While Aoran was diligently practicing Byakugan and ninjutsu, an unsettling atmosphere quietly permeated the air of Konoha Village.
At first, it was just vague rumors spreading through the alleys, speaking of villagers mysteriously disappearing, suspected of being used in some evil human experimentation.
These rumors, like undercurrents beneath the surface, spread wider and wider, and their versions became increasingly bizarre.
It wasn't until the third day, when a group of parents who had lost their infants gathered in front of the Hokage Building, that the incident completely erupted—over thirty infants and toddlers had gone missing.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared "tremendously enraged" before the public.
Dressed in combat attire, he publicly swore an oath:
"I will personally oversee this case and severely punish those involved, showing no leniency!"
Under everyone's gaze, the investigation quickly commenced. Soon, clues pointed to a hidden underground laboratory.
"Lord Hokage, this is the place!"
Two Anbu members stood solemnly before the laboratory entrance.
The Third Hokage waited specifically for the representatives of other ninja clans to arrive before signaling for action.
As the door was violently smashed open, he strolled in.
Even before seeing anyone, he began to recite his lines.
"Orochimaru, is it really you?"
In the center of the laboratory, Orochimaru stood with his back to everyone, in front of an operating table, his actions not ceasing due to the intruders.
"Speak quickly, what are you doing here!?"
Hiruzen's voice was filled with anguish and fury.
The faint cries of infants coming from the inner room made an imperceptible flicker of excitement flash in his eyes—living evidence would further solidify the charges.
Orochimaru slowly turned around, a mocking smile on his face. He put down his scalpel and stepped aside.
—Lying on the operating table was actually a piglet.
When the screen was pulled open, the sight before them made the Third Hokage's pupils contract sharply:
Several clan heads, led by Nara Shikaku and Chōza Akimichi, stood solemnly in front, with several women behind them caring for babbling infants.
The Third Hokage's face, which had been feigning righteous indignation, could no longer hold its composure, and the confidence in his eyes vanished.
At this moment, other ninja clan members successively entered behind Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Seeing this scene, they were also full of questions.
"I received news of kidnapped infants and specially invited all clan heads to come together for their rescue."
Orochimaru leisurely wiped his hands. "It seems sensei arrived a step too late."
The Third Hokage's expression was quite something, as if he had eaten chocolate-flavored excrement.
[How did Orochimaru not use these infants as materials!?]
[How did he know?]
He forced himself to maintain composure: "Well done, Konoha will remember your contribution."
"It was my duty." Orochimaru bowed gracefully and departed with the clan heads.
As he passed by the Third Hokage, he cast a meaningful glance.
This meticulously planned confrontation completely tore off the Third Hokage's hypocritical mask.
Orochimaru had already revealed to the clans through Anko: the Third Hokage was extremely power-hungry and was systematically eliminating dissidents.
Today's event was to let everyone witness firsthand how the Hokage would prejudge and fabricate charges.
The departing clan heads exchanged grave looks.
Now that the matter was confirmed, Shikaku began to ponder.
The true meaning of the phrase, "Hiruzen Sarutobi has been constantly eliminating dissidents all these years."
Exactly who were the people "eliminated" by Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Highly intelligent people's minds work very quickly.
The more he thought, the graver Shikaku's eyes became, and he exchanged a look with the other clan heads:
"Let's investigate this matter first and then discuss it after seeing the follow-up."
...Meanwhile, Aoran's Shadow Clone, carrying the scroll sealing his father's corpse, transformed into Hyuga Masahiko and arrived at Orochimaru's residence.
He directly leaped to the second floor and knocked a few times on the wide-open door.
Orochimaru, who was writing something on a document, looked up.
"Come in."
Orochimaru sized Aoran up and down: "The identity you've assumed, he's already dead, isn't he?"
Aoran smiled faintly: "It doesn't matter, it's all fake anyway."
He glanced around: "Lord Orochimaru seems to be having a tough time recently. I heard your followers' mission funds have been frozen."
Orochimaru sneered: "Not just that, my funding and equipment have also been stopped."
"Oh? Lord Orochimaru doesn't seem worried at all?"
A dangerous glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes: "I'm not that fragile!"
Orochimaru had fallen out with both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura.
It was imaginable that endless troubles would follow.
Aoran naturally knew Orochimaru was not simple, but for him, Orochimaru's conflict with Konoha would only be a waste of time and energy.
