Hiruzen Sarutobi never expected that his mere mention of the phrase "do not bully the weak" would ignite the anger of his disciple and the current Hokage's Anbu. He looked at Ryun Uchiha with apprehension in his eyes.
When he had served as Hokage before, although the Anbu would obey his orders, he knew they obeyed not him, but the title of "Hokage" itself.
As the Hokage's wife, Biwako Sarutobi basically had no possibility of mobilizing the Anbu. On one hand, Hiruzen kept a very strict control over power. On the other hand, Hiruzen could not make everyone acknowledge him.
But now it was different. The gazes of these Anbu were all filled with hostility. They had drawn their swords against him because the Hokage's wife, Tsunade, was angry.
They completely ignored his identity as the Third Hokage, even willing to risk his enmity to point their swords at him.
Hiruzen swallowed hard. He originally thought Ryun was easy to talk to, because when he was Hokage, Ryun was still the model of a gentle, respectful, restrained, and accommodating shinobi.
He had told everyone many times to learn from Ryun. This was also the basis of his confidence in coming to discuss this matter with Ryun. But he found he was wrong. At this moment, he did not have that qualification.
Tsunade's words fell on Hiruzen's ears. Hiruzen only frowned slightly, not taking it to heart. After all, everything in Konoha must listen to the Hokage.
That is to say, as long as Ryun did not express his stance, this matter was not over.
"Ryun Uchiha, what are you going to do? Are you going to allow your subordinates to kill me, the Third Hokage?" Hiruzen roared, an imposing pressure emanating from him as he swept his gaze across the room.
Ryun looked at him like this and did not speak. Instead, he leaned back tactically, just looking at him. The next moment, Orochimaru walked in from the door. "Hey, hey, hey, old man, if you're retired, then retire properly. If you're giving advice, give it properly. What kind of authority are you throwing around here?"
"Orochimaru! What are you saying? Say that again!" Hiruzen's eyes carried a chill. He couldn't touch Tsunade, but couldn't he handle Orochimaru?
Orochimaru was not afraid of Hiruzen either. In the past, he might have been forced to obey him due to the double shackles of being his teacher and the Hokage. But now, as he conducted more and more human experiments.
And as his experience grew richer and richer, he no longer cared about any worldly conventions at this point.
"Tsk, I didn't expect Sarutobi-sensei to be not only old, but also hard of hearing!" Orochimaru looked at Hiruzen sinisterly, the corner of his mouth raised, a hint of madness in his eyes.
He had originally come today to report to Ryun the great news that firearm production had made preliminary progress. But just now at the door, he heard Hiruzen throwing his weight around.
Without a second thought, he pushed the door open to back up his good brother Ryun. What a joke. Ryun was not only his financial backer, but also his confidant.
If it were Hiruzen, he might let Orochimaru conduct experiments, but they would have to be kept in the dark. Once something went wrong someday, he would push all the responsibility onto Orochimaru.
Hearing Hiruzen's barking, Orochimaru naturally couldn't help but retort.
Hiruzen's eyes were red as he looked at Orochimaru. "You!" His chest hurt from anger. He never expected that his once most proud, most valued disciple would now help an outsider. Tsunade was fine—she was Ryun's wife, and he had no opinion about her helping Ryun.
But you, Orochimaru, are my disciple. Did you consider whether your teacher's heart would feel bad by doing this?
"Hmph! Old man, what 'you'? I tell you, not just me—Jiraiya is here too. He won't support you either!" Orochimaru glanced at the doorway.
Hiruzen was stunned and looked over following Orochimaru's gaze.
Jiraiya outside the door originally wanted to watch the show silently. Now, with Orochimaru's words, he probably couldn't just watch anymore, but had to join in.
But as for supporting Ryun or Hiruzen—was there even a need to think?
For over a decade, it was Ryun who led Konoha to strength and prosperity. His achievements far outshone Hiruzen's, to an unknown degree. Any single one pulled out was something Hiruzen could never achieve in a lifetime.
Although Jiraiya valued the master-disciple bond with Hiruzen very much, these were insignificant compared to the village.
Jiraiya walked in with a grave expression. Seeing Jiraiya, Hiruzen's eyes lit up. Jiraiya was the disciple closest to him. Now someone should finally speak up for him, right?
Yet the next moment, Jiraiya stood beside Orochimaru, his eyes evading Hiruzen. Hiruzen's heart sank, then his straightened back slowly bent.
He never expected—never expected—that he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who took three disciples, would end up in his later years with no one supporting him, no one willing to speak for him.
How much of a failure was he? How incompetent? Could it be that in his disciples' eyes, what he said was wrong, that he had let them down?
