Analyzing the Ninja World Starting from Konoha

Chapter 239 Reunion with Orochimaru

Of course, this cannot be said aloud.

After all, she had just received benefits from them, and the Uchiha were now practically one of her own, serving as Tsunade's political allies.

It's quite ironic, actually.

Back then, the Uchiha and Senju fought to the death, and after the village was established, they couldn't stand each other. But fifty years later, the descendants of the Senju and the head of the Uchiha clan sat together drinking tea and discussing cooperation.

History is truly a darkly humorous thing.

Aoba put down his teacup, not directly answering Fugaku's question, but instead asking, "Clan Chief Fugaku, what is your view on the Konoha Police Force?"

Fugaku was taken aback, not understanding why Aoba suddenly brought up the police department.

But he answered earnestly, with a hint of pride in his voice, "The Police Department was founded by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and is mainly responsible for maintaining order within Konoha Village. This is a testament to the Second Hokage's trust in our Uchiha clan..."

"stop."

Aoba raised his hand to interrupt Fugaku, looked him straight in the eye, and asked an extremely pointed question.

"Chief Fugaku, I have a question for you."

"Would you be willing to give up your power within the police force, or relinquish some of your personnel?"

The moment those words were spoken, the air in the living room froze.

Fugaku's expression froze.

Give up the rights of the police force?

Give up the position?

How is that possible!

The police force is the foundation of the Uchiha clan's foothold in Konoha, and a symbol of their power and status!

If the police force is lost, what kind of top clan would the Uchiha clan still be in Konoha?

silence.

A long silence.

Seeing Fugaku's expression, Aoba shook his head speechlessly.

"Chief Fugaku, don't you understand yet?"

Aoba's voice wasn't loud, but it struck Fugaku's heart like a heavy hammer.

"Why, at the previous high-level meeting, when faced with Danzo's obstruction, did no ninja clan other than me stand up for the Uchiha?"

"You don't actually think it's because they believed Danzo's nonsense, do you?"

Fugaku's pupils suddenly contracted.

"I'll ask you a very simple question."

Aoba crossed her arms. "Is power more important, or the survival of the family?"

Fugaku's expression changed at that moment.

"The Second Hokage merely tossed out a tiny bone of power called the 'Police Force,' and your Uchiha clan clung to it like vicious dogs guarding their food, even at the cost of isolating yourselves in opposition to the entire Hidden Leaf Village."

Aoba stared coldly at Fugaku, whose face had turned pale.

"Enforcing the law is a job that always involves offending people. Your Uchiha clan has not only offended every ninja clan, big and small, in the village, but you're also smugly thinking it's an honor. Clan Chief Fugaku, do you think this is trust, or slow suicide?"

He's not stupid. As the head of a clan, how could he not see through the logic behind this?

However, for a long time, the pride of the Uchiha clan has blinded them, making them unwilling to admit this cruel fact.

Now, this fig leaf has been ruthlessly torn off by Aoba, revealing the bloody truth beneath.

Involuntarily, images of Danzo's sinister one-eyed face and the cold, distant faces of the other ninja clan leaders appeared in Fugaku's mind during the meeting.

He suddenly woke up with a start.

Unbeknownst to them, the Uchiha clan had been isolated and pushed to the brink of collapse by the entire Hidden Leaf Village!

Fugaku's body trembled violently, and a bead of cold sweat slid down his cheek.

"That's all I have to say. Clan Chief Fugaku, think it over carefully."

Qingye didn't say anything more, put down her teacup, and got up to walk outside.

As he reached the courtyard gate, he paused slightly, his gaze falling on a small figure not far away.

It was a little boy who looked only five or six years old, dressed in the traditional clothing of the Uchiha clan, standing alone in the courtyard, looking up at the sky, as if he was thinking about something.

It was the young Uchiha Itachi.

Seemingly noticing Aoba's gaze, Itachi turned his head.

When Itachi saw Aoba's face clearly, his eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in them.

He recognized this person!

It was not long ago in Nanga River that the man told him the "meaning of life"!

Later he learned that this man was the powerful ninja who defeated the Fourth Kazekage head-on on the Kikyo Mountain battlefield, fought against the Nine-Tails during the Nine-Tails' rampage, and saved Konoha several times—Yamashiro Aoba!

Looking into Itachi's clear yet precocious eyes, Aoba's lips curled up slightly, and she gave him a smile.

It wasn't a perfunctory, polite smile, but rather a smile tinged with appreciation.

This child in the original story carried too many burdens that shouldn't belong to him.

Hopefully, this time will be different.

Itachi stared blankly at Aoba's retreating figure as he disappeared through the doorway, remaining lost in thought for a long time.

Itachi turned and walked into the living room, where he saw his father sitting alone with a complicated expression.

Upon hearing footsteps, Fugaku quickly composed himself and resumed the serious demeanor befitting a clan leader.

"Father."

Itachi's voice was soft, "Was that Lord Aoba just now?"

Fugaku glanced at his son and nodded. "How did you know?"

"I've seen him before in Namaka River."

Itachi said earnestly, "He is a very capable person."