He shook his head: "Hiruzen Sarutobi holds the title of Hokage, and he has the Anbu to trip you up."
"Danzō's Root also has many pawns; with them in the dark and you in the open, you'll only suffer losses."
Orochimaru pondered for a moment; it was indeed true. Danzō's meddling with various materials had almost ruined him.
Not to mention that Hiruzen Sarutobi was now openly targeting him.
"What are your thoughts?"
Aoran said with a smile:
"Since the conflict is already public, why not go with the flow and portray yourself as a 'weakling' oppressed by power?"
"A weakling?" Orochimaru asked, puzzled.
"People instinctively sympathize with 'weaklings'."
"Because they are all afraid of being bullied by the strong, they can only band together."
"Now, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō are the strong, and you are the 'weakling'."
Orochimaru looked at Aoran with admiration. It had to be said that Aoran's insight into human nature and political acumen were qualities Orochimaru lacked.
"So, I need to escape in a pathetic manner, like a 'weakling'?"
Orochimaru's eyes showed interest. Previously, his approach was to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others in various ways.
This new method, however, opened a new world for him.
Aoran smiled: "Do you think Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura will provide you with financial or material support now?"
Hearing this, Orochimaru silently shook his head. His various forbidden jutsu and human experiments were costly.
Some precious experiments cost tens of millions at a time; it was literally millions per minute.
Since becoming a ninja, Orochimaru had completed a total of 1468 missions, including 108 S-rank missions, making him a true workhorse.
But Orochimaru's early laboratories were very shabby, looking quite poor.
This was because biological experiments were too expensive.
Previously, the village would subsidize him, and cooperation with Danzō provided materials, but now all of that was gone.
"Don't worry, regarding money, I have some ideas and methods."
"But the most urgent task is for you to leave Konoha with minimal losses."
"If you leave Konoha, then the tables will turn, and you'll be free as a bird in the sky or a fish in the sea."
Orochimaru pondered for a moment: "Alright, I'll listen to you and become this 'weakling' who evokes sympathy."
He not only had laboratories but also many former subordinates and even many assets; it wouldn't be easy to take all of these away.
The current situation was that staying would only make him a living target for Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura.
But leaving Konoha would change the dynamic of offense and defense.
Seeing that Orochimaru had come to a realization, Aoran also took out his cheap father's corpse.
"This is the corpse; it's been dead for a few days, so its condition isn't too good."
Orochimaru opened it and briefly examined it:
"Then it needs Physical Activation. This can temporarily restore the corpse to how it looked just after death."
"However, activating a corpse is a bit difficult."
Activation? A light bulb went off in Aoran's mind when he heard this word:
"I know a piece of information: there's a meteor in Hoshigakure of the Land of Bears that can activate the body."
Orochimaru showed surprise, then swept his tongue around, clearly very interested.
Aoran took the scroll, preparing to throw some more explosive information at Orochimaru to keep him hooked:
"Also, I want to cooperate with Lord Orochimaru on something else."
Aoran paused: "Lord Orochimaru is very fond of forbidden jutsu, isn't he?"
Hmm?
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly, flashing with an investigative look.
Aoran didn't wait for Orochimaru to answer and continued: "There are countless forbidden jutsu in the Ninja World. Even if one spends a month on each."
"Within a person's limited lifespan, it's impossible to master all jutsu."
"Even with Regeneration Ninjutsu to extend life, it's still limited."
"Once one dies, everything is lost."
Orochimaru's expression was shaken. He, who usually kept his emotions hidden, rarely showed astonishment on his face.
Because these were all Orochimaru's recent thoughts, which he hadn't shared with anyone.
"Human life is too fragile and short. To possess everything, to gain infinite knowledge and truth, one needs..."
Aoran's voice carried a hint of seduction, yet it dropped a bombshell on Orochimaru!
"Eternal life!"
Orochimaru's eyes glowed as he looked at Aoran, his gaze like someone who had finally found a "soulmate" or "kindred spirit."
He excitedly licked his own face with his tongue.
"Hehehe..."
"Interesting, you actually desire eternal life?"
"So, you want to cooperate with me on this?"
Aoran nodded slightly. He knew that if he mentioned this, Orochimaru would definitely take the bait.
"However, this will have to be after Lord Orochimaru leaves Konoha."
Orochimaru nodded. Aoran leaped out the window.
"First, get yourself settled. We still have a long time for our subsequent plans."
...