"Who exactly gave the kill order?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared down at the scroll, speaking in a low voice.
"An expert in Fire Release, highly skilled in infiltration... While Shimura Tan and Sarutobi Yuu may have had their flaws, killing both them and their guards cleanly would require at least a jōnin, perhaps even an elite jōnin."
"Yuu was protected by an Ino-Shika-Chō unit. A formation known for its flawless balance of offense and defense—and yet they were incinerated before they could even react..."
Hiruzen paused to consider.
"The Senju clan has no jōnin particularly skilled in Fire Release. It's unlikely."
"Most of them are focused around the Konoha Hospital now. Their fighting strength isn't what it used to be."
"Hatake Sakumo's men all had solid alibis. Kawatora is stationed at the Land of Waves fortress, Yamashiro and Moonlight Kento are both inside the village."
"Sakumo may be ambitious and stubborn about his reforms—but I don't believe he would go so far as to kill fellow villagers."
"And as for the Uchiha Clan's jōnin..."
He trailed off.
"...Could it be the Uchiha?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Have ANBU begin checking the movements of every Uchiha jōnin over the past two weeks."
Then, after a long silence:
"I'll speak to Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, and Uchiha Kagen—and ask each to prove their innocence."
"Meanwhile, ANBU and Root will investigate behind the scenes. We can't overlook a single clue."
Sarutobi Yuu's death was a heavy blow.
His own nephew. Full of potential. A future advisor for his son.
Danzo asked coldly, "Want me to kill a few more? They're getting bold—daring to strike back."
Hiruzen shook his head.
"No. We start by finding the truth. Confirm the killer first. Once we know who it is, use the truth to make them submit."
"If we act rashly and kill the wrong people, we'll be the ones caught in a trap."
"This is a long game, Danzo. Don't rush."
Danzo sneered internally but said nothing. He turned and left.
After leaving the Hokage Tower, Orochimaru didn't return to Root.
Instead, he made his way to the Konoha Hospital.
On the rooftop of the outpatient wing, he waited for Tsunade.
"You wanted to see me, Orochimaru?" she asked, approaching. "You've been like a ghost since coming back. No one's seen you."
Noticing Orochimaru's odd stare, Tsunade looked down at herself.
Nothing unusual today...
She still couldn't see her own shoes.
Orochimaru spoke:
"Tsunade... I underestimated you. I didn't expect your counterattack to be this vicious."
"Counterattack? What counterattack?"
"Whether it was you or not, the others will think it was you—you, Sakumo, and Uchiha Kagen. They'll see it as your response."
"I don't follow. Response to what, exactly?"
"Shimura Tan and Sarutobi Yuu—both Tokubetsu jōnin on the verge of promotion—are dead. One killed in the Land of Grass. The other, in the Land of Hot Water."
Tsunade blinked.
"What does that have to do with me? The jōnin exams are still ongoing. Why were they even outside the village?"
Orochimaru explained:
"The Guardian Jōnin of the Land of Rivers is from the Shimura clan. The Guardian Jōnin of the Land of Hot Water is from the Sarutobi."
"They were helping solidify their families' political positions. Their exams were scheduled last, so they had time."
Tsunade frowned—now realizing just how serious this was.
"This is slander. I was angry with the Third for rejecting my recommendation, but I would never assassinate a fellow Leaf shinobi."
"Even if they were from the Sarutobi or Shimura clans."
"Isn't it more likely they angered someone else—someone who used the rift between me and the Third to strike and pin it on us?"
"I've become a scapegoat!"
"I'm going to see the old man. This has nothing to do with me!"
With that, she launched off the rooftop, leaping toward the Hokage Tower.
Orochimaru sighed.
Half an hour later, Tsunade came storming back.
"I made it crystal clear. It wasn't me. I'm not taking the blame for this."
Orochimaru smirked inwardly.
'That wasn't an explanation—that was pouring salt into the wound.'
He could already picture the screaming match between Tsunade and Hiruzen.
