When the members of the Uchiha Clan saw the Sannin, it was as if they had seen a strict father; they all immediately deactivated their Sharingan and acted like law-abiding citizens.
The people from Root also didn't dare step forward to disturb the confrontation between the Sannin and Ryou; such was the status of the Sannin.
Everyone shifted their gaze from the Sannin to Ryou, their eyes filled with a mix of emotion and greed.
Ryou's youthful face and healthy body couldn't be faked; they were the greatest proof of his immortality Forbidden Jutsu.
Who wouldn't want to live forever? Who wouldn't want to regain their youth?
Fugaku looked at Ryou with a melancholic expression, which then turned into cold resolve.
Ryou had a poor reputation within the Uchiha because he didn't report to the Police Force after graduation, instead going to the Konoha Hospital to study medicine.
There were also negative reviews about him being old without a wife or children, being unable to awaken his eyes, and being unable to perform Ninjutsu.
His peers were already the Sannin or Jonin of the Village.
While his reputation in the clan was bad, it was excellent in the Village; the Ninjas he had saved all said that although his medicine was a bit harsh, it worked.
Was a child faking an illness? Did an old person have bad legs? He would know after a beating.
On the day he was designated a Rogue Ninja, patients who had received Ryou's favors even went to the Sandaime to argue his case.
As for the rumors of Ryou embezzling from the Konoha Hospital and selling fake drugs, Fugaku dismissed them as mere gossip.
For the Uchiha Clan, Ryou was clearly a bridge to improve relations between the family and the Village; for Fugaku, he was also Mikoto's distant cousin.
Itachi also liked to follow this uncle, Ryou.
But now... human experimentation is just human experimentation; which department in Konoha hasn't been involved in human experimentation?
The Anbu must understand human anatomy to kill! The Medical Department needs to know human structure to treat internal injuries, and the Interrogation Department even likes to skin interrogators alive.
Ryou's actions were of the nature of human research required for Ninjutsu; the mistake was not having official permission.
Moreover, immortality! This wasn't a slide one could just play on!
As soon as it was exposed, the Uchiha Police Force controlled Ryou, preparing to have him commit seppuku before the Village higher-ups.
But unexpectedly, Ryou miraculously escaped the watch of the Uchiha Jonin.
Uchiha Fugaku anxiously led the Police Force to pursue Ryou... Jiraiya stepped forward and continued his previous words: "Ryou, you said someone else in the Village is doing illegal human experiments? Who is it?"
Ryou looked at Orochimaru.
Jiraiya and Tsunade also looked at him together, and everyone present instinctively turned their gaze toward Orochimaru.
This is... reputation!
With Orochimaru's cold aura, people would believe it even if someone said he had just eaten a person.
Orochimaru said unhurriedly, "Ryou, you need evidence to speak; things without evidence are slander."
Ryou really couldn't find any evidence.
It would be another year or two before Orochimaru's crimes of human experimentation and Forbidden Jutsu research were exposed and he defected.
Right now, he was still competing for the position of Fourth Hokage, hiding deeper than anyone!
Unable to produce evidence, Ryou could only talk nonsense: "Tsunade, Jiraiya, I don't want to say more."
"Regarding this matter, I'll just say those who understand, understand. I won't explain to those who don't; the interests involved are too great, and speaking out would benefit neither you nor me..."
"Hah!"
Tsunade gave a low shout and slammed her foot onto the ground; the crude Kannabi Bridge immediately shook violently.
Ryou was startled and pointed at Orochimaru, saying, "Orochimaru, I'm putting it out there today: if you don't become a Rogue Ninja because of human experimentation in two years, my whole family will die out."
Orochimaru chuckled, "Ryou, you don't have many people in your family anyway. Your words are just baseless slander forced upon me because you're at your wits' end; they don't count."
Orochimaru remained calm on the surface, but he was inwardly alert. He thought he had hidden well; how did Ryou see through him?
Besides, he would defect?
Ridiculous. It's still uncertain who will become the Hokage. If he becomes the Hokage, would he be a stray dog like Ryou who defected?
To avoid further complications, he had to take down Ryou as soon as possible.
"Orochimaru—"
Tsunade and Jiraiya were stunned; Orochimaru was getting a bit impatient. Could it be as Ryou said?
Orochimaru did it too!
Suddenly, Orochimaru's figure slithered like a long snake and rushed across the suspension bridge. His speed was like a ghost, arriving in front of Ryou in the blink of an eye.
