Chapter 40: Others
With such a massive incident shaking the village, it was impossible for the Hokage to turn a blind eye.
Konoha's entire war machine began to move with terrifying efficiency, fueled by anger and suspicion. Countless underground contact points were exposed and eradicated. Dozens of spies were captured, interrogated, and eventually sent to the laboratories—as experimental subjects.
Mercy had no place in the shinobi world. Konoha, like every other village, built its science and medicine on a foundation of blood. When it came to enemy spies, no one hesitated. Compassion was a luxury long forgotten.
The ninja world had never been kind enough to allow for humanity. Tales of forgiveness or sparing an enemy were seen as signs of weakness—tragic lessons, not ideals to emulate. Perhaps the next generation might think differently, but for now, war demanded cruelty. Using every possible means to crush rival nations was simply the norm.
While the large-scale investigations swept through the village, internal audits also progressed with unsettling precision. When the Third Hokage truly decided to act, his efficiency was second to none.
Veteran shinobi with suspicious ties or questionable behavior were rooted out and imprisoned. Those believed to have collaborated with the enemy were placed under strict supervision.
Even Aizen Sosuke was transferred out temporarily, his access restricted. He had no involvement in the current inquiries.
The Third Hokage, however, understood everything perfectly well. He knew in his heart that Aizen had little to do with the breach. If Aizen had truly wished to hand over classified material, he could have easily slipped the sealing scroll to any spy long ago without leaving a trace. There was no need for such theatrics.
And so, Sarutobi trusted him. His logic might not have been flawless, but for Aizen, it was more than enough.
The Three Legendary Sannin were also reassigned following internal review—though not all equally. Jiraiya, because of his unshakable belief in the Will of Fire and his connection to Mount Myōboku, was entrusted with a special role: to watch over, or more accurately, supervise Aizen Sosuke.
Tsunade, the founder of medical ninjutsu, and Orochimaru, the genius behind countless forbidden techniques, were not as fortunate.
As everyone knew, fools rarely lied convincingly—but the truly intelligent often saw too much. Those who noticed subtle inconsistencies began asking dangerous questions. The village couldn't allow that.
So the investigations targeted the brilliant ones first.
Naturally, the Uchiha clan became a major focus. That clan had always been unpredictable, producing both prodigies and threats. Whenever an Uchiha grew too ambitious, it often ended in tragedy.
The so-called "inspection" of the Uchiha inevitably led to friction. What began as a routine inquiry soon escalated into outright hostility. The Uchiha protested that such treatment dishonored their name, only to be met with biting remarks like, "Your ancestors weren't much different."
That insult cut deep.
The search for the real culprits stalled, and the clash between the Uchiha and the village intensified once again. As long-standing clans began taking sides and returning shinobi picked factions of their own, Konoha found itself on the brink of internal chaos.
Aizen Sosuke, now confined to a restricted facility, was ordered into isolation for "development purposes." In truth, it was more of a quarantine than a laboratory. Within mere days, the village's atmosphere turned suffocating.
Suspicion trickled down from the upper ranks to the common folk. Taverns that once buzzed with laughter now sat half-empty, filled with quiet whispers and tense glances.
No one dared speak freely anymore.
Outside, red-eyed Uchiha patrols stalked the streets, their Sharingan glinting beneath the torchlight. Family shinobi stood guard in every corner. At such a time, even a careless joke could get someone killed.
Yet, amid this unrest, there was one curious scene.
In a private room atop one of the quieter taverns, two of the Sannin—Tsunade, the princess of Konoha, and Orochimaru, her lifelong friend—sat across from each other, sharing a silent meal.
Tsunade glanced at the streets below, her expression weary.
"Ha… all of them were comrades once. And now they glare at each other like enemies." She sighed. "I don't understand what everyone's thinking anymore."
Orochimaru picked up a piece of tofu with elegant restraint, his golden eyes reflecting faint amusement.
"Because everyone stands on different ground," he replied softly. "Their positions, their interests… naturally, their perspectives diverge."
He set down his chopsticks and continued in a measured tone.
"Some believe the village is a single, united body. Others see it as an alliance of clans. And some believe it's built upon individuals. Each view breeds a different kind of loyalty—and a different kind of conflict."
He took another slow bite, his voice turning almost analytical.
