Naruto: In Konoha Village, I awakened Wood Release at the start.

Leaf.

The land of the Sarutobi tribe.

"absurd!"

Xiaochun, who was turning over in her dorm, slammed her hand on the low table, making the teacup clatter.

Her wrinkled face was now contorted into a grimace.

"What is Chiba doing?"

"Bringing back a rogue ninja like Orochimaru is one thing, but then turning him into a hero?"

Mitokado echoed, his tone full of resentment.

The two of them talked back and forth, spewing their words at the air.

It's as if raising their voices a little can help them regain the dignity they once held as high-ranking officials.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the shadows, slowly smoking his pipe.

Plop, plop.

The flickering light from the pipe illuminated his aged face.

"Have you said enough?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe, his voice hoarse like a rusty gear.

The room fell silent instantly.

Xiaochun, who had just turned over in her dorm, stared wide-eyed and was panting heavily.

"Hiruzen".

"Are you just going to stand by and watch Chiba act like this?"

"This is a slap in the face to our older generation!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sneered, a shadow of gloom flashing in his turbid eyes.

"A slap in the face?"

"If he hadn't done that, we might have lost our heads."

Mitokado Yan was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding.

"What do you mean by that?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi reloaded his cigarettes, his movements slow and deliberate.

"Aren't you aware of Orochimaru's experiments back then?"

"Don't you all know what Danzo is doing?"

The two veteran advisors froze instantly, as if they had been choked.

They certainly knew that.

even.

The funding for those experiments also included the funds they approved.

"Chiba is going to use Orochimaru now."

Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, which blurred his expression.

"If he doesn't pin all the blame on Danzo, how will this mess be settled?"

The temperature in the tea room seemed to drop to freezing point instantly.

Xiaochun shivered as she turned to her new room.

"Could it be...?"

"Is Chiba going to drag us into this too?"

Mitokado Yan's voice finally carried a hint of fear.

Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes, concealing all his emotions.

"Danzo is dead, there's no way to verify it."

"He took the blame for all the crimes, and Orochimaru became the victim."

"In this way, the village's reputation was preserved, and Chiba got the person he wanted."

"And we, as long as we keep quiet, can continue to enjoy our old age."

The two consultants were completely stumped.

Although they are old and senile, they are not stupid.

Chiba's clever substitution not only cleared Orochimaru's name but also served as a warning to them.

Orochimaru's crimes can be cleared.

Chiba could strip down and display the underwear of these old bones of theirs at any time.

"Danzo..."

Xiaochun, who was turning over in her dorm, muttered something to herself, looking more uncomfortable than if she had swallowed a fly.

"That old bastard, he can't even let people rest in peace after he's dead."

Mitomon leaned back in his chair, looking dejected.

"never mind."

"Let Chiba do whatever he wants."

"We old bones can't beat him anymore."

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't say anything more, he just quietly smoked his cigarette.

The sunlight outside the window couldn't penetrate into this dark room.

Their era, even its last glimmer of light, was ruthlessly extinguished.

……

three days later.

Outside the gate of Konoha Village.

The roadside was crowded with villagers, colorful flags fluttering, and the air was filled with the hustle and bustle of voices.

The ANBU ninjas maintained order and kept the overly agitated civilians at bay.

"Here it comes!"

"Lord Orochimaru is back!"

A burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the crowd.

far away.

Orochimaru, dressed in a pure white kimono, set foot on the land of Konoha.

His golden snake eyes were filled with incredulous astonishment.

What kind of formation is this?

He thought that if he returned to the village, he would at most keep a low profile and sneak into a laboratory.

The results of it?

This is even more exciting than the First Hokage's triumphant return!

"Lord Orochimaru, you've suffered!"

"That beast Danzo deserves to die!"

An older woman squeezed to the front, tears welling in her eyes, and stuffed a basket of eggs into Orochimaru's hand.

Orochimaru stiffly took the egg, his mouth twitching wildly.

He has done countless outrageous things in his life.

But being given eggs by Konoha's old lady as if she were a wronged good child was a first for her.

"Lord Orochimaru."

"Welcome home to the village!"

Fujiwara, representing the commoner Jonin, led the applause.

Thunderous applause resounded through the sky.

Orochimaru swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down his spine.

Chiba's methods are simply too terrifying!

They can turn black into white and still make these idiots believe it without a doubt.

This ability to manipulate people's minds is even more sinister than his Impure World Reincarnation.

Welcome back.

"My research minister!"

Chiba stood on the balcony of the Hokage Building, looking down at everything.

He did not go down to greet him.

After all, the Hokage's prestige must be maintained.

Orochimaru looked up and met Chiba's gaze from afar.

A hint of fear flashed in the golden snake eyes, but more so, it was filled with fanaticism.

With a leader like that, his experiments will definitely proceed smoothly!

After dealing with the enthusiastic villagers.

Orochimaru was taken directly to the Hokage Building by the Anbu.

"Lord Godaime."

Orochimaru bowed slightly, adopting a very humble attitude.

He's a smart man; he knows exactly who's in charge of Konoha right now.

Chiba leaned back in his office chair and casually tossed a bunch of keys over.

"Go check out your new territory."

Orochimaru took the key, somewhat puzzled.

Chiba led him out of the Hokage Building and to a newly built building in the very center of the village.

This building is five stories high, and its exterior walls are all made of transparent reinforced glass.

The sunlight poured into the building without reservation, making it dazzlingly bright.

At the entrance of the building, a brand-new sign hangs: [Konoha Science Research Department].

Orochimaru stood at the door, completely stunned.

No dark, damp basement?

There's no musty smell from the nutrient solution?

"this……"

Orochimaru, his voice hoarse, turned to look at Chiba behind him.

"What's wrong?"

"Too bright?"

"From now on, you'll work here and conduct your research openly and honestly."

Chiba pointed at the building.

"No need to hide underground?"

Orochimaru took a deep breath to suppress the pounding in his heart.

"hide?"

Chiba smiled.

His tone exuded absolute domineering power.

"In my Konoha Village in Chiba."

"My chief scientist doesn't need to hide like a rat."

Orochimaru gripped the key tightly, his knuckles turning white.

He licked his lips, and his eyes shone with an unprecedented light.

This feeling of being absolutely recognized and absolutely supported.

That's wonderful.

The two entered the building, which was equipped with all kinds of top-notch experimental equipment.

"Sufficient funding and state-of-the-art equipment."

Chiba walked up to a huge culture tank and knocked on the glass.

"But let's get this straight."

"It is forbidden to use villagers for live experiments."

Orochimaru nodded repeatedly.

"Of course, with these devices, many live experiments can be completely replaced by cloned cells."

"very good."

Chiba snapped his fingers.

"Now……"

"Come meet your two super-rich benefactors, who are also your number one material provider."

The door was pushed open.

Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuga walked in side by side.

Orochimaru's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had seen two walking pieces of fat.

The head of the Uchiha clan!

Head of the Hyuga clan!

He never dared to dream of this before.