Ryou quickly shouted, "Wait, Orochimaru, let's talk this out, let's talk this out."
Orochimaru had no intention of stopping; his charge was no different from a ghost appearing.
Ryou went all out: "Damn Orochimaru, if you don't stop, I'll blow my own head off!"
Orochimaru stopped abruptly.
Ryou had stuffed an exploding tag into his mouth and formed a hand seal. With just a Tiger Seal, Ryou's head would explode.
Orochimaru didn't know if Ryou had recorded the Forbidden Jutsu on a scroll; if not, then his Chimera Forbidden Jutsu was in his mind.
Orochimaru was not the type to work himself to death for Konoha's Will of Fire. Ryou's immortality technique was of great significance to him and must not be lost.
Ryou saw Orochimaru hesitate and felt relieved, but he didn't lower his hand seal at all.
He was dancing on the edge of a knife right now; maybe the Orochimaru in front of him was just a clone, and his real body was hidden underground.
Ninja battles are all about deception! Each one is more sinister than the last!
"Orochimaru, I've really got you under control!"
Ryou's Tiger Seal turned into a finger gun pointed at Orochimaru, as if he were holding a gun to him.
"Back off, go to the other side of the bridge, or else you won't get anything if my head blows up!"
"..."
Orochimaru looked at Ryou with a cold smile, making no move.
The Anbu and Root members held their breath, and the hearts of those hiding in the forest were in their throats, fearing that if Orochimaru acted on impulse, the immortality technique would go down the drain.
"Orochimaru, calm down!"
"Orochimaru, don't be impulsive!"
Tsunade and Jiraiya shouted at Orochimaru, and only then did he use Body Flicker to return to their side.
On a tree trunk on the other side, an Uchiha member whispered to Fugaku: "Captain, should we?"
The Police Force members activated their Sharingan, intending to use genjutsu to control Ryou.
The Uchiha were also very greedy for Ryou's Forbidden Jutsu, as obtaining it would clearly allow them to bargain with the higher-ups!
Fugaku shook his head: "Stay calm. With the Sannin here, we don't need to act rashly and cause unnecessary trouble."
Ryou changed the subject and pointed at the Anbu and Root members behind him who were gripping their Ninja tools: "Anbu people, Root dogs, all of you back off. Don't let me see you."
Neither the Anbu nor the Root members moved.
Jiraiya barked, "Everyone, stand down."
Immediately, the Anbu and Root members used Body Flicker to vanish into the dense forest.
Ryou looked at the Uchiha Clan and shouted, "You damn Uchiha! Although I've never awakened my eyes, my research on the Sharingan is superior to all of yours."
"Everyone, close your eyes and turn around. If you dare to take a peek, I'll die right in front of you."
The members of the Police Force looked at Fugaku, who nodded.
Instantly, all the Uchiha Ninjas turned around. They didn't dare to look back because... one more look and things would explode!
Fugaku also closed his eyes. In this situation, he had to forget Ryou's past achievements, pull the Uchiha out of this whirlpool, and draw a clear line with Ryou.
Fugaku shouted at Ryou in front of the Sannin, "Ryou, I knew you harbored ill intentions, but I didn't expect you to dare attack your fellow villagers. You've simply disgraced the Uchiha name."
"Before coming here, the clan already struck the Uchiha surname from the family records! You are no longer a person of the Uchiha!"
Ryou was furious: "Fine, Fugaku! You're framing me like this? I even delivered Itachi myself, yet you're so heartless."
Fugaku shouted coldly, "Surrender immediately and obediently commit seppuku before Hokage-sama."
Ryou roared, "Fuck you, Fugaku! If I didn't have this hereditary disease, would Mikoto and the Uchiha Police Force Captain position even be yours?"
"Ryou, you—"
Fugaku was stunned, wondering if Ryou's words were true. Did Ryou really have feelings for Mikoto, or was he just drawing a clear line with the Uchiha?
Although Ryou and Mikoto were relatives, they were distant, beyond the third degree.
When he was young, Ryou had no family and was raised by Mikoto's parents. Mikoto called Ryou 'brother' and was well cared for by him.
Fugaku was sometimes even jealous of their relationship.
Also because of Ryou, Mikoto was clearly not as submissive to Fugaku as a traditional Uchiha wife would be to her husband.
Seeing Ryou's attention diverted by Fugaku, Orochimaru quietly used Body Flicker and rushed over.
Tsunade wanted to speak up to stop him but hesitated because Ryou was now a Rogue Ninja.
