."
Nara Matsuka took out a map, a map of the area around Konoha, and pointed to a forest marked on it, saying, "There are herbs you need in that forest. If you don't want to leave the village, you can also go to the Forest of Death, which is more dangerous. The beasts living there are all very large."
Orochimaru looked at the forest Nara Matsuka pointed out on the map. It was a forest very close to Konoha, so close that if she screamed, she could randomly summon the Konoha patrol team.
"Thank you, Matsuka-nee."
"If you research anything good, be sure to let me know!"
Having witnessed Orochimaru's abilities, Nara Matsuka was very curious what she would come up with next.
"I'll consider it."
Orochimaru smiled slightly, left the Nara Pharmacy, returned home to quickly pack, left two Shadow Clones at home—one writing, one researching the nature transformation of Yang Release Chakra—then walked out the door with her backpack and leaped between buildings towards the Konoha gate.
"Stop, please register before going out."
The two Ninja guarding the gate said as Orochimaru approached.
"I'm bothering you."
Orochimaru wrote her name in the register.
"Orochimaru… You wouldn't happen to be *that* Orochimaru, would you?"
The gate guard saw Orochimaru's name, patted the Ninja tool pouch on his hip, which contained several new soldier pills he had recently bought from the Akimichi Clan. The old soldier pills were now a thing of the past, completely ignored.
After all, the new soldier pills were only slightly more expensive than ordinary ones, a price all Ninja could afford, even Genin who didn't earn much could buy them without hesitation.
"I think Konoha should only have one person named Orochimaru."
Orochimaru put down her pen and turned to walk out.
"She's the Orochimaru who improved the soldier pill formula."
"She looks so young! Like she hasn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy yet."
"Do you think she'll participate in the upcoming Chunin Exams?"
"She should, right? She's Hokage-sama's disciple."
The two Ninja guarding the gate said, one after another.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"