Chapter 16: The Scapegoat Refuses to Take the Blame
Over the next few days, Kenichi Amamiya focused entirely on improving his strength. He could feel that something major was about to happen, and in times like these, getting stronger was always the right answer.
During this period, Orochimaru showed no signs of making any moves and had even stopped his daily experiments.
But Kenichi knew this was only the calm before the storm. As long as the Third Hokage was still alive, there was no way Orochimaru could become the Fourth Hokage.
Sure enough, just as the people on the streets were still buzzing about Minato Namikaze becoming the Fourth Hokage, Orochimaru finally appeared in front of Kenichi again.
"Kenichi, let's go. It is time to continue the experiments."
Orochimaru looked the same as always, but Kenichi could sense that his teacher was in a foul mood. There was a thin layer of anger in those snake like eyes that he did not bother to hide.
Kenichi rarely saw his teacher in such a state, but he also understood that this was absolutely not the time to ask questions. So he kept his mouth shut and quietly followed Orochimaru through the village and into the woods.
"Kenichi, you are a smart person. Let me ask you this. What do you plan to do in the future?" Orochimaru asked calmly as they walked beneath the trees.
He did not ask for details, but Kenichi understood exactly what he meant.
Right now, it was still only a rumor among ordinary villagers that Minato Namikaze would be the Fourth Hokage. However, the higher ups in Konoha already knew very well that the next Hokage would be Minato, not Orochimaru.
The formal announcement of Minato's inauguration as the Fourth Hokage would be made any day now.
It would not be long before Minato Namikaze officially became the new leader of the village. The only unknown was whether he would be a puppet or a Hokage with real autonomy.
"Teacher, I want to follow in your footsteps," Kenichi answered honestly.
Orochimaru knew most of his secrets. Strictly speaking, they were already on the same boat.
Kenichi could not leave easily. And if he stayed, Danzo would never let him go. He would eventually have to face that sly old fox head on.
Hearing his answer, Orochimaru nodded, but did not stop walking.
"You are very clever. I plan to leave this rotten, stinking village. If you do not leave, you may become my scapegoat and be swept up in the purge," Orochimaru said casually.
He knew his disciple was not like a child at all, but calm and mature. It was precisely because of that that he was willing to keep him at his side.
As for Mitarashi Anko, letting that poor girl forget everything about him was the best outcome.
Kenichi obediently followed behind, fully aware that everything Orochimaru said was true.
To be honest, he did not want to leave Konoha. The village's resources were simply too abundant. But this time, he had no choice.
Once the research into the cells of the First Hokage was exposed, even if only the higher ups learned of it, the shock it would cause was something Kenichi could not possibly withstand.
Konoha would definitely have to give the Senju clan an explanation. Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, would not ignore such a thing either. But Orochimaru would already have fled, and Danzo would immediately start shifting the blame.
So who would take responsibility?
Naturally, whoever had no background and no real power.
In the end, it was always the underlings who took the fall. And Kenichi Amamiya was the perfect scapegoat.
"I can already imagine what comes next. Danzo will definitely use the excuse of making you atone for your sins to force you into Root, then use that to control you and continue those experiments," Orochimaru said as they arrived at the entrance of the underground laboratory.
Kenichi followed his teacher inside. This underground base was the place where he had spent the second most time in Konoha.
"I am afraid that if things get too serious, I will be dragged out and executed to calm everyone's anger," Kenichi replied with a shrug, having already considered that possibility.
So he had made up his mind. He would leave with Orochimaru.
Danzo was not a dependable leader. The only thing he knew how to do was push responsibility downwards once something went wrong.
Following Orochimaru might be dangerous, but at least he would not be casually killed, wiped out with his entire clan, or used as a disposable shield.
"You really are very smart," Orochimaru said with a faint smile.
He hated dealing with fools. It took too much effort and was a waste of time. Talking to a clever disciple like Kenichi was much simpler.
Jiraiya, in his opinion, was exactly that kind of fool. He had even tried to comfort Orochimaru, telling him not to be too sad.
Sad?
Over a mere title of Fourth Hokage?
"...Teacher, you seem to be in a bad mood," Kenichi said, glancing at Orochimaru and testing the waters.
"You are imagining things," Orochimaru replied coldly.
Kenichi simply answered with an "oh" and walked on without changing his expression.
But in his heart, he could not help laughing. As expected, Orochimaru was still Orochimaru. He clearly cared deeply about the position of Fourth Hokage, yet still insisted on acting as if it meant nothing to him.
"The rejection reaction you mentioned has now been officially incorporated into the future experimental procedures. If you have any new ideas, you can tell me," Orochimaru said as he picked up an experimental logbook and flipped through it.
Kenichi nodded. It seemed that even though Orochimaru had not brought him here over the past few days, the experiments had never actually stopped.
Danzo must be feeling anxious as well.
It was only natural.
For all that Hiruzen Sarutobi had retired from being an active ninja, he was still an outstanding politician.
His methods were insidious and shameless, but very effective. His suppression of Danzo was so thorough that as long as Hiruzen was alive, Danzo could never truly raise his head.
"Teacher, can I have these failed experimental subjects?" Kenichi asked, his eyes drifting to the records in the logbook.
He could not help feeling a little envious.
As expected of Root. In such a short span of time, they had actually gathered eighty two test subjects.
These people were only alive now because of the rejection theory he had brought up. Without that, the First Hokage cells would have killed them long ago.
"I will take fifty. The rest are yours," Orochimaru said indifferently.
To him, they were just consumables. He also had his own projects to handle and needed a number of test subjects himself.
"Thank you, teacher." Kenichi licked his lips.
Thirty two test subjects were more than enough. This time, he finally did not need to worry about whether a test subject would die midway.
Even if one did die, it did not matter. He could simply switch to another.
Besides, with the way Yang attribute chakra stimulated the lungs, it was actually possible to use it to keep people alive longer when needed, which was also very convenient for his research.
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