Ryou suddenly felt a cold aura behind him and grew anxious, but it was too late.
Orochimaru was too fast.
Just as Orochimaru was about to use his snake binding to restrain Ryou, his body suddenly seemed to stiffen for a moment. Ryou seized the opportunity and performed several backflips.
Then, with a fierce expression, he held the hand seal to his head: "Orochimaru, you actually broke free from my control. This matter won't end well today."
"Apologize quickly, or I'll blow my own head off with one punch!"
"..."
Orochimaru took a step back and chuckled, "Ryou, don't be so nervous. I was just joking with you."
Ryou slowly backed away until there was nowhere left to go. Behind him was a cliff, and he could clearly hear the sound of the rushing torrent at the bottom of the valley.
Look at this mess, how should I make my exit?
Ryou had no way to escape the pursuit of the Sannin. Forget the Sannin, even the Anbu and Root would be hard to shake off.
Ryou cursed in his heart, wondering why that damn Uchiha Madara hadn't come to escort him yet.
That's right, Ryou had only defected to join Madara after receiving a secret letter from him.
"Junior, I am Uchiha Madara. I'm not dead. Bring your Forbidden Jutsu to Kannabi Bridge and help me restore my youth."
"Once I return to my peak, I will fight my way back to Konoha and take you as my godson. At that time, you can take your pick of Konoha's beauties."
That was the gist of it, but only after arriving did Ryou realize... it was a scam!
Had he known, he would have been better off giving the Forbidden Jutsu to Orochimaru to let him protect him.
Ryou quietly glanced at the bottom of the valley. As things stood, his only choice was to jump off the cliff to survive.
But Ninjas weren't fools; even if Ryou died, they would take his body.
Because of the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques, information could be extracted from a person's mind even after they were dead.
Suddenly, Ryou spotted a white, pitcher-plant-like humanoid creature hidden on the opposite cliff face.
It was very well hidden; if he hadn't found the right angle and paid close attention, he wouldn't have seen it at all.
Ryou was overjoyed. It was White Zetsu, and the higher-status original body, Madara's Seal-Bearing Attendant.
Great, Madara is nearby.
Ryou suddenly regained his confidence. Pointing at Orochimaru, he spoke with a tone as contemptuous as if he were crushing dust: "Orochimaru, you followed the current and trapped me in this endless abyss, but that's no great storm. If you dare take another step forward, the world will be turned upside down!"
Seeing that Ryou was slow to act, Orochimaru tentatively and slowly stepped forward: "Ryou, did you draw those Exploding Tags yourself just now?"
There were rumors in the Village that, besides selling fake medicine, Ryou also sold fake tags.
Sometimes he mixed them together, claiming that his talisman water, over which he had chanted spells, could cure illnesses. He even said that the Senju were dead and the Uchiha were in charge.
Ryou was so shrewd; how could he possibly commit suicide?
Also pursuing immortality, Orochimaru feared death more than anyone, and he believed Ryou was the same.
Seeing that Orochimaru was somewhat undeterred by his threat of self-destruction, Ryou hurriedly shouted, "Ancestor, save me!"
"..."
At the bottom of the valley beneath Kannabi Bridge, there was dead silence. The White Zetsu that Ryou had seen before were gone, as if they were merely illusions seen in his trance.
Damn it, an Uchiha scam!
Ryou cursed inwardly.
He steeled himself, condensing Chakra in his fingers as his hands slowly formed a seal in front of his chest.
"Orochimaru, let's make a bet. Do you want to see if my Exploding Tags were drawn by me?"
Orochimaru stopped in his tracks.
Tsunade and Jiraiya appeared by Orochimaru's side.
"Orochimaru, don't push him so hard. You should know that the Village higher-ups want Ryou's Forbidden Jutsu!"
Orochimaru gave an evil smile. "Indeed. I'm afraid the Daimyo has also received word and is rushing here in a hurry."
Jiraiya and Tsunade remained silent. Ryou's Forbidden Jutsu was an evil art, one that required taking the lives of others as the price.
If it were obtained by the higher-ups of Konoha or the Land of Fire, the whole world would fall into chaos.
Ryou had always felt that all three Sannin coming to pursue him was a bit of an overreaction. In truth, if it hadn't been for their teacher, the Third Hokage, suppressing them...
Danzo and all sorts of characters from the Village would have charged here long ago.
Tsunade and Jiraiya had also been ordered by the Third Hokage to rush back from the front lines to handle Ryou's matter.
This matter had grown so large that even the Hokage could no longer suppress it.
