After the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha Village began its rebuilding efforts.
Under the leadership of the Second Hokage, Konoha officially signed treaties regarding war reparations with other ninja villages, bringing peace back to the ninja world.
Interestingly, Sunagakure suffered significant losses during the war, leading to a decline in strength. Meanwhile, Amegakure rose rapidly, resulting in a noticeable decrease in mission volume and signs of Sunagakure being replaced.
Kumogakure, a major source of war reparations, was nearly bankrupted and, under pressure from the Second Hokage, reluctantly surrendered the "Two-Tails Jinchuriki."
As for Kirigakure, the immense defeat in the war, combined with the exposure of the Third Mizukage's death by various Kekkei Genkai clans, created chaos, plunging the village into a civil war just after the Third Shinobi War ended.
On the other hand, Iwagakure, under the leadership of Onoki, emerged from the war relatively intact, maintaining a significant amount of strength and even showing signs of surpassing Konoha to become the strongest ninja village.
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage awakened.
It was said that his furious roar could be heard clearly from hundreds of meters away at the Konoha hospital.
Due to numerous "absurd" actions during his tenure, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was stripped of his title and now worked as an advisor alongside Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, searching for and assisting the new Hokage.
Speaking of the new Hokage, we can't avoid the names of Namikaze Minato and Orochimaru.
Before the war, both expressed strong desires to succeed as Hokage, but after the war, they tried every excuse to avoid the position. No matter how much Sarutobi urged them, they refused to become Hokage.
This left Sarutobi, who had already made a significant mistake, being scolded by his teacher, the Second Hokage, in a rather humiliating manner.
Even the passing ANBU couldn't help but shake their heads upon hearing the reprimands.
After being scolded, Sarutobi walked out dejectedly, feeling an overwhelming sense of frustration.
At his age, he felt like a child, being yelled at by his teacher, nearly drowning in the instructor's spittle.
Wearing a lowered hat to hide his identity, Sarutobi walked through the streets, hearing whispers around him.
"Hey, hey, look, it's him!"
Clearly, despite how low he pulled his hat, his high recognition made it impossible to go unnoticed.
Sarutobi quickened his pace as he walked down the street.
"Hey, did you hear...?"
"Are you talking about..."
"Yeah, that's the one!"
"I can't believe it! He looks so serious all the time, but behind the scenes... tsk tsk."
"That's why he's called the 'Hokage'~ heh heh."
"In my opinion, it's all his fault!"
Voices filled the air, and Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned dark with anger, but he couldn't lash out.
Whoever the hell it was that spread the news about him and Danzo after twisting the facts was a real pain.
Now, rumors had spiraled out of control. It was said that a series of 'forbidden books' had appeared, vividly detailing his and Danzo's affairs.
Hiruzen wanted the Anbu to shut down the rumors, but the Second Hokage rejected his request.
The reason?
"Konoha can't lose the people's trust again."
So, frustrated, Hiruzen had to let the rumors spread. He clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead, gritting his teeth as he ignored the gossip: "If I find out who started this, you'll pay for it with your life!"
In the crowd, a figure in a gray cloak silently observed everything.
The corners of his lips turned down slightly. After a long moment, he sighed and vanished into the bustling crowd, looking lonely.
Hiruzen, belatedly aware, turned around in confusion: "Was that just my imagination? I felt a familiar chakra just now."
"How do you feel?"
Orochimaru, as usual, preferred the darkness of a room.
Sitting in a chair, he looked at the gray figure at the door with a teasing smile: "It would be interesting to retaliate against that person in the same way."
The figure in the gray cloak removed his hood, revealing sharp features and iconic silver hair. It was Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo.
"I don't feel much."
White Fang paused for a moment and then sighed: "It's just a bit ridiculous that such outrageous rumors can spread so easily."
"Because people are blind, conformist, and don't think independently."
Orochimaru interlaced his fingers, speaking meaningfully: "People only believe what they want to believe, and those who wrong you often know more about your injustice than you do, don't they?"
"He probably feels the same way I did back then."
White Fang thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "But Sarutobi Hiruzen is your teacher. Don't you think this is a bit inappropriate?"
"Me? I'm just stating the facts. What's wrong with that?" Orochimaru chuckled lightly, then stood up to grab the scroll on the table. Smirking, he added sarcastically, "Besides, my dear teacher is currently plotting to force me to become 'Hokage.'"
"Is that so?" White Fang asked.
"Oh, it's just records of human experiments," Orochimaru replied casually. "He issued an ultimatum: either become Hokage or wait to be judged. Heh, it seems the Second Hokage has really driven him to madness."
"Does he have a screw loose?"
White Fang's mouth twitched. Even someone who isn't political could find this ridiculous.
With the Third Hokage's political acumen, he shouldn't be doing something like this. But the reality was right in front of him; it couldn't be that he was being manipulated, right?
"Who knows~ Maybe he really is losing his mind," Orochimaru shrugged and said, "Heh, to think he would resort to such a lowly method to threaten me. The once-great shinobi has become so rotten."
"So, is this the reason you're so anxious?"
White Fang looked at Orochimaru, his expression neutral. "I'll ask you again: are you really sure you want to do this?"
"Ah, I'm very sure."
Orochimaru sat back down, shrouded in shadow. His voice was faint as he said, "Konoha is completely decaying. Staying here is meaningless. My goal isn't to be Hokage. Rather than wasting precious time, I'd prefer to pursue things that are truly worth pursuing."
"Konoha's collapse plan, huh?"
White Fang frowned slightly and spoke softly, "Do you really have to do this? You should know the consequences of your actions."
"I know very well, White Fang."
Orochimaru narrowed his slanted eyes, filled with deep meaning, and said, "But what if I told you I've found a fragment of the Blasphemy Slate?"
"What did you say?!"
Upon hearing this, White Fang's eyes widened, and his breathing became slightly hurried. "You really found it? So soon? How did you find it?"
It should be noted that although 'Adam' mentioned the Blasphemy Slate that day, he didn't tell them how to find it.
In just a few days, Orochimaru found a piece?
"I'm not like you; I don't like wasting time."
Orochimaru interlaced his fingers, resting his chin in his hands, and said word by word, "I investigated the headquarters of 'Root,' and guess what I discovered?"
"The Blasphemy Slate?"
White Fang trembled slightly and asked.
"Exactly."
Orochimaru's eyes lit up with excitement, barely containing his emotions. "At the 'Root' headquarters, there was a residual wave that was nearly identical to the blood and flesh of 'A' from the Aurora Order. I can't think of any other possibility besides the Blasphemy Slate that records the 'Twenty-Two Divine Pathways'!"
"What if it's not the Blasphemy Slate, but something from the Aurora Order?"
White Fang shook his head, believing Orochimaru's guess was flawed. He said, "Since it's the same wave, it could also be related to the Aurora Order and Danzo."
"Hehe, even if it really is from the Aurora Order, it doesn't matter."
Orochimaru smiled lightly and said, "We'll run into the Aurora Order sooner or later, won't we?"
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