Fugaku was slightly taken aback.

He hadn't expected that even a child as young as Itachi would have such a high opinion of Aoba.

Although Itachi was young, he was exceptionally gifted and his observational skills far surpassed those of his peers. His judgments were never wrong.

Moreover, Itachi represents not only himself, but also the views of the younger generation of the Uchiha clan.

If even the children in the clan approve of Yamashiro Aoba...

That person's influence in Konoha is probably deeper than he imagined.

Fugaku's initially agitated mood gradually calmed down.

He closed his eyes, and Qingye's words echoed repeatedly in his mind.

Instead of clinging to a dead tree and waiting to die, plant your roots in every inch of the soil around the leaves.

Perhaps... Mr. Aoba is right.

The Uchiha clan needs a change.

"Itachi".

Fugaku opened his eyes, looked at his eldest son, and said in an unusually gentle tone, "I've found you a tutor, is that alright?"

Itachi paused for a moment, but still nodded subconsciously.

……

Night falls.

After finishing his work at Konoha Hospital, Aoba returned to his own courtyard.

Just as I was about to change into my loungewear, I sensed a familiar presence.

A small white snake was seen silently crawling in through the crack in the door.

Then, a chilling scene unfolded.

The little white snake's mouth suddenly opened to an exaggerated degree, and a pale hand reached out from the snake's mouth, grabbing the edge. Then, a long-haired man covered in slime, as if shedding his skin, forcefully crawled out of the snake's mouth.

Orochimaru.

To be honest, no matter how many times I've seen it, Orochimaru's entrance still makes me physically uncomfortable.

"Lord Orochimaru, if possible, you could try a different way of making your entrance next time."

Aoba couldn't help but make a comment.

He wasn't surprised at all that Orochimaru had come looking for him.

Ever since the two of them reached some kind of understanding last time, he knew that they would have a lot of interactions afterward.

Furthermore, given Orochimaru's obsession with unknown ninjutsu and human experimentation, it would be strange if he didn't come looking for Orochimaru after he demonstrated the "Red Eyes" at the last meeting.

I just didn't expect that this guy would hold back for so many days before coming.

Aoba's gaze swept over Orochimaru, and his brows furrowed slightly.

He could clearly sense that Orochimaru's chakra aura was colder and more chaotic than before, even carrying an unsettling quality.

"Looks like, Lord Orochimaru, you've done this to yourself again?!" Aoba retorted without any hesitation.

Orochimaru's movements paused noticeably.

A hint of surprise flashed in those golden vertical pupils, which quickly turned into intense interest.

"Heh heh... Aoba-kun, you always seem to see things that others can't."

Orochimaru's voice was hoarse and deep, possessing a unique charm. "Can you tell me how you found out?"

"Is this difficult?"

Aoba curled her lip. "The human body is a precise and perfect circulatory system, containing infinite potential. Your practice of excessively damaging your own basic structure in pursuit of short-term power or certain characteristics will only seriously affect your future growth."

Hearing Aoba's words, Orochimaru's interest intensified.

He stared intently at Aoba: "Aoba-kun, your theories are always so interesting. But the human body is just too fragile. Birth, aging, sickness, death, disease, war... if you're not careful, you can rot in the soil like a fallen leaf."

Orochimaru spread his arms wide, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism: "This fragile life severely hinders my exploration of the true essence of ninjutsu. Only by achieving immortality and breaking free from the shackles of this mortal body can I have enough time to learn all the ninjutsu in the world!"

Seeing Orochimaru's fanatical appearance, Aoba secretly shook his head in his heart.

A typical combination of extreme idealism and mad scientist traits.

"Lord Orochimaru, there's nothing wrong with pursuing ideals, but in your pursuit of truth, have you forgotten to maintain your own identity?"

Aoba said calmly, "Ensuring the integrity of a 'person' is extremely important. The body is not just a container for the soul; it is also an important anchor point for your existence in this world as a 'person.'"

Aoba's expression turned serious: "Excessive alteration and abandonment of the body will distort the essence of 'humanity.' So, even if you eventually find the so-called truth and attain immortality, will the you standing at the end of that truth still be the same you?"

Orochimaru's smile gradually faded, his golden vertical pupils fixed on Aoba, and he fell into a long silence.

"Moreover, equivalent exchange is a fundamental law of this world."

Aoba continued to express his views, "What you gain, you will inevitably lose. The underlying logic of scientific research is absolute rationality, rigorous data and experiments, not like a gambler who uses their soul and body as chips to go all in."

The living room was deathly silent.

After a long while, Orochimaru suddenly chuckled softly.

The laughter grew louder and louder, eventually taking on a somewhat manic quality.

"Hehehe... Hahahaha!"

Orochimaru suddenly stuck out his tongue, washed his face, and looked at Aoba with undisguised admiration.

"Aoba-kun, every time I see you, it brings me a completely different feeling."

Orochimaru's voice trembled slightly with excitement. "I finally understand what you meant by 'fellow traveler' last time. You're right, science isn't gambling; reason and anchoring... those are truly insightful observations!"

……