If the news really reached the Daimyo, then—
Ryou kept holding the seal. How was he supposed to end this now?
He tried to negotiate: "Orochimaru, let me cross the bridge first. I'll throw you half of my Forbidden Jutsu scroll, and I'll give you the other half once I've survived."
Ryou took a scroll out of his Ninja tool pouch, and everyone's eyes immediately focused on it.
Ryou slowly backed away, onto the bridge, and then gradually retreated to the opposite bank.
But he couldn't let his guard down. At this distance, it was just a matter of a Body Flicker.
Ryou threw the scroll toward the dense forest on the opposite side. Suddenly, except for Tsunade and Jiraiya, everyone's eyes followed the trajectory of the scroll.
Orochimaru turned into an afterimage to give chase.
With a Forbidden Jutsu before them and immortality within reach, some people finally couldn't resist their greed and jumped out to fight for it.
"Get lost, this is mine!"
Seeing the conflict erupting on the other side, Ryou turned around, intending to use a smoke screen to escape.
But suddenly, a golden shadow streaked through the air. A Kunai, carrying a cold and sharp edge, instantly pierced through Ryou's heart.
"Minato—"
Tsunade and Jiraiya were instantly stunned on the spot.
Ryou's eyes widened. He clutched his chest, trying to stem the blood, but he couldn't stop it no matter what.
"...Minato... well done, Minato..."
"...Minato, Ryou's Forbidden Jutsu is too dangerous. The Daimyo's mansion has already put pressure on me. Immortality?! Even an old man like me in his 50s is tempted by the sound of it!"
"But the meaning of a person's life never lies in its length, but in using their limited time to create the most profound value."
"Minato, I know Ryou passed the Rasengan to you, and you've always been mindful of that favor."
"But now, Ryou must be killed. His Forbidden Jutsu must be destroyed to cut off everyone's evil thoughts."
"Minato, Jiraiya and Tsunade are emotional people; they won't be able to bring themselves to do it."
"Orochimaru is acting on his own; I can see through that child less and less. I told Tsunade and Jiraiya to follow him just to keep an eye on him."
"Minato, it's up to you!"
...Orochimaru drove away the group of cowards and opened Ryou's scroll, only to see a line of words.
"Eat shit!"
"(╬Ò﹏Ó) Dammit, I've been tricked!"
Orochimaru turned his head and saw the scene on the other side, his pupils shrinking slightly: "Minato! No, Sensei, how could you be so heartless!"
Golden hair fluttered, his forehead protector was straight, and his blue eyes were as bright as stars, but even the most dazzling eyes had dimmed at this moment.
"Ryou-senpai, I'm sorry..."
Minato didn't dare look into Ryou's eyes.
Ryou felt his life force slipping away: "...Minato, it was the monkey who told you to do this, wasn't it?"
"..."
Minato didn't reply.
Ryou gave a miserable smile, his mouth bloody: "...To not even be tempted by such a lure, he truly is a good Hokage!"
Minato finally spoke: "Lord Third said that if he could have withstood the pressure from the higher-ups back then and taken you as his disciple, things wouldn't have come to this point today."
Ryou slowly crawled to his feet, his steps unsteady. He couldn't even stand firmly. Minato wanted to help him, but he reached out and refused.
"Cough, cough... I've never regretted reaching this day. That day when I ran with all my might, I was so excited I moved to tears. I finally broke free from that fragile shell of the past."
"...I just hate it. Which bastard reported me? Don't let me catch you!"
Tsunade and Jiraiya appeared by Minato's side. Tsunade wanted to step forward and use Medical Ninjutsu to help Ryou stop the bleeding, but she was stopped by Jiraiya.
Orochimaru appeared afterward, and Tsunade and Jiraiya faintly blocked his path.
Orochimaru's face was somewhat grim, but he wasn't yet desperate. There was still a chance. Even if Ryou died, his head was still there. As long as the head remained, he could dig out the Forbidden Jutsu of immortality.
But these two guys in front of him?!
When did Teacher start to suspect him?
Was it because he acted too hastily this time?
But, Sensei, I hope you can still understand me on this: I want immortality so badly!
Ryou looked up at the setting sun, feeling a bit lonely.
The people behind him didn't move, slowly watching Ryou's life fade away. Orochimaru tensed his body, preparing to snatch Ryou's corpse.
I only want the head! Soul juice, pour it on!
"Haha..."
"In the next life... I'll be an evil demon again!"
Ryou laughed with all his might, then fell toward the cliff of Kannabi Bridge, his hands forming the Tiger seal.
