Only I can make Konoha Village great again.

Yamanaka Chukyu asked, "Orochimaru-sensei, if you dare to let go, I really dare to reshape Konoha according to my own ideas and establish a completely new ninja world."

Orochimaru glanced at Yamanaka Hatsukyu, a look of approval flashing in his eyes.

His tone softened: "Chu Jiu, you are my last disciple and my most capable assistant in experiments and wars. You must know me very well after all these years."

"I, Orochimaru, am not interested in power, nor do I particularly care about Konoha. It was you who reminded me to compete for the Hokage position. If I fail again, I will inevitably be expelled from Konoha and will no longer be able to enjoy the abundant resources of Konoha for my experiments."

"So, if you're willing to take on the responsibility when I become Hokage, that would be the best outcome."

"If you want to transform Konoha, I support you. If you want to control the ninja world, I can give you the best resources to make you the strongest ninja in the world, so you won't be assassinated by some trash."

"As long as you can guarantee that my experiment won't be disturbed, that's fine."

Yamanaka Chujiu bowed deeply, his eyes filled with determination: "This student understands, and will never let down Orochimaru-sensei's expectations for free experimentation."

At that moment, he was truly filled with gratitude towards Orochimaru.

In Yamanaka Hatsukyu's heart, Orochimaru was not only a teacher, but also his best political partner and comrade-in-arms.

He would never betray Orochimaru as long as he was not corrupted by power.

Orochimaru nodded in satisfaction, then looked westward again, towards Konoha, his desire growing stronger.

There was his laboratory, a full set of experimental equipment, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, and many interrupted experiments waiting for him.

Orochimaru knew even better that on his way back to Konoha, there were assassination plots against him and attempts to win over and turn his disciples against him.

Orochimaru didn't care about any of this. The only thing that bothered him was that his most respected teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had actually agreed to the assassination attempt against him.

The last thread of connection remaining with Konoha Village was severed just like that.

If it weren't for Jiraiya and Tsunade's feelings for Konoha, and if it weren't for Yamanaka Hatsuyu's desire for Konoha, Orochimaru doesn't know what crazy things he might have done.

Within Konoha Village, public opinion regarding Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu has already begun.

All the ninjas and civilian ninjas from the four major clans were mobilized.

They gave speeches and posted posters in the streets and alleys, praising the achievements of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

For example, he protected Konoha for twenty years, never allowing any foreign enemies to invade the village, maintaining peace in the ninja world, and cultivating countless outstanding Konoha ninjas. He is the "strongest Hokage in Konoha's history".

At the same time, they spread rumors that Orochimaru had launched an unauthorized expedition, showing no respect for the Hokage's authority. They claimed that although he had taken over the Land of Water by luck, his ambition would inevitably destroy Konoha's traditions and plunge Konoha into an abyss of no return.

In addition, they secretly met with the clan leaders of the ninja clans, demanding that they manage their clansmen well, not be misled by Orochimaru's military achievements, and firmly uphold their support for the Third Hokage.

However, their tireless efforts failed to achieve the desired results, and public opinion within Konoha Village became polarized.

The villagers and young ninjas who idolized Orochimaru scoffed at the propaganda of the Konoha elders, believing that if a war couldn't be won, it couldn't be won, and no amount of talking would change anything.

The Third Hokage was remarkable, but after becoming Hokage, he didn't even kill a single Kage-level ninja. So why is he called the "Strongest Hokage of All Time"?

Young people's thoughts are that simple and direct.

The Third Hokage has made great contributions, so let's make the Five Great Shinobi Villages admit defeat and pay compensation!

If the Third Hokage is strong, then let him defeat or kill the Third Tsuchikage!

Surely the achievements of the Third Hokage can't only exist in the village's records and in the mouths of the Sarutobi clan ninjas, right?

However, the older ninjas and clan leaders who possessed vast resources in Konoha began to waver.

Many people are worried about Orochimaru's ambitions and are supporting the Third Hokage, opposing Orochimaru's attempt to seize the Hokage position.

These people were not numerous, but they wielded immense power, suppressing the young Konoha ninja and quickly stabilizing the situation in Konoha.

Danzo's actions also yielded results.

Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, and the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure, both received invitations to join forces to kill Orochimaru.

The Fourth Kazekage said: I'm busy, I don't know anything.

Onoki then took out a sum of money and hired Akatsuki members to fight for him.

The Akatsuki organization had just accepted thousands of Kirigakure ninjas, and upon hearing that it was to ambush Orochimaru, these rogue ninjas' enthusiasm instantly soared.

Therefore, Konoha, Iwagakure, and Akatsuki joined forces to form a joint army composed of rogue ninja from Kirigakure and Root ninja from Konoha. Together, they set up an encirclement in the Land of Fire, preparing to kill Orochimaru.

Meanwhile, the ANBU ninjas Danzo sent to contact Yamanaka Hatsukyu have also arrived in the Land of Water.

They infiltrated Kirigakure silently and found him quietly while he was alone in the mountains.

But these ninjas didn't say a word. Their eyes suddenly dimmed, and then they said respectfully, "Master, we were sent by Danzo."

Yamanaka Hatsukyu's thought threads became even more powerful, turning completely brainwashed Root ninjas into his living puppets in less than 0.1 seconds.

Therefore, in the attack on Orochimaru, as long as Root ninjas were involved, it's hard to say who attacked whom.

They were all puppets of Yamanaka Hatsugu. The Root ninjas, following their master's instructions, sent back false information to Konoha that Hatsugu had decided to betray Orochimaru and join the Third Hokage.

When Shimura Danzo received the news, he felt slightly dissatisfied. Why wasn't he supposed to be defecting to him?

But he didn't have time to think too much at the moment. Instead, he relayed the good news to Hiruzen Sarutobi, giving the Konoha F4 a huge sense of reassurance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi made up his mind and mobilized the Sarutobi clan's ninjas to hand over to Danzo, thus strengthening the ninja force to surround and kill Orochimaru.

Danzo Shimura left triumphantly with the Third Hokage's orders, confident that he could eliminate Orochimaru and get one step closer to his dream of becoming Hokage.

Inside the Hokage Building, after Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Danzo off, he sent out an Anbu ninja with his own letter, summoning Orochimaru back to Konoha.

At this moment, he believed that Orochimaru was doomed, and his wariness of this disciple completely disappeared. Guilt and pain resurfaced and took over his mind.

He closed his eyes, clasped his hands together, and prayed devoutly for Orochimaru, Yamanaka Hatsukyu, and himself.

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that he had betrayed Orochimaru and forced Yamanaka Hatsuku to betray Orochimaru as well, completely destroying the moral bottom line he had believed in all his life.

No, this is yet another bottom line.

After all, when it comes to crossing moral boundaries, there's only the difference between zero times and countless times.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was truly in pain, and could only numb himself with prayer, hoping that he could adapt to the moral anguish brought about by betrayal as soon as possible.

Soon, Orochimaru received orders from the Third Hokage and immediately announced his departure in a high-profile manner. He then set off with Yamanaka Hatsugu and a dozen or so trusted ninjas on the road back to Konoha Village.