Orochimaru and Tsunade searched the ruins of the Uzumaki clan's village for days, hoping to find survivors. But in the end, their efforts yielded nothing.
The attack had been carefully planned, executed with precision. The chance of anyone escaping was slim, and it would be nearly impossible to find survivors in the wreckage left behind. Anyone who had managed to flee would be long gone by now, hidden away or captured by those responsible.
As they left the Land of Whirlpools empty-handed, Orochimaru found himself reflecting on the path his future self would take. In the original timeline, Orochimaru was known for taking in orphans and displaced people, giving them shelter and purpose in his Otogakure. To them, Orochimaru had been a savior, even if his ultimate aim was to experiment on their bloodlines and abilities. To these lost souls, he had been a lifeline in a world of chaos, which explained their fierce loyalty, even at the cost of their lives.
Orochimaru shook his head, dispelling those thoughts as they returned to Konoha. The trip had been a failure, and it left a bitter taste.
Back in Konoha, the news from the Land of Whirlpools weighed heavily on the Third Hokage. The situation was far worse than anyone had expected. Under the leadership of the First Hokage, no one would have dared to strike against Konoha's allies. Even during the reign of the Second Hokage, only Kumogakure had tried anything—and they had been repelled swiftly. But now, with Sarutobi Hiruzen in charge, the Uzumaki clan, one of Konoha's staunchest allies, had been wiped out.
It was a blow not just to Konoha's pride, but to Hiruzen's own standing as Hokage.
"Hiruzen, it's time the other villages learned that Konoha is not to be trifled with!" Danzo declared during a tense meeting in the Hokage's office. His expression was hard, his voice filled with urgency.
The meeting room was packed with the leaders of Konoha's most prominent clans and influential figures. In a time like this, the village was divided into two clear factions: the hawks and the doves. Danzo, as always, represented the hawks, those who believed in a show of strength, an aggressive stance to remind their enemies of Konoha's might. Hiruzen, on the other hand, led the doves—those who favored peace, diplomacy, and restraint.
"The destruction of the Uzumaki clan and their village isn't just a tragedy. It's a direct challenge to Konoha's authority," Danzo continued. "If we don't take action, if we let this slide, it will send a message to the other villages that Konoha can be pushed around."
Sarutobi remained silent for a moment, his gaze heavy. He knew Danzo was right this was a provocation, and if they didn't respond, it could embolden Konoha's enemies. But the situation wasn't so simple.
"We can't rush into war," Hiruzen said firmly. "There are too many unknowns. Multiple villages were involved in this attack, if we act recklessly, we could end up facing a united front of enemies."
Danzo's eyes flashed with irritation. "Then what do you propose? Sit back and wait until they come for us next?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "We need to negotiate first. The death of Uzumaki Mito is near. Without her presence, our leverage has already diminished. Konoha isn't in a position to wage a war right now."
Danzo scowled, his fists clenching at his sides. "You're being too cautious. With Mito-sama's health failing, now is the time to strike, before our enemies can consolidate their strength. We should attack one village first, show the others what happens when you challenge Konoha."
"That's enough, Danzo," Hiruzen cut in, his tone final. "We will not start a war that will lead to unnecessary death and suffering for the people of the Land of Fire. We will negotiate. If talks fail, only then will we consider military action."
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, Sarutobi's longtime advisors, both nodded in agreement. "Negotiation is the most logical first step," Koharu said. "We must give diplomacy a chance."
Homura added, "We can't afford a war right now, not when the village is still recovering from the previous conflict. We need to consider the long-term consequences."
Danzo wanted to argue further, but he knew he was outnumbered. As much as he hated to admit it, he didn't have the authority to make decisions of this magnitude on his own. He could only advise, and for now, Hiruzen had the final say.
Frustrated, Danzo fell silent, his mind already working on alternative plans. If Hiruzen wouldn't act, he would find a way to prepare Konoha for the inevitable conflict that was coming.
---
Back at the Root headquarters, Danzo's frustration boiled over. He struck the ground with his cane, causing cracks to spider out from where it struck. "Damn that Monkey! He's going to get us all killed with this weakness!" Danzo growled, his voice echoing in the dimly lit room.
He was so lost in his anger that he barely registered the familiar voice that called out to him from the doorway.
"What's got you so worked up today?"
Danzo turned to see Orochimaru leaning casually against the doorframe, a sly smile on his face. It was clear that Danzo's temper didn't faze him in the slightest.
"Hmph. Who else but Hiruzen?" Danzo replied bitterly. "His reluctance to act is a sign of weakness. He doesn't realize that inaction will only embolden our enemies."
Orochimaru chuckled. He had grown accustomed to Danzo's complaints about the Third Hokage. "Well, it's not like this is the first time you've disagreed with him."
Danzo narrowed his eyes. "Why are you here, Orochimaru? Do you need something from me?"
Orochimaru didn't bother with small talk. "I remember you mentioned once that you had scrolls containing the First Hokage's Wood Release techniques. I've run into a bit of a roadblock in my research, and I think those scrolls might be able to help me."
Danzo eyed him suspiciously. He knew how obsessed Orochimaru had become with genetic experiments, particularly with the First Hokage's cells. But ultimately, Danzo saw no harm in granting his request. After all, the Wood Release scrolls were useless to anyone who didn't have the genetic capacity to wield the technique.
"Fine," Danzo said after a moment, reaching into his robes and pulling out two scrolls. He tossed them to Orochimaru without hesitation. "Take them. But don't lose them."
Orochimaru caught the scrolls with ease, his smile widening. "Don't worry. I'll return them once I've finished."
As he turned to leave, Orochimaru paused. "By the way, is Nono still around?"
Danzo raised an eyebrow at the mention of the young girl he had taken in. "Nono? What do you need her for?"
Orochimaru shrugged. "I could use an extra pair of hands in the lab. And she seems… promising."
Danzo gave him a stern look. "Be careful, Orochimaru. As a shinobi, you shouldn't let emotions cloud your judgment. And don't forget, you have more important things to focus on than indulging in sentimentality."