"Explode!"
"No—"
Among all the Konoha pursuers, only Orochimaru followed him down... In Konoha, at the Uchiha residence, Uchiha Mikoto was washing dishes when she suddenly felt a sharp pang in her heart.
"Brother! No, it's impossible. Fugaku already promised me he would bring you back."
"Mom, what's wrong?"
Uchiha Itachi ran over with a worried expression.
Mikoto regained the composure of a matriarch and stroked Itachi's head: "It's nothing, Itachi."
Itachi hesitated for a moment but still spoke: "Mom, everyone in the Village says Uncle killed his comrades and became a Rogue Ninja. Is it true?"
"..."
Mikoto was silent, then hugged Itachi: "It's a lie, it's all lies. Your uncle is an upright person, the kindest Ninja in the entire Village."
Itachi was no longer a three-year-old child; he was four now, a tough character who had been on the battlefield and killed people.
But Itachi didn't say it out loud, because his mother was sobbing while holding him.
She was more heartbroken than anyone!
Uncle—
At the Konoha Hokage Office.
An Anbu reported to the Third Hokage: "Hokage-sama, everything has been cleared up. Hiruko turned away from the path of a Ninja many years ago and was secretly researching evil arts."
"As for the reason Ryou killed him, it might have been to monopolize the Forbidden Jutsu. In their cooperation, Hiruko held the dominant position."
The pipe in the Third Hokage's hand had not left his palm. He nodded: "I see. Leave the investigation report and go."
"Yes!"
The Third Hokage looked toward Kannabi Bridge and took a long drag of smoke.
He had told a small lie to Minato earlier.
Even if he went back to those years, the Third Hokage wouldn't have taken Ryou as a disciple, because back in the Ninja Academy, he had seen the deep-seated ambition in Ryou's eyes.
It was the look of someone who wanted to take his place!
Once, when Ryou was leaving the office and the Third Hokage called out to him, his neck rotated a full 180 degrees to look back.
The gaze of an eagle and the look of a wolf!
At that time, the Third Hokage's pipe was almost knocked out of his hand in shock.
Facts proved that he was right; Ryou harbored deep ambitions.
"A pity, Ryou! If only your last name wasn't Uchiha..."
"Sigh..."
With a bang, the door to the Hokage Office was slammed open.
"Hiruzen, why did you recall Namikaze Minato from the front lines?"
...Kannabi Bridge.
The sun had already set. Ryou had been blown into remains that fell into the large river below Kannabi Bridge. Only Orochimaru went to pursue them, while the others returned in grief.
No one expected this to be the result. The Sandaime was as ruthless as ever, extinguishing the Village's undercurrents with a single move.
Did he not have even a bit of a fantasy about immortality? Even if he didn't, obtaining this Forbidden Jutsu would have allowed him to bargain with the leaders of the various factions in the Village and the Daimyo's mansion.
Helplessly, everyone could only leave with heavy hearts.
Minato, Jiraiya, and Tsunade set up a cenotaph for Ryou near Kannabi Bridge.
Given Ryou's contributions to Konoha's medical system, he could have been placed in the Hero Memorial Cemetery, but he was now a Rogue Ninja.
Even a Ninja like the White Fang couldn't enter the Hero Memorial Cemetery because of public opinion, let alone a Rogue Ninja who would be cursed by the villagers.
Minato stood before Ryou's tombstone, silent for a long time.
In this place, the Land of Grass, Minato had been late once and failed to save Obito. Now, he was able to arrive in time for Ryou's "betrayal"?
Did the Flying Thunder God only specialize in acquaintances?
Jiraiya patted Minato's shoulder: "Minato, don't feel guilty anymore. You weren't wrong in this matter. The mistake lies in..."
"Sigh... Ryou knew this day would come the moment he started researching Forbidden Jutsu, didn't he?"
Jiraiya was probably the person in the Village with the best relationship with Ryou. They had been like-minded since they were young, both liking Tsunade and wanting to win her over.
Unfortunately, he lacked the looks, while Ryou was an Uchiha.
Jiraiya's arrival from the front lines wasn't just because of the Third Hokage's order, but also because of his feelings for Ryou.
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade, who was standing silently to the side. Tsunade must have felt the same way!
Jiraiya had a crush on Tsunade but didn't have the handsome face of an Uchiha.
Tsunade and Ryou had feelings for each other, but because of various reasons, they couldn't be together.
Sigh... fate truly is a fickle thing!