But he didn't bring it up.
Instead, he asked:
"Tsunade. Do you support me becoming the Fourth Hokage?"
"...You? You, Orochimaru? Hokage?"
She was stunned.
"You've got to be kidding. I'd rather Jiraiya take the hat."
"I didn't ask about Jiraiya. Do you support me?"
"...I suppose I don't oppose it."
"Not opposing," Orochimaru said, "is all the support I need."
"You're seriously going for it?"
He raised his pale hands and stared at them.
"I need power. I need secret techniques."
"But the village's power... its jutsu... they're all locked behind Hiruzen-sensei's hands."
"I've asked him multiple times for access to the Scroll of Seals. He refused."
"He says the techniques inside are too dangerous for me. That I'll go down a dark path."
"But I don't believe there's any power I can't control."
"If Sensei wants to push me into the Fourth Hokage position—fine. I'll take it."
"Once I have the power... I'll use it better than anyone ever could."
"There is nothing in this world I cannot master."
Tsunade sighed.
She was clearly the most sane of the Sannin.
She looked at the manic gleam in Orochimaru's eyes and replied:
"Hiruzen's held the Scroll of Seals for years. Tell me, has he ever mastered any of those forbidden techniques?"
"Forbidden jutsu require talent. Timing. Luck. Rushing into them only leads to self-destruction—if you're lucky."
"Chasing power is fine. We all chase power."
"But instead of using techniques you can't handle, why not develop your own?"
Orochimaru's gaze suddenly shifted—to the diamond-shaped seal on Tsunade's forehead.
"You... you completed that jutsu?"
Tsunade nodded.
"Yes. I can now store chakra over time and release it in battle. I've mastered it."
Before she finished the sentence, Orochimaru lunged.
The two brushed past each other for a brief instant.
Tiles on the rooftop shattered. The whole surface cracked.
With her back to him, Tsunade let the Yin Seal withdraw back into her forehead.
Orochimaru's eyes dimmed. Then flicked toward the Hokage Tower.
And he vanished.
The pressure in his chest grew heavier.
Tsunade had already broken through. And he still couldn't see the path.
***
Shinma rushed toward a training ground on the village's edge.
Inside, Hatake Sakumo was instructing Minato and Kakashi.
Seeing Shinma waving, he signaled Minato to coach Kakashi and walked over.
"Lord Sakumo! Something big happened!"
"The final round of the jōnin exams is short two names—Shimura Tan and Sarutobi Yuu."
"I heard both were assassinated. Their bodies and their guards were found burned to ash."
Sakumo's first thought: Both the Shimura and Sarutobi clans had deep resources. Even Tokubetsu jōnin had bodyguards.
Then he frowned.
'The village... they don't suspect me, do they?'
Shinma added:
"Both Hayama Shirakumo and I were recommended for promotion by you. But the village revoked it."
"Shirakumo was accused by the Shimura of stealing their technique—the improved Vacuum Blade."
"I nearly got killed. If Moonlight Kento hadn't arrived in time, I'd be dead."
"Now, with high-level clan heirs dead... aren't we the top suspects?"
Sakumo thought for a moment.
"Shinma—prepare a formal report."
"List alibis for Kento, Yamashiro, yourself, Shirakumo, and the five other Tokubetsu jōnin."
"Finish it fast. The village will ask soon enough."
Just then, an ANBU dropped into the training field.
"Lord White Fang. The Hokage summons you."
"I understand. I'll go now."
After a full round of questioning in the Hokage's office, Sakumo provided his alibi and agreed to compile reports for his entire team.
He wasn't worried.
He hadn't done it. He hadn't ordered it.
As he stepped out of the building, a familiar fox-like mask caught his eye.
It wasn't Copper Fox, but it was close.
For the first time, doubt crept in.
'No… it couldn't be him… right?'
'But if it was...'
Sakumo's thoughts spiraled.
'If he did it... what then?'