"Those who see the village as a collection of families will strengthen their own clans, competing for greater influence. Their ambition inevitably targets other prosperous houses. Those who see it as an aggregation of individuals will climb through personal effort—often clashing with others along the way. And those who see the village as a singular whole…" He smirked faintly. "They become the peacekeepers—too cautious, too soft. They only smooth over disputes instead of confronting them."
"When a limited lifespan collides with limitless desire, this is what it leads to."
Watching the Uchiha and other clan shinobi brawl in the corner of the street, Orochimaru shook his head silently.
The policy of suspicion toward the Uchiha—rooted in the Nidaime's era—had long since become political orthodoxy within Konoha. The accusation that "the Uchiha refuse to integrate into the village" was, in truth, a false proposition.
Anyone with clear eyes could see it: the Uchiha could not integrate, and more importantly, were never meant to.
Konoha stood as the strongest hidden village in the world, its external enemies crushed or cowed. In such a state, internal cohesion required a constant, manageable threat—an enemy to absorb tension. When there is no enemy outside, one must be created within.
The Uchiha clan fit that role perfectly.
Proud, powerful, and possessed of the Eye that reflects the soul—arrogant and defiant even toward the Hokage—they were ideal scapegoats. Every village needed a symbol to rally against, and the Uchiha, for all their pride, were the most convenient choice.
They were dangerous, yes, but not uncontrollable. Whenever unrest arose, shifting the blame onto them unified the rest of the village. The Uchiha would bear the anger, sulk in silence, and balance would be restored.
As for talk of rebellion or an Uchiha Hokage—those were little more than jokes whispered over sake. What would rebellion accomplish? To overthrow the village and rule over ruins? No sane elder would believe such a fantasy.
The Uchiha were powerful, but clumsy. Their actions were often extreme, their pride unyielding. Yet they remained one of Konoha's pillars—entrusted with the Police Force, respected and feared in equal measure.
Someone had to be the clown for the village. Why not them?
The Senju had already erased their family name and dissolved into the heart of Konoha. So why couldn't the Uchiha follow suit?
Still, among the old families, there was always that trace of darkness—envy, resentment, fear. Deep down, everyone knew the Uchiha were different. And perhaps no one had stopped to consider one simple truth: the Uchiha truly meant what they said.
When they spoke of rebellion… it wasn't bluster. It was conviction.
"I don't understand why people can't just live peacefully," Tsunade muttered, swirling the sake in her cup. "Wouldn't it be better if everyone integrated into the village, like the Senju clan did?"
Orochimaru chuckled softly, his tone smooth as silk. "At what cost? Their family names vanished, their bloodlines diluted, their heritage forgotten. They became ordinary citizens in exchange for peace."
Tsunade blinked. "And what's wrong with that?"
"The village is you, and you are the village. There are no divisions, no struggles. Everyone shares the same name. It sounds beautiful, doesn't it?" Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with faint amusement. "But from a biological and racial perspective, especially from the narrow lens of lineage preservation—it's catastrophic."
Tsunade frowned, setting down her cup. "Explain."
"Populations and clans are the continuation of life," Orochimaru said, his voice soft but edged with fascination. "Erase the bloodline, and you erase the future. It's no different from killing them outright—only slower."
He leaned back with a quiet sigh. "If humanity truly possessed immortality, this problem wouldn't exist. The death of one generation would simply birth another. But with our limited lives… extinction is permanent."
His eyes darkened, and a faint smile crept onto his face.
"That's the essence of the problem. Mortality breeds obsession. The shorter the life, the stronger the hunger for eternity."
For a moment, Tsunade said nothing. The air between them was heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Orochimaru's gaze flickered briefly with irritation. "It's unfortunate that Danzo left so abruptly. I never got the chance to continue our research."
He clicked his tongue softly. "Just when things were getting interesting… to be cut off midway—it's maddening."
Then, after a pause, he glanced at Tsunade. "Tell me, have you noticed anything unusual about Dan recently?"
"…Huh? Wh—what are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb," Orochimaru said flatly. "Everyone except Jiraiya has probably realized it by now."
"!!!"
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock. Her hands trembled slightly, betraying her composure.
"Why do you look so surprised?" Orochimaru sighed, rubbing his temples in mild annoyance. "Do you really think the rest of us are fools?"
He shook his head slowly, an expression of weary amusement crossing his face. "Honestly, sometimes I wonder about the people I call my teammates."
<><><><><>
[Check Out My Patreon For +40 Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]
[Every 100 Power Stones = +1 Bonus Chapter]
[Join Our Discord Community For Updates & Events]
[https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9]