Ju Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha were just two Konoha shinobi. For two Konoha shinobi, to attack the innocent Yugakure—wasn't that wrong?
Ryun now knew it was time for him to state his position. He stood up and looked at the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. "First, I am very grateful that the Third Hokage, as 'a citizen of Konoha Village,' has come forward to offer his valuable opinion," Ryun said with a serious expression.
But everyone could hear Ryun's meaning. You, Hiruzen Sarutobi, are no longer Hokage—just an ordinary citizen of Konoha Village. As Hokage, I greatly support you offering suggestions, but what you say does not count.
"However, this matter concerns Konoha's status and image in the eyes of other nations. I do not support your opinion." Ryun straightened his back, looking at Hiruzen.
Hiruzen looked dejected. He looked at Ryun, inwardly bitterly smiling. He originally thought Ryun would understand him, would prioritize the big picture. But he never expected Ryun did not have that awareness.
"Therefore, I support Minister Tobirama's action, with full support!" Ryun saying this meant the discussion was over. No more talking.
The result was that Konoha supported severely punishing Yugakure, and this time they had just cause for action. No one could stop it.
Hiruzen's lips trembled slightly. Finally, he gritted his teeth and turned to leave. He came alone, and left even more alone.
Ryun poured a cup of tea for each of the notable people present, like Sakumo Hatake and Orochimaru. "Since the Third Hokage has no fortune for this, let us share this cup together!"
After saying this, Ryun drank the tea. The others followed closely. Then they discussed firearm manufacturing and the intelligence system in the villa. It was past midnight when Jiraiya and Orochimaru left.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru walked on Konoha's streets at night. It was now midnight, but Konoha's streets were still brightly lit; some people were even loudly hawking various delicacies on the street.
"Jiraiya, do you blame me?" Orochimaru spoke. He did not look at Jiraiya, but suddenly asked while looking at Konoha's prosperous scene before him.
Jiraiya looked distracted. He looked at Orochimaru's back. "What do you mean?"
"Playing dumb. Keep pretending. You know better than anyone what I mean." Orochimaru smiled. Regarding this close friend, he understood him.
Although seemingly reckless and clumsy, he was actually the opposite. Orochimaru was asking if Jiraiya blamed him for forcing Jiraiya to take sides, for turning against their teacher Hiruzen.
Jiraiya—this guy—valued bonds most. The teacher-student bond was also a bond; Konoha's homeland-and-nation bond was also a bond. He wanted both. But one always has to face reality. Indecision invites disaster.
Rather than letting Jiraiya be torn in the future, it was better to resolve it all today, make Jiraiya choose. Actually, whether Jiraiya chose Hiruzen or Ryun was irrelevant to Orochimaru.
He just couldn't stand Jiraiya always hesitating, always wanting everything, and ending up with nothing.
Jiraiya sighed. "I don't blame you. After all, you did it for my own good."
"I once thought that sensei would lead Konoha to prosperity, to a bright future. But Ryun's governance made me realize that sensei was far behind him in comparison!"
"Compared to the teacher-student bond, I care more about Konoha's future—the future of the shinobi world. So compared to the teacher-student bond, I believe the homeland-and-nation bond is heavier." Jiraiya's confusion had faded. He looked up at the starry sky.
The corner of Jiraiya's mouth turned up. He suddenly felt completely relaxed. Orochimaru turned to look at Jiraiya like this, the corner of his mouth also rising. On their way back, the two ate many snacks.
Just like before they graduated, they also talked a lot of heartfelt words. Jiraiya's words leaned more towards ideals, while Orochimaru focused on reality.
It couldn't be said who was right or wrong—only that both had their own reasoning.
Within the Land of Rivers.
Danzo, leading the army, had already entered the border. The border shinobi saw the army and hurriedly prepared to retreat, to inform the daimyo that shinobi were invading.
However, a figure flashed past, hands forming palms, striking towards the border shinobi's chest.
Bang.
The border shinobi was directly blown apart. Then the figure moved rapidly more than ten times. More than ten figures fell to the ground with a thud.
Danzo looked over. That figure took off his hat. Moonlight shone on his face, also exposing his identity.
"Well done, Ao." Danzo's mouth turned up. This guy was very useful, very obedient, and had good judgment. Although he was a Kiri-nin, as long as his heart leaned towards Konoha, his village affiliation was not a problem.
Ao immediately knelt on the ground. "This is all what this subordinate should do."
Danzo helped him up. "If not for you, I'm afraid our current whereabouts would have been exposed, and the attack would be hindered later." Danzo laughed.
Ao shook his head. "We are all Konoha's army of kings. Why fear their Yugakure."
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