'Did he really assassinate comrades of the village?'
Meanwhile, Shinma had gone to find Hayama Shirakumo, who was training alone behind his home.
Through persistent practice, Shirakumo had recently mastered casting Vacuum Blade with a single-hand half-seal.
Rather than three full signs, he pressed his hand to the hilt, sealed with his fingers, and let the wind blade fly with greater flexibility.
He was a perfect fit for the jutsu.
The Shimura clan had interrogated him for days. Without Sakumo's backing, he might still be in custody.
They couldn't believe a civilian could master a Wind Release jutsu this advanced.
When Shinma arrived and told him about the assassinations, Shirakumo kept training.
"...And you already told Lord Sakumo, right?"
"I did."
"He didn't scold you for gloating over their deaths?"
"I'm not stupid. Of course I kept my mouth shut."
"I came to get your alibi. Where you were two weeks ago, and who can confirm it."
"What? The village suspects us?"
Shirakumo's hatred flared.
He'd been humiliated by the Shimura clan, as if Wind Release belonged to them alone.
And now they suspected him of murder?
He sighed and gave his location and witnesses from two weeks ago.
He hadn't left the village—his alibi was solid.
Then he added:
"Shinma... last time you nearly died, remember how someone tipped off Sakumo?"
"And now, someone killed both Shimura Tan and Sarutobi Yuu."
"Tell me—what if it was the same person?"
Shinma froze.
He hadn't considered that.
"You think... Lord Sakumo is working with some force? Someone that ruthless and with sharp intel?"
Shirakumo nodded.
"That's what I'm thinking too."
"Sakumo is great. But too soft."
"I heard during the Second Hokage's reign, he completed numerous brutal ANBU missions. Lost many comrades. That's why he treasures them now."
"But the times have changed."
"Back then, ANBU never turned inward. Now? Who can we trust?"
"I heard ANBU is unrecognizable now. Extreme. Ruthless. Violent."
"Especially one called Copper Fox."
"I fought alongside him in Uzushio. He even saved my life."
"But during his interrogation of Hōzuki Ringetsu, I heard the screaming."
"My view of him changed—from respect to fear."
"That scream... it wasn't human."
"I'm a Tokubetsu jōnin, and I've never heard anyone scream like that."
If Yako had been present, he would've jumped in to defend himself:
Ringetsu was being framed for leaking the Water Gun Jutsu. His howls had nothing to do with torture—it was his own guilt and fear that broke him.
Shinma nodded.
He'd heard the name Copper Fox many times. Always described as terrifying.
***
At that very moment, Uchiha Kagen was in turmoil.
Unlike the smaller Senju and Hatake groups, the Uchiha Clan had over 900 members.
Verifying alibis for that many people was almost impossible.
Even worse—both ANBU and Root had started openly investigating them.
Everyone in the compound was on edge.
Every Uchiha jōnin and Tokubetsu jōnin was being forced to write a self-report detailing where they were and proving they hadn't been near the Land of Grass or the Land of Hot Water in the past two weeks.
And Root?
Root demanded Kagen hand over a list of every Uchiha who had gone missing in action during wartime—even those from over ten years ago—to prove they weren't secretly alive as rogue ninja.
At least 50 Uchiha from the First and Second Ninja Wars had no recovered remains.
Root now treated all of them as potential traitors.
Back at Sakumo's house, Kakashi had tired himself out.
As kids do, once drained, he'd gone upstairs and passed out cold.
In the living room, Pakkun sat silently, staring at Sakumo.
He was seated cross-armed, eyes closed, lost in thought.
Pakkun waited for thirty minutes.
Still no answer.
Finally, the pug spoke:
"Sakumo... you can't keep hesitating."
"Shinma nearly died. Don't you see what's happening?"
"If the Konoha higher-ups want someone dead, one mission is all it takes."
"Are you going to meet with Fox or not?"
"And if you do... will you side with him? Or turn him in?"
"...Make your decision."