Chapter 514: It Must Be Orochimaru's Doing
After leaving the Hokage Office, Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado hurried on their way, heading straight for the Sarutobi estate.
The two of them looked solemn. Seeing the two Advisors in such a state, the people on the street made way for them, secretly wondering if something major had happened in the Village again.
The Sarutobi courtyard was peaceful. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was leisurely watering several pots of orchids on the windowsill with a small watering can.
He wore a loose, comfortable home kimono, with the old dog named Danzo lying at his feet.
During this period of leisure at home, the Third Hokage grew flowers, played with the dog, practiced calligraphy, and taught his grandson. Everything was fine, except for being a bit more idle than before.
But the problem was that the old Third Hokage was someone who couldn't stay idle. Therefore, he had been looking for an opportunity to make a comeback. If Naruto hadn't mentioned before that there would still be many matters requiring his help after unifying the Ninja World, the Old man probably wouldn't have been able to sit still at home.
Just then, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado walked in one after the other, their hurried footsteps clattering on the stone path.
"Koharu, Homura, what is this about?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the watering can and stood up with some surprise.
"Has something major happened in the Village?"
Utatane Koharu did not answer immediately but instead gave Homura Mitokado a look.
Homura Mitokado pulled a document from his robes, which Utatane Koharu snatched away and practically flung in front of the Third Hokage.
"Hiruzen, explain to me what is going on here!"
The Third Hokage caught the document and looked down, only to see that it was actually a marriage registration application form.
Looking closer at the applicant section, the names "Hiruzen Sarutobi" and "Utatane Koharu" were actually written there.
Furthermore, the handwriting looked exactly like their own signatures.
His pupils shrank slightly. First came confusion, and then a scene flashed through his mind like lightning—it was the moment some time ago when he had personally handed a blank registration form to Orochimaru.
At the time, he had gone to tease Orochimaru, and of course, he also harbored the hope that Orochimaru and Jiraiya would get married. After all, his three Disciples were all in their fifties and still single; as their teacher, he was at his wits' end.
Seeing this application form again today, the Third Hokage's first thought was of his dear Disciple.
"I see," the Third Hokage suddenly laughed and shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "This must be Orochimaru's doing."
He looked up at his two old friends, his voice softening. "After seeing the child Miharu some time ago, I told Orochimaru and Jiraiya to get married soon so they could register the child's household status.
As you know, in Hidden Leaf Village, illegitimate children have no inheritance rights.
As Miharu's parents, Jiraiya and Orochimaru should definitely get married as soon as possible!"
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado exchanged a look, their tense shoulders finally relaxing slightly.
Upon hearing that this form was related to Orochimaru, they had already vaguely guessed what happened. It was nothing more than Hiruzen giving Orochimaru the form, and that eccentric fellow Orochimaru casually forging their and the Third Hokage's handwriting, sending this ridiculous registration form straight to the Hokage Office.
Thinking of the scene of Orochimaru snickering in secret, the two of them still felt a bit stifled.
Now that they heard the Third Hokage's words, they felt much more relieved.
Compared to the minor annoyance of Orochimaru disgusting them, having this fake form confirmed as a forgery was far more important to them.
"That Orochimaru is really too much."
Utatane Koharu said through gritted teeth, her hand inside her sleeve tightening slightly.
"She doesn't even care about her own child. It seems we, as her Elders, will have to go and persuade her more!"
She had a stomach full of anger with nowhere to vent.
Currently, Orochimaru was kept under house arrest in the Research Institute by the Sixth Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto. Nominally, it was to cooperate with the Village's supervision of Forbidden Jutsu and technological research and development, but in reality, she possessed immense autonomy, burying herself all day in experiments that ordinary people could hardly comprehend.
However, others did not know this, and an out-of-favor Elder like Utatane Koharu had no way of knowing the inside details, assuming that Orochimaru was just a prisoner now.
In Utatane Koharu's eyes, the current Orochimaru was undoubtedly an excellent punching bag.
She couldn't pose any real threat to the Village, yet Koharu could use her status as an Elder to give her a piece of her mind.
How shrewd was Hiruzen Sarutobi; he understood Utatane Koharu's plan the moment he heard those words.
He sighed inwardly, but his face showed a look of difficulty. "Ahem... Orochimaru is a woman now. Some things are indeed more appropriate for you to say, Koharu."
He paused, then suddenly turned to look inside the house, as if remembering something important. "That's enough about that, I have to go see how little Miharu is doing. Those two Disciples of Jiraiya have no experience raising kids. This Old man of yours needs to visit more often."
These words were not entirely an excuse.
Nagato and Konan were currently staying temporarily at Jiraiya's house, responsible for taking care of Miharu.
Both of them were orphans by birth, holding a natural warmth toward children, and they often went to help at the Konoha Orphanage.
He heard that Orochimaru's subordinate, Yakushi Kabuto, also got along well with them, and they would occasionally go to the orphanage together to visit the children.
The Third Hokage's frequent visits were certainly out of care for his grand-Disciple, but the deeper reason lay in observing these two former core members of the Akatsuki Organization.
When the Akatsuki Organization surrendered to Hidden Leaf Village, there was no small amount of opposition within the Village.
Even though Nagato and Konan were Jiraiya's Disciples, the power they once possessed and their past experiences, even with the backing of the Sixth Hokage Naruto, still made it difficult for many to be completely at ease.
Using visiting Miharu as a pretext, the Third Hokage was actually keeping a secret eye on their condition and movements.
The situation of these two was different from Orochimaru's.
The Third Hokage knew that Naruto's regard for Orochimaru was extraordinary. The Anbu outside the Research Institute were not there to spy, but rather acted as a channel to convey requests.
Most of these Anbu now took orders from the Sixth Hokage, but there were still members of the Sarutobi Clan serving among them, so the Third Hokage could always catch wind of some rumors.
The Anbu's organization was not large, usually maintained at under a hundred members. Most members' strength ranged from Chunin to Special Jonin, and the occasional regular Jonin would serve in positions like Anbu Captain.
The so-called Special Jonin referred to those Ninjas who excelled in certain fields but whose overall abilities did not meet the standard of a Jonin.
People like Ebisu, Shiranui Genma, Gekkō Hayate, Morino Ibiki, and Anko Mitarashi, though often respectfully addressed as Jonin, were actually Special Jonin.
Special Jonin enjoyed the status of a Jonin, but their overall strength did not quite reach that level.
Of course, no one would be so blind as to append 'Special Jonin' when addressing a Special Jonin; they would usually just call them 'Jonin so-and-so' or 'Lord so-and-so.'
And those who fully reached the level of a Jonin, like Kakashi, Might Guy, and Asuma, were the true Jonin, the real top combat power of Hidden Leaf Village.
Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu were all combat classifications. It wasn't required that one reach the Jonin level in all three categories to become a Jonin. Otherwise, basically only someone like Maruboshi Kosuke, who possessed all three arts, could be called a Jonin.
Thinking of this, a trace of complex emotion welled up in the Third Hokage's heart.
He turned and walked toward the house, his steps seemingly leisurely, but actually carrying a bit of relief from fleeing the scene.
The old dog followed at his heels, its tail wagging gently.
The Third Hokage gave it a gentle kick.
"Danzo, you stay and guard the house."
After whimpering aggrievedly twice, the old dog curled up between two flower pots and went to sleep.
Watching the Third Hokage's departing figure, Utatane Koharu gritted her teeth and finally said to Homura Mitokado, "Let's go to the Research Institute. I want to see what excuse Orochimaru has this time."
The sunlight remained warm, and the courtyard returned to tranquility. But beneath the shadows of Hidden Leaf Village, those subtle ripples had never truly settled.
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